Drake, stood before the practice dummy in the Silverhaven Warrior's Training Hall, the echoes of the other players' complaints about combat consistency still fresh in his mind. His own talent, [Eidetic Execution], gave him an almost unimaginable advantage in that regard, but it didn't make the initial act of achieving a higher Skill Completion Rate any easier. His [Ground Stomp] was currently locked at 84% SCR – functional, but far from the 90%+ he aimed for with his core abilities.
"Okay. No distractions here. No moving targets, no incoming damage. Just me, the dummy, and the timing for Ground Stomp. Need to push this into the 90s before I even think about tackling whatever Jian throws at me."
He began the grind. He focused on the activation sequence for [Ground Stomp] – the brief moment he gathered his strength, the downward thrust of his leg, the release of the shockwave. The phantom guide for the skill was a rapidly expanding circle or a sharp downward impact marker, requiring precise timing to hit its peak.
<< Skill Success! [Ground Stomp] SCR: 84%! Moderate AoE Damage! (Dummy Unaffected by Stagger) >> His body replicated his current baseline perfectly. He tried again, consciously adjusting his timing, the force, the focus. << Skill Success! [Ground Stomp] SCR: 84%! ... >> And again. << Skill Success! [Ground Stomp] SCR: 84%! ... >>
It was the same frustrating wall he'd hit before with other skills. Breaking past a locked baseline required landing that one superior execution. He took a deep breath, cleared his mind, and activated the skill again, pouring all his concentration into that single moment of impact. A slightly cleaner execution, a more centered feeling of force.
<< Skill Success! [Ground Stomp] SCR: 86%! Moderate AoE Damage! >> << [Peak Performance Replication] updated: [Ground Stomp] SCR 86%! >>
"Eighty-six. Good. Two percent gain. Took about fifty stomps. Now for the next two."
He continued the monotonous cycle, his form unwavering thanks to his talent locking in the 86% baseline. He analyzed every attempt with [Perfect Recall] almost subconsciously now, seeking those minute adjustments in balance or force application. Another hour passed in focused repetition. The sounds of other warriors grunting, swords clashing in sparring rings, and trainers shouting advice faded into a dull background hum.
Then, another breakthrough: << Skill Success! [Ground Stomp] SCR: 89%! Moderate AoE Damage! Stagger Duration Slightly Increased! >> << [Peak Performance Replication] updated: [Ground Stomp] SCR 89%! >>
"Eighty-nine! Almost there. The stagger feels a bit longer now too. One more percent for that 90+ effectiveness jump." He felt the familiar pull of his grinder mentality, the satisfaction of pushing a skill towards its next significant threshold.
He spent another long stretch, perhaps two more hours in-game, repeating the [Ground Stomp] activation countless times. His virtual legs felt heavy, his focus starting to waver despite his determination. He was just about to take a break when he truly nailed the execution, a perfect confluence of timing and force. The shockwave he released felt visibly more potent, the ground beneath the dummy seeming to tremble more significantly.
<< Skill Success! [Ground Stomp] SCR: 92%! Significant AoE Damage! Targets Staggered (1.8 sec)! >> << [Peak Performance Replication] updated: [Ground Stomp] SCR 92%! >>
"Ninety-two! Finally! Over 110% potential effect now. That feels much more reliable." He let out a sigh of relief, rolling his shoulders. The sheer amount of time and focus required for these gains was immense.
As he stepped back from the dummy, a figure approached him from the side. It was one of the NPC Master Trainers he'd seen observing players earlier – an older, powerfully built warrior with a stern face, sharp eyes, and a network of faded scars crisscrossing his arms. His tag read: Master Trainer Boriston.
Boriston stopped a few feet away, arms crossed, silently watching Drake for a moment. Drake tensed slightly, wondering if he'd broken some unspoken Training Hall etiquette by hogging a dummy for so long.
"Young warrior," Boriston finally said, his voice a low rumble. "I have been observing your practice for some time now." He gestured towards the dummy. "Hundreds of repetitions of that ground shattering technique. Unwavering diligence." He paused, his gaze intense. "But more remarkable than your persistence is your consistency. Every execution, after you achieve a new level of force, is identical to the last. Flawless repetition of your current peak. I have seen many warriors train here for decades; none exhibit such... mechanical perfection in their form once settled."
"He noticed. Of course, he would. An NPC trainer dedicated to observing technique would spot the unnatural consistency of Eidetic Execution eventually."
Boriston continued, "Such focus, such dedication to refining a single form until it is perfect, then repeating that perfection without deviation... it is the hallmark of a true adherent to the Path of Focused Steel. I have been seeking a disciple, one with the tenacity and the potential for absolute mastery, to carry on its teachings. Your display today marks you as a prime candidate."
A formal quest notification appeared before Drake. << Rare Quest Offered: [Path of Focused Steel] - Master Trainer Boriston recognizes your potential and offers you discipleship in a specialized school of warrior combat focusing on perfect execution and singular focus. Rewards: Access to Unique Warrior Skills, [Title: Initiate of Focused Steel], Significant Silverhaven Warrior's Guild Faction. >>
Drake read the offer, surprised. A Rare Quest, unique skills, a title, faction... it was a significant opportunity, the kind many players would jump at. But [Perfect Recall] instantly brought Master Kallan's words to the forefront of his mind: "...seek out 'Elder Jian' in the city of Silverhaven... before you commit to any standard advanced path... He, perhaps, can offer true guidance on its legacy [the Hilt]."
"This [Path of Focused Steel] sounds like a Warrior specialization. Kallan was very specific about seeing Jian before choosing a path. The Hilt, the Alvari artifacts... that feels more unique, more tied to my own story, than a standard (even if Rare) class specialization right now."
He looked at Master Boriston, a pang of regret for the missed opportunity, but his primary objective was clear. "Master Boriston," Drake said respectfully, "your offer is a profound honor, and I am humbled by your recognition. However, I am currently bound by a prior commitment – a quest to seek out another master concerning matters of great personal importance. I fear I cannot, in good faith, dedicate myself to another path of discipleship until that prior obligation is resolved."
Boriston's stern expression didn't change, but his eyes seemed to soften almost imperceptibly. He nodded slowly. "A warrior of his word, bound by honor and prior commitment. That, too, is a mark of character. Disappointing for the Path, perhaps, but I respect your integrity." He paused. "Still... such unwavering focus as you've shown should not go entirely unacknowledged."
The old master reached into a pouch at his belt and produced a small, metallic medallion, intricately carved with Alvari-like symbols of clarity and focus. It pulsed with a faint internal light. He pressed it into Drake's hand.
<< Item Acquired: [Medallion of Clarity]! >>
[Medallion of Clarity]
Quality: Rare
Type: Accessory (Trinket Slot)
Effect: Activate to enter a state of heightened mental acuity for 10 seconds. During this time, achieving high Skill Completion Rates (SCR/CCR) on any single action is significantly easier.
Cooldown: 7 days
Description: An Alvari-crafted focus aid, said to still the mind and guide the hand towards perfection for fleeting moments.
"A small token," Boriston said. "Use it wisely, for a moment when true perfection on a difficult task is paramount. May your path, whatever it may be, be clear." With a final nod, the Master Trainer turned and walked away, resuming his observation of other warriors.
Drake looked at the Medallion in his hand. "A 7-day cooldown! This isn't something to use lightly at all. Makes high SCR easier for 10 seconds... Like Kallan's incense, but reusable only once a week. This is definitely for that one critical moment – learning new skills, or pushing a vital skill to a perfect 100% SCR baseline when absolutely necessary. What an unexpected reward for declining a quest!"
He equipped the [Medallion of Clarity] in an available trinket slot. His [Ground Stomp] was now a potent 92% SCR, a tangible improvement. And he possessed a new, powerful tool for those moments when achieving an even higher level of execution was absolutely critical.
Feeling a deep sense of accomplishment and armed with new potential, Drake left the Warrior Training Hall. His time in Silverhaven so far had been unexpectedly productive. His next, and original, goal remained: find Elder Jian.