If I choose
I'll spend 550 skill points to level it up to level 3. This skill allows my wounds to heal faster, making me more durable in prolonged battles. However, against opponents with the Puppeteer's ability, I'll still die from a single strike, rendering this enhancement less effective.
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If I choose "Stealth":
With this skill, I could raise it to level 3 by spending 550 skill points. Along the way, I could act without being noticed by the monsters I encountered, making the journey easier. However, Holy Knight Canaria noticed me as usual, so it didn't have much meaning.
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If I choose "Physical Enhancement":
I can raise it to level 3 by spending 220 skill points.
Unlike the previous skill, it only cost 220 points. Probably, the lower the rarity of the skill, the lower the skill points required for leveling up.
"Huh? Surprisingly easy to fight."
Suddenly, while fighting the monsters along the way, I get that impression.
When I chose "Acceleration," I could defeat enemies by moving quickly, but it consumed a lot of stamina, and I couldn't use it repeatedly.
On the other hand, "Physical Enhancement" seemed to enhance all physical abilities, making it much easier to fight.
Well, I still lost to Holy Knight Canaria.
However, the significant gain was realizing that "Physical Enhancement" made fighting so much easier.
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If I choose "Strength Enhancement":
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The synthesis conditions have been met.
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The moment I chose " Strength Enhancement" in front of the treasure chest, an unexpected message appeared, and I was surprised.
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〈Swordsmanship〉 + 〈Strength Enhancement〉 ▶ 〈Swordsmanship (Greatsword)〉
Skill points required for synthesis: 610 points
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With this message, I finally understood the meaning of synthesis.
It seems that you can combine two skills into one.
What might be the advantage of combining skills? For example, since one person can only have up to five skills, combining them could create a new skill slot.
Well, it doesn't seem to have any disadvantages, so let's give it a try.
So, without further ado, I paid the necessary skill points and acquired the new skill, "Swordsmanship (Greatsword)."
"Huh? It's incredibly easy to move."
After trying to fight the armored Bugbears following the skill acquisition, I felt that way.
I thought that having "Swordsmanship (Greatsword)" in the name implied that it would only be effective if I had a greatsword, but that wasn't the case. It's because the sword I had suddenly felt unusually light.
I feel like it's much easier to fight with it compared to the other skills I've chosen so far.
However, I still lost to Holy Knight Canaria afterwards.
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If I choose "Endurance Enhancement":
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The synthesis conditions have been met.
〈Swordsmanship〉 + 〈Provocation〉 + 〈Endurance Enhancement〉 ▶ 〈Knight's Skills〉
Skill points required for synthesis: 1010 points
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It seems that if I choose "Endurance Enhancement," it transforms into a new skill called "Knight's Skills." It somehow seems stronger than "Swordsmanship Greatsword," and this might be the optimal solution.
"Huh? It's more challenging to fight than I thought."
After fighting with the armored Bugbears, I felt that way.
Why could that be? I pondered, and I arrived at the answer.
It's because my movements have become sluggish.
Now that I think about it, knights are often depicted as having heavy armor all over their bodies, which makes them seem difficult to move. Although I don't wear any armor myself, I still feel somewhat heavy.
I've been consciously fighting by avoiding enemy attacks with agility, knowing that a single blow could be fatal since I don't have any protective gear. However, by choosing the skill "Knight's Skills," I found myself forced into a completely opposite style of combat.
"Knight's Skills" is by no means a weak skill, but it just wasn't suited for me.
In that state, I couldn't possibly win, and naturally, I lost to Holy Knight Canaria.
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If I choose "Agility Enhancement":
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The synthesis conditions have been met.
〈Swordsmanship〉 + 〈Provocation〉 + 〈Agility Enhancement〉 ▶ 〈Thief's Skills〉
Skill points required for synthesis: 1010 points
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Hm, it seems I can once again synthesize and obtain a new skill.
"Thief's Skills," huh? Doesn't seem too strong, but well, let's give it a try.
So, I synthesized the skills to acquire "Thief's Skills" and faced the numerous armored Bugbears that appear when you open a treasure chest.
Change came quickly.
First, as a significant change, I began to feel that "Blazing Sword" was heavy.
Thieves are supposed to primarily use short weapons with short reach, like daggers. Therefore, "Blazing Sword," which is not a short weapon, doesn't seem to be a good fit.
However, it's not to the extent that I can't fight; it just slightly restricts my movements.
The other change became apparent when the armored Bugbears attacked.
"I can see their movements clearly."
This was something I hadn't experienced before. I could now predict the trajectory of the armored Bugbears' attacks and anticipate their next moves. This allowed me to easily evade their attacks and aim for their weak spots to stab with my blade.
Before I knew it, I had defeated all the armored Bugbears.
"Yeah, this is the most responsive I've felt so far."
Perhaps with this, I might be able to defeat Holy Knight Canaria.