Episode(12): New path
SOVEREIGN OF DEATH~(12)
『Rare Class 'Necromancer' advances to the Unique Class 'Ruler of Death'』
A loud beep echoed in Nagisa's mind and he slowly opened his eyes. His eyelids trembled and it was hard to completely open his eyes because his soul and body had been separated for such a long period of time.
It might have only been a few minutes but it was long enough to make it feel like it wasn't his own body.
Nevertheless, as the barrage of messages from the system covered his vision and bombarded his aching head with an annoying amount of fanfare. He gradually got use to his body again and finally opened his eyes.
His eyes looked up to see the dark hole he had fallen from and he didn't need to ask where he was. The sharp pain coming from his stomach and the dead wolf on top of him was enough to tell him that he wasn't dead.
But he only managed to think about it calmly for a second before the pain in his abdomen became as bad as torture.
[Guh]
Nagisa came back to his senses and hurriedly pushed the wolf man from top of him before breaking the sharp rock with his hands. Thankfully, although the rock shard was sharp it wasn't tough and it broke with a snap.
Nagisa rolled down to the ground before sitting up weakly. He might have revived but it wasn't a complete revival where the blood was sent back into his body.
Rather, he could feel that although he seemed to be on the cusp of dying for some reason he could avoid death.
He recalled his new skill 'Reluctance' and figured out it might have something to do with this skill. To think such a heaven defying ability would exist. Nagisa was shocked but at the same time he was glad he gained the skill.
After thinking this, he held on to the shard with a painful grimace and pulled out. Blood dripped from the huge wound and it seemed like he'd die soon but a miracle happened mere moments later.
Wisps of smoke came from the wound and it closed little by little before the wound disappeared completely without even leaving a mark.
Nagisa was stunned into silence. He touched his solid abs where the hole was and tried desperately to find any sign of a wound but no matter how much he searched there was nothing.
'Was this some sort of regeneration?'
Nagisa felt as if he had just seen something out of a movie. To think that such quick healing was even possible.
Maybe if he had this skill back then he wouldn't have to worry about getting thrashed into a heap by his grandfather.
Still, it didn't seem much like a normal recovery skill as only his physical and spiritual body healed. No, rather than saying they healed it was like they returned to their original state.
His blood and energy had yet to recover.
Although he could feel his blood filling up along with his energy he knew this wasn't a 'regen' skill at all. It was more like a reset button freeing him from the cycle of death.
But, this didn't bother him at all. Either way it meant that Nagisa as he was now was harder to kill than even the god of cockroaches.
And with a tenacious life like this, he could taste the fresh air of the outside world sooner than later. His heart beat excitedly but he hurriedly calmed it down the next second.
He still wasn't sure what was ahead and whether or not there was a way to the surface. For now he could only recover his energy and blood then make his move.
After thinking this, Nagisa sat up and walked to a corner to sit down. He was alive but he really didn't want to stay near the corpse of the monster that almost sent him to the afterlife.
Walking to the side exactly where a bright glow stone shimmered brilliantly. Nagisa sat down. He didn't realize at first but compared to the ones he saw before these crystals actually lit up quite a distance. Just one was enough to light up a single km of distance.
[I wonder what these are?]
He only thought about it briefly before turning his attention away and sitting down. At the moment his recovery was more important than an unknown crystal.
He closed his eyes and regulated his breathing. Although he wasn't sure meditating would do much help, at least it would calm his mind.
Letting out and drawing in several consecutive breaths, Nagisa easily entered into a zone and his mind calmed down quickly. Meditating always helped to calm the heart and now Nagisa could even feel the recovery process of his body. He felt a warmth surge through his body, but as he was about to follow this energy a message rang on in his mind.
『Calculating all rewards according to the system』
It was the voice from earlier. Nagisa calmly opened his eyes and no longer panicked unlike earlier. Now that his mind had calmed down he could think about this practically.
This was a world with a game like status and skills and unique abilities. Of course he didn't think of himself as some main character with the only system in this world, that simply meant this was the law that governed the entire world.
For now Nagisa decided to call this system the law of the world. That law would announce achievements and level ups and the following. So far Nagisa was sure of what he came up with and wouldn't believe otherwise.
Now the relevant thing was what the law had said.
'Rewards?'
Nagisa pondered for a while but soon came up with an answer. Now that he had killed the wolf man variant, the system would give him 'XP'.
As Nagisa thought about everything, the robotic female voice rang out again.
『Rewards have been determined and will now be administered』
『Level 97 "Hell Spawn Wolf" has been slayed. Your level greatly increases』
Level 97?
Nagisa was stunned when he heard the absurdly high number. One had to remember that he was merely level one. He didn't gain any XP from killing the wolves because he didn't directly kill them so he didn't think he had the power to fight such a high tier destructive monster at all.
No, Nagisa shook his head. It could be that the monster had just reached 97 due to its evolution and thanks to the double suicide Nagisa killed it before it could properly get used to its upgrade in power.
Nagisa nodded as it seemed feasible. There was no way he'd believe he took down a level 97 that was in its peak form. Just how much luck would he have wasted in such a case? Not even the thickest plot armor would be able to save him in the future if it really were the case.
Suddenly, Nagisa felt a sharp pain run through his body. His bones, his arteries and cells. Everywhere in his body felt like they were being twisted into nothing and the pain was so unbearable that Nagisa's eyes were bloodshot.
This pain was worse than any he had ever felt in his life and Nagisa was genuinely close to passing out.
『Your level greatly increases』
As the sudden message popped up in his mind, Nagisa slowly felt the unbearable pain fading away.
He was sprawled out on the ground panting heavily while cursing in his mind.
F***, I swear someone must be working black magic on me!
Nagisa could only sit up after a few twenty minutes and even then he could still recall the gut wrenching pain. Luckily he was somewhat used to pain or else he might have become an idiot and lost all sanity by now.
Then he recalled the message about his level increasing.
'That pain....it must be related to leveling up'
Since he gained all those levels at once his body had to undergo a change in one go and that was the result. It was like a balloon taking too much water. He was lucky that his body had already surpassed human limits or he really might have burst.
But, he could finally stand up after a while.
Nagisa completely forgot about the pain and stretched his body while thinking about his future path. Before him was a not so clear road that he hesitated to take.
He was angry that he was tossed away like used trash. He was angry at others trying to control his fate. He was angry at his classmates who just let all this happen.
But-
Nagisa really didn't want to live such a meaningless life of vengeance. If all he did was focus and obsess over his revenge that his own life became so cloudy and murky, then wouldn't his life become meaningless after his revenge.
Nagisa shook his head. He still wanted the pigeon winged b*tch to suffer, but he wouldn't make it his life goal to cause her suffering.
What he was focused on was what came after his revenge.
He was certain that there was no feasible way to go back his original world and it was pointless to search.
Additionally, he didn't really want to return either. Nagisa felt more at peace where he could actually use his sword without repercussions rather than in a peaceful world where his sword only collected rust.
Either way, he needed to focus on escaping this dungeon first. Anything, be it revenge or just adventuring would have to come after this.
'Status'
Nagisa shouted and called up the transparent screen in his mind. Now that he leveled up and gained a new skill he wanted to know everything that he could.
[Kanata Nagisa–(Lv.25)]
[Class– Ruler of Death]
[Trait – Art of Death(EX-2), Master(EX), Reluctant(EX) ]
[Mana–2600/3700]
"Skills"
[Perception(A-)] [Swordplay(S-)] [Martial Arts(A+)] [Kanata Footwork(S)] [Body Control(A)] [Oneness(D)] [Mana UP(C+)]
Nagisa looked at his current level and was a bit disappointed. Killing a level 97 monster in his mind should have at least brought him to level 50, but maybe that was just a misconception thanks to games in his previous world.
'Well, I guess it's only in games that you would gain a lot of levels from slaying a high leveled monster.'
He wasn't completely dissatisfied either.
Nagisa looked at his current amount of mana with a smile on his face. It was originally just a scant 100 but he now had enough not to worry about perception at all. At this point, with his perception already at a level where the recovery rate surpassed the cost of mana it was like there wasn't even a cost at all. He could keep his perception activated without even worrying about running low on MP and it made him extremely cheerful.
Also, there was the new [Mana Up(C+)].
He wasn't sure about what it did but it sounded alright and it made him happy. However he worried that he might really get in trouble if he really didn't know how to use his skills especially if he gained new ones.
It was then that he saw an additional sign and pressed it. All the information related to the skill popped up giving him no time at all to react.
[Mana UP(C+)]
A skill given to all rare classes belonging to the 'mage' category that deal with magic. This skill amplifies the amount of mana gained from leveling up. The amount of 'permanent' mana enhancement given will increase as the skill's proficiency improves. Additionally, the more control and aptitude one has over mana, the more magic will be increased as they grow.
Nagisa read through the skill and smiled, but then frowned. It wasn't a unique skill.
It was just a rare skill. This mean that any rare class with mana related traits would have this skill.
'Does Aoi have a similar skill?'
Nagisa couldn't just make speculation but her class was indeed rare. Maybe she didn't have it now but somewhere in the future. Nagisa thought it was possible but didn't dwell too much on it.
The fact that others would have this skill even if it was just a few made him uncomfortable but knowing himself Nagisa knew that he would gain more power even with the same skill.
Who knows, he might even be able to evolve the skill to a unique skill in the future.
Either way, it was a cheat that wasn't a cheat but for the current Nagisa it was good enough.
He then moved on to look at the rest of his status.
[Ruler of Death]
*Unique class Created specifically for the one who conquered death. When in a situation where your health is lower than 70% your abilities will increase 50% and you will be invulnerable to any life-threatening attacks.
*You have gained the qualifications to transcend.
*All Attack and death related unique skills will be synergized and automatically evolved.
Nagisa looked at the new class he gained thanks to overcoming his ideal. He was shocked at the effects but the more shocked he was the more happy he became.
With the additional enhancements from this skill plus his strength when he leveled up. Additionally he might learn even stronger enhancements skills so when all these effects stacked on top of each other who could be his opponent?
Not to mention he was practically immortal thanks to his resistance to death. How could he not smile like a blooming flower at this moment?
'Aren't I basically invincible at this point?'
He smiled but didn't let it get to his head. Nagisa took a closer look at the qualifications to transcend but shook his head because he didn't get much out of it.
'I can just check it out later when I get the time'.
Nagisa then looked at his traits with a gleam in his eyes. He wasn't really expecting much, but as he read the description his warrior's heart trembled uncontrollably.
[Master(EX)]
You are now able to Master all skills easier. It becomes easier to increase the proficiency of all skills and gain even more skills not belonging to your class.
Nagisa almost laughed but managed to hold back. He still had more skills to check on.
[Reluctant(EX)]
Having overcome death once you are now more reluctant to die and your Regeneration powers increase by 60% when you are faced against any damage.
Considering he already gained resistance against death thanks to his new class and a boss in all recovery skill, this trait was just another icing on the cake but it was one he welcomed warmly.
The skill was more than he hoped for and Nagisa felt like even if his body was hacked in two he would still recover.
He shook his head at his crazy thoughts and continued to the next trait with anticipation hidden in his eyes.
[Art of Death(EX-2)]
As the Ruler of Death, you can now mold a corpse to your own expertise. Unlike normal necromancy you don't have to turn a corpse into a skeleton and all undead will be able to go through an 'evolution' upon reaching their threshold. Undead rated more than 70% will be rated special and you will be able to use their special skills in the form of talisman.
Nagisa wasn't too clear on this trait. It took quite some time before a light bulb lit up in his head.
'That, it should be able to work right?'
Nagisa walked over to the corpse of the wolf variant he had killed. He glanced at it for a while before placing a hand over it and imagining a certain form. In his mind, a sword took form with its curved blade and balanced edges enough to cleave anything in two with a single strike.
Nagisa didn't want a tool but a partner that would help him face similar monster to this in the future.
He channeled the art of death while imagining the process and giving shape to the sword. As if he felt the time was right, he shouted in his head.
'Come!'
『You have created the 'Solid Razor-Sharp Wolf Slayer Sword (Rare)'』
『You have accomplished a great feat. Skill 'Weapon Craft' has been given as a reward if your feat』
A red glow appeared. It was almost like an eclipse burning Nagisa's sights red.
The ball of red light shone brightly, then soon a sword could be seen within. The red light gradually faded and the sword descended before Nagisa. He grabbed it without a second thought and checked its description.
『Solid Razor-Sharp Wolf Slayer』
[Rank: Unique]
[Description: This sword was made from the corpse and bones of a 'wolf hell spawn' and became a wolf slayer. Against wolf type monsters the sharpness of the sword will increase by 25% while increasing the user's speed to 30%.
Requirements for use: Nagisa Kanata]
Nagisa looked at the fantastic sword that came to being and a smile crept unto his face. It might have only been bone, however he could easily tell how sharp it was and it wasn't to be looked down on at all.
He was sure it was even sharper than any sword he'd ever seen or used before.
'Gramps would kneel at the sight of this beauty'
Nagisa felt like he had accomplished something and swung the sword.
Woosh!
Air was torn and even the ground and the cave was slightly cut. Nagisa looked at this then back to the sword with a dumbfounded gaze wondering how it was so powerful.
Merely a swing yet it generated so much force. He couldn't even imagine what it was like in battle.
'Also, did the weight balance get corrected due to my memories and how I felt?'
Nagisa felt even more and more that this skill was the best of all his new abilities. With this he didn't have to worry at all about equipment and his survival going forward wasn't bleak.
He smiled looking ahead. There was a road that he could take and a journey that made his heart tremble with excitement.
Right, this was the start of his voyage to become the strongest! A new path laid ahead!