Staring at "Telekinesis LV.4" on my status, I tilt my head. Gained from the recent incident, but questions linger.
"Ryouto had telekinesis, so I absorbed it. But why only that? He had Gunfight, Support Attack, Support Defense too, right?"
In OG1, Ryouto was a top pilot with multiple skills. Yet, I only got telekinesis.
"Only telekinesis?"
A thought hits. Ryouto's skills: telekinesis, Gunfight, Support Attack, Support Defense. The difference? The latter three can be learned with PP. Telekinesis is a unique pilot skill, unlearnable via PP.
"So, I can only absorb skills that can't be learned with PP?"
Just a guess, but it feels right.
"Next issue: leveling telekinesis."
If the system registers me as a natural telekinesis user, leveling up might boost it automatically. Easiest path—no PP cost, no risky fights. But if it's only through Slime's absorption, that's trickier. Finding a dead telekinesis user like Ryouto is unlikely. I'd have to kill.
"Killing to beat Shadow Mirror would defeat the point."
Means can't override purpose. So…
"If not that world, then this one?"
In this world, doomed by Ainste, absorbing telekinesis users might be possible.
"But telekinesis is a rare skill."
In the original, I preferred Kyosuke's route, but Ryuusei's practically OG's protagonist, with Aya and Mai. Add Alpha's four male and four female protagonists—eleven total. Without Alpha, just Ryuusei, Aya, and Mai. Ultra-rare skill. Still, telekinesis boosts accuracy and evasion—vital for Axel's death-flag-heavy route.
"Guess it's up to luck. No absorption, no loss. Absorption, bonus."
On to the next issue. I eye the silver mass dominating my living room—Slime, unmistakably larger post-incident. Once waist-high, now it towers to my head. Absorbing rubble, soldiers, Ryouto, shop staff, and that "target" politician did this.
"Only got telekinesis, so my theory holds."
As a future Shadow Mirror member, I'd love military or cooking skills, or even political savvy. But…
"Slime's absorption might be too risky now. If it grows to house or building size, it's impractical."
Then I recall the "Slightly Gilded King" gimmick. A bigger Slime could make it viable in combat. More mass means more attacks and absorption capacity.
"Actually, the pros outweigh the cons."
Turning disaster into fortune. Why mercury's volume grows from absorbing rubble or bodies, or if it's even mercury, I won't question. "Reincarnation cheat" explains it.
"Next, PP."
Sixty points. Level 5, four kills: two levels (20P), four enemies (5P each, 20P). Four kills for two levels—tough foes or weak me? Hoping the former for my sanity.
PP allocation? Terrain adaptation, as planned. Space is fine at A; no plans to go there soon. Leaves sea, land, air. Original game had few sea-only maps—mostly land or space. But I'm curious about sea adaptation. Using Accelerate let me move faster. Could S-rank sea adaptation let me swim hours without gear or walk on water?
"…Nah."
That logic would mean S-rank air lets me fly, or S-rank land mimics Getter 2's burrowing. Space S-rank surviving vacuum? Maybe in this world, but…
"Joking aside, land or air."
Tough choice, but…
"Land to S. Air next when I hit 60P."
Land S-rank because I'll likely pilot a Gespenst in federal or officer school, not a Lion. This world's mass-produced mechs are Gespensts, not Lions. To excel and get Shadow Mirror's attention, land combat's key.
"At this rate, I'll hit 60P by officer school."
Hunting corrupt politicians' goons with Slime could level me fast. 5P per enemy is tempting.
"But drawing too much attention's bad."
Overshooting and becoming Shadow Mirror's target would be a cruel irony. Priority: air, space, then sea. Or skip sea—B's decent enough.
Display status, check learnable skills: Support Attack, Support Defense, Gunfight, Infight, Commander, Hit & Away, Attacker, E-Save, B-Save, Chain Attack, Focused Attack, Guard, Spirit Limit Break.
"I'll decide when PP accumulates."
Absorbable skills like telekinesis: Lucky, Fortune, Genius, Foresight. Fortune intrigues me—1.2x funds per kill in-game. In this world, no enemies drop cash, so what's its effect?