Now then, I just acquired a new Skill that might let me actually use Detection properly, so why don't I give it a try right away?
Inhale, exhale.
Good.
Detection on.
Gwahh!
Nope, nope!
Off, off!
《Proficiency has reached a set value. Skill "Parallel Thinking LV1" has leveled up to "Parallel Thinking LV2"》 《Proficiency has reached a set value. Skill "Detection LV4" has leveled up to "Detection LV5"》 Haaagh, haaaah.
My head hurts.
Let's see.
Parallel Thinking's Skill Level is 1.
Based on how my other Skills have been, Level 1 didn't exactly inspire confidence.
I didn't feel like much had changed.
I mean, Parallel Thinking did level up this time, but Detection went up at the same time, so what's the point?
If Detection levels up, it's meaningless!
If Detection levels up, the amount of information increases, and that's no good!
Even if Parallel Thinking goes up, if Detection goes up too, it's a wash.
Detection grows at a rate that makes no sense every single time I activate it — forget a wash, it'll leave me in the dust.
Plus, Pride's effect is probably making it grow even faster.
Seriously, what even is this thing called Detection?
It's an absolute monster.
Even I can't do a thing against it.
I never imagined a threat on the level of an Earth Dragon would be this close.
I don't feel like I could win.
Anyway, I guess for now I'll just have to wait for Parallel Thinking's Level to go up.
As things stand, I can't seem to split my thoughts or anything, and the only way I can think of to farm Proficiency is to stare at Appraisal results while thinking about something.
I could probably gain Proficiency by activating Detection, but that would be putting the cart before the horse.
Hmmm.
Still, I don't think the idea itself is wrong.
If my thinking ability gets enhanced, I should be able to use Detection properly — in theory.
Parallel Thinking was the Skill that looked most promising out of the ones I checked on the list, though.
Ugh.
Let me check the list again.
My Points have decreased, so fewer Skills are displayed than before.
Even so, there are still quite a few showing.
Most Skills probably cost 100 Points to acquire.
Except for some high-performance ones, and the crazy Skills.
Well, one of those crazy Skills, Pride, was somehow obtainable for 100 Points.
Anyway, for acquiring the ability to use Detection, the Skills that look useful are— "Arithmetic Processing: Enhances the arithmetic capability of thinking."
"Memory: Improves memory."
Is that about it?
Surprisingly few.
And the Memory one feels like it's not quite what I need.
So that leaves Arithmetic Processing — but even if I got that, would I really be able to use Detection?
Hmmm.
Even Parallel Thinking, which I thought looked the most promising, turned out like this.
Arithmetic Processing probably wouldn't be all that useful at low Levels either.
Oh, wait— Arithmetic Processing is basically math, right?
If I do mental calculations, I should be able to gain Proficiency, right?
Yeah.
I've got nothing to do while just walking along, so it's worth a try.
Okay then, I'll just keep calculating powers of 2.
2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64…
…8192, 16384, um, 32768?
Getting pretty tough now.
What's next?
Let's see— 《Proficiency has reached a set value. You have acquired Skill "Arithmetic Processing LV1"》 Oh!
Nice.
Goal achieved.
Hmm.
I'll give it one test run, just in case?
Probably won't work, but let's give it a shot and see what happens — if I'm wrong, I'm wrong.
Inhale, exhale.
Good.
Detection on.
Gblblblbl!
Nope, nope!
Off, off!
《Proficiency has reached a set value. Skill "Arithmetic Processing LV1" has leveled up to "Arithmetic Processing LV2"》 《Proficiency has reached a set value. Skill "Parallel Thinking LV2" has leveled up to "Parallel Thinking LV3"》 《Proficiency has reached a set value. Skill "Detection LV5" has leveled up to "Detection LV6"》 《Proficiency has reached a set value. Skill "Outsider Resistance LV2" has leveled up to "Outsider Resistance LV3"》 Haaagh, haaaah.
My head hurts.
This is impossible.
Nope, nope.
My head's gonna split open.
I hate pain.
Aaah, no good— Wait, where did Pain Reduction go?!
I've been through experiences that nearly killed me, and even I can't handle this pain — what does that even mean?!
And why did Outsider Resistance level up?!
Could it be?
Is Detection's attack that otherworldly?
I'll just call it an attack at this point, okay?
Since my Resistance went up and all.
Let me think about this seriously.
Outsider Resistance leveling up means Detection's effect isn't just on my thoughts — it's directly affecting my soul.
Could half of this headache be coming from my soul?
Ugh, creepy!
If I keep this up, won't my soul wear down or something?
Please don't let me wake up as a vegetable.
《Proficiency has reached a set value. Skill "Prediction LV3" has leveled up to "Prediction LV4"》 Oh, right.
Thank goodness Prediction's effect isn't "hits the correct answer"!
Safe.
It's still Prediction, so I'm safe.
Let's just go with that.
Hmm.
But then again, if there's a Skill related to the soul, maybe I could withstand Detection?
There aren't any soul-related Skills on the list though.
Outsider Resistance is the only one.
I guess I have no choice but to raise Outsider Resistance?
…How am I supposed to do that, though?
Aaah.
No good.
I'll stick with the original plan — raising Parallel Thinking and Arithmetic Processing.
The fact that both Skills leveled up when I activated Detection means they're at least doing something.
Until then, Detection stays sealed.
Using it recklessly is too scary.