Chapter 44 - Astral Link

The name reminds me of Rose Ability so probably is something related to her.

'System? What is Astral Link?'

[It's an E-Rank link type support ability].

'I thought that support abilities are D-Rank'

[Usually support abilities are D rank or higher, but this one is a subclass of link abilities that is bounded to a single person. The ability is D-Rank but since it's limited its level is reduced by one]

'What are the effects?'.

[You can interact with the link recipient while she's using her astral form, her growth speed and current power are higher when the user is near her. In some cases, it can also add extra abilities depending on the Affinity Level, and recipient rank]

"Rose?". She looked up at my eyes, she was so adorable that I had to kiss her before I continued talking.

"Do you want to get our reward?". She was surprised.

"I got a reward too? I don't feel any different". She probably remembered when G got the battery perk.

"Not yet, I have to unlock it, but I don't know what will happen when I do, it can be painful"

"You think it can be painful to me too?".

"I hope is not, but there is only one way to know, from my experience I think is better for us to lie down just in case".

She agreed with me and we were lying next to each other. I took her hand gave it a light squeeze.

"Are you ready"

"No… but do I don't think I will feel ready, so just do it"

'Yes, Activate Astral Link'

[Link started with Rose Hunter, 1%...5%]

The feeling was weird like if a hundred of pins and needles got into my skin it wasn't painful just weird, it started from my hand and slowly spread through my arm and then to my whole body.

"Do you feel a tingle?"

"No, you started?"

"Yeah, it advances slow and I have this weird feeling in my hand".

[…20%]

"Now I feel it"

[…50%] right now the feeling was becoming uncomfortable, at 80 percent I felt like if something that should be mine left my body, and I'm sure I heard something tear.

"Hold on is almost over". I felt her hand also squeeze mine, she probably was feeling something similar too.

[…95%]. The pain stopped, and in its place, a warm feeling came from inside my body cleansing my body from the pain.

In the end, it wasn't as painful as other times, When I saw the girl next to me I felt closer to her.

[E-Rank Esper ability Obtained, Astral Link (Bound To Rose Hunter)]

[Perk Unlocked, Astral Anchor(Bound to Rose Hunter)]

[New ability for Rose Hunter, Astral Portal(Bound to Spencer Davies)]

[Achievement Unlocked]

[E-Ranker

You are one step away from becoming a real superhuman

Get an E-Rank power

Reward: 25 System points]

"I can see your stats" I was still Holding Rose in my arms.

"Really??? Tell me… Tell me…"

"First do you feel anything different?

"Not really but maybe it only works when I'm using my power, now tell me what my stats are"

"Let's see…"I made a surprised face "Wow, it's more detailed than mine!!, Height, weight, your three measures"

"What!!! This is so embarrassing don't see them" she blushed, and for some reason tried to cover my eyes, of course, I was lying but I could not resist teasing her a little.

"I'm joking I'm joking, I can't see your stats" after that she punched me while I was laughing.

"Now tell me the truth!!" she was getting angrier so I stopped teasing her.

"I got a perk, and you a new ability. Also, your power should be easier to use now, and your growth will speed up when I'm around. I can interact with you while you are using your power."

"Then you can help me when I train my power!! What are the new perk and ability??".

I asked the system about this. That ability and perk are related between them. Astral anchor made so she can use me as a second reference point. Before her power was limited to a certain distance and going further was dangerous. Now if she is around me she can use my body as a reference for that distance instead of hers. This means that she can leave the house with me without problems.

Astral portal use this 2 reference points to move, while she is in astral form, she uses her body and mine to move from one place to another, its teleport ability.

"Do you want to try the astral portal?". I was planning to go out but I wanted the crossbows ready to do that so we can try the perk yet.

"Yeah! Right now?. She got excited at the idea of trying a new power.

"Yes but not here, Hope's teasing is going to be endless if we keep being in your room. She blushed and agreed with me.

We left the room and found Hope on the floor making roll the metal balls in the floor.

Since she was with her eyes closed and focused we chose to just slip by to my apartment.

'Dante?'.

'mmmm~?'.

'Rose is going to try something with her power are you still in my room?'.

'Yes'.

We went to my room and Rose went to the bed sat next to Dante in a meditative posture and closed her eyes. I was dumbfounded by what happened next. I could see a monochromatic Rose leaving Rose's Body. She stretched and noticed me looking at her.

'You can see me?' her voice sounded directly in my mind.

"Yes, Dante stop using your power on me for a while"

'Ok~'.I saw the threads disappearing and the only connection was between him and rose.

"Talk again" I said while looking at her.

'Like this?' Phantom Rose was right in front of me, it was weird seeing her in front of me and in the bed meditating.

"I can hear you well, let me try something". After that, I tried a couple of interactions between us, just like with Dante a telepathic link was made so I could talk with her on my mind at will. Besides hearing and seeing her, I could feel her a little more than before if I touch her. It's still incorporeal but the warm feeling from before is clearer than before, but just like with the telepathic link the intention of touching her must exist to feel something otherwise it's like grasping air.

After that we tried Astral portal, she had an idea of how it should work from what I explained to her, and went to her body. She got near her body, and the next second disappeared and walked from inside me it was one of the strangest experiences I've had in my life.

"That felt…" I started to tell

'…weird' she finished

"Can you do the opposite?". She entered my body and reappeared from hers.

She seemed happy.

'This is amazing!!'. I had to agree with her if we had this before they wouldn't have been worried about me and Hayley. She was amazed by this and used the ability a couple of times for us to get used to that sensation.

"You were able to Float like that before?" I just noticed that instead of walking she has been floating all the time.

'No, usually it's difficult but it became easier with you around'.

"Keep practicing, I'll go see if G is up to finish the cross…bows".

HOLY S**T how I'm going to tell G that I'm dating his sister.

At that moment Dante words resounded on my head…he's right why should he be angry?...

'Spence? What happens you look paler'.

"I was thinking how I'm going to tell about us to your brother…".

'There shouldn't be a problem with that'.

"You didn't see his face when one of our classmates in high school said that you were cute"…

'But that was back in high school how old I was? 13? 14? Don't tell me, you were worried about my brother reaction?'.

"You are not?"

'No… when you break up with Hayley I asked him what he would think if I date you…'

"This… what did he say?"

'That as long as it's someone good who cares about me, he wouldn't meddle…even if it's you'.

At that moment those words were familiar.

I looked at Dante who was napping next to Rose's body…did he know everything from the beginning?

'Spence?'

"Sorry I got caught in my own thought".

'You are saying that if he knows that even if we are dating he will be fine with it?'

"That's what he said"

Hard to believe… probably our sparrings are going to be harsher than before, and I'm not telling him near the crossbows.

At that moment Dante said.

'If you want to tell him, nyow is a good moment, waking up.'

I remembered that he was in a weakened state, so it was indeed the best moment. I went together with Phantom Rose to G's Bedroom.

I saw him with his eyes open and looking to the roof.

"Hey G how you feel?"

"Beaten bro, it like the day next to the marathon I run without preparing".

I remember that that day his legs hurt so much that he had difficulty walking to the bathroom.

"The sun absence depleted your battery and the energy you absorb from the environment is almost null".

There should be more energy available but right now the weather was weird, and I had no idea the reason. Usually, some of the solar radiation would filter from the clouds anyway but right now it was much lower than it should.

"Help me go to the roof" It was a good idea.

"Ok". I helped him stood up and carried him to the roof. Rose followed floating.

I could see him recharging and some color came back to his face.

I sat on a dry part of the roof. When I saw further away there were some suspicious clouds. Probably is going to rain again later.

"Now what you want to tell me, it's been pretty obvious that you have something on your mind, so talk". He said lazily, for someone who knows me as well as him it should be pretty obvious that I wanted to talk with him about something

I opted for the direct approach.

"I'm dating with Rose".

I don't know if it was because he was tired, but contrary to my expectations he wasn't surprised. His expression didn't change and he spoke in a neutral and cold tone that made me shiver. I'm sure that for a second a killing intent coming from him that felt more dangerous than a berserk alligator.

"If you ever make her suffer, the previous sparrings will feel like a day in a spa compared to what I'm going to do to you…"

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A/N: I'm going to do a modification to the Science Knowledge Skill. It's going to be split into three knowledge skills.

Basic Sciences lv 5 (this would represent the school knowledge so anyone who went to school and finished it should have at least lv3) max lv 5.

Since he was a college student...Math Lv 2 and Physics Lv 2 will be added too.

In the case of the mechanics skill, the requisite would change to Physics Lv 1.

Medicine lv 1 is somewhat special since it involves first aids and not a deep medical knowledge It doesn't have a pre-requisite besides int and wis. For higher levels, there would be harsher requisites.

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