Chapter 3 : Chapter 3
Chapter 3. A Speech! Brainwashing! Visualization!
Wu You stared at the skill panel, feeling like an unlucky boss who had just taken office only to face a mass employee resignation.
“Come on, bosses, do not do this.”
He rubbed his hands together and forced a flattering smile toward the panel.
“That was my fault earlier. I got too excited. I admit it! I reflect on my mistakes! Let us take the long view. Upward Slash is just… unique. A pioneer! The ones staying behind are the stable pillars, the backbone that holds everything together!”
The icon of [Straight Thrust] flickered again.
This time, it seemed to carry a hint of “scrutiny.”
The icon of [Block] faintly emitted a calm and steady aura.
[Horizontal Slash] and [Quick Step] remained motionless for the moment.
Wu You let out a small breath of relief.
It seemed there was still room for negotiation.
He immediately straightened his posture and began delivering what sounded like an inauguration speech to the panel.
“Esteemed skill masters, we are grasshoppers tied to the same rope… No, no, we are close comrades fighting side by side! Look at my situation. I was kicked out of my family and targeted by that damn—cough, cough—by that goddess. As for you, following a temporarily down-on-his-luck host like me must feel frustrating, right?”
“But!”
His tone suddenly shifted, filled with persuasive enthusiasm.
“The difficulties are temporary! The future is bright! We have a system now! Although this system is a bit unreliable, it is still a cheat! We can absolutely formulate a strategic plan: five years to become godlike, ten years to overthrow the goddess!”
“First of all, I guarantee that I will never boast idly again! I deeply realize that action is the only true truth!”
Wu You slapped his chest, slapping so hard that he coughed twice.
“Second, resources! Although I am currently poor enough to hear coins clatter in my pockets, as long as I obtain energy—whether it is magic cores, crystals, or heavenly treasures—I will prioritize supplying you masters so you can grow stronger! I can live on the north wind if I have to, but you masters must eat first!”
“Finally, our goal!”
His eyes shone with “determination.”
“Our goal is not to become ordinary powerhouses. We will break that damn curse and reach the peak using the most basic techniques! We will show that lofty goddess what kind of brilliance the ‘trash moves’ and ‘insects’ in her eyes can unleash! When that day comes, you will be legendary skills that create history! The kind whose names are written into epics!”
After finishing this speech, even Wu You himself felt his throat dry.
He nervously stared at the panel.
A few seconds later, the [Straight Thrust] icon stabilized and remained steadily lit, as if saying, I will see how you perform.
[Block] remained calm and steady, though its light seemed a bit softer.
The [Horizontal Slash] icon trembled slightly, conveying a faint thought of “worth a try.”
[Quick Step] released a faint ring of pale cyan light, as if saying running away is my specialty, but I can stick with you for now.
“Phew…”
Wu You collapsed back onto the ground and wiped nonexistent sweat from his forehead.
“That was close… Being a host these days is harder than being a grandson.”
【Ding! Congratulations to the host for initially stabilizing morale! Beginner mission triggered: Comfort and Motivation.】
【Mission content: Within 24 hours, provide at least one skill with a “growth insight.” (Suggestions: visualize a basic sword technique diagram, recall combat memories, or invest energy materials.)】
【Mission reward: Slight increase in skill loyalty, random basic attribute point +1.】
“There are missions too?”
Wu You scratched his head.
“Visualize a technique diagram? Where am I supposed to find that… Combat memories? I just arrived in this world. Aside from being scolded and kicked out, what combat memories do I even have…”
His gaze drifted toward a small pile of dry branches in the corner of the cave that he had previously gathered for firewood.
Then he touched his completely empty pockets.
“Energy materials…”
Wu You grimaced.
“The most abundant energy I currently have is probably this body fat… No, I mean this healthy body. I cannot exactly bleed myself to feed my skills, right? That would make me some kind of evil cultivator.”
He frowned and thought hard.
His gaze absentmindedly swept across the rain outside the cave, which was gradually stopping.
Suddenly, a spark of inspiration flashed through his mind.
“I have it!”
“I do not have diagrams, memories, or energy… but I have imagination! The system never said it had to come from this world!”
He immediately focused his mind on the [Straight Thrust] icon and began frantically visualizing in his head.
Not sword technique diagrams from this world.
Instead, he imagined all the incredibly cool and overwhelmingly powerful “piercing attacks” he had seen in movies, games, and anime from his previous life.
The lightsaber thrusts from Star Wars.
The “Gae Bolg” thrust from Cu Chulainn in Fate.
All the dazzling and unstoppable “dash attacks,” “flash strikes,” and “ultimate thrusts” from countless games.
He poured every awesome and powerful mental image related to the act of “piercing” straight into the [Straight Thrust] icon, silently chanting in his mind.
“Boss! Look! This is the true style and potential of a thrust attack! Our goal is the sea of stars! To pierce through everything! Even the goddess’s face!”
Just as Wu You felt like he had nearly exhausted his brain from imagining—
【Ding! Detected that the host has infused skill “Straight Thrust” with a large amount of high-concentration, high-style conceptual insight!】
【Skill “Straight Thrust” has received tremendous shock and inspiration and has entered deep comprehension…】
【Congratulations! Skill “Straight Thrust” favorability toward the host +5, loyalty +5!】
【Congratulations! Under intense stimulation, skill “Straight Thrust” has independently derived an advanced possibility—Prototype of Rapid Thrust!】
【Beginner mission completed! Reward distributed: Random basic attribute point +1 (automatically assigned to Agility).】
Wu You felt his body become slightly lighter, as if his movements could now be a bit faster.
He quickly looked at the panel.
The [Straight Thrust] icon was faintly warm, emitting a sharp and excited aura.
Beside the icon, a faint phantom had appeared.
It looked like a faster and sharper thrust trajectory.
“It… it worked?”
Wu You was both shocked and delighted.
“Does this actually work? Just by using imagination and motivational speeches?”
Before he could celebrate further, another system notification appeared.
【Notice! Skill “Horizontal Slash” is dissatisfied with the host’s preferential treatment! It also requires high-style conceptual insight! Immediately! At once!】
【Skill “Block” transmits a calm but firm intention: it does not pursue flashy techniques, but it longs to witness the ultimate form of “Absolute Defense.”】
【Skill “Quick Step” sends a yearning fluctuation: it wants to know whether the end of speed can truly surpass time and space.】
The smile on Wu You’s face froze.
He looked at his dizzy head after all that intense imagination.
Then he looked at the three skill icons staring at him like hungry mouths waiting to be fed.
“…”
“I… I will think! Stop rushing me! One at a time!”
Wu You held his head with tears in his eyes and began desperately digging through every memory from his previous life for the coolest scenes related to “slashes,” “defense,” and “speed.”
Outside the cave, the moonlight after the rain shone down cold and clear.
Inside the cave, a “trash” who had been abandoned by his family and cursed by a goddess was desperately burning through his pitiful imagination just to feed several “insatiably hungry” and “ill-tempered” skill ancestors.
Meanwhile, somewhere far away in an unknown place, the runaway sword energy of [Upward Slash] stood beneath the moonlight.
Facing a group of trembling low-tier monsters ahead, it was eager to try its blade.