"Well, let's say I believe you. I'm currently in a great pinch because of my stats so can you do me a favor?"
"A favor?" Khione's gaze held an inquisitive spark.
"Yes," I affirmed, maintaining a safe distance as I walked around, wary of the divine aura she emanated.
Let's just say it was a safe distance to keep.
Khione observed my movements with her piercing, icy blue eyes.
"You're a Goddess, so I thought perhaps you could provide me with other powerful Skill Books, as mentioned earlier," I began. "Or even better, equip me with magic weapons and armor for protection. As you've seen, my Main Skill is merely E-Ranked. I wouldn't last long with such a Skill. Strengthening me would benefit both myself and your cause."
"Our cause?" Khione's expression genuinely reflected confusion.
"Well, yes," I nodded. "If I become stronger, it would undoubtedly aid all of you, wouldn't it? You're aiming to defeat a Demon King. It's wise to gather more allies, especially when I'm a Hero from another world."
"That's an interesting perspective," Khione mused, placing a finger to her chin in acknowledgment.
But I could sense the undertone of mockery in her gesture.
"In that case, I suppose I'll receive a powerful Skill Book and weapon?" I suggested, a satisfied smile playing on my lips. "An SSS-Ranked Skill would be ideal, along with the finest weapon from your arsenal. After all, I did ask first, so priority should be given to me," I stated matter-of-factly.
"You raise a valid point, Hero Nathan. But why should I waste valuable resources on an E-Ranked Hero when there are more talented individuals?" Khione questioned, her tone carrying a hint of coldness.
"Waste? I thought I held as much value as the other Heroes. It's disheartening to hear otherwise from such a lovely Goddess," I sighed, feigning disappointment.
There was a brief silence before Khione's countenance turned cold, a divine aura beginning to radiate from her as the ground beneath us started to freeze.
"You should depart, Hero Nathan. Your companions await," she stated icily.
"Unfortunately, I have no comrades who genuinely care about me, so that statement is untrue," I retorted, taking a cautious step back.
Khione's icy gaze seemed to pierce through me.
"Is that a refusal?" I pressed, my voice steady despite the chill in the air.
She didn't bother responding.
Was this how insignificant I appeared to her, this Goddess of ice and indifference?
Let's start then.
I first decided to transfer all my remaining status points to my Luck stat, leaving only one point in each of the other stats.
BADOOM!
A wave of weakness washed over me, my body shrinking, my face contorting, and my hair falling out in clumps. I struggled to remain standing, my vision blurred as I strained to see Khione's face through the haze of my deteriorating body.
"What are you doing..." Khione narrowed her eyes, clearly alarmed by my drastic action.
"Status. Convert fifty years of my lifetime into Status Points and allocate them all to my Luck stat," I managed to utter through the effort.
BADOOM!
My body grew even more emaciated, barely able to support itself. I could hardly see anything clearly now, but I could sense Khione's growing wariness.
New Status!
A blue screen appeared.
°°°°°°
[Nathan Parker]
Lvl 1
SP: 0
Skills: [E-Rank: No-Name???]
°°°°°°
I might have a ugly grin right now.
But yeah I was happy just by seeing my luck stat.
If even with that much luck this Skill doesn't work, I might as well die here of exhaustion.
"E-Rank Skill activate!"
Description: E-Rank: No-Name???: allows the user to attempt copying any skill from another being. Success rates vary with skill rank: E-rank skills are guaranteed, while higher ranks decrease chances significantly. D-rank skills have a moderate success rate, C-rank lowers it further, and B-rank and above are exceptionally rare to copy. Users must weigh risks, as failure could result in wasted effort or consequences. Once copied, it cannot be undone!
As I engaged in this seemingly mundane conversation with Khione, I was actually carefully analyzing which Skill I desired. Even with my E-Ranked Skill, I could catch a glimpse of her formidable SSS-Ranked Skills.
Yet, what I truly sought lay beyond what Khione had mentioned.
[Divine-Rank: Forbidden Seal]
Allows the user to place a seal on a chosen Target. Once sealed, the Target is compelled to obey the User's commands. The User can also***********
I cut off the analysis there, refraining from delving further to avoid blatant cheating. However, the initial description was sufficient for my decision.
Copy Forbidden Seal.
My E-Ranked Seal began to glow.
Copy initializing...
Analyzing Divine-Rank Skill...
Processing possibilities...
I waited for a few seconds, relieved that Khione seemed oblivious to my actions. Despite being confused, she likely believed I posed no threat, given my E-Ranked Skill. And to be fair, that was a reasonable assumption.
But in that moment, she unwittingly lowered her guard.
Successfully acquired Divine-Rank Skill: Forbidden Seal!
When I saw the Forbidden Seal shining rainbow replacing the E-Ranked one, my lips twisted sadistically.
I ignored the long ass description and immediately aimed the Goddess in front of me.
"Divine Rank Skill: Forbidden Seal."
Khione, whose calm and icy gaze had been a constant until now, slowly widened her eyes in shock. Horror contorted her features, and she was about to utter a word when—
It was too late.
From the palm of my hand emerged a brilliant white seal, expanding steadily before her. Khione's body froze entirely; she couldn't move a muscle, lift a finger, or even speak.
Helpless, she could only watch in terror as the seal gradually shrank and entered her chest.
An invisible shockwave rippled through the air around us, leaving a heavy silence in its wake as Khione fell to her knees.
Her earlier confidence and composure vanished, replaced by sheer panic.
"No... no!" she managed to gasp out, her voice barely a whisper.
"Don't speak," I commanded, my voice carrying an authority I'd never felt before.
Khione tried to form words, but they failed to leave her lips.
"And don't use any Skills without my orders," I added, just to be safe.
With an effort, I dragged my frail, emaciated body in front of her, almost resembling a zombie in appearance.
Perhaps it was the twisted satisfaction in my smile or the unsettling visage I now presented, but Khione seemed utterly terrified of me.
Standing before her, I smirked, revealing my deteriorated, rotten teeth. "Making a Goddess kneel is quite an exhilarating feeling, wouldn't you say, Khione?"