Making sure Lira had gone back, Iris returned his focus to the Panel.
It's not that he didn't trust her enough to share this secret; he simply felt it was better if no one other soul knew.
He trusted his instincts more than anything. For years, he'd sensed an ominous thing, a feeling that something significant was going to happen, and now, it had.
"Abilities? Is it something like the superpowers Dad and Claire have?"
He wasn't sure, and the Panel didn't provide enough information.
"Well, I'll figure it out eventually. For now, these rewards are the best part about this Panel."
Iris murmured to himself.
"If I keep adding these free stats and skills, maybe one day I'll have enough strength to tear down those black walls."
He looked ahead to that day with determination, though he couldn't help but wonder if there would be limits to adding those stats, or if any complications might arise.
Still, he figured it was unlikely and decided to test it out later.
"Of all things, I never expected to receive a novice gift pack."
Iris muttered, a smirk creeping onto his face.
"If I could get some kind of super divine power out of this, I'd be blessed. Oh, Lord Jesus… amen."
For a moment, he bowed his head in a rare prayer, even though faith had never been his strong suit.
Open Novice Gift Pack
At his command, the black panel in front of him vanished, replaced by a flash of swirling color that filled his vision. The light was so blinding he couldn't make out any details, only that it lingered briefly before spinning faster and faster in a dizzying whirl.
Just as Iris thought the spinning light might knock him out, it suddenly burst, scattering into tiny motes before fading away.
His black panel reappeared, displaying a list of gifts:
20 stat points, 5 skill points, Stellar Dominion
He blinked, feeling a bit underwhelmed. Only three items? He had expected a trove of rewards, more items, skills, maybe even equipment.
But he quickly shook off the disappointment; 20 stat points and 5 skill points were nothing to scoff at. And then there was Stellar Dominion.
Without hesitation, he checked the ability and felt a surge of awe as he read through its description.
'A true divine ability. It's too damn powerful.'
Iris thought, his heart racing.
As he read through the full description, his face twitched with barely contained excitement. He clenched his fists, feeling the rush build up until he could hardly stand it. By the end, he was practically screaming internally, struggling to keep his reaction in check.
Stellar Dominion Eyes [Level 1] (0/100): A divine-level eye ability. Users of the Stellar Dominion Eyes can channel cosmic power through their gaze, granting access to the following skills:
- Stellar Presence: When activated, the user's aura radiates a powerful force, creating an overwhelming sensation as if the cosmos itself is observing those nearby. This presence induces awe and deep unease, shattering the wills of weaker-minded individuals. Those who cannot withstand it may be left paralyzed or even reduced to a vegetative state.
Limit: 1 Minute.
Cool Down: 1 day.
- Gravity Shroud: By focusing their gaze, the user can manipulate gravitational forces, locking onto a single target or extending the effect across multiple areas. Those within the field are subjected to crushing pressure, slowing their movements and sapping their strength, as if burdened by the weight of entire worlds pressing down upon them.
Limit: 2 Minutes.
Cool Down: 1 hour
- Void Stare: The user's gaze penetrates directly into the target's soul, unraveling their essence and erasing their very being. Those unable to resist are left utterly paralyzed, their souls obliterated in an instant, leaving only an empty shell behind.
Limit 1: 2 Times before cooldown.
Limit 2: Those with stronger wills may possess enough soul resilience to resist the ability, allowing them a brief chance to break eye contact before their souls face destruction.
Cooldown: 7 days.
Backlash: If a target successfully resists this skill, the user's Stellar Dominion Eyes will enter a dormant state. The duration of this dormancy depends on the strength of the opponent's soul, the stronger the opponent, the longer the eyes remain inactive.
'These three skills are powerful, but this Void Stare… it's on a godly level.'
Iris muttered, assessing his new ability with a mix of awe and caution. There was an unknown element to Void Stare, one he wasn't eager to test unless necessary.
From every angle, this ability appeared to be truly top-tier.
"It's only level 1, so it probably isn't as strong as the description suggests… yet."
He murmured, realizing that, without actually using it, he couldn't fully grasp its potential.
Tomorrow seemed like the perfect day to test out his new eyes. Now that he had fully decided to enter the portal, he was certain that he'd need all the power he could gather.
"Since I've made up my mind, I should start putting these free stats and skills to use. Now, which one should I focus on?"
Iris paused for a moment, contemplating his next move. Then, with a determined nod, he added his free stats and skills, before checking the Panel.
Personal Stats:
Strength: 17 ( Average current ordinary humans, 10)
Agility: 23 (Avergae current ordinary humans, 10)
Skills:
- Advanced-level Mixed Martial arts (0/10)
- Advanced-level Firearm Mastery (0/10)
- Intermediate-level Knife Mastery (0/5)
Abilities: Stellar Dominion Eyes [Level 1] (0/100) {expand}
Panel System Rewards[Tier 1(0/30)]:
Daily Rewards: 2 stat points.
Weekly Rewards: 10 stat points and 2 skill points.
Current Accumulation: 0 (Collect in 22 hours).
Iris decided to allocate five points to strength and ten points to agility. Given that this was his first time entering the portal, he knew he needed decent physical strength, but more importantly, he wanted enough agility to escape if things went sideways.
Since he didn't have enough skill points to focus on one particular skill, Iris decided to distribute them evenly, ensuring each skill advanced just enough.
Iris could feel the power in his muscles increasing, though his body itself didn't seem to change. He felt lighter as if the air around him had become easier to navigate. His speed had increased, but more importantly, his reaction time also sharpened.
After testing out his upgraded abilities for a while, Iris felt satisfied with the improvements. He knew that a big exploration awaited him tomorrow, so he decided to get sufficient rest for the night.