A Skill Maker: Reincarnation

The forest was quiet, save for the occasional distant rumble — echoes of someone else's battle, or a skill being cast far off. In one shaded area beneath a crooked tree, a thick bush and a moss-covered boulder concealed a hidden spot. Lying there was a young man, bloodied and battered, his back pressed against the stone. A bag rested on his lap, opened just enough to reveal a few glass bottles inside.

Despite being drenched in blood, sweat, and dirt, the young man — Matthew — looked surprisingly fine. Not fresh, not clean, but alive and calm. His face, beneath the grime, still held a healthy glow.

"It is a health potion," Matthew said, almost singing the words in quiet satisfaction. As he leaned his head back against the boulder, a warm wave spread through his chest. It traveled down his arms, along his spine, curling around the aches and throbbing bruises, dulling them, then healing them. He could feel it — the torn flesh knitting together, the fractured bones mending. Blood filled the veins that had been emptied just hours ago. It was... miraculous.

"That solves everything," he muttered with a grin as he glanced at the remaining two bottles, now glowing faintly in the bag. He gently closed it, strapped it over his shoulder, and pushed himself up with a groan. As he stood, he stretched his arms wide. The popping of joints and bones realigning felt oddly satisfying. His body felt light — no more pain, no stiffness. In fact, he felt almost... reborn.

Hunger clawed at his gut, but he pushed it aside with a shrug. "But let's deal with that later... We've got a score to chase down — and a target to beat up," he said to himself, his tone half serious, half amused.

And with that, he stepped back into the woods.

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Matthew moved through the forest like a shadow. He wasn't just looking for a fight. He was hunting — planning — waiting. His method was simple: find a group, draw them out, make them think they had him, and when they were all in position, all gathered up, he'll wipe them out with a single use of [Cut].

He was sparing with it. He had to be.

The skill cost him something every time.

Fifty milliliters of blood per cast — it didn't sound like much, but it added up fast.

His first encounter was with a pack of horned hounds. There were six of them, prowling around a dried-out clearing. He waited, watched from a ridge above, and tossed a stone to draw their attention. One growl turned into a chorus, and within seconds they were charging toward the sound.

He let them come.

He ran, fast but slow enough to make them feel confident — let them believe they were gaining up on him. When he reached a small dip in the land, flanked by two boulders and choked with roots, he stopped. He turned around, hands already in the last hand seal.

And as the dogs jumped in, baring fangs, he activated the skill with a single word.

"Cut."

The wind answered.

A single sharp, invisible blade carved through the clearing in a cruel sweep. Blood sprayed into the trees. Six bodies fell mid-leap, carved clean.

Matthew didn't wait to admire it. He moved on, already breathing harder than he wanted to admit.

.....

The next group were goblins — ten of them — surrounding a carcass and fighting over it like animals. He used the same method. Taunted them, ran, then led them into a hollow between rocks.

"Cut."

One use.

All ten were sliced, toppled over in silence.

He kept moving.

More monsters fell — a group of beetle-armored creatures near a cave entrance, shredded in one sweep. A pair of thin, wiry ape-like things that attacked in tandem — baited, cornered, and wiped.

Each time, one use.

Each time, the cost added up.

By the time he reached his ninth cast, he could feel it deep in his body. His head buzzed with a dizzy hum. His hands were shaking. His skin was pale again, and cold sweat clung to his back like ice. The forest was spinning slightly whenever he moved too fast. His vision flickered every now and then — just a flash of white, a skip in reality, like his brain couldn't keep up.

'I....I should rest for a bit' he thought, steadying himself on a tree trunk. He groaned as he tries to catch his breath.

His throat felt dry.. 'I ..Im thirsty ' he sighed and leaned his back on the tree. Looking up, he paused for a bit before groaning in frustration. It's not like he can choose to not do it.. he needs some water.

Up on the tree he's looking around. He looked like a mess again. The blood that had dried from this morning had mixed in with his sweat. The dirt also did the same. He looked like he had rolled around on the ground.. well.. he did do that but you get what I mean.

After resting for a bit from climbing the tree, he got up and balanced himself in the tree branch. Grabbing on whatever he can hold on to, to keep a stable hold. Then he began looking around using his [zoom] to check for any bodies of water.

He remember that there should be a river somewhere.. he had set his camp somewhere near it last night. But after getting spotted he left that place the next morning. And had kinda forgot where it was.

After a while, he finally found a hint. He could see something in the distance. It was faint since there's a lot of trees in the way. But he was certain that he saw a river stream. Or maybe a creek?

He's not sure, but anything's fine as long as it was clean enough to boil it for a drink. Then carefully, he climbed down the tree and began making his way in the direction where he spotted it.

Then he paused. "Fuuuuuckk!!" A long drawn out cursed escape his lips. "I forgot the bamboo thing!" He cursed himself and roughly ruffled his own hair in frustration.

'how an I suppose to boil the — ...ah nevermind.. I have kept the empty bottle of potions from earlier in the bag' he suddenly laughed and palmed his own face from his stupidity. And finally he continued moving again.

Through the journey, he kept his guard up and his senses wide awake. He spammed the shit out of Zoom to check his surroundings. And successfully avoiding unnecessary fight.

Either from another or another people. Not after what happened with that air guy that almost killed him. 'Now that I think about it.. I'm pretty sure I had a strange dream'

With his face contorted in a look of confusion he tried to recall what it was only for him to fail and moved on. 'Maybe it's something worthless anyway'... A space shudders and collapse on some unknown space... But who cares about that? It's not like someone was offended right?

Anyway, after walking for a while he was finally nearing the stupid creek he saw. He could even hear the faint sound of running water. Jogging in with a relief he was about to geab the bag when he saw something that made his heart skip.

Hhe didn't even have the chance to move when a humanoid creature turned around and faced him after sensing his presence.

It stood in the middle of a creek, sloshing through shallow water with each step. A large, muscular lizardman — but not the weak ones. This one was bigger, heavier, more battle-worn. Its body was scaled like cracked stone, green-gray and scarred. Muscles bulged under its thick hide, and in its hands was a jagged, cruel-looking spear.

It quickly turned it's attention to him, growling in a low rumbling noise coming from his throat. It stepped closer, ready to snap forward to its prey.

Matthew knew immediately — this wasn't going to be like the others. It reminded him of the boar from the night before. Maybe stronger. Maybe not. But just as dangerous.

'Shit fuck.. no wonder everything went smoothly!'

He didn't act right away.

Instead, he slightly lowered his body grabbed the bag and threw it in a nearby bush not wanting to get damage if ge ever finds himself rolling around. Ready to dash or even jump at any moment, he quickly formed the hand seals. From Horse to Rooster and finally the Serpent seal. And he held it, steady and firm, his fingers locking into place.

He didn't say the skill's name.

Not yet at least. He waited, and saw a faint twitched in the Lizard man's leg

Then, he moved before the creature did. He quickly ran to the right, his hand still held together.

And at the same time the creature let out a harsh hiss, slamming the butt of its spear into the water before charging forward. Matthew didn't run — not far — just enough to stay ahead. He dodged to the side as the spear missed his ribs by inches. Then he ducked, rolled, and kept moving.

His breathing was ragged. His legs felt like jelly. His side throbbed, his arms shook. The lost of blood from all the skill cast made him tire out easily.

But he hadn't cast the skill yet. He couldn't waste it. He have to find a perfect timing, and the perfect spot to attack this stupid gecko.

Because he was sure, choosing a random spot would just waste his precious skill cast.. like that stupid piggy..

The lizardman lunged again, its jagged weapon nearly scraping his shoulder. He stumbled in a hiss but kept upright, barely.

He kept moving, he circled, kept dodging, and rolling, waiting for the right moment.

And then it came. His eyes widdened.

The spear lifted high. The lizardman roared, its back arching, muscles tightening. It was aiming for a finishing downward strike.

But Matthew didn't flinch. This was the moment he had been waiting for and he was ready.

With a cold trembling voice he muttered.

"Cut."

The wind answered again — sharp, silent, deadly.

The blade struck the lizardman's belly. Blood exploded out, the creature doubling over mid-swing. But it didn't fall. It didn't die.

Not yet.

Matthew clenched his teeth. His head swam. His hands moved again, faster this time. He gathered what little energy he had left.

"Cut," he whispered again — voice hoarse, tone desperate groaning as he summoned his skill.

This one was different. He poured everything into it.

The wind lashed out, stronger than before, deadlier. The invisible blade howled through the air and struck the creature's neck.

It didn't slice clean.

It tore.

The head ripped away, not perfectly, not gracefully — but enough.

The body collapsed. Blood soaked the water.

Matthew dropped to one knee, panting. He couldn't feel his fingertips anymore. His body was spent. [Cut] had been used thirteen times. 650 milliliters of blood gone.

He was running on fumes.

He didn't even take the leg. He just stood there, swaying, staring at the body.

Then, with heavy steps, he climbed up into a tree. It took everything just to move. His fingers gripped the bark like his life depended on it.

And when he reached the top, he sat down, legs dangling, chest rising and falling slowly.

He pulled out a potion — one of the last.

He drank.

And as the warmth returned to his body in small waves, he looked up.

Far in the distance, beyond the canopy, something stirred in the sky. Clouds had begun to gather unnaturally. Not just gray, but thick and heavy — layered like armor, pulsing with veins of lightning. Thunder cracked through the air with no delay.

Matthew narrowed his eyes.

The clouds were circling something. Focusing on a single point. A storm centered not by nature, but by something else.

He didn't blink.

He just muttered one word as the wind pushed against his face and the potion glass slipped from his fingers.

"Zoom."

His eyes locked on the forming storm. Then he glanced sown towards the ground. And within it, the faintest silhouette. And if his guess was right....

"...Hans?.." he smiled.. maybe its time to fulfill his quest?

.....

Current score: 901 / 1000

Second day of the examination, dusk.

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|Stats | Skill creation | Quest|

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[Name: Matthew Magnus]

[Current Level: 1]

[Blessing: Skill Maker T1]

[Class: Scout (E)]

[Skill/s: Zoom(F), Cut(D)]

[Creation Point: 0]

[Experience Points: 1,321/50]

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Class: Scout (E grade)

Scouts specialize in reconnaissance. Leveling up grants a higher chance to unlock skills related to your class. (Next skill at level-up)

Zoom: Zoom in your eye's vision like a binocular. (Max distance: 500 meters)

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Skill Name: Cut

Create a faint, barely visible thin blade of compressed wind that flies in a chosen direction (horizontal, vertical, diagonal, etc.).

The blade is sharp and fast, able to cut through most basic materials and flesh. However, it cannot slice through denser or stronger targets unless the user infuses more energy into the cast to increase its lethality.

Range: 50 feet

Cooldown: 3 seconds

Restrictions:

– The user must perform three hand signs in sequence: Horse → Rooster → Serpent.

– Activating the skill consumes approx. 50ml of the user's blood. Increasing the skill's power raises only the energy cost, not blood cost. Prolonged use may cause fatigue, dizziness, or even death due to blood loss.

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