Ashen Ascension: The Divided Flame-Chapter 76: Overdrive Frame

He checked the defensive scroll one last time. Shadow Weave was a good fit. It required stability and control, not massive power, and it felt like the Umbra energy in his system, a stable shadow, not a quick burst of flame. Crucially, it would make him tougher to beat in close combat, which was his preferred fighting distance.

He set it down and reached for the next scroll marked as movement.

Skill: Vector Shift

Type: Mana

Nodes: 7

Category: Directional Recalibration

Skill Type: Intermediate Skill

The description didn’t talk about speed. It talked about control.

The ability, though simple to explain, was hard to master. It let the user change direction mid-movement without slowing down. They could instantly shift their force to change direction sharply without losing speed by slipping or braking. This allows for sharp turns while sprinting and better direction control without increasing speed. It also reduces slipping during high-speed turns.

Ivor realized this wasn’t a flashy skill, but it was dangerous in hands of someone someone who knew how to use movement smartly. It lets the user create unexpected angles in a fight, allowing them to move in ways that ignore standard footwork rules.

He immediately understood why this technical fighting style suited him. It rewarded quick thinking. This style also made him unpredictable up close, an advantage that’s always useful, even against stronger opponents.

Ivor pictured it in a real fight. Moving straight is easy to read. But being able to sharply change direction mid-step without stumbling is hard to predict. A fighter who could do this could slip past defenses, dodge attacks, and create opportunities where the opponent thought they were safe.

He forced himself to look at the downsides, knowing that liking a skill too fast leads to bad decisions. Vector Shift requires constant body awareness. The user must feel where force is in their muscles and redirect it mid-movement. This means it’s unforgiving of poor movement, panic, or tiredness. It’s powerful, but only when the user is stable.

He also realized his Soul Sense already helps him move better, letting him anticipate shifts and openings. He can already outmaneuver most people without investing heavily in Vector Shift. The skill would improve him, but it might not be as vital for survival as other options.

He didn’t dismiss it. He simply placed it back down with the decision that it was useful, but not urgent.

The next scroll was thicker and more serious. The writing was strict, full of warnings, and clearly had no time for mistakes.

Skill: Overdrive Frame

Type: Mana

Tier: Intermediate

Nodes: 9

Category: Whole-Body Acceleration Frame

Skill type: Intermediate Skill

Nine nodes.

Ivor first noticed the number of nodes because it showed a long-term commitment. It wasn’t a beginner’s skill but an investment for someone planning to survive. The main idea was clear: briefly boost mana flow through major muscles for faster acceleration and reactions. The expected increase was 10-20%.

That didn’t sound like much until you understood what it meant.

A ten percent faster reaction time is crucial; twenty percent is a huge advantage.

The item didn’t boost strength but increased activation rate. Ivor reread this line.

Increased activation rate means muscles contract faster, improving movement initiation, swing acceleration, and shortening the delay between thought and action. The benefit is moving first, not hitting harder, finishing before the opponent can react.

His mind latched onto that instantly.

He always fought quickly, avoiding long exchanges that would attract attention in Shrouded or make him visible in the Scar. The Overdrive Frame was for quick wins, not extended battles.

The cost was high. Drain and heat increased fast. Pre-Initiate users could only maintain it for three to six seconds max. Longer use risked permanent node damage.

Ivor thought about the power of three seconds of speed. It was enough time to close in, strike, and get away before enemies could react. Three seconds could break a skeleton’s structure. Six seconds was usually enough to finish a fight if used well.

The training for this technique was tough. It required strong control over leg circulation, tolerance to heat, and the ability to maintain a smooth flow of energy. Most importantly, it demanded discipline: the user had to stop instantly when the time limit was up. Trying to use the speed longer out of greed was the main cause of injury, as the feeling was addictive.

That last warning made Ivor pause.

He knew the speed would be tempting. The skill required patience, but it also invited recklessness. It was a perfect trap for thrill-seekers.

Ivor focused on the final instructions: The speed frame must be activated calmly and on top of already good movement, not to cover mistakes. It only makes your existing technique faster. If your base movement is poor, the speed will only lead to injury.

He rolled the scroll slightly and stared at the title again.

Overdrive Frame.

He was drawn to the skill. Because it gave him exactly what he needed: a brief, controlled moment to become unbeatable, end a fight, and disappear. It fit his preferred fighting style and would make him a bigger threat to stronger opponents. Direction control was good, but this pure, sudden speed could throw off even skilled fighters.

He realized this was the movement skill he truly wanted.

Then he looked at the cost: nine nodes. That meant a lot of time, crystals, preferably refined, and careful mana training to build density without harming his foundation. He had to train his lower circuit properly, or rushing the skill would destroy him faster than any enemy.

Ivor carefully put the ’Overdrive Frame’ scroll back and stacked it with two others, ’Edge Compression’ and ’Shadow Weave,’ in order of importance. He decided to keep ’Vector Shift’ as a backup for later, perhaps when he was stronger.

He did some calculations on the total node requirement so far. Both Edge Compression and Shadow Weave required seven mana nodes each, meaning fourteen nodes were already locked. After that, Overdrive would require nine more, bringing the total to twenty-three nodes.

That meant just three skills—one attack, one defense, and one movement—would consume all of his nodes before he even reached the Initiate stage.

Ivor’s eyes narrowed. This was a difficult decision. He could now understand why others chose basic skills or ones with lower node requirements.

But he also felt reassured knowing he had a soul circuit to give him an edge over others. He could acquire skills on his beast side to compensate for what he lacked on the human side.

He exhaled and moved on to the next scroll.