Stepping out of the tavern into the morning sunlight, Liam's mind begins to wander down a darker path. "With Mark at my disposal… could I use it for something more interesting?" A smirk tugs at his lips as he glances toward Befardo, the capital of Celestiya. It might take a while to get there, he thinks, so I'll need supplies. With a mischievous glint in his eye, he turns toward the general store beside the tavern.
The shopkeeper greets him warmly as he steps inside. Liam glances around, taking in the strange collection of items on display. The shelves are lined with a mix of familiar spices, herbs, and a few things he can't quite identify—small, dried plants, jars filled with unusual powders, and an assortment of peculiar trinkets. He feigns interest in the shelves, checking over his shoulder to see if anyone else is around. The shop is empty, and with a devious smile, Liam approaches the shopkeeper, placing a firm hand on his shoulder.
The shopkeeper raises an eyebrow, confused, but before he can protest, Liam's voice drops to a whisper. "Mark Trigger—Mesmerize."
The shopkeeper's eyes lose their focus, glazing over until they're blank, staring into the distance. Testing the trance, Liam waves a hand in front of his face, but there's no reaction. Satisfied, he begins inspecting the shelves, chuckling quietly at the success of his plan.
"Let's see…" he murmurs, rifling through items. Most of it is unfamiliar, odd, or outright useless to him. He picks out a few things he recognizes—salt, sugar, some chili powder, and a small pouch of dried jerky that looks interesting. After gathering a handful of items, he conjures his Divine Shield, molding it into a floating rack to carry his small haul. The rack hovers at his side, laden with his supplies, as he considers his next move.
Growing bored with his disguise, Liam lets it fall away, allowing his true face and attire to reappear. As he exits, the shield floats up above him like a silent ghost, carrying his supplies to avoid suspicion. He debates stopping by the blacksmith but decides it's unnecessary for now—his current equipment will suffice.
After reaching the town gate, Liam realizes he has no idea which direction to go. He spots the gatekeeper and approaches, affecting a casual demeanor. "Hey, could you point me toward Befardo?" he asks, attempting to sound naive.
The gatekeeper chuckles, clearly amused, before offering some friendly directions. Liam nods, heading off down the path the gatekeeper indicated. Before leaving he whispers [Mark: deactivate] to release the shopkeeper. After only about half an hour, he begins to feel weary. "Traveling on foot is tedious," he mutters. An idea strikes him, and he conjures his Divine Shield again, shaping it into a flat, floating surface.
Stepping onto the shield, he tries to lift himself off the ground, but the flat shape struggles under his weight, wobbling dangerously. Rolling his eyes, he reshapes the shield, forming raised walls on each side to create an open box. Finally, he steps inside, and with a flick of concentration, the shield rises smoothly into the air, carrying him forward.
As he soars through the skies, the village shrinks below him, and the wind rushes past, filling him with a giddy thrill. "I never thought I'd get to fly—this feels like the stories of airplanes," he muses, marveling at the landscape stretching out beneath him. He scans the area, noticing a strange yellow light flickering in the distance near the village. He recognizes it immediately, a realization dawning as he calls it toward him.
Curious, he opens his system menu to see what's happening to the system integration time.
[System integration in progress]
[Time limit: 3 minutes]
Liam seeing the time quickly descends down. A countdown appears, each second ticking away, bringing a rush of anticipation. The countdown ticks lower, moving from minutes to seconds. Liam feels his pulse quicken, his gaze fixed on the numbers as they descend.
[System integration successful]
[Congratulations on acquiring the Lustful System]
Liam's jaw drops as he stares at the screen, hardly able to believe what he's seeing. Lustful System? A mixture of disbelief and amusement flashes across his face. He laughs, the sound ringing out over the empty skies. "Of all the possible systems, I get one with a name like that?" But before he can process the implications, a voice speaks directly into his mind.
[Confirmed]
[Integrated system found]
[System will level up due to accumulated experience points]
A grin spreads across Liam's face. "So, it's leveling up already? Interesting… let's see what this Lustful System is capable of."
[Sinful System unlocked]
As Liam watches the tab in silence, a voice familiar yet subtly altered breaks through the quiet.
"Hello, Liam. How are you?"
Recognizing the tone, Liam narrows his eyes, unimpressed. "Stop pretending."
The voice chuckles, with a hint of a different character than before. "Heartless, aren't you?" A short laugh follows, more mischievous now. "Sorry, I couldn't resist. I'm your system. Let's skip the formalities—I'm sure you already know."
Liam crosses his arms, unimpressed but curious. "Right, so what's your name?"
"Oh, don't worry about that. I'll name myself—your naming skills are... questionable."
Liam scoffs. "So, you have my memories?"
"Exactly," the system voice—now deciding it sounded like Raphael's—confirmed, "which is why the integration time took so long. But I've settled on a name. Call me… Ray."
"Ray, huh? Alright, Ray. So, what kind of abilities do you have for me?"
Without hesitation, Ray displays a detailed tab in front of Liam:
[System Abilities]
Envy:
Passive Skill: The higher the enemy's stats, the more damage you can deal specifically to that enemy.
Pride:
Passive Skill: For each successful dodge, reduce the damage of the next enemy attack by up to 30%.
Lust:
Passive Skill: Increases your charisma, charm, and popularity, drawing people toward you—useful for persuasion and influence.
Greed:
Active Skill: Avarice – Store anything you possess in a personal dimension. Inanimate objects only, but time is irrelevant within this space.
Wrath:
Passive Skill: Heightens enemies' negative emotions, amplifying your power. For each additional enemy, you gain up to 60% additional damage and 100% speed.
Gluttony:
Passive Skill: Slowly drains 1% of the enemy's remaining health each time they attack you.
Devour (sub-skill): Heightened health recovery while eating.
Sloth:
Passive Skill: Reduces natural stamina depletion, conserving your energy.
Indolence (sub-skill): Increases the rate at which enemy stamina drains, while prolonging their wound healing time.
Liam's eyes widened as he took in the extensive list, his excitement palpable. "Ray… this is incredible. You've got all the Seven Deadly Sins covered." A satisfied grin spread across his face, appreciating the sheer versatility and power this system brought.
"You're welcome," Ray replied, a trace of pride in his voice. "It seems these abilities fit your personality… let's just say, perfectly."
"So," Liam smirked, "with your help, Befardo might be in for a… surprise."