C14 Passive Skill

The other party was desperately clutching at Lee Kai's clothes. He was on the verge of returning to his own world, and if he didn't manage to sell his items now, he might never get another chance. So, when he finally found someone interested in buying, he was determined not to let the opportunity slip through his fingers.

"Man, can you please stop yanking on my clothes? Your price is way beyond what I can afford, so let's just drop it," Lee Kai said, trying to reason with the persistent seller who showed no signs of letting go. "If you don't stop, I'll have to report you to the platform for harassment. You should know that unwanted advances can get you punished, even between guys."

Upon hearing this, the seller quickly released his grip. The platform's penalties were notoriously harsh, and he certainly didn't want to risk injury or worse—especially since it would cost him War Coins. Besides, bad luck could strike at any moment, making even the simple act of eating a life-restoring piece of bread potentially lethal. Such unfortunate incidents had happened before.

"Come on, isn't haggling part of the deal-making process? It seems a bit off for you to walk away without even making a counteroffer," the seller said with a sheepish grin, determined not to let Lee Kai leave without a sale.

"I'm not a fan of haggling. Just give me a fair price. If it's acceptable, I'll buy; if not, I'll walk away. It's as simple as that," Lee Kai replied, sensing the seller's urgency. He knew that even for a rare Summoning Skill, the seller wouldn't be so eager to sell unless it was necessary.

"Five thousand War Coins, plus one piece of basic information," the seller stated, cutting to the chase. He had been ready to pack up for the day, accepting that his items weren't exactly hot commodities. But then Lee Kai came along, and even though the price was lower than hoped, a sale was a sale.

Lee Kai still looked uncertain, causing the seller's anxiety to spike again. "Brother, I can't go any lower. You've got to understand the scarcity of skills like this. The drop rate is incredibly low. You're not part of a big team with lots of members and skills to spare. For Wanderers like us, coming across a skill is a rare event."

"I already have a skill, but now that I think about it, it doesn't seem all that useful," Lee Kai mused, realizing he could still save a bit more by negotiating with the seller. Though his knowledge of the platform was limited, saving where possible was always a good idea.

The seller could tell Lee Kai was angling for a better deal. He didn't believe Lee Kai actually had any skills, but he was indeed in a hurry. "4500, that's my final offer. Any lower and I might as well keep it. I refuse to believe my luck is so terrible that I'd die in the next world," he said, his face contorted with frustration.

"Deal!" It was clear there was no room for further negotiation. Lee Kai, not one to dither, agreed to the transaction.

Their exchange was swift. As the seller packed up his stall, he offered some advice, "Kid, you're new, so you might not know this. Remember the path you want to take. If you're aiming to be a warrior, for instance, your first skill should be warrior-type, like an assault skill. Don't choose a Mage skill, or your special energy value will turn into Mana, which is for casting, not the warrior's battle qi. If that happens, you won't be able to use any warrior active skills." With that, he left, his time too precious for a lengthy farewell.

Lee Kai stood there, stunned. It had never occurred to him that he would have completed a skill right after leaving the Newbie World. He gazed at his personal information, at the Mana value of 60, and felt as if his dreams had shattered before they even began, like a pane of glass plummeting from a great height.

"This can't be happening, can it? He must be messing with me. Yeah, that's it, he's just messing with me," Lee Kai muttered to himself, though he knew deep down he was grasping at straws. The seller had no idea which path he intended to take, so it was unlikely he'd give away such helpful tips just to tease a newcomer.

"I don't need Mana; I need battle qi. I want to be a warrior. I'm accustomed to that class. Otherwise, I wouldn't have earned a title like 'The Irritable Summoner,' which shows none of the wisdom of a Mage. It's because I can't stand waiting for my Familiar to finish off the enemy, so I end up grabbing my wand and going to town," Lee Kai lamented. But the reality was set in stone, and all he could do was accept it. It wasn't like he could just delete his account and start over—no such option existed, right?

Armed with two skills, Lee Kai made his way to the Basic Training Hall.

Upon entering the Basic Training Hall, Lee Kai came to an abrupt halt. "If I can no longer become a warrior, what's the point in training with these skills?" He mulled over this as he examined each skill card in his hand.

"Hello, are you here to start training?" a voice inquired.

"Hmm?" Lee Kai looked up to see a woman who had seemingly appeared out of nowhere. Her bust was so disproportionately large that it reminded him of the virtual idols from his own world. "Is there an issue?" he asked.

"Oh, no, not at all. I'm Gill, the receptionist for the Basic Training Hall. If you have any specific needs, please let me know. I can make arrangements based on your requirements. After all, whatever skill you choose to practice, it's all about strengthening yourself. With my assistance, you'll be able to save a significant amount of time on your training, right?"

Lee Kai, however, didn't respond immediately. Instead, he pondered her words. "Isn't every ability ultimately about self-improvement? Even if I can't use warrior-type Active Skills, can't I still utilize what I've learned? If I swing a knife, does being a Mage Class mean I can't engage in close combat?"

Having come to a realization, Lee Kai addressed Gill while holding his stack of skill cards, "I'm interested in weapon training. Do you have any recommendations?"

Gill nodded, "I suggest the single training room. It's equipped with a variety of weapons for practice, and most importantly, you can choose a sparring partner. Mastery of weapons truly comes from hands-on experience, doesn't it?" She paused briefly after her suggestion.

"What's the matter? Any problems?" Lee Kai asked.

"Well, the single training room costs 200 War Coins per hour, which is twice the normal rate. Plus, if you wish to spar, creating a puppet will incur additional costs. A Phantom for one hour is 100 War Coins, and summoning it again after it's been destroyed will also cost you. Would you like me to present some alternative options?" Gill explained. Her point was valid; not everyone was as fortunate as Lee Kai during their early stages in the Newbie World. Not many had the courage to challenge the protagonist, and for most people, overcoming the act of killing was incredibly challenging. Lee Kai had only managed to adapt quickly due to the full-blooded realism of the holographic game.

"Are there any other options?" Lee Kai inquired. After Gill had finished outlining all the choices, Lee Kai realized her recommendation was excellent. He smiled and gave her a nod of approval. "I'll take the solo training room then. The weapons inside are free for use, correct?"

"Yes, you're free to use them to your heart's content. Don't worry if anything gets damaged," Gill replied with a smile before turning to lead the way. Lee Kai followed her to a door bathed in white light. Gill made a few gestures at the door, then stepped aside and said with a smile, "All set. Once you're done training, you can head straight back to your room. We look forward to seeing you again."

Upon entering the solo training room, Lee Kai surveyed his surroundings. It was a vast space, akin to a large stadium, and apart from himself, it was completely empty.

Satisfied, Lee Kai took out all his skill cards and activated them:

Blade Weapons (Basic Level 1) (Passive): Increases attack power by 5% when using blade weapons. Skill proficiency will enhance growth.

Polearms (Basic Level 1) (Passive): Increases attack power by 5% when using polearms. Skill proficiency will enhance growth.

Special Weapons (Basic Level 1) (Passive): Increases attack power by 5% when using special weapons. Skill proficiency will enhance growth.

Firearms (Basic Level 1) (Passive): Increases attack power by 5% when using firearms. Skill proficiency will enhance growth.

Hand-to-Hand Combat (Basic Level 1) (Passive): Increases attack power by 5% when engaging in hand-to-hand combat. Skill proficiency will enhance growth.

As Lee Kai looked over the notifications on his skill bar, a smile spread across his face. "This is the foundation of my strength. It's the capital I need to survive. It's the drive that will take me back to my world to reunite with those I can't bear to leave behind." His eyes shone with determination as he gazed at the skills displayed on the skill bar. Suddenly, his expression twisted in surprise; he had forgotten that he had already summoned a puppet to practice his hand-to-hand combat skills. The punch from the puppet brought his overheated mind back to a state of calm.