Rion couldn't help but feel disappointed at the minimal increase in the number on the display. It seemed that his newfound ability had no effect on his physical attributes. He turned to Raph, who was scribbling something on his notepad.
"Is that all there is to it?" he asked, trying to hide his disappointment.
Raph maintained his usual impassive expression as he addressed Rion. "This is merely the initial phase of the assessment, Mr. Rion," he explained. "One of the uses of my ability is that it allows me to roughly assess the kind of ability another person possesses. From what I've gathered, it's likely that you possess some form of enhancement ability."
"Now that we have verified that it isn't physical enhancement," he continued, "Our goal is to understand it's mechanics, to understand its limitations and capabilities. Let's test something else. Are you limited to projecting your ability on your hands or can you make it appear anywhere else?"
"I'll give it a try," he replied to Raph.
With a deep breath, he shifted his concentration from his hands, redirecting it to an area above his clothes, just above his chest.
As he focused, the blue electrical bolts that enveloped his hands obeyed his mental command and slowly began to shift, gathering above his clothes as he had envisioned.
Raph observed this development with keen interest, his eyes following the dynamic movement of the blue electrical bolts. "How intriguing, Mr. Rion. It appears that you can project your ability above your clothes. But, let's explore its limitations further. Can you try extending it beyond your immediate vicinity?"
Rion, eager to test the boundaries of his ability, extended his mental reach further, attempting to move the blue electrical bolts beyond the initial point. However, to his surprise, he found that although they could extend beyond his skin, they seemed reluctant to travel any farther than a short limit from his body.
His eyebrows furrowed with realization, and he withdrew the energy back to himself, the bolts still dancing above his attire. "Instructor Raph," Rion began, his tone contemplative, "I can extend my ability to places other than my hands, but there appears to be a limit to the distance it can move beyond my body.
Raph nodded in acknowledgment. "Interesting. Your ability's range may be limited now, but remember that the strength of your ability can grow over time. As you become more skilled and experienced, the distance you can project and control your ability may increase.
"Now, Mr. Rion," he said, as his eyes locked onto the blue electrical bolts hovering above Rion's chest, "let's delve further into the capabilities of your enhancement ability."
"It has been established that your ability is an enhancement type ability but based on the results from earlier, the boost to your physical attributes is negligible."
"So I'll propose we try something else," he said, pointing to a small energy generator in the corner of the room. "Can you try focusing your ability on that energy generator over there. Can you enhance its performance in any way?"
Rion, following Raph's guidance, moved closer to the energy generator and extended his hand to touch it. As his fingertips made contact with the machine's surface, he visualized the blue electrical bolts extending from his chest to his hand, connecting with the intricate machinery of the generator and channeled his ability directly into it.
The blue electrical bolts extended toward the generator, merging with its components. Rion felt a connection, as though he were interfacing with the very essence of the machine. He focused on enhancing its capabilities, willing it to perform better.
Slowly, the energy generator began to respond. The hum of its operation deepened, and the lights on its control panel brightened. It was a subtle change, but Rion could sense the increase in its output.
Raph nodded in approval, his stoic expression making way for a hint of satisfaction. "Well done, Mr. Rion. The scanner shows a slight increase in the output of the generator. It looks like we finally discovered the key application of your enhancement ability. You generate stable and reliable electric currents that improves the performance of machinery, even if the enhancement is relatively modest. It may not be a dramatic change, but it can make a significant difference in certain situations."
Rion's eyes shone with excitement and realization. "So, my ability can make machines work a little better, even if it's just a small boost in performance?"
Raph confirmed with a nod. "Precisely. Your ability allows you to fine-tune machinery, optimizing their functions. While the enhancements may be subtle, they can be invaluable, especially in situations where a slight improvement can mean the difference between success and failure."
Raph, sensing Rion's growing confidence, decided to push the limits of his ability a bit further. "Mr. Rion," he said, "Let's see if you can increase the effectiveness of the energy generator even more. The effect of most base adept abilities is linked to the amount of origin energy you put into it. Focus your ability on it, channel as much energy as you can, and try to maximize its performance."
Rion nodded, also eager to find out the result as he intensified the output of his charged cells. The blue electrical bolts hovering above his hands began to shine brighter, their radiance intensifying until they resembled a dazzling display of electric brilliance.
He could feel the energy surging through him, as if a torrent of power was unleashed. The sensation was exhilarating, and it flowed seamlessly from him into the energy generator, enveloping it in a brilliant aura of energy. The machine responded to his newfound intensity, its hum growing louder, and the lights on its control panel flashing with increased vigor.
The output increase was noticeable, and Raph acknowledged the improvement with a nod. "Very good, Mr. Rion. The generator's output has been boosted by roughly eight percent."
However, as the experiment continued, Raph's keen eye caught an unintended consequence. The energy generator, while operating at higher levels, began to overheat, and its internals were being damaged at a fast rate.
As Rion maintained his focus on the generator, Raph continued his explanation. "While the performance increase is remarkable, I've noticed that the durability of the energy generator is slowly decreasing. It may not be able to sustain this heightened output for an extended period."
Just as they were in the middle of the experiment, Rion's energy began to wane. The blue electrical bolts flickered, and he felt a sudden drain on his concentration. Despite his efforts to maintain the enhancement, it was forcibly terminated, and the blue electrical bolts dissipated into thin air, leaving the energy generator to return to its normal state with a sudden jolt.
His brain was attacked by intense pain and dizziness, his limbs could not stop trembling, and he could hardly control his body anymore.
Rion panted for a while before taking a deep breath, feeling drained and slightly disappointed. He hadn't anticipated the toll that pushing his ability to the limit would take on him. "Instructor Raph," he panted, "I... I think I pushed it too far. It seems like my energy is depleted."
Raph nodded in understanding, his expression thoughtful as he observed Rion's condition. "That would be your origin energy, Mr. Rion," he began, his voice calm and reassuring. "It is the core component for the activation of our abilities. It is what allows us to perform extraordinary feats."
As Rion listened intently, Raph continued to educate him about the critical aspect of managing energy for a cultivator. "When origin energy is depleted," he explained, "the body will naturally start to recover it, but at a slow rate. This is why it's crucial to manage your origin energy levels carefully."
Rion could sense his body beginning to absorb the ambient energy around him. If he could direct his awareness within, he would see that his charged cells had lost their luster and looked lifeless.
Raph continued, his tone becoming more serious. "However, when we use our abilities without having sufficient origin energy, the body will compensate by drawing on our stamina as a substitute. This can be an effective short-term solution, but it comes with its own risks. Prolonged use of abilities in this state can lead to exhaustion as you have witnessed and sometimes even internal injury."
Raph's expression turned somber as he issued a warning. "And when there's both insufficient origin energy and stamina, your body may resort to using your life essence as a last resort. This is an extremely dangerous situation, Mr. Rion. Many cultivators have met an unfortunate end by carelessly pushing themselves to the brink, sucking themselves dry of flux, stamina, and health. Understanding your limitations and managing your resources wisely is essential to your survival and success as a cultivator. After all, as long as they don't utilize origin energy, most cultivators are no different from normal humans."
Noticing the grimacing expression on Rion's face, he offered a reassuring smile. "Don't forget that this is just the beginning. As you continue to train and grow stronger, your origin energy levels will increase gradually. It's all a natural part of the growth process for us cultivators."
"With time and practice, you'll likely uncover even more applications and nuances. Enhancement abilities like yours can be incredibly versatile, and with creativity and training, you may discover new ways to use your power that you hadn't even imagined."
"Rest a little. We'll continue with the tests once you recover your energy."
Rion, despite feeling fatigued, nodded eagerly, eager to continue exploring the capabilities of his newfound ability.
The rest of the session involved practical drills designed to help him refine his control over his ability. Raph guided him through exercises that focused on stabilizing the origin energy, managing its intensity, and applying it effectively to various machinery. These drills were intended to enhance Rion's focus, stamina, and understanding of his power's limitations.
One thing they quickly realized that his ability only worked on machines that had an electrical or magnetic component. He could make a light bulb brighter, a fan faster, or a magnet stronger, but he could not affect a bullet, a blade, or a bow.
Also, the amount of enhancement his ability provided seemed to be a fixed percentage. Whether it was a small magnet or a large energy generator, chanelling his ability into it enhanced it by about three percent while intensifying the output of his charged cells would enhance it by about seven percent.
As the day progressed, Rion began to feel more comfortable with his ability. Raph provided guidance and feedback, helping Rion understand the intricacies of his ability and how to best utilize it to its fullest potential.
By the end of the assessment, Raph paused for a moment, his expression thoughtful as he considered Rion's performance and the implications of his enhancement ability.
"Mr. Rion," he began, his tone measured, "your ability, as it stands, has shown promise. However, adept abilities are assessed using a grading system that takes into account multiple factors. From top to bottom, there are six grades from A-F, each representing the perceived potential of the ability."
Raph's expression turned more formal as he proceeded. "Based on my assessments today, I am sorry to inform you that your adept ability has been rated as Grade D. This grade considers various aspects of your ability, such as your maximum origin energy level, the strength and utility of your ability, and other relevant factors."
He looked directly at Rion, his gaze unwavering. "The potential evaluation level is only to evaluate the basic power of a adept ability and its potential future development. It's not used to determine the overall combat strength. Your journey as an cultivator is just beginning, and your strength will improve as you develop your skills, increase your maximum origin energy level, and discover the full extent of your ability's capabilities."
"Furthermore, it's not uncommon for abilities to undergo transformation as they mature over time. Considering humanity's limited understanding of adept abilities and origin energy in general, there remains a vast realm of knowledge yet to be explored."
"With dedication, training, and experience," he continued, "you can come across opportunities to raise your ability's grade and achieve even greater feats with your enhancement ability."
"For now, I recommend you rest and recover," Raph said as he turned to gather his notes. "Your origin energy levels will naturally restore over time, and with proper rest, you'll be in better shape to continue your training."