Ah, wait — if Heterodox Resistance turned into Heterodox Nullification, does that mean I won't get headaches from Detection anymore?
Heterodox is an attribute of attack, right?
They call it an attack, but that's fine, isn't it?
That Pain Reduction couldn't fully block the pain, so it's not just a normal headache, right?
If the heterodox attribute attack embedded in Detection gets nullified, wouldn't that headache go away too?
Only one way to find out.
Alright!
Detection, activate!
...Wow.
That's incredible.
Seriously incredible.
Up until now, I'd been gritting my teeth through the headache and had no bandwidth to appreciate this, but without the headache, it turns out this is what it's really like?
I activated Detection and got no headache.
Well, technically there was a tiny bit, but thanks to Pain Reduction it's negligible.
The headache I'm feeling now is probably just the normal kind from overexerting my brain — like a fever from thinking too hard.
That's how enormous the volume of information from Detection is.
*Your Proficiency has reached a threshold. Skill "Arithmetic Processing LV8" has become "Arithmetic Processing LV9."* *Your Proficiency has reached a threshold. Skill "Parallel Thinking LV6" has become "Parallel Thinking LV7."* *Your Proficiency has reached a threshold. Skill "Detection LV7" has become "Detection LV8."* *Your Proficiency has reached a threshold. Skill "Divine Domain Expansion LV1" has been acquired.* Looks like I gained a new Skill, but I can check it later.
Right now, I want to bask in this moment a little longer.
I'm glad Detection worked, of course. But more than that, I was completely overwhelmed by what Detection delivers.
It felt as though every scrap of information about every piece of space I could perceive was pouring in all at once.
The flow of magic power, the state of matter, the movement of air — countless streams of data flooded into my mind.
This is... I'm getting a mild god complex just from this.
I can grasp everything around me.
Information that would normally be impossible to process — but with the power of a Skill, I can understand at least a portion of it.
Even that portion alone was a staggering ocean of knowledge, like catching a glimpse of the universe's deepest truths.
And this is just the tiny sliver of space I can perceive.
It really drives home how vast and magnificent the world truly is.
Crap, I'm about to start crying without even knowing why.
I don't know if a spider can even produce tears, though.
Let me turn off Detection for a second.
Whew.
That was something.
What even is this inexplicable emotion I'm feeling?
If I had to compare it... it's like looking up at a sky full of stars and feeling moved to tears.
Something like that.
Ahh, I'd love to stay immersed in the emotion a bit longer, but I should shift gears.
Detection was a success.
Should I keep it active all the time going forward?
Hmm.
But it might actually be inconvenient if it's too high-performance.
I'd end up knowing too much, and in the middle of combat, that awareness could work against my concentration.
Then again, couldn't I just get used to it over time?
Right now, just keeping it active is overwhelming, but with Appraisal I felt dizzy at first too and I'm fine with it now. If I leave it on permanently, I should acclimate eventually.
So it might be a little risky at first, but I'm going to keep Detection running all the time.
Other Skills will level up from the extra exposure too, and that's better in the long run.
Alright then — Detection back on.
Whoooaa.
Seriously incredible.
But, no time to be awestruck.
First, let me check the Skills I just acquired.
*Your Proficiency has reached a threshold. Skill "Parallel Thinking LV7" has become "Parallel Thinking LV8."* *Your Proficiency has reached a threshold. Skill "Divine Domain Expansion LV1" has become "Divine Domain Expansion LV2."* Oh, the levels on those Skills already went up.
What is this Skill, anyway?
Come to think of it, the description for Endurance also mentioned something about a Divine Domain.
Endurance said it expands something too, right?
This is also expanding?
So my Divine Domain has been expanding like crazy left and right?
Well, no use speculating — time to Appraise it.
*Divine Domain Expansion: Expands the Divine Domain.* Thanks for the riveting description.
Whatever. This is where Appraisal really shines!
Time for the double Appraise!
*Divine Domain: The deep spiritual realm of the soul possessed by all living things. It is the wellspring of all Life and the ultimate domain upon which the self depends.* Hmm?
I don't really get it.
I mean, I vaguely understand it's an important part of the soul, but what does expanding it actually do for me?
Hmm.
Still unknown, then.
I assume it's a good thing since it's increasing, but with no tangible symptoms to speak of...
*Your Proficiency has reached a threshold. Skill "Arithmetic Processing LV9" has become "Arithmetic Processing LV10."* *Conditions met. Skill "Arithmetic Processing LV10" has evolved into "High-Speed Calculation LV1."* *Your Proficiency has reached a threshold. Skill "Detection LV8" has become "Detection LV9."* Skills still level up crazy fast!?
Arithmetic Processing already hit the cap!
Evolved into High-Speed Calculation, huh.
Looks like a straight-up upgrade. Nice.
Now then — the performance I originally wanted from Detection was, first and foremost, scouting.
But my own base detection ability was already pretty solid, so I'd been getting by fine without it up to now.
Combined with the Skill's power though, it's become perfect.
I think it's safe to say that surprise attacks against me are now impossible!
Ambushes shall not be tolerated!
Next on my wish list was Magic Power Perception.
If my theory is correct, combining this with Magic Power Operation should finally let me cast the spells I've been dreaming of.
That means all those Abyss Magic and Heterodox Magic spells that have been gathering dust will finally be usable!
But I don't have any Skill Points!
Damn it!
I don't regret taking Endurance, but not having Skill Points really hurts.
Besides, I was planning to use my next Skill Points on the Demonic Eye!
What do I do?
I want both!
Argh!
I know it's a first-world problem, but which one should I pick!?