Sinful? Corrupt? I don't understand your logic. Why must pleasure and sin be connected? Pleasure gotten through evil means could be a sin. But pleasure can also result from good deeds. What kind of philosophy calls pleasure itself a sin?
-: Goldy
....
With the realization that the possibilities were limitless, Jin's determination soared. He had gained a power that could alter the course of fate itself. The knowledge, the understanding, the control—he held them all in his grasp. The world was his canvas, and the magic that flowed through it was his paint.
As he closed his eyes and basked in the magnitude of his newfound Arcane Cognizance, controlling his excitement, which was very unsuccessful in it.
Jin vowed to honor this gift by pushing the boundaries of what magic could achieve. With every step he took, he would uncover new frontiers of power, rewriting the very fabric of reality with the strength of his will and the depth of his understanding.
"Yes, let's fucking go! Who knew I would gain something so OP? If I knew I would gain this, I would have done this a long time ago."
"Fuck, it's amazing."
Jin screamed at the top of his lungs, causing all his shadows that were hunting to turn and look in his direction. It was the same for the demons who had managed to keep themselves alive until now.
Amidst the backdrop of a world plunged into chaos, Jin stood, his power surging with newfound might. The Arcane Cognizance skill had transformed his understanding of magic, elevating his abilities to heights he had only dreamed of. As he grasped the entry permit, his heart raced with anticipation, for he had just realized a door to an uncharted realm of magic had swung open.
Jin's scream pierced the air, a raw burst of energy that resonated through the very shadows around him. The demons he had hunted, the creatures that once exuded fearlessness, now quivered in their essence. In the face of his unleashed power, even the most tenacious among them succumbed to overpowering terror.
A grin split Jin's face as he clutched the entry permit tightly, his eyes wide with revelation. The magical script etched on the permit danced before his vision, and his mind seamlessly absorbed its intricacies. The revelation was staggering—he could read, comprehend, and replicate the very language that had eluded him until now.
"YES, LET'S FUCKING GO!"
With a fierce proclamation that echoed across the landscape, Jin's voice reached the ears of superior demons. They converged upon him, their gazes filled with both awe and curiosity. Alone against their number, Jin emanated a confidence that sent ripples through the very air.
Yet, amidst the crowd of demons and the attention they gave him, Jin's thoughts soared to new heights. His imagination kindled, painting vivid possibilities before his mind's eye. "If I can unravel the enigmatic script of demons, what prevents me from deciphering the intricate web of Runes?" he pondered, his thoughts a whirlwind of excitement.
The Language Of Gods.
Mostly related to the Creation of a Sky Father.
The realization was electrifying—his newfound ability extended beyond the demon's tongue. With the Arcane Cognizance coursing through him, Jin believed he could decode the cryptic language of Runes, both ordinary and Primordial Runes. He envisioned himself poring over ancient texts, tracing the lines and curves that held secrets hidden for eons.
Title: The Script of the Skyfather's Legacy
Amidst the tumultuous crossroads of fate, Jin stood, his newfound power coursing through his veins. The Arcane Cognizance skill had granted him a glimpse into the heart of magic itself, offering him mastery over mana like never before. As his fingers brushed the surface of the entry permit, a spark of revelation ignited within him.
Jin's triumphant cry shattered the air, a sonic wave that sent ripples across the battlefield. The demons who had once held dominion trembled at the sheer force of his presence. His grip on the entry permit tightened as he reveled in his newfound understanding.
"I can comprehend this," Jin muttered, his voice a mixture of wonder and determination. His eyes danced over the intricate magical symbols etched upon the entry permit, each line a tapestry of arcane knowledge waiting to be unraveled. In that moment, he knew that he could harness the very language that had eluded him.
"If I can grasp the language of demons, then perhaps the secrets of the runes are within my reach," he mused, his imagination taking flight. In his mind's eye, he saw himself delving into ancient knowledge that came from the well of Knowledge itself, deciphering the symbols of the gods themselves.
The runes, those potent marks that held the power of magic within their forms, beckoned to him. Jin envisioned himself studying the skies, for the runes were intrinsically linked with the celestial realm. He could imagine himself deciphering the language of primordial runes, the very script of the gods.
Odin, the Skyfather, loomed large in his thoughts. His mind painted visions of runes that told tales of the cosmos, symbols that embodied the strength of the heavens. These were the runes that had shaped the very fabric of reality, that had guided the fate of both gods and mortals alike.
With the Arcane Cognizance as his guide, Jin envisioned himself deciphering the intricate patterns of these primordial runes. He saw himself weaving the symbols into spells of unprecedented power, harnessing the very forces that governed creation.
Runes that could command the wind, channel the lightning, and shape the world to his will.
As he gazed upon the entry permit, Jin's heart swelled with anticipation. The magic within the runes was a song of the divine, a symphony of power that resonated across time and space. His connection to the arcane had deepened, and he felt the pull of the runes like a call from the gods themselves.
With a newfound purpose burning within him, Jin closed his eyes for a moment, lost in the dreams of what he could achieve. The Arcane Cognizance had opened a door to the secrets of the runes, a language of gods and legends.
His journey into the mysteries of the celestial script had only just begun, and he was determined to carve his own destiny upon the tapestry of magic itself.
In his mind's eye, he saw himself recreating these runes, inscribing them onto surfaces with absolute precision. The enchanting power of runes, symbols that contained magic within their very essence, beckoned him.
He could envision the future, crafting weapons imbued with untold might, clothes that bestowed unparalleled protection, or even etching runes onto his skin, augmenting his own abilities.
A concept flickered in his thoughts—a notion akin to Mjolnir, the legendary weapon of the gods. A weapon that could not be lifted by the unworthy, that could be summoned by its true master. Jin envisioned runes that would intertwine with an object's very existence, shaping its purpose and wielding power beyond comprehension.
The enormity of this revelation weighed upon him, but Jin's determination burned brighter than ever. The Arcane Cognizance had unlocked a doorway to the arcane arts, a realm where ancient knowledge and power converged.
As he gazed upon the entry permit again, his mind filled with visions of runes inscribed across reality itself, paving the way for a future where he would wield magic beyond imagination.
With all this, he felt if he wasn't a superhuman, he could already be dead as he would have had multiple heart attacks. He felt his blood pumping in his veins like never before.
It was still a ways off from his Strength Stat, but considering the fact that he hadn't even paid much attention to the Intelligence Stat until recently, this skill could only be called a miracle for him.
Thumb! Thumb!
Okay, okay, calm down. Calm down. You can squeal later. For now, you have other objectives…
He felt his heart beating fast and loud, almost like a drum. His breath had become a bit ragged, but he wasn't that tired. No, instead, he was nervous and afraid. Right now, what was making him move was actually adrenaline rather than his own will.
'Calm yourself, Jin, calm. Don't lose yourself in this feeling of power. What you are imagining is far from being achieved. Remember, your heart could stop beating, and you wouldn't feel a thing due to pain resistance, even if your regeneration works to keep you alive. As long as you stay calm, it will be fine.'
He felt his body slowly relax, taking one deep breath and entering his stance once again. Next, Jin turned to look at his other targets, the demons who had come out of their hideouts, getting massacred by his army. This made their work even easier.
Strength, Endurance, Agility, Intelligence, and Perception. A good balance between them had been established now.
'Not one of these Stats is useless to me.'
As it so happened, he had gone through stages of seriously investing in each of his Stats. And now, he knew full well the effects and advantages each Stat brought to the table.
'Hold on…'
Now that things had come to this, how about raising all of his Stats equally from now on, instead of focusing only on one?
An All-Star Player.
Suddenly, the desire to become one gripped him tightly.
What a happy dilemma to have, something only possible once he balanced all his Stats that were severely lagging behind compared to Intelligence.
'Once all stats surpass Intelligence, I should slowly start to balance them too.'
Making up his mind, Jin shifted his gaze to the Skill window next.
That's where he discovered the third reward.
[Reward 3: Unknown reward]
He thought that the first reward, 'the item he wanted,' and the second reward, 'bonus Stat points,' were more than enough, so he didn't pay all that much attention to the third reward.
And he knew what the third reward was. Now he definitely did not need it, especially with Arcane Cognizance. Now he was confident that even if his healing magic didn't work, he would be able to create something that will work.
But hey, it's free, so let's just have it. It's not like I am going to create that.
As well, he had already got the reward, the levels, and the most amazing skill, so no need to be shy now, was there?
[Reward 3 has been made available.]
Along with that message, a scroll similar in size to the 'entry permit' appeared in his hands.
Jin's hands moved on their own, and he unfurled the scroll right away. As his mind wanted to see if a new magical language was there.
[Recipe: Divine Water of Life]
You can learn the crafting methods of 'Divine Water of Life'.
"Sigh…"
Jin sighed as there was nothing but a drawing.
'If I can craft an item with this, does it mean I would be able to do the same with something else if I had a recipe?'
And here he was, thinking that only those who had Awakened as blacksmith-type classes could craft weapons containing magical energy… Now that he thought about it.
He planned to acquire a few shadows who were masters of their craft, and one in particular held a big part in his big plans: the creation of his own world and many fabulous weapons. But most importantly, his own world.
'Still, to think, there was a way to craft something with just a recipe like this. If so, could I make other potions with the right recipe and ingredients?'
Jin's heart began palpitating with plans for becoming a makeshift alchemist.
The Divine Water of Life?' Even though he knew what it was, Jin still read the information on this 'Divine Water of Life' written inside the recipe.
[Item: Divine Water of Life]
Rarity: S
Type: Consumable
A mysterious liquid medicine that cures any and all illnesses through the powerful magic contained within. The effect will only manifest after one whole bottle has been consumed.
'Cures… any and all illnesses?' Will it be able to cure diseases that came from Nurgle, the Great Lord of Decay and the Master of Plague and Pestilence from 40K?
The moment he read that information, the first thing he thought about was the God of Plague. The immense, bloated humanoid, with a body swollen with putrefaction. His skin is shown as leathery and necrotic, his surface pocked with running sores, swelling buboes, and oozing wounds. Literally made of the greatest illness that could kill celestial beings.
If this could truly cure an illness that came from possibly the strongest Plague god, it could be one of the greatest treasures in his possession.
But I don't think that's possible; after all, the 40K world is on a whole another level, and even the Orks of that universe could manipulate reality, bringing their very thoughts into reality.
Still, his hands holding the scroll trembled from excitement. He wasn't still 100% sure, and as long as it's not 0%, it's 100% for me.
The ingredients were also on the simpler side, so to speak.
'Fragment of the World Tree.'
He earned that after killing Vulcan on the 50th floor.
'Spring Water from the Forest of Echoes.'
He got that after killing Metus the necromancer on the 75th floor.
And finally…
'…..Purified Blood of the Demon King.'
This item was on the highest floor.
However, thinking back to the two ingredients that had come out so far, 'Purified Blood of the Demon King' isn't that hard to get; he just keeps climbing.
The upper floors.
In other words, simply by clearing the Demon's Castle dungeon, the ingredients to craft the 'Divine Water of Life' would fall into his lap one by one.
While in his thoughts, a new message popped up.
Ding~.
[You can learn Crafting Skill via 'Recipe: Divine Water of Life'.]
[Will you learn this Crafting Skill?]
The mechanical beep brought him back to his senses, fast.
In order to craft this Divine Water of Life, he needed to clear the Demon's Castle first.
"….I'm learning it."
[You have acquired Crafting Skill for 'Item: Divine Water of Life'.]
'Just as I hoped'
As if to imply that his memories were functioning fine, a new column called [Crafting Skill] appeared on the Skills window.
[Crafting Skill]
Consumable: Divine Water of Life (2/3)
The numbers behind the name indicated the two ingredients he already possessed – the 'Fragment of the World Tree' and the 'Spring Water from the Forest of Echoes'.
'Ah, right. Next up….'
Jin summoned his Inventory and retrieved an item stored right next to the spring water. It was a necklace, seemingly carved out from skulls of various small creatures.
[Item: Demon Sovereign's Necklace]
Rarity: S
Type: Accessory
Agility +20, Intelligence +20
When worn together with 'Demon Sovereign's Earrings' and 'Demon Sovereign's Ring', set bonus effects will be unlocked.
Set effect 1: (locked)
Set effect 2: (locked)
The 'Spring Water from the Forest of Echoes' wasn't the only loot he got from killing the Guide of the Departed Souls, Metus. Indeed, this rather vile-looking necklace also came out too.
'Why are the designs of all the necklaces I found so edgy? As if designed by some ten-year-old. I mean, skulls, really. Sigh…'
Jin frowned deeply while recalling the appearance of the dog collar he was currently wearing. He slowly brought the 'Demon Sovereign's Necklace' closer to his neck.
Ding.
[Will you replace 'Gatekeeper's Necklace' with 'Demon Sovereign's Necklace'?]
Both necklaces boasted rather similar additional effects. Both raised two of his Stats by 20 points each. However, the demon sovereign's also had the set effect to consider, as well.
But I can't wear both at the same time. Does it mean it will be the same for my eyes? Most likely I won't be able to activate all the eyes at the same time. It will primarily be two for each eye socket. So if you can't have all of them at the same time, the next best option will be trying to find a way to switch between eyes of multiple types.
Jin shook his head to get rid of current thoughts. It's far from the day I will leave this to my future self as I am far from even a single set of eyes.
'Replace.'
Shururuk…
[You have equipped 'Item: Demon Sovereign's Necklace'.]
The skull necklace disappeared from his hands, only to be replaced by a dog collar.
He quickly shoved that dog collar inside his Inventory as he planned to remodel it into something better with his name on it, and checked the newly unlocked set effect of the 'demon sovereign's accessory set'.
[Item: Demon Sovereign's Necklace]
Set effect 1: All Stats +5
Set effect 2: (locked)
'All of my Stats rose up by 5 points.'