Chapter 84 - Jinma – 4 (1/2)
Jinma – 4
[A breakthrough joins this Evolution.]
[Limit breakthrough means surpassing the limits of the lower system of living things and entering the upper system. The existence of the lower system cannot properly interpret the existence of the upper system. Even if an ability is used with the same power, it will be pushed out of the battle and be unable to generate power.]
[If the limit is broken, all elements that compose the soul will be replaced with a higher quality of energy. This includes physical abilities and skills, as well as magic.]
[Would you like to evolve?]
Instead of the usual choice of evolution, I was greeted by this notification window. I thought evolution was breaking through the limit, but apparently not. This talk about becoming a higher being was odd; the regular evolution had been shocking enough. What would this be like?
Still, when I thought about it, parts of this made sense. The mana of Jinma, for example, was mana that I couldn’t fully deal with. I was able to use part of it, but its full power was much greater than I could physically exert. It made sense it would be designed to be used by these so-called higher beings. A, L, that monster I just killed. All of those who dealt with it or mana like it must technically be these superior creatures.
‘Perhaps the Knights of Elakatra are like that too?’ That knight’s power was definitely great, and their mana felt similar to that of Jinma’s. It was certainly possible. More thoughts filled my mind about these subsystems and higher levels, but I soon concluded it was pointless. If I wanted to understand, then I should just become an entity that was a part of this higher-level system. Maybe then I would learn more about it and get stronger to boot. That was my goal all along, anyway.
Before that, however, I still had some work to do. Because my Shadow Walk had reached the highest level, it became possible for me to synthesize special high-level skills. According to that notification, my skills would change in this evolution, so it would be wise for me to do that first.
[Special advanced skill ‘Reaper’ can be synthesized.]
[Top-notch Surprise, Fairy Tale, Demon’s Claw, top-notch combat skill (Martial Arts), top-level or higher special movement skill (Shadow Step)]
[Possess the highest-level magic skill (Flame Magic).]
[Possess top-notch combat assistance skills (Detection, Command)]
[Would you like to synthesize the ‘Reaper’ skill? The Surprise, Fairy Tale, Demon’s Claw, Martial Arts, and Shadow Walk skills will disappear.]
I closed my eyes and thought about what I would lose. Of course, it wouldn’t be easy to synthesize a new skill. Nothing had been ever since I opened my eyes as a goblin. I opened my eyes and looked through the skills again, finally nodding.
[Surprise, Fairy Tale, Demon’s Claw, Martial Arts, and Shadow Walk skills have been synthesized.]
[You have acquired the Reaper skill.]
[Reaper Lv1]
[Death is in everything that exists. All actions related to killing are heavily increased. With a higher skill level, you can deal death in more diverse and powerful ways.]
I looked at the other skills I had access to, several I had known about before. Many of them were still at the beginner level and couldn’t do much yet. This Reaper skill, however, felt like the sort of skill I would have associated with that of a higher being. Its limits were unclear, and its potential was absurd. I had to make sure my abilities supported it so that I could use it properly. It had the potential to be a ridiculously powerful skill.
“No sense waiting around anymore.” I wanted to finish devouring this giant monster and check out the final reward of this dungeon, as well as figure what this key was for. But first, I had to evolve. It shouldn’t be all that different from what I had been doing up until now, but I was still nervous. I tried to shake off those emotions and confirmed that I wanted to evolve in the notification window.
Several items popped out of my inventory, circling around me. They were Pelcadia’s Jewels I had acquired throughout the dungeon, gradually growing closer to me as they orbited around my body.
“No way…” The gems fused into my body as soon as I had said it. It didn’t hurt much, but fear consumed me as I felt like everything that composed my body was shattering apart. I lost consciousness.
“Huh…!” When I woke up again, I was surrounded by darkness. I couldn’t feel or see anything around me.
‘What is this…? Did something go wrong when I chose to evolve?’ I felt like I was floating in space. This didn’t seem like the dungeon, and even though my sensing ability should have reached the highest level just now, I couldn’t sense anything around me. Was I even in a physical state right now? I couldn’t tell; all I knew was that I existed.
[You betrayed us.]
A voice echoed through the dark space, the voice of a young man.
[You like that word, don’t you?]
A new voice, somewhat familiar, but I couldn’t quite place it.
[The promise has been broken. I will not allow you to become the monarch.]
[Do whatever you want, I’ve already abandoned it all.]
[Your ability to run away is amazing but remember this: I am the only monarch. From the moment you went down there.]
[You won’t be able to do as you please. How about putting in some effort for once?]
[You…!]
The voices of the two men disappeared without a trace as I tried to concentrate on them.
[Absolutely not!] Immediately cutting through the silence, the sharp voice of a woman appeared. I could tell who it was right away. L.
[You don’t have to sacrifice anything!]
[It’s not a sacrifice, I’m just taking a small step back so I can keep moving forward.]