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(Blake's POV)

After slaying the Miasmic Slime, I decided to quickly move to the forest. We had no time to waste, the Necromancer was a big threat, and I had the feeling it was growing stronger constantly. His phantasmal presence was growing by the second. I felt the urge to slay him before he were to become a threat I wouldn't be able to properly handle.

And as we moved towards him, I gave a few glances to the Grimoire, it seems EXP was finally distributed as a few minutes have passed since the last time I earned EXP, the bonus EXP from accumulating large quantities of EXP and also from the Hard Worker Skill were also applied.

[You and your Party have slain [Zombie (F Rank)] x64]

[You and your Party have slain [Skeleton Soldier (F Rank)] x72]

[You and your Party have slain [Miasmic Giant Zombie (E Rank)] x66]

[You and your Party have slain [Miasmic Black Skeleton Warrior (E Rank)] x42]

[You and your Party have slain [Death Wyvern (D Rank)] x1]

[You and your Party have slain [Miasmic Slime (D Rank)] x1]

[Calculating EXP earned…]

[You Earned 452000 EXP]

[Your Level has increased from Level 21 to Leve 22!]

[Your Level has increased from Level 22 to Leve 23!]

[All Your Stats Have Increased]

[You gained Stat Points and Skill Points]

[The Level of [Command: Lv2] Skill has increased to level 3]

[The Level of the [Blood Edge: Lv2] Skill has increased to level 3]

[The Level of [Shadow Manipulation: Lv1] Skill has increased to Level 2]

[The [Blood Edge: Lv3] Skill has awakened into the [Blood Arts: Lv3] Skill]

[The [Blood Arts: Lv3] Skill has gained several new Blood Techniques]

[The [Shadow Manipulation: Lv2] Skill has gained two new Shadow Techniques]

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[Shadow Manipulation: Lv2]

Skill Proficiency: 153/20000

Only those incredibly proficient in Shadow Magic can acquire this Skill. It grants control over the element of shadows limited by the Skill Level and mastery over the power of Shadow Magic, the range of this Skill is also dependent in the Skill Level. Additionally, it grants a +20% enhancement to the power of any Shadow/Darkness Attribute Magic Spell, alongside special techniques unlocked with each Skill Level.

Available Shadow Techniques:

Level 1: [Shadow Domination] [Dark Whip]

Level 2: [Shadow Strings] [Dark Puppeteer]

Level 3: ???

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Now this is interesting. Shadow Manipulation now has two more Shadow Techniques, and they're just what I had thought they would be after my small experimentation using Shadow Domination. By leveling up the Skill, an extension to this Shadow Control Ability emerged in the form of Shadow Strings and Dark Puppeteer.

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[Shadow Strings]

Creates strings made of shadows and darkness which can be used to control inanimate objects that had been previously possessed using Shadow Domination. These strings can allow for greater and more dexterous manipulation. One string can be used for each finger in both hands.

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[Dark Puppeteer]

Enhances Shadow Strings and Shadow Domination ability to combine effects when activated, while also allowing for the ability to attach Shadow Strings into the shadows of other things, living or not. The ability to control such target's using Shadow Strigs is entirely dependent in the target's strength, resistance, and the user's magic power and skill level.

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Interesting! This might certainly become useful in the near, very near future.

And of course, something complete unexpected happened as well, Blood Edge evolved into Blood Arts. I glanced at Eleanora's Status but her own Blood Edge had yet to awaken in such a way.

Is there some condition I fulfilled that allowed the awakening of the skill? Well, perhaps increasing my knowledge of blood magic, as I've boosted my body capabilities using Blood Magic to reach enough strength to slice through the Miasmic Slime's Cores.

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[Blood Arts: Lv3]

Skill Proficiency: 23/30000

Only those incredibly proficient in Blood Magic can acquire this Skill or awaken it from the Lesser Skill [Blood Edge]. It grants control over the element of blood limited by the Skill Level and mastery over the power of Blood Magic, the range of this Skill is also dependent in the Skill Level. Additionally, it grants a +20% enhancement to the power of any Blood Attribute Magic Spell, alongside special techniques unlocked with each Skill Level.

Available Blood Techniques:

Level 1: [Blood Flow Acceleration] [Blood Edge]

Level 2: [Blood Pump] [Blood Blade]

Level 3: [Bloodlust] [Crimson Claws]

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I see, these are more straightforward. I believe I can use most of such abilities through Blood Ki Techniques and Magic. Is this a way for the Grimoire to recognize these techniques and make them into a Skill? Like this, with each level, the techniques are enhanced in powers and effects by +20%, at this point, at level 3, they're enhanced by +60%, which is amazing.

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[Blood Flow Acceleration]

Enhances the speed of blood flow, sharpening senses and increasing Agility, Speed, Dexterity, and Evasion by +10% with each Skill Level for 10 minutes.

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[Blood Edge]

Manipulates the blood of the user or any blood at hand, making it as sharp as a knife, damage dealt increases by +10% with each Skill Level.

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[Blood Pump]

Make your blood pump and boil, enhancing your Strength and Vitality by +10% with each Skill Level.

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[Blood Blade]

Shape your own blood or any at hand into a sharp blade to slice your foes, increasing damage dealt by +15% with each Skill Level.

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[Bloodlust]

Let out all your bloodlust, intimidating foes and lowering their Strength, Agility, and Dexterity by -5% with each Skill Level, only works on intimidated foes.

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[Crimson Claws]

Coat your hands with your own blood or any you've got at hand, sharpening, and hardening it into sharp claws that can easily slice through metal, bones, and flesh. Damage dealt increases by +15% with each Skill Level and Ignores -5% of the foe's Defenses with every Skill Level. Last as long as the claws break.

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This is better than I had imagined… With this not only can I enhance my own stats a lot, but I've got a nice arrangement of attacking Techniques I can easily use that are enhanced even more…

I wonder if that Necromancer can be intimidated… I'll have to find a way.

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