Huai Shi covered his face. "So, can you please just tell me all at once what on earth this Stigma on me has become?"
"Don't worry, there are no hidden dangers or troubles. Sister's craftsmanship is famously good!"
Speaking of this, Raven's eyes lit up with excitement. "Although it's called modification, it's actually a complete rebuild, an exclusive customization that perfectly fits your combat style.
In addition to the Yin Soul's original strong adaptability to Hell, I've added extra speed. Next is the instantaneous explosive force provided by external fuel.
Therefore, your endurance for prolonged battles is just average. As for defense... sorry, it's the equivalent of nonexistent. Rely on your movement. After all, there's a limit to a First Stage Stigma. Even if the defense is impressive, it could only take one or two more hits, can't even block bullets, totally not cost-effective."
"So, our positioning is burst-type," Raven said excitedly. "You get it, a glass cannon assassin. My standard for character builds has always been to wipe out my teammates in a single round!
Go up, burst them, and after the burst, we run. If we can't burst them to death, look for another chance to burst. If we can backstab, we backstab; if we can be despicable, we be despicable. Combined with heart poison and Fear Aura, even those with high defense and thick health will get seriously injured if they're not fully tanked up!
But when facing types good at grappling techniques and with restraining supports present, don't engage at all. The moment your movement is restricted, it's game over."
I didn't realize I was a thief?
Huai Shi smiled bitterly but said no more.
To be fair, having so much already wasn't easy. Unless it was New Game Plus, where else in the world could you find so many well-rounded builds? And Raven's customization was indeed a high-end, specialized design focused on maximizing his strengths and minimizing his weaknesses.
What else could I say?
He sighed deeply and looked at Raven squarely. "What exactly are you trying to do?"
SMACK!
The seemingly magical wings slapped the back of his head.
"Why ask so many questions, kiddo? Just focus on leveling up," Raven asked. "Would Sister Crow ever deceive you?"
Huai Shi rolled his eyes.
Alright then.
I'm already at the point of no return; why even ask?
He sighed, tucked the Liberator into his chest.
Then, the familiar numbing cold spread with the surging darkness, and in an instant, layers of Source of fire emerged along with the burst of power.
He transformed into the Yin Soul again.
And then, with a snap, Raven's teaching rod flew up and smacked his head.
"Wrong!"
"What's wrong?" Huai Shi widened his eyes. "I haven't even done anything yet!"
"That's exactly the problem. You haven't done anything."
Raven gazed at the flames rising from his body. "You've not even tried to control them, just mindlessly venting, and that approach is totally wrong."
"What am I supposed to control?"
"Yourself, your soul, your body, your Stigma, and everything. You need to take control of it all, not let it all become your instinct."
Raven instructed, "First step, control that layer of flames around you that's nothing but light and sound effects. Pull them back, to the point where you're the same after taking this stuff as if you hadn't!"
Control? Huai Shi looked at the flames around him in astonishment. This was the excess power burst from the collision of Liberator and Apocalypse, channels seeping from his body... How to control that?
Besides, I, Huahai Road's own 'Mr. 50/50,' am not just getting a 'fix' from this...
SMACK!
Again, the teaching rod struck.
"Concentrate, focus on containment. Don't think about venting; your mind must be like still water," Raven said. "Imagine that you are a vessel that doesn't let the water in the bottle splash out."
While it sounded simple, there were no significant results.
Even as Huai Shi earnestly tried to control the explosive force, the effect was minimal.
Initially, the flames shrank with his focus, but as he concentrated on one area, he neglected another; as the flames on his head receded, those on his legs flared up.
He felt like a sieve.
Leaking from everywhere.