Light Armor

"Light Armor"

Whether one could learn a Development Ability upon Level Up did not depend on luck, but on the Experience Points one had accumulated so far.

Just like with basic abilities, if one wanted to improve a certain attribute, one needed to take corresponding actions. Only by actually performing actions that used that ability could one accumulate the nourishment—Experience Points—needed to raise it, which would then be turned into tangible growth when one's Ability Value was updated.

Potential and talent also mattered, but generally speaking, the Development Ability one learned upon Level Up depended on the actions one had taken.

As long as one took the necessary actions and accumulated enough Experience Points to trigger a certain Development Ability, that Development Ability would appear on one's Falna upon Level Up, allowing one to learn it.

Conversely, if one had not gained any noteworthy Experience Points or met the conditions for learning a Development Ability, then even if one Leveled Up, one would not be able to learn one.

Because of this, if one acquired suitable Experience Points, multiple Development Abilities might appear for one to choose from.

Riezel was currently in just such a situation.

"You've triggered four Development Abilities, but you can only choose one to learn. If you want to Level Up right away, you'll have to make your choice now."

Loki told Riezel this, then listed the four Development Abilities he had triggered.

"The first Development Ability is—Hunter."

This was a Development Ability specifically for dealing with monsters. The condition for triggering it was defeating a large number of monsters within a short period of time.

Once one learned this Development Ability, when facing monsters of the same type that one had previously fought and gained Experience Points from, the Ability Values of the adventurer possessing it would be enhanced.

This Development Ability could only be learned when advancing to Lv.2, making it quite difficult to obtain and therefore very valuable. Since adventurers generally explored the Dungeon for a living and frequently had to face monsters, it was highly sought after by both adventurers and gods alike. It was an ability most adventurers hoped to acquire.

Although Riezel had only received his Falna about a week ago, he had delved into the Dungeon every day and immersed himself in battle after battle. As a result, he had defeated a huge number of monsters in that brief period, successfully meeting the conditions to learn Hunter.

"The second Development Ability is—Abnormal Resistance."

This was the Development Ability mentioned earlier, capable of resisting abnormal symptoms such as poisoning. The condition for triggering it was having suffered damage from an abnormal status.

A type of Purple Moth that could scatter poisonous scale powder frequently appeared on the Upper Floors of the Dungeon. The poison powder they scattered could easily harm adventurers, so most adventurers had been afflicted by abnormal statuses fairly early on, making this Development Ability relatively easy to obtain.

Thanks to that, most adventurers could gain the Development Ability Abnormal Resistance upon reaching Lv.2. This barely counted as a guaranteed benefit for everyone reaching Lv.2, preventing most adventurers from ending up in the awkward situation of having no Development Abilities at all after Leveling Up.

Riezel had likewise been harassed by Purple Moths, so triggering this Development Ability was perfectly normal.

Those two Development Abilities were both relatively practical and easy to trigger for adventurers who frequently entered and left the Dungeon, dealing with monsters every day.

Even most First Class Adventurers of the Loki Familia had learned these two Development Abilities, as had the rest of the adventurers.

Two of the four Development Abilities Riezel had triggered were precisely those.

But the next two Development Abilities were different.

"Your third Development Ability is—Swordsman."

Loki tilted her head and smiled.

"This is a relatively rare Development Ability. Only first-rate swordsmen have any chance of triggering it. Even in our Familia, only Ais has it, and she didn't learn it until she reached Lv.4. Yet you've met the conditions to learn it when you're only reaching Lv.2. If Ais finds out, she'll definitely feel depressed, huh?"

The effect of this Development Ability was simple as well: it enhanced its holder's Ability Values while they were equipped with a sword.

The higher the ability's stage, the greater the enhancement. Even at Stage I, when one had only just learned it, the increase was fairly noticeable.

If nothing unexpected happened, Riezel was more inclined to choose Swordsman as well.

Although Hunter was an ability that could only be learned upon reaching Lv.2, making it relatively valuable and the sort one would lose the chance to obtain once missed, it could only be useful against monsters—and only monsters one had already defeated. For Riezel, who would not remain in this world permanently but would travel through various worlds, it would be far less useful.

As for Abnormal Resistance, there was no need to choose it at all. Riezel's skill effect already granted him Abnormal Resistance, and at the highest level at that. Why waste a precious learning opportunity on a Stage I Abnormal Resistance?

With that in mind, Riezel naturally leaned toward choosing Swordsman.

However, the appearance of the fourth Development Ability made Riezel hesitate.

"Your fourth Development Ability is—Light Armor."

Loki's words made Riezel freeze slightly.

"Light Armor?"

Riezel furrowed his brow, certain that he had never heard of this Development Ability.

Even Riezel, who knew the original work well, did not know of this Development Ability. Its rarity was therefore obvious.

This was what Loki said.

"I've never heard of this ability before. Even the Guild's registry of Development Abilities that have appeared before has no record of it."

Loki turned her gaze toward Riezel, the smile on her face growing broader and more pronounced.

"This is a genuine rare ability. You might even be the first person to discover it, you know?"

In other words, it was one of a kind.

"This must be one of the fruits of that unknown potential of yours finally blooming, right?" Loki said, somewhat excited and agitated. "Pick this one, Riezel boy. I've got a feeling this ability should be really strong!"

As a god who pursued the unknown and sought thrills and entertainment, Loki naturally did not want to miss out on such a unique treasure of an ability.

However, the person concerned ignored his overly excited patron deity and merely asked calmly, "What effect does this Development Ability have?"

"I don't know either." Loki shook her head. "But from what I understand, it should be an ability that trades away defense in exchange for extraordinary speed."

A god's eyesight and powers of observation were no trifling matter.

Even from only vague fragments of information, a god could judge the general effects and type of a Development Ability based on the tendencies of the Experience Points that had triggered it.

So Loki explained it to Riezel.

"If I understand it correctly, then after learning this ability, the less equipment and weight you carry, the more agile you'll become."

This was a Development Ability meant to enhance "Dexterity" and "Agility."

It was the complete opposite of "Swordsman," which required a sword to be equipped in order to trigger its effects. The requirement for activating "Light Armor" was reducing the equipment worn on one's body.

That was why Loki called it an ability that sacrificed defense in exchange for extraordinary speed.

Because of Light Armor's requirements, once he learned this ability, Riezel would likely have to completely give up overly heavy equipment in the future.

Especially heavy gear like armor. If he equipped such things, Light Armor would lose its effect entirely.

In fact, considering that its enhancement grew greater the less equipment he wore, Riezel would probably be better off no longer using even the leather armor he had been wearing until now.

That would reduce Riezel's protection to the bare minimum.

In exchange, however, his "Dexterity" and "Agility" would receive a significant boost.

"You can tell from your Ability Values too. The abilities you're best at are Dexterity and Agility. And since you've always worn lightweight leather armor, that's probably why you triggered this Development Ability, right?"

"Of course, since a Development Ability like this has never appeared before, there might be other conditions that need to be met to trigger it."

"Either way, this ability is definitely exceptionally rare. If you don't choose it, you might never get another chance to obtain it."

As though she were tempting him into something, Loki flashed Riezel a sly grin.

"So? What're you gonna choose?"

By this point, what choice did Riezel even have?

He would not choose either "Hunter" or "Abnormal Resistance."

"Swordsman" was certainly valuable, but Ais had been able to learn it at Lv.4. Riezel would definitely be able to learn it in the future as well, so there was no need to rush.

With all that considered, was there even any need to think about which ability Riezel should choose?

"Help me Level Up."

Riezel's answer immediately got Loki fired up.

"Alright! Here we go!"

Loki worked on Riezel's back with growing excitement.

Before long, the Level Up was complete.

Riezel Brihaut

Lv.2

Strength: I0

Endurance: I0

Dexterity: I0

Agility: I0

Magic: I0

Light Armor: I

After Leveling Up, his basic abilities and proficiencies had all been reset to their initial values, starting again from I0.

The Ability Values he had accumulated so far had not disappeared. They existed in a latent form, which was why the higher one's growth stage before Leveling Up, the stronger one became afterward.

Only magic, skills, and Development Abilities would not be reset. Development Abilities in particular would remain no matter how high one leveled up, which made them exceptionally difficult to improve.

Take Ais, for example. She had obtained her Hunter ability when she rose to Lv.2 at the age of eight. Yet after training for so many years, it had only reached the G stage, improving by just two ranks.

Swordsman was even more absurd. Ais had obtained it at Lv.4, several years ago, yet even now, after all that time, it was still only I. That showed just how difficult it was to improve Development Abilities.

There was a reason Loki had called Riezel's Endless Path downright monstrous.

After all, it had granted Riezel three Development Abilities at the highest rank.

"Well, maybe you'll bring about another kind of growth that leaves everyone dumbfounded."

Loki patted Riezel on the shoulder and spoke with a smile.

"Anyway, congratulations on Leveling Up."

Hearing that, Riezel smiled faintly and nodded.