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--- Chapter 123 ---
[1st Stigmata: Superbia]
[Superbia is the Innate Stigmata of the Host, allowing him to perform things to the extreme based on his pride. Even when Heaven tries to trample you down, you will stand above it]
[Superbia's Perks: "Never Cower before Anyone, Stand Still against the Enemy." and "Apocalyptic Druid of Pride."]
[1st Perk: Never Cower before Anyone, Stand Still against the Enemy]
[Effect: Mind-Calming Effect and Pressure-Canceling Aura]
[2nd Perk: Apocalyptic Druid of Pride]
[Effect: All-Round Strength Strengthening Effect and Druid's Aura]
Baek Ain blinked at the row of system panels before him. The power of his 1st Stigmata shouldn't get undervalued as the Goddess of Opportunity comes and grants it personally to him.
Even though the perks' names are somewhat mouthful, each letter has an inherent meaning. And the effect should be consequential for Baek Ain's future growth.
After meeting the Goddess of Opportunity, Baek Ain changed his mind slightly. He shook his head and bitterly smiled, "I thought I'd hate her more, considering the annoying things she had done to me."
The woman who issued hardship-inducing quests one after another is more emotionless than Baek Ain expected. She's similar to Lan Rou but extremely monotonous yet aloof.
Even Alicia wasn't that monotonous because she was constantly teasing him. The Goddess of Opportunity's voice still lingered in Baek Ain's mind.
"Did I get charmed?" Baek Ain couldn't help but ask himself.
[No, you didn't] Alicia answered calmly.
[The Goddess of Opportunity is one of the most renowned Constellations in the Order. She wouldn't use petty tricks such as Charm and Curse]
[Majority of the Constellations view their champions as their children and the Goddess of Opportunity is quite the same. Why would a mother charm her own son?]
Baek Ain chuckled and responded, "I have one word for that, Alicia."
[What is it?]
"Incest."
[...]
[Oh, wow! How could I forget my Host is a perverted harem protagonist]
[Don't worry, Host. I will support you no matter what!]
[Incest is Wincest!]
"OY!" Baek Ain doesn't like how Alicia gives him this title. She even told him incest was okay.
Baek Ain sighed as the appearance of the Goddess of Opportunity flashed in his head. It'd be a lie if he said the goddess is not beautiful, but something about her is bizarre.
Maybe it was the difference of power.
Maybe it was just Baek Ain's feelings.
But the Goddess of Opportunity seems a billion times or infinitely more powerful than he is. Yes, A deity with unmatched power, which Baek Ain considered after sensing her non-existent presence.
Nothing makes one afraid more than the unknown. And the Goddess of Opportunity is within that category.
If Baek Ain's current power is a small bean, Goddess of Opportunity is a limitless universe filled with infinite galaxies. It's not even worth comparing the two.
Baek Ain wanted to laugh, but no voice came out.
[1st Stigmata activated]
[You have desired a superb goal...]
[A certain amount of "Druid's Aura." successfully birthed in your soul]
Druid Aura?
Baek Ain couldn't feel anything for a few seconds, but a slight sensation slowly appeared in his soul. He observed the so-called Druid's Aura and discovered a bright green light.
He might become blind if seeing this directly with his eyes.
"Damn..." Baek Ain cursed while clutching his head. The headache is akin to ripping his skull apart.
After five minutes, Baek Ain returned to normal and felt his mind refreshed to another level. The Druid's Aura grew more substantial in his soul, albeit slowly like a snail.
He decided to wait for the Druid's Aura to grow stronger first. In the meantime, he wanted to test Myriad Behemoth Sage Physique.
Through Soul Transition, Baek Ain skipped the painful part of his blood getting exploded and interrogated slowly into his body. Now he could control five fundamental elements, alongside Time and Space Elements.
Of course, Baek Ain's main element is still Fire.
After all, he cultivated the Record of Burning World.
Given the tight time, Baek Ain also had to raise his proficiency in the Record of Burning World. The three final stages are more profound than anything he had learned and comprehended.
"Let's see..."
Baek Ain flicked his finger casually and created a small yellow flame, feeding it with Wood Energy and blasting it with more Fire Energy to make it bigger.
As the flame slowly grew, the yellow color turned golden and manifested the image of Golden Crow above a massive white tree.
[Enhanced Golden Crow's Flame]
A system window appeared above the flame.
A smirk appeared on Baek Ain's face because he could combine elements with ease now. He tried other combinations and discovered that even opposing elements would create an unorthodox result.
For example, Water and Fire Elements will create Golden Vapour Flame. It was weaker than Golden Crow's Flame but had its use, like how Lan Rou creates mists with her Dou Technique.
If he changed the Water Element to Earth, Baek Ain would get a Golden Melting Flame.
And the list goes on.
The only unfortunate thing is that Baek Ain couldn't combine Golden Crow's Flame with Space and Time Elements. It seems his level of control wasn't there yet.
"This is a problem of not having a teacher." Baek Ain sighed while putting a wry expression on his face. "I could only figure things out myself."
If Baek Ain could get his own on some ancient record related to Spatial Strength and Temporal Force, he might get inspiration to improve his skills.
Baek Ain can only wait and do a trial-and-error run for now.
"Well, how long have I been here?" Baek Ain asked the system.
[A week] Alicia answered honestly.
[The reconstruction of your body takes around five days]
[And Soul Transition takes two days]
"Two days?" Baek Ain frowned slightly. "That doesn't sound right."
"My conversation with the Goddess of Opportunity doesn't even last more than five minutes."
[Astral Soul Realm is magical, Host] Alicia returned casually.
"Is that so?"
[Yes, you didn't know how lucky you were to meet the Goddess of Opportunity. Other Champions will take one thousand years to have a chance to meet their Sponsor]
[And you only took two years]
Baek Ain shrugged because his luck was quite good, all thanks to his Innate Skill for issuing Soul Stigmata's Awakening Quest.
He stretched with the temporal weights and discovered his physical limits had increased by a massive margin. When Baek Ain means "massive.", he could lift ten tons with one arm alone. And that wasn't his limit.
Damn, the power of Sage Physique is insane.
Feeling sweat coming from his forehead, Baek Ain looked at the muscular feature of his arm. Baek Ain still appeared lean and tall with no excessive muscles like those bodybuilders, but his overall strength was similar to Half-Saint Expert from the Magical Beast Race.
It's terrifying.
"Is this the Pink Muscle Tissue mentioned in Fan Gu's Record?" Baek Ain pondered quietly. "Possessing the everlasting endurance of White Muscle Tissue and explosive release of Red Muscle Tissue."
"Human's body is truly a treasure trove."
Thinking about it, Baek Ain tossed his dirty, bloodied clothes to the ground and picked fresh ones from his inventory.
He also grabbed some candy pills and popped them into his mouth, feeling the relaxation of his muscles.
Walking on a steep stair, Baek Ain arrived at a majestically big black iron door and pushed it with his pinky finger. He stepped in and discovered Lan Rou and Cai Lin fighting over braised pork.
He laughed and said, "How could you eat without your husband!"
"Let me in!"