**Chapter 17: The Most Useless B-Rank Skill?**  

According to the story, the true essence of the Heal skill lies in its extended abilities:
- **Mimic:** Copies the target's skills and combat experience.
- **Plunder:** Steals the target's experience points and mana.
- **Upgrade:** Enhances items and tools.
- **Degrade:** Adds multiple negative status effects.

Of course, Reincarnation Space wouldn't exactly mirror the anime, so the specific effects might vary, such as absorbing spirit energy instead of mana.

However, the potential of the Heal skill is undeniable, making it one of the top-tier B-Rank skills. The key is that no one who hasn't used it would realize this.

For most people, the idea of sacrificing their own health to heal others would naturally evoke a sense of repulsion. Moreover, upgrading a B-Rank skill is incredibly costly, something even large teams would be hesitant to support.

Even if someone had enough points, they'd likely invest in more straightforward skills like a priest's Holy Word Healing or an alchemist's potion-making. These are the go-to methods for healing in most Reincarnation teams.

From what Kiba can tell, the seller is likely a solo player who wouldn’t risk learning such a rare and valuable B-Rank skill. In Reincarnation Space, skills are endless, with thousands of worthy ones coming from even small worlds.

Especially from game-based worlds like *Sword Art Online*, *Slime*, *Spider*, or *Shield Hero*, the sheer number of skills is overwhelming.

Selling off unnecessary items to acquire better ones is the way to go. Blindly experimenting usually ends badly. This is why a B-Rank healing skill has gone unsold for two mission cycles.

To better understand the market, Kiba mentioned his interest in this skill to a few buyers, and the responses were unanimous: they all advised against exchanging anything for the B-Rank skill.

Only then did Kiba learn that the seller is somewhat famous in the one-difficulty world due to a severe team defeat. Eighteen seasoned Reincarnation players entered the story world of *The Healer’s Restarted Life*, and only one returned alive.

Trading the lives of the entire team for a healing skill with a terrible effect is a frequently joked about and negative example among Reincarnators. Even though the seller desperately hypes up the skill's power after upgrading, no one seems interested.

Is it powerful?  
Its healing can't compare to a priest's Holy Word.  
Its support capabilities fall short of a magician's expertise.  
As for item enhancement, an alchemist’s skills far surpass it.

It's a chicken-rib skill for teams and too costly for solo players. The Heal skill is in an awkward position. An E-Rank skill costs 50 plot points to learn, and each upgrade requires the same amount.

B-Rank skills require 200 plot points to learn.  
Level 2 requires 400 plot points, Level 3 needs 600, and the costs skyrocket from there.

For most Reincarnators, upgrading a skill after one story world is impossible; solo players simply can't afford it.

Even Kiba is a bit apprehensive, but his knowledge of this skill surpasses that of most others, having admired the protagonist's story repeatedly.

While the skill might be useless for Reincarnation teams, it could become a true all-rounder in his hands, capable of dealing with various story scenarios and even healing summoned creatures.

As for the health cost, don't forget he possesses the "Steel Heart" trait, essentially making him a walking blood bank—no need to worry about burning through his health.

While others avoid it, he eagerly embraces it.

However, he can't openly reveal his desire for the skill; he needs to buy it but must negotiate the price down hard.

Soon after, Kiba contacts the seller and invites him to his quarters.

【Number 10085 has entered your private space.】

The door opens, and a man with a gloomy expression walks in, sitting down and getting straight to the point: "Your price can't be too outrageous. I can't pay an extra 2000 plot points."

That's right, in addition to the item exchange, Kiba had requested an additional 2000 plot points. This wasn't just a high demand—it was almost as absurd as a mother-in-law demanding an outrageous bride price.

Naturally, the seller wouldn't accept it and suggested canceling the deal altogether.

Though his words were decisive, the fact that he came to Kiba's space indicated something. Sometimes, a person's need can be communicated through their eyes.

Waving his hand to calm the seller, Kiba smiled and offered a second trade option: "If I'm not mistaken, you probably have some equipment you can't fully use."

The man snorted, knowing his "reputation" was at play again.

Knowing about his team's demise indicated this person might not be easily fooled; plot points were out of the question, so maybe equipment could cover the cost instead.

After his team's tragic end, the man likely acquired some equipment. Even if most of it was useless to him, he could still trade it.

In fact, if it weren't for those items, the man might not have survived the two story worlds after his team's annihilation.

He doesn't lack equipment, but potions with "traits" are rare. The man would do anything to obtain such an item.

"This is my final offer."

To continue surviving, the man had already sold most of his belongings. If Kiba still refused, the deal would have to be postponed.

**Name:** Black Star Type 54  
**Grade:** Excellent

**Category:** Handgun

**Attack Power:** 4-6  
**Max Ammo Capacity:** 8  
**Durability:** 35/35  
**Attribute Boost:** Perception +2  
**Usage Requirements:** Perception 8, Strength 6, Basic Shooting LV3  
**Equipment Effect:** Auto Calibration

**Origin:** *Sword Art Online GGO*  
**Equipment Evaluation:** Even if you're a firearm novice, you can still pose a threat with this.

**Auto Calibration (Passive Skill):** 15% hit rate correction.

This excellent weapon packs a punch. A headshot could easily deal over 20 damage.

If Kiba had this in the last world, he wouldn't have needed to get so close to fight regular giants.

"Black Star, I like the name of this gun."

The trade was successful. Besides the skill scroll he coveted, he also obtained a fine handgun—definitely worth it. Now, he just needed to spend some plot points to learn shooting skills.

(End of Chapter)