Chapter 34 (1/2)
Regression; to return to one's origins. My consciousness, my true self. Me, who decided to regress in spite of being the last remaining hero out of despair…to Hansung Oh's body.
I felt my mind jolt. After a fleeting moment lasting 0.1 seconds, or perhaps even less, I regained comfort again. Filled with the strong conviction of having returned, I opened my eyes and was greeted by a different scene and atmosphere than before.
I was in a room colored in white, laying on top of a snow-white bed. A small sun was s.h.i.+ning beyond the white curtains of this room.
'This must be a hospital.'
An IV drip was inserted in my forearm. My whole body was rigid as if stiff, but my eyes alone were gazing steadily exactly toward the front.
The scene wasn't all that had changed.
[Spirit synchronization rate with 'Uriel Diablo' has reached 69%.]
['Stygian Touch(Lv1)' skill has been created.]
[Potential has increased due to increased synchronization rate with an overwhelming being.]
[4,000 points has been obtained.]
[Points are being synchronized. Remaining points 17,470.]
Was it because the synchronization rate increased? The time I spent as Uriel Diablo felt a little more vivid than a dream. The feeling was definitely different from before.
Moreover…I obtained a skill; Stygian Touch. An atrocious magic that summoned a black s.p.a.ce and infinite hands of death that took the lives of whatever was touched. 'Stygian Touch' wasn't an Authority, unlike Mind's Eye and Dominator. Perhaps that being the case, it was granted to me as Lv1. But even if two skills had the same level, each had their respective 'ranks'.
I attentively stared at the message regarding the skill, and an explanation automatically popped up.
<stygian></stygian>
Overall S Rank. Has a mana efficiency of (Max Lv*2+Magic Power).
『Summons the souls of the d.a.m.ned from within the abyss. They, who exude death and hatred, suck the very life energy out of any living things with but a mere touch. These souls are rumoured to belong to those killed by Uriel Diablo.』
The mana efficiency was extremely high. To be able to use a skill with no loss in mana, and with an efficiency of skill level multiplied by 2, was literally a 'cheat'. By nature, almost all offensive, defensive, healing and other type of skills would suffer a loss in mana during use. Moreover, The amount of magic power added to the end result would only be equivalent to the skill level at best. But Stygian Touch was nothing like that.
'I never expected to obtain this…'
It would have been a huge cause for celebration if I had obtained 'Black Star', but frankly, obtaining Stygian Touch was enough to send me over the moon. The number of people who possessed S rank skills could be counted on one hand, even among humanity. There may have been a few intentionally concealing them, but that's how it was as far as I knew.
For starters, I myself had never obtained an S rank skill before. I had countless A rank skills, but this was a characteristic of the 'Magic Swordsman' after all. A Magic Swordsman couldn't learn S rank skills, no matter how hard he grovelled. In exchange, any skill below that rank could be learned regardless of element. That's why it could cover its flaws as a cla.s.s, but that's all. I wouldn't have been able to learn Heartless Soul Stealer Blade either if it weren't for it being a no rating skill. And yet…
'They say you never know what life has in store for you…'
Unlike my past self, I became able to learn S rank skills. It still belonged to Uriel Diablo, but what would have happened if I had the 'Magic Swordsman' cla.s.s and not 'Universal Man'?
'I probably couldn't have learned it.'
I was certain of it. Its rank would have been either automatically downgraded, or I may have simply been unable to learn it.
I clenched my fist tightly, the veins on it swelling, and rapidly bulging. My ears almost felt tickled by my loud heart beats
I slowly raised my hand and drew a cross mark in midair.
[Updating User Information.]
Name: Hansung Oh
Occupation: Universal Man
t.i.tles:
? Gnoll Annihilator (Lv5, Con+7)
Stats:
Str 33
Agi 30
Con 36(29+7)
Int 25(20+5)
Mag 44(39+5)
Potential(151+17/461)
Special Note: Synchronization rate with Uriel Diablo is at 69%. Jörmungandr has awakened.
Skills: Mind's Eye(Lv9), Dominator(Lv9), Transfer(???), Heartless Soul Stealer Blade(6th Stage), Cold Blood(Lv2), Stygian Touch(Lv1)
Equipped Gear: Jörmungandr(Lv2, Int/Mag+5)
My physical stats had significantly increased; perhaps a result of going through battle after undergoing the contract with Jörmungandr and forced awakening. But the penalty of '-10 potential' I should have incurred was nowhere to be seen. It had increased, on the contrary.
'My potential rises the more my synchronization with Uriel Diablo increases?'
It had been no more than a guess previously, but now I had experienced it twice. Thanks to that, I've become convinced of it to a certain extent: My potential will rise if I increase my synchronization rate with him!
I felt thrills run up and down my spine. I felt cold all over as I experienced a bout of s.h.i.+vers. If I were to complete the synchronization to 100%, would my potential reach 500 like his? If so, this was an extraordinary event, more so compared to obtaining an S rank skill!
Having high potential didn't necessarily mean one could max it, of course. One would require a corresponding amount of effort and luck. That's how it was in the case of magic power. But I had found a solution for that as well.
I had earned much through a single Transfer. An S rank skill, a higher potential than before, and even a method for body modification. And besides that, soon the white dragon Etaqua would belong to me, yours truly!
”Hmm, so you have awoken.”
A woman appeared next to me as if she popped out of thin air.
Mind-blowing beauty. Predatory eyes like a hunting snake's.
It was Jörmungandr.
Jörmungandr was wearing a white t-s.h.i.+rt that slightly exposed her navel, and a top pants. Already she gave off an atmosphere of having 'completely adapted'.
”What a indecent look you have. Is my transformation so surprising?”
”How much time has pa.s.sed?”