Chapter 252 - 164: Unexpected Attributes and Evolution
Chapter 252: Chapter 164: Unexpected Attributes and Evolution
This upgrade gave him a general idea of the skill’s future progression.
If each level up added another 5%, then by the time the Epic Skill reached its Full Level of Level 8, the clone would inherit 85% of Lin Mo’s own Attributes.
That was already a considerable figure.
Composing himself, Lin Mo decided to strike while the iron was hot and cast [Shadow Splitting] again to hunt nearby.
The skill required the user to multitask. To use it effectively, one needed to be capable of making precise maneuvers and decisions for both oneself and the clone.
Frankly, it was like trying to draw a circle with one hand and a square with the other, only much, much harder.
It was only thanks to his powerful Spiritual Power that Lin Mo could manage it.
But at his current proficiency, there were bound to be flaws in actual combat. He definitely needed more practice.
[Shadow Splitting] Proficiency +11
[Shadow Splitting] Proficiency +3
...
’Hm?’
Lin Mo froze for a moment, staring intently at the message before him.
Yes, it was definitely 11 and 3 points. But his clone had just killed a Level 2 Demon and a Level 1 Demon, respectively.
Before, a Level 2 Demon had granted at least 12 points, and that hadn’t changed even when [Shadow Splitting] was only Level 1.
But after the Skill Level rose to Level 2, the gain seemed to have dropped slightly.
’As I thought. Compared to Excellence Level Skills, Epic Skills have higher leveling requirements—and those requirements increase along with the Skill Level.’
And for Level 1 Demons, the proficiency gained had plummeted from 8 points to 3.
’This probably doesn’t have much to do with the Skill Level. The base amount must have been lowered significantly.’
As the party moved forward, Lin Mo continued his tests.
He confirmed that Level 1 Demons now gave 3 points. Sub-adult Goblins, not even Level 1, gave even less—only 1 point. And as for trash mobs like Ordinary Goblins...
No notification popped up, but after his clone ran into and killed over a dozen Goblins, his proficiency had only increased by a single point.
Level 2 Demons were still manageable. The proficiency gain had only decreased slightly and was more or less the same as before...
’The real question is how it’ll change later on.’
After a long stretch of killing, Lin Mo finally gathered enough proficiency to raise the skill to Level 3.
"Skill [Shadow Splitting] Level 2 (40/40) has leveled up!"
"Current Skill: [Shadow Splitting] Level 3 (0/80)"
’Getting from Level 3 to Level 4 already requires 80 proficiency? This is tough...’
’What about the upgrade effect? It should be the same as last time, right?’
Just as Lin Mo was about to check the skill’s upgraded effects, the next line of text made him freeze.
"You have gained attribute points: Agility +4, Strength +1!"
"What?!!"
’This... this can’t be right?’
’Before, Excellence Level Skills only gave attribute points at Level 4. Why would an Epic Skill give them at Level 3?’
’Does this mean Epic Skills grant attribute points more than three times?’
Lin Mo clearly remembered Uncle Bain telling him that skills grant attribute boosts a total of three times.
The first is when you learn the skill, the second when you become proficient with it, and the third when you’ve completely mastered it.
’But maybe skills of Epic grade and higher break that rule, giving four boosts instead of three?’
’If that’s the case, then it’s probably one boost upon acquisition, one at Level 3, another at Level 5 or 6, and a final one at Level 8, the Full Level...’
’Not bad at all.’
This revelation instantly eased the frustration Lin Mo had been feeling about how difficult the skill was to level up.
At Level 3, Shadow Splitting’s effects were enhanced once more.
[Shadow Splitting] Level 3 (0/80): Transform your shadow into a clone to fight alongside you! The shadow inherits 60% of the caster’s Attributes but cannot use Skills. The clone continuously consumes Qi and Blood while active, and its maximum duration is 420 seconds.
’So, each level up does add 5% to the inherited attributes, just as I guessed.’
The maximum duration, however, was a different story.
’At Level 1, it was 300 seconds. At Level 2, it was 350, an increase of 50 seconds. Logically, Level 3 should be 400 seconds, but it’s actually 420, an extra 20 seconds on top.’
’I wonder what the pattern is... or if there even is one.’
In addition to the attribute points and the skill’s own enhancement, there was, of course, the choice of an Evolutionary Path.
Please select an Evolutionary Direction—
Evolutionary Path 1: Shifting Form II: Swap positions with the clone. Can be used 2 times per activation.
Evolutionary Path 2: Self-Destruction I: The clone will self-destruct when taking fatal damage, when about to disappear, or when manually triggered, causing massive damage.
Just like last time, this second evolutionary choice allowed him to either strengthen the previous path or add an entirely new one.
’Level II Shifting Form grants one extra use compared to Level I, which is a decent upgrade. But compared to gaining a brand new ability, I’m more inclined to choose Evolutionary Path 2.’
’After all, this Self-Destruction can be triggered manually, and its power should be considerable.’
’With Self-Destruction, I’ll be able to level this skill even faster.’
’Besides, I’ll have more chances to choose an Evolutionary Path later. It seems like Epic Skills get more of these choices than Excellence Level ones anyway.’
’Onward!’
Having made his choice, Lin Mo eagerly began his next test.
Shadow Splitting!
Lin Mo moved to the side and cast the skill again.
His shadow, which had only just returned to him, vanished once more, reappearing behind a nearby tree.
’That’s right. Through continuous use, I’ve discovered that I don’t have to summon the clone right in front of me. I can summon it anywhere my shadow reaches.’