Chapter 89 Grinding And Sistem Updated???
Outside Whiterun, the early morning air was still cold and fresh. A thin layer of mist drifted across the open plains, brushing against the tall grass that swayed gently under the pale golden light of dawn. The massive stone walls of Whiterun stood quietly behind Alex, casting long shadows across the ground as the city slowly began to wake.
Alex rolled his shoulders once and exhaled slowly, feeling the chill air fill his lungs. His eyes sharpened as he opened his status window, the faint translucent glow reflecting in his pupils.
"Okay," he muttered under his breath, his lips curling into a focused smile.
"Let's focus on Alteration… Telekinesis training."
He slipped on his five enchanted rings one by one. Each ring pulsed softly with arcane light as it settled onto his fingers, the mana circuits within them synchronizing almost instantly. A warm, steady sensation spread through his arms and into his mind smooth, effortless, without the usual pressure of mana consumption. With Sovereign Mind reinforcing his thoughts, his consciousness felt clear and unburdened, as if nothing could interfere with his concentration.
Alex shifted his gaze forward and locked onto a large rock resting in the grass several steps away. He raised one hand slowly, palm facing upward, fingers slightly curled.
The air around the stone trembled.
With a soft rumble, the rock lifted off the ground, dirt and pebbles falling away as it floated steadily in front of him. Alex's brows rose slightly in surprise, but his posture remained relaxed.
"Oh… okay. That's fairly easy."
He loosened his fingers, and the rock descended smoothly, landing back in its original place with a dull thud. Not a crack, not a wobble.
Alex tilted his head, eyes glinting with curiosity.
"Then how about two?"
He took a wider stance, boots pressing firmly into the earth. Both hands rose this time, arms spreading apart as if grasping something invisible. His fingers twitched and suddenly, two large rocks shuddered violently before lifting into the air.
The wind shifted. Loose grass flattened beneath the pressure of the magic as the stones hovered side by side, slowly stabilizing.
Alex let out a low, impressed chuckle.
Alteration 87 → 88 → 89 → 90
"Hm…" he said thoughtfully, watching the rocks float obediently before him. A confident grin spread across his face.
"This is pretty easy."
The stones remained suspended in the air, perfectly balanced, as the morning sun climbed higher casting Alex's shadow long across the field, a lone figure calmly bending the world to his will.
Alex paused, letting the floating stones settle back onto the ground. The field outside Whiterun grew quiet again, broken only by the distant calls of morning birds and the soft rustle of grass swaying under the breeze.
Then, a spark of curiosity flickered in his eyes.
"…What if I try this?"
His right hand slid toward empty air and a moment later, a steel sword shimmered into existence as it was pulled from his system inventory. The blade caught the sunlight, reflecting a cold silver gleam. Without hesitation, Alex wrapped it in Telekinesis. The sword lifted smoothly from his palm, hovering in front of him, perfectly balanced.
He narrowed his eyes, studying it carefully.
"Okay…" he murmured, his voice low and thoughtful.
"I want to create a new technique. Let's see if this is even possible."
Slowly, almost cautiously, he rotated his wrist.
The sword began to spin.
At first, it was gentle lazy rotations that stirred the air around it. Dust lifted from the ground, and the grass beneath bent slightly as the blade turned. Alex's brows knit together as he focused, his breathing steady, shoulders squared.
Then he increased the speed.
The spinning intensified, the hum of the blade growing louder, sharper. The air vibrated faintly, rippling as if warped by invisible pressure.
Alteration 90 → 91 → 92 → 93
Main Level 41 → 42
Perk Point 8 → 9
The translucent notifications flashed briefly at the edge of his vision but Alex ignored them completely. His eyes never left the sword.
The blade now spun at a frightening speed, its form blurring into a circular afterimage. Alex clenched his jaw, sweat forming at his temple. Maintaining the mental image was becoming increasingly difficult. One mistake just one flawed thought and the sword would be flung away like a missile in an unpredictable direction.
"Ghh…" his teeth ground together as his fingers trembled.
"…Okay. This should be enough."
He took a deep breath, steadying himself.
"Next step… gghh… releasing it forward. No missing."
Alex slowly turned his body, lining himself up with a massive rock formation several dozen meters away. He planted his feet firmly into the earth, muscles tightening as if bracing against an unseen force.
With both hands raised, fingers curled as though gripping an invisible cord, he pulled the spinning sword back holding it in place like a slingshot stretched to its absolute limit.
The environment reacted instantly.
A violent wind burst outward, grass flattening in waves, loose stones skittering across the ground. The air around the blade twisted into a raging vortex, howling as it wrapped tightly around the spinning sword.
"Okay… Alex…" he whispered through clenched teeth.
"Gghk… it's time. Come on just imagine it like a vibrating slingshot. You can do this."
His arms shook violently. Veins stood out along his neck as he poured every ounce of control into the spell. His vision blurred for a split second but then, everything aligned.
Now.
Alex released it.
In an instant, the sword screamed through the air, spinning like a high-speed drill. A deafening boom echoed across the plains as it struck the rock dead center. The stone exploded outward, shards flying in every direction.
But it didn't stop.
The blade tore straight through the shattered remains, punching through multiple layers of stone in a perfect line before finally embedding itself deep into a towering cliff beyond. The impact left behind a massive, smoking hole carved cleanly through solid rock.
Silence followed.
Dust drifted through the air as Alex stood frozen, eyes wide, mouth slightly open.
"…Hah."
A stunned laugh escaped his lips.
"Damn…" he breathed.
"With this kind of power, I really don't need to worry about small-time dragons anymore."
He walked toward the cliff slowly, boots crunching over broken stone. Reaching the impact site, he peered into the deep cavity left behind.
The sword was gone nothing remained but twisted metal fragments embedded in the rock.
"…Destroyed, huh?" Alex sighed, shaking his head with a faint, satisfied smile.
"Yeah. No way a normal sword could survive something like that."
Alteration 93 → 95
He straightened up, eyes gleaming with renewed determination.
"Haha… I'm almost at Alteration 100."
Cracking his knuckles, he turned back toward the open field.
"I'll keep training. I still haven't fully mastered this. Next time, I'll make three… maybe even five at once without feeling even the slightest fatigue."
The wind slowly died down, the plains of Whiterun returning to their peaceful calm while Alex stood at the center of it, already planning his next evolution.
Alex didn't stop.
The shattered field outside Whiterun became his training ground as he continued refining the technique again and again, over countless repetitions.
At first, only one sword hovered beside him.
Its rotation was stable now, controlled, the air around it humming softly instead of screaming in chaos. Alex adjusted his stance, rolling his shoulders, taking a few slow steps forward. Even while the blade spun, he forced himself to walk, to turn, to breathe naturally. His fingers twitched subtly as he maintained the spell, sweat trickling down his cheek.
"Steady… don't lock your body," he muttered, correcting himself.
When the movement felt natural, he called forth a second sword.
The moment it appeared, the pressure doubled.
His brows furrowed sharply, lips pressing into a thin line as both blades lifted into the air. The wind picked up again, circling him in uneven currents. His knees bent slightly as he absorbed the strain, arms trembling as if balancing invisible weights.
"Ghh… okay… synchronize," he whispered.
For a brief moment, the swords wobbled one dipped, the other jerked sideways. Alex hissed in pain as a sharp pulse stabbed behind his eyes. He clenched his teeth, forcing the mental image back into alignment.
Slowly… carefully… both swords stabilized.
By midday, the grass beneath him was flattened into rough circles. Scorch marks and cracks scarred the stone where failed attempts had struck. The sun climbed higher, beating down on him, sweat soaking through his clothes as his breathing grew heavier.
Then came the third sword.
The instant it manifested, the air exploded outward.
A powerful gust tore across the field, bending grass and sending dust spiraling into the sky. Alex staggered back a step, boots digging deep into the earth. Veins bulged along his arms and neck as he spread his hands wide, fingers shaking violently.
"Don't lose focus…" he growled.
The pressure was immense. Three rotating blades screamed around him, overlapping vortices of wind colliding and twisting unpredictably. His vision blurred at the edges. Every heartbeat felt like a hammer striking his skull.
But he didn't stop.
Minutes passed. Then more.
Gradually, the chaos softened.
The screaming winds dulled into a controlled roar. The blades aligned, orbiting him smoothly like obedient satellites. Alex straightened his back, his shoulders finally relaxing. His trembling hands steadied, fingers lowering slightly as the strain faded.
By the time the sun began to dip toward the west, casting long orange shadows across the plains, Alex let the swords dissipate one by one.
The sudden silence was almost deafening.
He bent forward, hands resting on his knees, chest rising and falling rapidly then he threw his head back and laughed.
"Hahaha… finally!"
His face was streaked with sweat and dust, but his eyes burned with pure satisfaction.
"I can use this technique without struggling anymore. Whew…" He rolled his neck, then casually took a few steps forward, testing himself.
"I can even move my body freely while charging it now."
He clenched his fist, feeling the steady, effortless flow of magic.
"Before, it required intense concentration," he said with a grin, watching the last rays of sunlight fade across the land,
"but with enough practice… I can do it naturally now."
The wind brushed past him gently, the battlefield-turned-training-ground finally at rest while Alex stood calm at its center, having taken another step beyond his limits.
A sharp, dull ache suddenly throbbed at the center of Alex's head.
He winced.
His fingers instinctively pressed against his temple, brows knitting together as his steps slowed. The world around him felt just a little heavier, as if something unseen were pressing against his thoughts.
(…That's strange.)
His eyes narrowed, confusion flickering across his face.
(Why am I getting a headache? I have the Sovereign Mind skill. Its effect is supposed to let me use Telekinesis as much as I want… without any mental strain.)
The ache pulsed once more then, without warning, a translucent blue screen burst into existence before his eyes.
The sudden glow made Alex recoil half a step.
[System Update]
You have used this skill to its current limit.
Defeat Alduin to unlock the next evolution.
A skill tree for Sovereign Mind will be generated upon completion.
Alex's eyes widened.
His breath caught.
"…What?"
The word slipped out almost soundlessly. His pupils darted across the screen, rereading the message as if expecting it to change. His hand slowly lowered from his temple, fingers frozen midair.
(The system… updated?)
Shock rippled across his expression equal parts disbelief and disbelief turning into frustration.
"So I have to defeat Alduin first?" he said aloud, jaw tightening.
"But why not now?"
He waited.
A second passed.
Then another.
The screen remained silent.
The glow faded without offering any further explanation.
Alex stared at the empty air for a long moment before his lips twitched downward. His shoulders slumped slightly as irritation settled in.
"…Ugh. Damn system."
He exhaled sharply through his nose and waved his hand as if dismissing the invisible presence. With a practiced motion, he opened his status window again, his expression shifting back into focused calm.
Alteration 95 → 100
A faint smile crept onto his face.
"Well," he said quietly, eyes glinting with satisfaction,
"this is my second skill to reach 100… right after Conjuration."
His gaze shifted downward to another line of information. His smile faded into a thoughtful look as he counted silently.
"…Nine perk points left."
He folded his arms, tapping one finger against his bicep, recalling the exhaustion from the previous night. His jaw set with quiet resolve.
"Hm. I should allocate these and raise my stamina," he muttered.
"I don't want to end up collapsing from exhaustion like last night."
The headache had faded but the system's words lingered in his mind, echoing softly as Alex prepared for the next step forward.
Alteration Perks Allocated:
Magic Resistance (3/3): Blocks 10% → 30% of a spell's effectAtronach: Grants 30% Spell Absorption
Perk Point 9 → 5
Stamina 210 → 220
"I think this is enough. Since Thu'um also counts as a spell, this basically means I'm resistant to spells by 30% and gain 30% spell absorption. That's pretty decent. I know there's a faster way to level Alteration in Solitude, but there's no way I'm going there in a single day."
Alex looked up at the sky. The sun was beginning to set, and he decided to head home.
"I wonder how Astrid is doing right now? Hehe."
Status
Main Level: 41 → 42
Perk Points: 9 → 4
Health: 220
Stamina: 210 → 220
Mana: 250
Alteration: 87 → 100
Magic Resistance (3/3): Blocks 10% → 30% of a spell's effectAtronach: Grants 30% Spell Absorption