"HAHAHA! Addy, I didn't know yet what to offer you. I wanted a discussion to know what you truly wanted. HAHA!"
Addy only let groan as Allen laughed at her expense. Still, Allen showed his trust in Addy by directly walking onto Addy's hand and grabbing the dark glowing crystal directly from her hand. Orion who was watching the whole exchange from the side could only stare at his Lord in awe at how easily he controlled the giant.
[Devour Lord Talent (Subjugation)?]
Staring at the talent crystal in his hands Allen knew exactly what would happen when he devoured it. He also knew exactly where it came from, "Addy this might disgust you a little, so you should probably turn away." Addy complied and looked away from her hand as Allen finally accepted the prompt.
[Yes]
Soon his body moved on its' own as he shoved the crystal straight down his throat. Soon a warm current flowed all throughout his body. The first time he did this he was shocked at his own actions and didn't notice it before. Now he could focus as the feeling seemed to flow through his veins and neural system until the most powerful 'warmth' appeared in his brain as it settled in.
[Congradulations!]
[You have activated your Talent "Talent Devour" and have gained the ability to make Another Talent your own. Please choose a Talent to activate!]
[Shapeshift (D rank) -> Change your shape or the shape of your subordinate into anything!
--Limitation 1 - Cooldown: 24 Hours
--Limitation 2 - Skills and abilities will be blocked while shapeshifted. If a skill is used then Shapeshift will deactivate.
--Limitation 3 - Any detection skills will force shapeshifted back into the original shape.
]
[(Enhanced) Subjugation (D rank) -> Make others agree to be your subordinate!
--Limitation 1 - The other party must agree without any evil intentions/intentions of betrayal against the Subjugator.
--Limitation 2 - The other party can add up to 6 stipulations that the Subjugator must follow.
]
Allen nearly cried tears of joy hearing his Talent Devour had finally given him a use besides sounding powerful. Orion on the other hand thought something happened to Allen seeing his lord nearly in tears.
"Lord! Are you alright? What harm did that crystal cause?!"
Allen almost laughed out loud seeing the deep concern on Orion's face. "Yes, I am better than fine! HAHA! I can finally get something useful from this seemingly useless talent!"
"Oh- is it done? What did you get?" Addy also turned her attention back to Allen still standing on her hand.
Allen slowly got off her hand as he told the two everything in his excitement.
"Lord, if I might make a suggestion? I believe you should get 'Subjugation' for yourself. It is the most practical at this point in time when you are making an ally of Miss Addy." Orion gave his opinion while bowing to Allen.
Addy also gave her thought, "You should definitely choose 'Shapeshift'! You can change others so you could change me back to be human again!"
Allen once again found himself stuck wondering what to do. Addy on the other hand kept arguing with Orion about who was giving the right advice.
"If he chooses 'Shapeshift' I will not only look human but be basically indistinguishable! If I wanted to betray him I couldn't even kill him for fear the skill canceling on me and making me this stupid giant again! I could even avoid hurting others because I would be the same size!"
"With all due respect Miss Addy, I believe a contract has far more power than a word promise. A single contract can change someone from a slave to a king! I believe with this contract we all can live peacefully without the worry of accidentally harming each other's interests."
After half an hour Allen finally decided and interrupted the pair's argument, "Addy the 'Shapeshift' talent doesn't appear to help your current predicament. It specifies my shape or the shape of a subordinate. You aren't my subordinate or could you be since you are a Lord, making the talent useless to you."
The more Allen spoke the dimmer Addy's eyes became showing her sorrow. Now since her chance to become human once again was fading. "But~ if you are under the talent of 'Subjugation', then you will be technically 'under' me. Which mea-"
Addy's excited voice interrupted Allen not allowing him to finish his explanation, "I will be your subordinate! And I can use that talent!..." Her excited voice suddenly stopped, "But that also means you won't be able to use the talent 'Shapeshit' on me because you haven't obtained it at all..."
"Now Addy... how about this, my talent can upgrade itself, so next time I can pick up another talent..." Allen put his hand over his heart, "I swear that I shall get Shapeshift and you shall be the first person I shall change in whatever way you want!"
Once again Allen had Addy's full attention as she excitedly squealed! Allen stopped worrying about it as well and chose 'Subjugation' as the first talent he would obtain.
[Would you like to obtain Talent 'Subjugation'?]
[Yes]
As soon as he made his choice a sharp pain made its' presence known. Allen could do nothing but scream as he fell while the pain overtook his mind making all thoughts incomplete. Only the thought of 'Why Again!' could revolve in his mind.
The pain this time didn't stay in just his head like with adding points to intelligence. It also didn't just stay in his muscles and tendons like with upgrading his agility, no, this pain spread through every part of his body without fail. Making every cell feel like it was being burned before freezing and shattering only to reform itself to restart the process over again.
While Allen was screaming, groaning, and moaning, Addy and Orion could do nothing but watch.
"Is he okay? I know he was learning a talent, but does that really cause so much pain? I don't want my ride to be human again to die already...Stay strong..." The worry in her voice was evident, but maybe not for the right reasons.
"Do not worry Miss Addy, although the pain may be great, I know he will survive and come out without harm! He is a great being who could do anything!" Orion spoke firmly without any hint of doubt or concern for Allen's safety.
After nearly an hour Allen's screams slowly died down as he lay on the ground. Orion kneeled beside him as he checked his pulse and breathing. While being moved around Allen seemed to wake up as he groaned and opened his eyes.
"My Lord! Have you obtained everything you desired?"
Allen could only slowly get up as all the pain faded and the memories of the pain also faded slowly. It reminded him of how he forgot about the amount of pain when he added points. How could such intense overbearing pain be so easily forgotten? It was like how some women go through overbearing pain during childbirth but forget it with a little time and can even start thinking about having another child.
Allen slowly got up the world cleared up. "Ugghh- That was terrible... Well, at least it is over..."
[Lord: Allen]
[Level: 3 (39/40)]
[Blessed by the Laughing God]
[Talent:
--Talent Devour (D rank)
--(Enhanced) Subjugation (D rank)
]
[Class - NONE]
[Vitality - 4]
[Strength - 4]
[Agility - 11]
[Intelligence - 9]
[Stat points - 0]
[Skills: Bestow]
Getting up from the ground Allen quickly turned his attention to Addy who was watching the entire situation from the side. Unsure of how to activate his new talent Allen raised his hand and pointed at Addy, "Addy, do you agree to be my subordinate?"
"Oh- ugh- sure! OH! I get six stipulations... umm... 1 'We have to be friends and neighbors.' 2 'We cannot attack each other.' 3 'You have to talk to me every now and then when you can.' 4 'You can't be mean and bully me.' 5 'You have to introduce new friends to me!' 6 'I have to be the first one you change when you get the 'Shapeshift' talent!' and send."
[Lord 'Addison' has accepted to be your subordinate.]
[Stipulations
--We have to be friends and neighbors.
--We cannot attack each other.
--You have to talk to me every now and then when you can.
--You can't be mean and bully me.
--You have to introduce new friends to me!
--I have to be the first one you change when you get the 'Shapeshift' talent!
]
[Do you accept Lord Addison's stipulations?]
[Yes]
Allen didn't even hesitate to accept Addy's stipulations which had basically nothing that would be difficult or harmful, "Addy, or Addison as the system calls you, welcome to my small group!"
"Hey hey hey, I thought I added you couldn't bully me in the stipulation!"
"HAHA, yes, you wrote 'bully' which is not the same as small teasing that means no harm." Leaving Addy to her small tantrum Allen quickly opened his status wondering if anything changed.
[Lord: Allen]
[Level: 3 (39/40)]
[Blessed by the Laughing God]
[Talent:
--Talent Devour (D rank)
--(Enhanced) Subjugation (D rank)
]
[Subordinate Lords - Addison (Stipulations)]
[Class - NONE]
[Vitality - 4]
[Strength - 4]
[Agility - 11]
[Intelligence - 9]
[Stat points - 0]
[Skills: Bestow]