Chapter 118: Profession and Battle Skills
In the room, the dragonkin summoned Number One, Number Two, and Number Three to help organize the materials delivered by the catfolk.
Wade sat alone to the side, reading materials about battle skills.
The Black Cat Society was an intelligence merchant organization. Besides purchasing information about various individuals, their best-selling products were skill books related to battle techniques.
This world would never lack people wanting to become professional warriors. After witnessing such power, who wouldn’t yearn for it?
The Black Cat Society capitalized on this business opportunity by selling their self-produced “Professional Warrior Manuals.”
They had collected many widely circulated basic battle techniques across the continent, along with some rare and uncommon ones. Now all these skill books related to battle techniques were laid out before Wade for him to choose from.
Twelve skill books were placed in front of him. Without changing expression, Wade opened one titled “Charge” to read.
This was an extremely common battle technique – Wade had seen the Viking pirates use it before.
He had tried imitating the pirates’ movements to recreate it, but could only grasp superficial aspects without understanding its essence.
Now he finally had the time and place to quietly study a skill book. The thin manual in his hands recorded the key points of “Charge.”
The main content was presented through illustrations and symbols to accommodate illiterate customers.
Wade discovered issues with his footwork and force application points.
To execute such explosive techniques required coordination with breathing rhythm.
Though Wade couldn’t breathe, seeing these key points gave him sudden enlightenment. He felt that with several more attempts, he could likely master “Charge.”
Wade’s hands mimicked the illustrations in the book as he mentally noted the crucial points.
As an undead, his body control was exceptional. Once he understood the essentials and his strength and agility met the technique’s requirements, he could reproduce it.
Though his professional warrior rank was conventionally assessed as Silver-rank, in truth he hadn’t formally learned any profession.
He was entirely self-taught, having received no standardized training or instruction.
Now he finally gained deeper understanding about professional warriors – conventional warrior ranks and professional levels should be calculated separately.
Wade’s warrior rank was Silver-rank because he had comprehended his intrinsic battle skill, and his raw power met Silver-rank standards.
But in terms of professional warrior level, he didn’t even qualify as Iron-rank. According to the Black Cat Society’s manual, an Iron-rank warrior needed mastery of at least three basic warrior techniques.
The most recommended warrior skill combination was: “Battle Cry,” “Charge,” and “Sweep.”
These three techniques were included among the twelve skill books.
A professional warrior capable of these three techniques could be called an Iron-rank warrior.
If they could also use three ranger techniques, they could simultaneously be considered an Iron-rank ranger.
However, mastering two professions seemed extremely difficult. Learning a single technique typically took years, and the more scattered one’s learning, the harder advancing to Silver-rank became.
The classification of techniques into different professions existed because techniques within categories produced unique synergies.
Specializing in one profession increased the probability of advancing to Silver-rank.
This was widely accepted experience – technique classifications existed to help warriors progress further along their paths.
Nearly all techniques requiring immense explosive power were classified as warrior skills.
Techniques like “Battle Cry,” “Charge,” and “Sweep” – all of which Wade had seen different individuals use – were explosive power-based techniques.
Precision-oriented techniques like “Chain Shot” and “Eagle Eye” were classified as ranger skills.
Thief techniques focused more on concealment and agility, like the rare “Shadow Step” held by the Black Cat Society. According to its description, mastering this technique allowed silent footsteps and shadow-like movement to conceal one’s presence.
The manual recorded current common professional classifications:
The three mainstream professions – Thief, Ranger, Warrior; and six rare ones – Paladin, Mage, Priest, Bard, Druid, and Warlock.
Those without special connections could usually only pursue the first three.
Paladins and Priests were church-exclusive professions. Mages and Warlocks required innate talent or bloodline. Druids were now rare, while Bards were support specialists numbering very few.
Other unclassified professions belonged to rare legacies found only among certain minorities or ancient ruins.
These were all professions summarized from ancestral experience. Upon becoming professionals, people typically chose one path to master.
Jack of all trades would only hinder one’s progress.
Wade decided to simply become a warrior. The Black Cat Society had the most complete collection of warrior techniques, followed by thief skills – but thieves lacked direct offensive capabilities.
What Wade lacked were precisely such finishing moves. Unfortunately, being voiceless, he couldn’t use “Battle Cry” – which he honestly thought was quite effective.
He’d seen Lucas use “Battle Cry” – in real combat, a moment’s hesitation could mean death.
The real world had no health bars – a solid hit usually meant game over.
“Battle Cry” could control enemies momentarily – enough to decide victory or death.
Regrettably, Wade had to abandon it and learn other techniques instead.
He settled on “Charge,” “Sweep,” and “Parry” – three warrior techniques with similar underlying principles.
He silently contemplated their mysteries, studying them repeatedly throughout the night.
He began feeling detachment – time was almost up. Having spent nine days outside, midnight would mark the deadline.
At dawn, he informed Igna of his impending ten-day absence.
“You’ll be dormant for ten days?”
Wade nodded – in ten days he’d reappear in this room.
“I understand…” Igna nodded, taking a deep breath. “During your absence, I’ll be extremely cautious.”