A/N: This chapter took fucking forever, but finally, here it is!
Thrice within a single year? If there's a Guinness Record for fainting, I think I deserve an honorable mention at least. "Let's not make a habit of this…" I mutter to myself, quickly rising to my feet.
The ritualistic knife that had been on my chest clatters loudly to the ground, its tang making a racket and sending another fresh wave of pain through my Operating System. "Fuck."
I hiss, lunging for the knife.
Thankfully, it has survived the fall unscathed—a surprise considering how brittle obsidian is supposed to be.
No doubt Triss's handiwork.
Running a finger down the jagged edge, I examine the Mystic Code with [Structural Grasp].
"Last Fire?"
It functions identically to the skill Angry Mango would have granted me if I had won our bet, except the Curse activates only when the knife contacts organic material—people, in simpler words.
The psychic energy from their death is then converted into Mana, charging the knife for a more powerful strike.
To activate 'Last Fire,' thirteen victims are required, after which the blade will unleash 10,000 Curses with a single swing. While it doesn't entirely match the actual skill, "This will do."
It's also connected to the cursed organ encased in my 'False Heart,' a magical construct that both shields the real organ and seals it away.
Triss has really outdone herself this time.
With a swift motion, the Mystic Code embeds itself in the opposite wall, returning to my hand with just a thought.
The damned thing aims straight for my heart, its tang vibrating eagerly before I catch it midair, my palm wrapped around its bone hilt.
So, it has Mjolnir's [Return] Enchantment too… Which I'm fairly certain is just Angra being a sore loser.
Not that he doesn't have a right to be upset after what I did, but the dude has to go.
Regardless of how cool we are, if I couldn't change Kirei, I probably won't be able to change the literal Embodiment of Evil. 'Talk-no-Jutsu' only works for Naruto apparently. "Don't hate the player, hate the Game." I didn't put us on opposite sides, circumstances did.
Thoughts drifting from the Daemon, I focus on the [ToI].
There were quite a few DINGs last night, as I recall.
[Event Continuation: Concluded!]
> You've decided to trick the Unbirthed wannabe and enslave it! Good choice!
>> Rewards: [Ire of the Evil God] —> [Unfavored of Evil]; [Vanquisher of Evil];
Before I can even finish, the System suddenly trembles, and what was once [Gold] downgrades to [White]… The entire [Sin] canopy in fact, while [Virtue] transforms from the uninviting, if not hostile [Red] to [White]. 'Are you freaking kidding me?!' Couldn't this have happened after I bought the earlier Perks at least?!
But then, my complaints are muted as the [Virtue] canopy unlocks, with the 7 Heavenly Virtues all present, flashing a beautiful and stunning shade of [Gold]. 'These Perks affect my [Talent] rating?'
>> Rewards: [Favored of Good] Attained; [Dominator of Evil] Attained; Perks Combination: [Twilight]
>> [Virtue] Canopy Unlocked — Virtuous Perks Awarded: 7
>> [Sin] Canopy Unlocked — Sinful Perks Awarded: 6
To my surprise, the [Sin] canopy jumps back to [Gold]—no doubt a result of [Dominator of Evil].
As contradictory as it may seem, both [Virtue] and [Sin] now coexist peacefully.
What truly excites me, however, are the free Perks awarded: Thirteen in total, probably because I've bought [Gluttony]'s first Perk already.
Not Demonstrative Perks which already came with [Favored of Goodness], but real Perks.
[Lust Spot (1)]
> Select a facial feature to be endowed with the magical ability to captivate the opposite sex. You fortunate little Devil, you! Some men and women are willing to kill for this! If you don't abuse this Perk, I'm disowning yo—
'That's enough of him.'
>> Effects: Women who catch sight of you will experience heightened sexual attraction, not to be confused with romantic attraction. The longer they gaze upon that specific feature, the more intense their sexual desire becomes.
>> WARNING: Perk cannot be toggled On or Off.
Without a second thought, I choose my remaining eyeball.
'I'll have to address it soon.' Probably with a Mystic Code similar to Shiki's glasses…
It is an useful Perk, but it will severely impact my personal life, and not in a good way.
Entertaining? Maybe, but not good.
[Opulent Aura]
It'll be useful once I start doing business in the Tower, but it doesn't have much use in combat.
[Lazy Genius]
> Some have to work hard to excel in life; others—you can just breeze through it.
>> Effect: You have the chance to achieve one Action with absolute perfection, no matter what said Action is. Want to bake the most mouthwatering chocolate-chip cookie? Or perhaps there's a Spell you can't quite figure out? Worry no more!
>> WARNING: Not applicable for combat.
Clicking my tongue at the last line, I sigh. 'Unfortunate…'
Next up is [Wrath] with its [Frenzied Momentum]. When I've taken 75% damage, this Perk will kick in, putting me in a state of bloodlust that persists until I exit and stay out of combat for 30 minutes or more. It's a 50% multiplier, but with [Reinforcement] and [Hyper-Metabolism], I'm confident I can push past the F threshold all the way to D or close.
Naturally, the Perk has its own drawbacks. Overuse can lead to heart failure and damage to blood vessels.
It might even be fatal if I fail to exit the combat zone in time.
It's handy, but not very interesting…
I was expecting [Envy] and [Pride] to be just as predictable, until I see what the Perks are.
[Pilferage]
> Why bother inventing new spells or mastering new skills when you can simply steal your opponent's? Think, Leo, think!
>> Effect: Once per day, this Perk allows you to select from three randomly chosen Skills, Spells, or Traits of your opponent. You can utilize the stolen Skill, Spell, or Trait just as your opponent would, while they lose access to it temporarily. The Perk lasts for one hour.
WARNING: Your entire experience with the pillaged Skill, Spell, or Trait will be returned to the proper owner.
If [Envy]'s amazing, then [Pride] brings an even bigger surprise.
[Original Sin]
> To harbor the Ego to defy the Most-High—that is the Original Sin, from which all others emerge.
>> Effects: Your Nature remains immutable even by Higher Interventions. Example: If someone drastically alters the Time-Stream without generating an alternate Timeline, your existence will not be erased; instead, the new History will be tweaked to accomodate your presence and abilities.
All [Instant-Death] and [Existence-Erasure] Type Spells and Abilities will not be fatal unless used by a Higher Infinity Entity (Low-Complex Multiversal and above).
'How on earth did Obsession get Detachment to approve this?'
How is this any different from a declaration of war?
Never mind, 'Don't look a gift horse in the mouth.'
Shaking the thoughts away, heart pounding in my chest, I turn to [Virtue].
In all the games I've played, goodness never offers rewards, likely a deliberate choice by the developers to explore human nature. What would we do if [Evil] always triumphed over [Good]? Which path would we choose?
But these aren't game developers; they're Gods.
Surely [Virtue] won't fall short of [Sin]?
Detachment doesn't disappoint.
[Humanitas] grants me [Life-Sharing], which binds another person's life to mine.
As long as one of us is alive, the other cannot die.
That's all it says, along with a throwaway line about injuries being transferable between us and that every month, I can change the target to another person.
I have not a clue how it's gonna deal with dismemberment and decapitation, but Detachment has surely thought of that. I'd be disappointed if he hadn't…
[Patientia]'s first Perk is [Super-Charged].
It comes with three Slots where I can keep Spells or physical attacks.
Each Slot can hold just one Spell or move, like 'Slash' or 'Thrust.' The coolest part?
They can stack up to 10 times, letting me release either one super-powerful hit or a flurry of quick attacks.
[Sanctified Ground] lets me choose seven different buildings to consecrate, tripling the regenerative power for me and my allies while inside and refilling our stamina even in combat.
I can, thankfully, remove and reapply the sanctification every year.
Naturally, the Perk belongs to [Castitas].
[Caritas] is the most interesting of the bunch, especially with [Bestowal], which allows me to increase the Stats to another based on my own base Stats, and depending on the target's luck, they may gain up to 35%.
Its timer is a year, similar to the other Perks.
Sadly, attribute bestowal will only affect a target once; afterwards, they'll receive a random Perk of mine instead.
There goes my dream of creating an army of superhumans.
Dilligence or [Industria] is probably the worst—[Eternal Engine] my ass.
'Thou know no fatigue,' Was all the description said!
Put some effort into this, damn you!
At least [Temperantia]'s looks interesting—'[Oath-Bound]!'
> Oaths are not to be made lightly…
>> Effects: When an Oath is taken with this perk in mind, you will either gain or lose something to aid in fulfilling your vow. For example, someone who vows to protect their people might gain enhanced strength or speed, while a priest who pledges celibacy might find themselves losing their desire or their 'thing' entirely…
>> Slots: 7
>> WARNING: Once an Oath is taken, it can be replaced after three months, but it cannot be removed. Breaking an Oath will result in severe illness and [Weakness] Debuff that lasts for the remaining duration of the Oath!
Fuck that shit…
I ain't taking no damn Oath!
'Leave my dick alone!!!'
At least [Humilitas]'s Perk doesn't seem too bad…
[Notice-me-not]
> Those who are meek and humble often remain unnoticed by nature. This very invisibility is both their shield and spear.
>> Effects: Three times a day, you can acquire the Status Effect [Unnoticeability], lasting for an hour each time. The Effect will disappear if you intentionally try to interact with another person but will remain if you accidentally bump into someone. Recording devices will still capture your image, but anyone reviewing the footage or picture will act as though you are not there.
Explosives were never my forte… Too unreliable and labor-intensive.
But Kiritsugu had shown me the ropes on dealing with them…
Looks like I'll need to replenish my supply when I return home.
"Holy shit…" This haul is massive.
I've never given much thought to [Event], but if this is just the first batch of rewards, I might need to start paying closer attention. Maybe dive into some dangers and see if another one will pop up?
> Hint: Canopy
>> When a specific number of related Branches have sprouted, they form a Canopy. This event automatically unlocks all Branches and grants the initial Perks as rewards. Good work, mine child… May thou florish in this Universe.
I smile at the well-wishes, then close the [ToI]. That was a lot to process.
Time resumes as I head to the door, my heart pounding loudly in my chest, I finally take in my surroundings.
This place reeks of familiarity, yet so many things are missing…
The desk where Triss used to work;
The now faint scent of herbs; the woman perpetually cloaked, always occupied with a new concoction, a Spell that made no fucking sense to me, or some artifacts excavated from ancient ruins; the warmth of candlelights that are flickering—they're all gone.
It's only a night, but everything has changed.
I dislike it… I think all beings, humans and animals alike, inherently despise drastic changes in their environment. It's only after we've grown and had these changes thrust upon us that we stop fretting over them. I don't fret over it as much anymore, but somehow this feels like the end of an era. "Shit…" Let's hope Triss and the Mages made it out fine last night.
"Where the hell is Ciri, anyway?" I assume it was her who brought me here.
As I stumble downstairs, I catch glimpses of the owners going about their daily lives.
It's even stranger considering what transpired last night, but when I asked them about it, they simply responded, "It's Novigrad."
And that's the end of that.
Tough people Novigradians turn out to be.
"Yer bunch are moving away… Bit too soon, ain't it?" The landlady huffs, arms crossed tightly over her chest.
"Isn't that what you wanted—us out of your hair?"
She sharply averts her eyes to the wall and harrumphs again.
"Forgive her. She's been moody since you three announced you're leaving." Her husband chuckles wryly.
Suppressing a smile, I run a hand down my face. "Do you want us to visit?"
Lips pursed, the landlady whispers, "Once a month."
"Once every three months, take it or leave it."
"Get outta here, you little shit!"
Shrugging off the harsh words, I laugh heartily and depart, only to be called back by the landowner who hastily chases after me. "Do forgive my wife… Our son died three years ago to bandits. You're a lot like him… She just… Margaret's a hard woman to love, you'll never catch her saying she loves anyone, but if it is possible, I hope you will visit every once in a while."
I have talked to Triss about cooperating.
I've discussed collaboration with Triss.
Kovir's a harsh land where crops can't flourish, making food a significant issue for the Mages.
I need something to kickstart my business—something that will render me invaluable to the Tower.
I've decided that 'something' will be potions, which the Sorceress and her Mages can produce in abundance, while I can provide cheaper, more affordable sources of food with modern agriculture.
With our agreement all but sealed, coupled with my admittedly ambiguous relationship with a certain Witcheress, I'll have to return to the Witcher-verse eventually.
A visit to Novigrad now and then won't cost me much.
"I will," I reply, giving the man a reassuring pat on the shoulder while grinning. "Tell her to ease up on the booze before it kills her… I'd hate for my next visit to be to her funeral."
"Yer think she'll listen?"
I snort in response. "Fair enough."
— [Infinity] —
After returning to the makeshift workshop I've set up in an abandoned building, I immediately dive into testing my abilities—at least the ones I can manage on my own.
Most of them function as expected, except for [Notice-Me-Not], which I experimented with on the way here.
It rendered me semi-translucent, like an unlockable character in a fighting game.
It was the strangest experience, especially when I closed my eyes, dulled my hearing, and 'accidentally' knocked someone over.
Apparently, that doesn't count as 'purposeful interaction.'
My hypothesis is that I need a specific target in mind for the negation to register.
There's a certain comfort in being unseen.
I can immerse myself in the rather downtrodden atmosphere without anyone thinking I was weird.
It's not that I shun human contact, but sometimes it's nice to know I can just disappear to the world and have a moment of self-reflection and introspection… Truth be told, I spent a whole hour on a rooftop, and stared aimlessly at the ocean which sang to me in gentle waves and ripples.
But I'm getting sidetracked.
After turning off [Notice-Me-Not], I could not help but notice that women's gazes lingered on me more than usual, especially when our eyes cross.
Some didn't even try to conceal their stares, which, I suppose, is flattering in its own way.
I still need a way to toggle [Lust Spot] off though.
I'll still leverage it in negotiations, since the market's a brutal battlefield where lives get ruined; people bankrupted and families broken apart by financial stress, but as Detachment preaches—Invisibility can be both a spear and a shield, as long as one wields it skillfully. With not much else I could test on my own, I turn to my Magecraft.
That damn Spell I've worked on for a whole month is gonna get it now!
"[Lazy Genius]!"
The Perk triggers immediately, connecting the dots in my mind on how to solve the issues [Kinetic Theft] has.
Seamlessly, I incorporate the upgrades into [Kinetic Shield], before inscribing the upgraded Spell in my Crest.
Now, rather than merely neutralizing projectiles by adding kinetic energy to the air movement, the first layer of the Spell forms a fine filter of hard-light with similar properties to advanced damping materials, a courtesy of [Projection].
These hard-light hexagons are essentially partially-formed projections, hence they are extremely brittle—an issue fortunately solved by [Kinetic Theft].
The second layer acts the same as usual.
One absorbs and weakens; one deflects—a defensive Spell that can't be more perfect.
The best part is that the algorithms have been automatically calibrated by [Lazy Genius] to accommodate both. The whole Perk is fucking ridiculous… What else does it work on? What if use it for the True Magics? Heaven's Feel? The possibility's endless!
To think the two Sins that will yield the most would be [Slot] and [Envy]— "Leo? You there?"
Ciri's voice snaps me out of my contemplation in an instant.
"Yeah, I'm here!" I respond, "Come on in!"
Marching in, the Witcheress spends a moment to study my features—gaze cautious and curious. "What?"
I ask, a bit… Weirded out by the behavior.
"Nothing," Finally, she breaks the silence. "How are you feeling?"
"Fan-fucking-tastic!" How could I not be after the haul I got?
I managed to temporarily neutralize a huge threat; I got 13 Perks doing nothing but getting stabbed AND finished my new Spell all in the span of less than 24 hours. Yes, I'll still have to work on [Energy Conversion] and [Storage], but those are simpler problems than the first.
Frankly, I don't think the day can get any better. 'Unless…'
"Hey Ciri?"
I'm sure there's an Iphone joke around here, but the bar's as low as it is… Wouldn't want to lower it any further.
"Do you trust me?"
Looking every bit as hesitant as she ought to be, the Witcheress steps forth. "I do… Why, you've got something in mind?"
"Have you…" I begin, shifting nervously, uncertain of how to continue. Admittedly, I've owed people favors before, but they've always been minor.
Now, I'm about to ask for something a whole lot more significant—to 'borrow' an essential aspect of her being. If our roles were reversed, I'd outright decline. The Elder Blood is far too potent a weapon to take such a risk… She'd be rendering herself defenseless. "Could I borrow the Elder Blood for just an hour? I will give you something in return—something cool, I swear!"
Brows furrowed, Ciri draws Ziraeal, poised to make an incision across her palm when I intercede, my hand firmly grasping her wrist. "That's not what I meant… Cirilla, may I borrow your Magic for a short duration?"
Our eyes lock, before she recoils, brandishing Ziraeal in my direction.
'The worst she can do is say: No' – my ass.
Catching the blade midair, I run my tongue over my teeth. "You could've just said 'No.'"
She [Blinks] back, gaze sharp and hostile. "What have you done to him, Demon?"
"Oh…" That explains the hostility…
"I'm not," Pausing, I palm my face; point at my chest and say. "I'm Leo."
"Prove it!"
"How? If the Daemon were truly in control, do you think it wouldn't be able to mimic me?"
I cannot be more confused. "Ciri, I swear to whichever deities may be listening that I am Leo—you know, the guy who adventured with you?"
Ciri's posture visibly relaxes as she lets loose a breath of relief. "You really are Leo…"
That was an abrupt change. "What do you mean by that?"
"The Demon might have attempted to comfort—lure me in... But you highlighted the flaw in my approach out of irritation, which is something only Leo will do."
"I wasn't irritated, and technically, the Demon could have done what I did." My lips twitch as I respond, a touch too defensively perhaps.
"Of course you weren't." Ciri snorts before sheathing her sword and extending her hand to me. "Do what you need to. I trust you."
She shouldn't, but I'm grateful all the same.
"Cirilla of Cintra, I hereby BESTOW upon you my power—"
Light envelops her whole as a number appears in my brain—'11%? Could've been better.'
Could've been worse as well.
"You doin' okay?"
"That was—" The words catch in her throat as she releases a groan, hang tighening around mine. "What was that?!"
Scratching my chin, I hum, then point at the table. "Try to grab it."
She follows the instruction, breaking off a piece when her fingers grasp the edge.
"How am I doing this? I've never been this powerful before."
"It's a… new Spell I invented. The effect's permanent." So Ciri will need to stay until she's no longer a danger to the public.
"I thought you were going to take my Magic, not give me more power."
"I did promise to give you something in return. Rest assured, it has no side effects." Unlike the Trials. "You haven't sprouted a second head or a third arm."
"No cat-like eyes either?" She jokes.
"None, I'm afraid."
We share a brief moment before she asks me, "Is my Magic gone?"
"I haven't touched it yet." I shrug, giving her a puzzled look. "Aren't you worried I might take it permanently?"
"I trust you," The Witcheress replies after what feels like an eternity. "Besides, perhaps you'll find more uses for it than I do. I was only afraid I'd give a Demon power over Space."
My lips crack open to say something, but my tongue wisely stays shut.
"You ready?"
"As ready as can be." She responds enthusiastically.
'[Pilferage]!' Unlike [Bestowal], there's no fanfare—no flashy visuals, just a screen with 3 Options to pick from: One detailing Ciri's skill with the sword; the second her probably limited royal etiquette and the third, the Elder Blood. I shiver with excitement.
Is there any doubt about my choice?
The Witcher Trials can wait…
For the next hour, I'm gonna be the 'Child of the Elder Blood', and the first thing the 'Temporary Chosen One' does is to rush to the toilet to empty his stomach.
'How the fuck does she live like this?'