Kai looked at Sounga with greed in his eyes.
Greed because he couldn't equip it, yet. The Sword demanded a Correspondence greater than 30, which Kai couldn't supply even if he were to use Buffs.
Most of the buffs he had were directed toward Strength, Agility, Stamina, and Perception.
Especially the Little War Horn and Titan's Buff which acted as additives over the Title's Buffs.
Kai couldn't help but admit that a high Correspondence, regardless of him being an in-fighter, was a must in the Primordial Tower.
Top-level Rare-grade…
Kai looked at the Grade and smiled.
If he were to ignore Blue Spider Lily, equivalent to a Top-level Epic-grade Consumable Item, then this was the second Top-level Rare Item in his arsenal, the first being Eon Soul Dew.
However, unlike the latter, Sounga wasn't a Growth-type Item; and unlike the former, Eon Soul Dew corrupted his soul.
Rare Items are very tricky to equip, Kai realized. Each has its unique qualities and difficulties.
Another thing that suddenly made Kai frown was the corruption.
Philosopher's Stones aren't a permanent solution, he thought, remembering the destruction they had caused in the Pirates of the Caribbean Random World. I must find a permanent, feasible solution.
If I could use Eon Soul Dew on Port Royal, then I would have been the first Contestant to escape the Inheritance Land.
Still, this thought was a double-edged sword.
In that case, Kai would have undergone the Spiritual Awakening.
"WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?!!"
The pommel at the end of Sound let out an evil, purple glow.
"… LET'S KILLLLLL!!!"
The evil dragon's next words got cut off as Kai threw it back into the Inventory.
…
Now came the time to bring out the last Item; the prime reason for Kai's visit to the Pirates of the Caribbean Random World.
Not giving Petyr and Rintaro any breather, Kai flicked his hand, and an ancient compass appeared on the table.
There was nothing extraordinary about it.
It possessed no charm of the Hat. Nor had it roared out, filling the very air with evil power.
No. It was simple.
Yes, simple, if simple meant the most absurd existence of all.
The chill of the cold fog found Kai, and excitement, mixed with iciness, made him shudder from head to toe.
There was one more thing mixed in them, however.
Excitement, fog's iciness, and…
… Compass' Stats!
…
[
Item: The Compass of Desire (Named)
Grade: Uncommon
Sub-grade: Top
Specification: An unusual navigational instrument most notably used by Captain Jack Sparrow, which he bartered from the voodoo mystic Tia Dalma and later inherited from his captain on the Wicked Wench.
Its domed cover is made from pure lapis lazuli. The inside lid is detailed with a map of the heavens, the central shadow vane makes the compass work as a sundial, and the compass disk itself is sliced from a walrus's tusk.
Requirement:
1. Luck >50
2. At least One Timeline's Divine Providence
3. Absolute loyalty towards the Compass
Attributes:
1. The Compass' Will is connected with the user's Will
2. Reach: One Celestial Body (regardless of size)
3. The Compass is semi-sapient and it is quite temperamental
Skill: Rose of the Winds
Skill's Effect:
1. Mana Consumption: 350 MP
2. Direct the owner to whatever he wants most at the moment
3. Even if the desire might be fatal to the owner himself, it works as intended
4. One Charge of the Skill will last for 3 hours
Skill: If you don't know what you want, then how should I know?
Skill's Effect:
1. Mana Consumption: 200 MP
2. With the owner's incapability of projecting a specific desire, the Compass loses efficacy
3. Point to whatever it thinks the owner wants the most at the moment
4. Does not consider the desire's potential threat or usefulness
Skill: Despicable Conspirator
Skill's Effect:
1. The Compass will always conspire to direct all users' desires in favor of the original owner
2. The Compass will always conspire to go back to the original owner
Quality: 100%
WARNING: Upon betrayal, release the owner's greatest fear
Note: For those who know how to use it, the Compass is the Key to Everything
]
…
A silence fell over all as the three men eyed the Compass' stats.
The very first striking thing was none other than the Requirement of over 50 points in Luck. It was so absurd that it bordered on being called impossible.
One must not forget that Luck was a Passive Attribute.
Kai could comprehend the meaning of over 50 points in Passive Attribute, though.
Meg's Charisma stood at a whopping 66. Her breathtaking beauty, charm, and charismatic personality were the prime reasons behind her attracting the Temple of Hastur's gaze, to begin with.
It was even said that not even the main storyline's female Characters could match her beauty, making her the most sought-after Party Member one could hope for.
Or, it was at least so when she hadn't fallen from the 13th floor.
Her Code Name had been different in those times, making it impossible to relate Morning Mist to her old self.
If Kai didn't have a Glitch, he probably would have cherished Meg's otherworldly Charisma even more.
Even then, it was just Charisma, allowing a Contestant to interact more beneficially and easily with the storyline Characters.
Luck was more hideous, to say the least.
Yet Kai wasn't worried about it.
Because it wouldn't be him who was going to use it.
"Divine Providence…" Petyr worded, pointing at the second requirement.
Kai's eyes fell upon these words again.
"Meg mentioned it to me," he mumbled, recalling the info. "In layman's terms, you can take it as Timeline's favor. But it goes deeper than that in the truest sense.
"Almost all major Characters of a particular timeline enjoy the Divine Providence. It is believed that what is Worth for Contestants, Divine Providence is the same for the storyline Characters.
"Not only that but depending upon a Character's experiences during a particular period, Divine Providence increases or decreases, causing stunning changes in the timeline.
"If Divine Providence decreases, then the fate of that Character becomes bleak.
"However, if it increases, then the Timeline bestows great fortune upon that particular Character. This fortune, more often than not, presents itself as abnormal successive coincidences."
Petyr narrowed his eyes before immediately relaxing them.
"I guess my future self in the Game of Thrones Random World must have lost the Divine Providence for him to die so," he jested, smiling slyly. "The Divine Providence of your real Self also seems to fluctuate, Rintaro."
Kai ruminated over Petyr's words.
"That is not entirely the case," he added, picking up the Compass. "There are timelines where you are the King of Westeros, Petyr.
"In some timelines, Rintaro isn't even a scientist. I think…
"… Divine Providences are more the effects of storyline Characters' choices, not so much the experiences."
…
Rintaro was still lost in the study of Compass' Stats.
"What is it?" Kai asked, noticing the insane scientist's frown.
"I was thinking…" Rintaro whispered, making both Petyr and Kai narrow their eyes. "… what would happen if we were to give this Compass to a — Deep One?"
Kai's eyes almost instantly widened.
Even Petyr looked shaken upon hearing those words.
They both looked at each other, drew a sharp breath, and buried the scenarios bubbling up in their minds.
After the last meeting with DEATH, and especially after getting the minor epithet — The Scion of Death, Kai had decided to never discuss the matter of a Deep One, and anything related to THEM, so casually.
But two words kept resurfacing in Kai's heart.
Despicable Conspirator!
Kai put the Compass back into the Inventory.
"Disappear," he commanded, a grave look appearing on his face. "It's time to settle the last business."
Petyr bowed before returning to the Book as always.
Rintaro was still lost in his thoughts, so Kai had to kick him again.
When they had gone, Kai penned down letters to all four Party Members, sharing the upgraded Cosmic Authority, Lore, and the Minor Epithets, without which they wouldn't be able to contact him across dimensions so easily.
What came as a shock, though, was that neither Red Sun nor Moraine had heard of anything remotely familiar to Kai's Stats.
Cosmic Authority and Outer One were becoming a bigger and graver mystery for Kai.
After a few moments of silence, Kai said, "Cersei."
Cersei walked out, wearing a loose white t-shirt and blue denim, her long, golden hair tumbling down to her waist.
On her forehead, the marquise-shaped black diamond glowed dark, shadows howling within it like voiceless wolves.
"Are you doing it now?" the young lady asked, her green eyes gaining a blackish hue.
Kai replied with a flick of his hands.
A black crystal appeared in the library within the suitcase, bobbing up and down, hovering between him and Cersei.
It was indeed the time…
… Time to assimilate Shadow Lord's Inheritance!
***************
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