Now that I thought about it some more, why is it I could see these people so clearly at this point?
After my eyes were pulled out and I was forced to wear a blindfold, I'd been substituting it for imagination. Pretending I could see, but really only being able to 'see' nothing but an empty abyss.
That great 'Life Gift' of mine was rendered useless thanks to Asmo, but they still existed somewhat.
The vessels of my ocular powers vanished, but they could only exist when attached to my head.
That was to say, my Life Gift wasn't destroyed.
[You may change or alter variables before opening the 'Random Box'. It will include all traits into it.]
In front of me, a box appeared out of nowhere.
I wasn't sure why, but it looked like I wasn't seeing the world with my eyes at this point of time.
Maybe this was my spirit.
If so, it'd explain why I could clearly see the metal box the system threw. Holding an air of mystery.
Now… how was I supposed to alter variables?
Things then clicked for me.
I focused on my eyes and tried my best to connect my current Life Gift with the relevant Affinity.
['Envy' is resonating with 'Psychokinetic Eyes'.]
['Psychokinetic Eyes (Yin)' is having its base Affinity altered. 'Mirror Spiritus' is being applied.]
[Hidden characteristic: 'Medium: Eyes' has changed to 'Medium: Reflection of the Eyes'.]
[Error… User does not possess medium…]
[Characteristic altering… Success!]
['Medium: 'Reflection of the Eyes' has been changed to 'Medium: User reflected on Eyes'.]
[Life Gift has evolved into 'Psychogenic Self'. The terms of activation has heightened with grade.]
[Alteration of the 'Life Gift' shall change the Race and Species of user. Commencing reconstruction.]
"…Wait!" HOT DAMN, if it goes like this… then I'll end up turning into a Demon! I had to stop it!
What could I do? WHAT COULD I DO?!!!
I had to change the nature of the Gift again. ASAP!
It was then I figured I'd better go in regardless of what the results would be. Else I'd turn demonic.
I didn't want my innate nature to turn towards wickedness. It'd end up twisting me beyond saving.
That's why I had to fuse my Affinities now.
[You have chosen to fuse 'Envy' and 'Clarity'.]
[Attempting to improve 'Psychogenic Self']
[Hidden Characteristic: 'Race: Demon', 'Race: Angel', and 'Race: Human' are being blended.]
[Due to the flexibility of 'Race: Human', the two outliers have been consumed by it for growth.]
[You have obtained 'Race: Transcendentkin'.]
[Species has evolved 'Greyscale Wolf'.]
['Wolf Pack Divine Mentality (Innate)' has become 'Enlightened Greyscale Third Eye (Innate)'.]
['Yin Wolf Divine Physique (Innate)' has become 'Transcendent Unholy Duality Tattoos (Innate)'.]
I looked at the change and felt small differences in my body. It made me have a look at my stats.
[Power: A (Heroic)
Agility: B (Rare)
Speed: D (Average)
Defence: E (Common)
Magic: — ]
Since my Magic Pathways were still stolen, it looked like my Magic Rank was still empty.
However, my strength jumped from D to A.
The pinnacle of human capabilities.
I didn't feel any different. It made me realise that these changes would likely only happen later.
Since that was the case, I had no reason not to go the extra mile. Since my Life Gift was based off the Superego Affinity, the Innate Gift next to it would likely take most its traits from what was left.
That's why I fused the three Affinities left.
['Apathy', 'Sloth', and 'Temperance' have been chosen for fusion… Triple fusion is a success!]
['Nihility' Affinity has been obtained.]
As soon as that option came up, I rushed to open the box without thinking about what's next.
Everyone simply watched my actions.
No one could interrupt me at this moment.
I opened the 'Random Box'. A rainbow of lights covered the area and caused Aphrodite to look.
She had been watching ever since I fused Affinities. Her current expression was unreadable.
I switched back to the unlocking of potential.
[Congratulations! You have obtained the Innate Gift: 'Ink Musculature'. Strength is set as Heroic.]
I wasn't sure what it did for me, but with all that done… I'd decided to face Aphrodite once again.
Wanting to know what she was thinking of this.
…..
….
…
..
.
I hadn't expected this. Things were going well until I saw exactly what 'stories' he was synced with.
Attribute Gods like the Evil God and Holy God could give their Affinities, but I was different.
Everyone who ascended to Godhood the way I did would each have different gifts they could give.
Blacksmith Gods could give techniques and treasures. Sword Gods could sharpen blades.
Then what about a Love Goddess like myself?
Depending on the treasure he was mostly synced with, I could give him that. A part of my story.
A miracle that 'Aphrodite' had went through.
He was my apostle. I had to make sure my present wouldn't be less than what others had gifted him.
But his stats were too all over the place.
He didn't have much of a focus in killing people or manipulating them. Only being able strike back.
I could see seeds of potential in him.
And when the two Attribute Gods awakened it, I couldn't hold back my astonishment towards him.
"What's wrong?" The spiritual self of 'Adam Graham' looked at me with his eye sockets.
When I looked at his face closely, those black holes into the abyss stared back… I couldn't say it.
However, my position gave me no choice here.
"I've decided your Miracle. Please don't forget about our promise made, because fate will never misremember." I hardened my heart. The miracle he was attuned with, Aphrodite's origin, shook.
Imagination and belief shaped magic, so what I interpreted as Aphrodite's origin showed itself.
"Erm… 'Losing a function in return for the creation of life'. Are you saying THIS is what I get?" I found no anger in his words, so I chose to stay neutral and explain properly what I was giving him.
"This is a random function loss for you. If you take my power, you will lose something in return for something alive. That physical function will crease to exist." My eyes shifted away while saying this.
I knew why he hesitated. It was too harsh.
"What's all this about anyway?" Adam sighed. I felt glad he could accept the reality of this so quickly.
"What do you know of Aphrodite?"
"That she is a Greek goddess." (Adam)
"True, but that's surface level. What about this Miracle I'm granting you? It relates." (Aphrodite)
"I can't be sure." (Adam)
"Myths of Aphrodite go way further than even the God King, Zeus. Some say she's his child, and others say that she was born from white foam produced by the severed genitals of Uranus, which was thrown into the sea by his son." (Aphrodite)
"…Did they have an argument?" (Adam)
"The specifics don't matter since they aren't events that really happened. There's no deeper context to all this. Only that my 'interpretation' of that event turned into the belief." (Aphrodite)
"Which turned into power." It looked like Adam had been taught well despite not being here too long.
Or was this his own knowledge from above?
"My belief is that by sacrificing a function, you will create a being that you desire. This life form will never betray you and will see you as more than a benefactor. They'll see you as life." I told it to him.
"And I can't control what I'd lose next?"
"Exactly, you won't even have a say in what life will be created." I knew it wasn't appealing to him.
He seemed like less of a gambler initially.
But it seemed like he'd really changed.
"I just don't care anymore." He told me with a face that no longer seemed to hold any patience.
He really was gambling.
"I can change the Miracle." I tried to persuade him.
"Will it be as good as this one?" He stared.
"…No." I made that clear.
"Then leave it be." He didn't give me any room for sympathy. Only asking for the highest privilege.
Even if it was accompanied by a curse.
I tapped his head and finished this conversation between us. We'd talk the next time we met.
Even if that was after his own 'legend' ended.
…..
….
…
..
.
When Aphrodite tapped my head, I felt myself falling back into reality from a certain point on.
The vision that had been clearing up was once again submerged into darkness. I felt a severance.
The system window was the only thing clear.
It was the only thing existing in this darkness.
That same system window I relied on turned into a blade. Throwing itself to cut straight into my bones.
Deep into the marrow.
I felt my body invaded, but not in pain.
Almost like the blade wasn't meant to cut, but was a more conceptual severing blade dawning on me.
After cutting into my neck, it shattered…
Leaving me breathless momentarily.
But most of all.
"A… aaaa…" I had become mute.
My voice box had been altered. I couldn't find the air in my lungs while inhaling and exhaling.
It wouldn't be moulded by my tongue.
By the time it finished, no more sounds would exit my mouth. Almost like he sounds were cut off.
It didn't make sense.
However, I knew this was simply my reality.
This was a world of magic and mysteries. It made sense that a 'miracle' would follow its own laws.
[Your voice has been submerged your shadow.]
When those words rang out, I noticed that my thighs were bound again and my blindfold was on.
The surge is repulsed thoughts explodes out.
My situation hadn't changed. My tail and ears had likely changed colours. My body was stronger.
However, the bindings wouldn't budge.
'I am not the same as before.' Not physically, but I believed my mind no longer held back on anything.
As if a chain had been released.
The power of Riot Hysteria flowed through me. It was being altered by the two Affinities I had.
I knew what to do before Edith got here.
Simon told me that all life was made out of magical power. Even the physical aspect of this world.
If that was true, then I could do this.
I planted my face into the bed and activated my Personal Skill: 'Willpower Enchantment' fully.
My body started shaking as the intact 'Race: Human' hidden characteristic started to shake.
It had already managed transform at this point.
[Remnants of Intrinsic Skill: 'Abyss Core' and 'Poison Hands' are making their appearance.]
[Racial transformation is approved.]
With that, my physical body melted out of the absolute confinement restraints that had held me.
It was a chain reaction that made me 'die'.
I could feel my consciousness waning and my ability to read the system messages weakening.
My eyesight was blurry.
The only thing that existed after my body melted was the bed beneath me. It soaked in my flesh.
My clarity abruptly returned. Almost like my mind was now guarded by two layers of protection.
[Your Species has changed from 'Greyscale Wolf' and has become a 'World Bound Perfect Mimic'.]
It looked like 'Race: Transcendentkin' remained.
[Your hidden characteristics have changed. The activated 'Riot Hysteria' has derived a new Skill.]
['Eldritch Horror' is now passively active.]
I felt my nerve receptors returning to me after the remnants of that Abyss Core within me melted.
Acting as coal in the fires of Riot Hysteria.
I reached my arms, and found that they were now awkwardly connected to the bed I'd melded into.
Reminding me of Talia's pet from the dungeon.
Since I wanted to hide, I used the two abilities that popped up alongside my evolution into a Mimic.
['Inaninate Stealth (Innate)' is now hiding user.]
My arms vanished and my appearance likely changed to look exactly like a normal bed.
This was the start of my life being a Mimic.