Although the attack damage could be negated, the special effects, those intrinsic mechanisms, could not be.
With this realization, Howard hatched a plan.
The Icy Touch of the Winter Goddess was a pure effect of assault, capable of instantly annihilating any monster with a total HP not exceeding ten times his own.
And the Death Octopus fit this criterion perfectly!
The thought invigorated Howard. Ignoring the terrifying waves crashing towards him, he brandished the Soul Nurturer.
In an instant, his entire being seemed to transform into a whirlpool, exuding a powerful gravitational pull. 𝘪𝑎.𝘤𝑜𝘮
Endless cold converged, taking the form of a breathtaking silhouette.
A pale blue chill solidified into the figure of the Winter Goddess, her detached gaze seeming capable of freezing all in its path. .
A crystalline sound rang out, and the spring began to ice over. Frost spread rapidly, even ensnaring the tentacles lurking beneath.
Sensing the impending peril as its tentacles began to freeze, the Death Octopus let out a roar.
The remaining unfrozen tentacles flailed wildly, lashing out at Howard like furious whips.
However, this was an SS-level skill. The chilling force it contained was formidable.
Even the flailing tentacles, upon meeting the gaze of the Winter Goddess, were instantaneously encased in ice.
In just a few fleeting moments, the entire spring was frozen solid, and the myriad tentacles were no exception.
Witnessing this spectacle, even Tana by the spring’s edge found her eyes widening in disbelief.
She hadn’t anticipated that Howard possessed such a skill.
One must understand that the Death Octopus was an exceptionally unique monster. Even the skills of someone at LV60 might not inflict substantial damage upon it.
Given that the spring was its home turf, many awakened with an A-level talent would not stand a chance against it.
Yet, in mere moments, Howard had reversed the tide.
But this was merely the appetizer.
As everything within the vicinity was encapsulated in ice, the ethereal figure of the Winter Goddess slowly approached the Death Octopus.
She extended her pristine, alabaster index finger and gently tapped.
In that split second, a bone-chilling strength surged violently within the Death Octopus, wreaking havoc.
A crisp system notification sound also rang beside Howard’s ear.
[Ding! Congratulations awakened Howard, for successfully slaying the Diamond-grade BOSS, Death Octopus. You’ve been rewarded with 150,000 experience points!]
[Ding! Congratulations awakened Howard, you have leveled up!]
A golden glow flickered, elevating Howard’s inherent attributes, but the entire spring remained encased in ice, rendering him immobile.
Fortunately, as the effects of Icy Touch of Winter Goddess waned, the cold began to dissipate, and the spring waters broke free from their frosty confinement.
The now-thawed Death Octopus exploded in a cascade of loot.
However, the aftermath of deploying such a skill had drained Howard’s MP extensively.
Coupled with the recent icy embrace of the frozen spring, it left him struggling to move.
Furthermore, even though the Death Octopus had been vanquished, its tentacles lingered menacingly.
As the ice shattered, they began descending toward Howard.
Hum—
But before they could touch him, Tana sprang into action, darting into the spring with an exceptional burst of energy, effortlessly repelling the descending tentacles.
Almost instantly, Howard felt a fragrant breeze envelope him, as he found himself being supported by Tana.
Tana seemed unbothered by the situation.
While assisting Howard towards the spoils dropped by the Death Octopus, she inquired, “Was that an SS-level skill you just used? How were you able to instantly defeat a Diamond-grade BOSS? From what I understand, although an SS-level skill is powerful, it shouldn’t grant an awakened the ability to overcome a BOSS of such a higher grade!”
The damage a skill can inflict is not only determined by its tier and level but also closely tied to the spellcaster’s personal strength.
This left Tana especially puzzled. In her view, an SS-level skill shouldn’t possess such immense power.
However, if it were an SSS-level skill, its attack radius wouldn’t be so confined, and its effects would be even more terrifying.
After all, SSS-level skills are city-destroying spells capable of altering the very fabric of the world.
As for even higher-level skills, their execution could cause the heavens and earth to change colors, wreaking havoc over vast areas!
Hearing Tana’s doubts, Howard hesitated for a moment before replying, “It’s an SS-level skill, with a unique mechanism. Under the right conditions, it can instantly eliminate the target.”
Howard was no fool.
He clearly recognized that Daniel’s decision to enroll him in the academy was not solely due to Abby.
Thus, he held a fair amount of trust in the academy’s mentors.
In this age, it was rare to find a mentor who could look past his F-level talent.
Of course, Howard didn’t divulge the specific conditions of the skill.
Even so, the sheer power of the effect left Tana astounded. She remarked, “I never expected you to possess such a skill! And, are you really awakened with an F-level talent?”
Having come to terms with Howard’s uniqueness, Tana now doubted his stated talent.
Her red lips parted slightly as she mused, “Young man, tell me the truth. Have you been hiding your true talent? What you’ve awakened to must be an S-level talent or even an SS-level talent, right?”
“I haven’t,” Howard quickly replied, directly refuting her suspicion. “Mrs. Tana, I genuinely have an F-level talent. Look at my MP; it’s almost fully restored now.”
What a joke. His supreme talent was his trump card, and he definitely wouldn’t disclose it recklessly.
In truth, this F-level talent wasn’t weak at all.
While it lacked combat capabilities, its stamina was genuinely impressive.
In just a short span of time, after using a skill that nearly depleted all his MP, Howard had already recovered.
Upon hearing this, Tana blinked and abruptly halted in her tracks.
However, she was swimming with Howard at the moment, and her sudden stop resulted in him colliding into her. His shoulder even pressed against the soft swell of her chest.
Even submerged in the spring water, Howard could feel an intense warmth emanating.
Fortunately, Tana was preoccupied with her thoughts and didn’t notice their unintentional closeness.
Taking a deep breath, Tana softly said, “Howard, I understand that some prodigies can awaken to two talents simultaneously. You don’t have to hide your abilities. If you truly possess this talent, our academy will only intensify its efforts in nurturing you.”
Believing that Howard was hesitant to reveal his true talent, Tana turned towards him, wanting to reassure him.
But as she pivoted, their bodies came face to face, their eyes meeting intently.
Tana, after all, was a beautiful woman, and Howard was only human.
Even if he didn’t harbor feelings, his body betrayed a natural reaction.
The sudden and pronounced shift in his lower region pressed against Tana’s thigh, causing her to pause momentarily.
Although Tana might have been inexperienced in such matters, she was no naive young girl.
Recognizing the sensation, her cheeks flushed a deep shade of red. She bit back, “Young man, just what are you thinking?”
As she spoke, Tana swiftly put some distance between them.
Howard waved his hands in a gesture of innocence, saying with exasperation, “Mentor, it was you who stopped abruptly, causing me to bump into you! I’m not the kind to disrespect someone like you!”
Hearing this, Tana couldn’t help but let out a slight “hmm” of disdain.
However, she chose not to dwell on the topic, promptly leading Howard to the remains of the Death Octopus to gather its spoils.
The loot from the Death Octopus was plentiful.
Apart from countless tentacles, there were also two books, a shield resembling a black tentacle, and a unique jade pendant.
The tentacles, without saying, were high-grade materials, sure to fetch a handsome price.
Howard promptly stashed them into his bag.
Subsequently, the properties of the books, shield, and special jade pendant transformed into panels, floating before Howard’s eyes.
[Skill Level-Up Book (Special Consumable Item)]
[Level: 20]
[Grade: Diamond]
[Effect: Upon use, it allows for a skill of S-level or below to increase by 1 level, also transferring any accumulated proficiency to the next level.]
“A book that directly elevates skill level? The effect is quite remarkable, but it’s a pity that it’s restricted by the skill’s grade.”
“If it wasn’t for that, I could directly elevate an SSS-level skill’s level. Acquire a few more of such books, and I would be invincible!”
Lost in his thoughts, Howard instantly utilized the book, opting to upgrade his Frost Arrow Spell.
After all, the Frost Arrow Spell boasts both offensive and control capabilities, making it one of the most frequently used skills at lower levels!
Regarding the second book, its effect made Howard’s eyes light up, and even Tana’s eyes widened in shock.
[Regeneration (S-level passive skill)]
[Level: 1]
[Effect: When sustaining injuries such as fractures, every 1000 HP recovered will heal the user once. After ten healing instances, fractured wounds will regenerate. As long as the head isn’t severed, new flesh and limbs can be regrown.]
[Cooldown: None]
[Mana Cost: None]
[Proficiency: 0/100]
“Holy shit, a skill that allows severed limbs to regrow?!”
“This effect is insanely overpowered!”
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