Unfortunately, our special bond ability turned out to be a domain type, not a direct fusion type like Glacia Sinfonia.
I felt a slight pang of disappointment.
I won’t hide it. I had secretly hoped for another transformation ability that would allow me to merge with Nemo, perhaps granting me that terrifying werewolf-like form I had envisioned.
However, I quickly pushed that regret aside.
Eclipse Domain was still an undeniably powerful ability. In fact, for a tactician like me, controlling the battlefield’s reality might actually be more valuable than raw physical stats.
Just then, a sudden, dangerous curiosity flickered in my mind.
’What would happen if I were to use the Eclipse Domain, Glacia Sinfonia, and Master Virion’s Blessing all at the same time?’
My heart skipped a beat at the sheer absurdity of the concept.
I had already tested the combination of the latter two during the battle at the verge.
The result had been... unimaginable.
Despite my physical body being at the 4th Tier at most, the synergistic explosion of power allowed me to go head-to-head with Bane, who became a genuine Overlord-rank entity after his transformation. My magical output, reaction speed, and sheer destructive power had been enough to completely overwhelm him.
And now... if I were to layer the Eclipse Domain on top of that?
If I could suppress my enemy’s aura with the domain while simultaneously boosting my own stats to the breaking point with the fusion and the blessing...
I narrowed my eyes.
’Could I possibly fight against Mythical entities?’
For a fleeting second, the image of me standing equal to the Mistress of the Spire flashed through my mind.
But I immediately crushed that thought before it could take root.
I shouldn’t entertain such arrogant delusions.
I knew better. I had read the books in the Academy and the Keep, and I had heard all the legends.
The difference between the 6th Tier (Grandmaster/Overlord) and the 7th Tier (Ascendant/Mythical) wasn’t just a gap in power.
It was a difference in dimension.
It was like the distance between heaven and earth.
An Overlord could destroy a city.
A Mythical beast could alter the laws of nature itself just by existing.
Whatever power I could stack, it would likely shatter the moment it touched the domain of a true Ascendant. Just looking at the Mistress, who was likely at that level or even higher, proved that point. She didn’t need skills or techniques. Her mere presence distorted reality.
’I am still an ant. Just a slightly stronger ant with a few dangerous tricks.’
And when I meant dangerous, I wasn’t just talking about the danger to my enemies.
They were more like double-edged swords.
Powerful techniques that could easily snap back and sever my own head if I mishandled them even for a second. Just the side effects alone nearly cost me my life back in the unknown plains. I had spent days coughing up blood and shivering from a cold that seeped into my very soul.
"Balance is key," I murmured to myself. Relying solely on borrowed power or sacrificial moves was a shortcut to the grave.
However, speaking of tricks...
I swiped the holographic screen to the left, revealing my skill list.
A satisfied hum escaped my throat.
I actually got a few new ones. And almost all of my existing ones leveled up significantly. The life-and-death struggle against Bane and Velmort had forced my proficiency to skyrocket.
My eyes scanned the updated descriptions of my four most crucial utility skills: Exorcist’s Gaze, Phantom Twin, Narrative Glimpse, and Character Insight.
Their effects had evolved qualitatively.
The first one is obviously the Exorcist’s Gaze.
It leveled up after the battle and leveled up again after I claimed the rewards from the Hidden Scenario Completion.
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Exorcist’s Gaze (Lv. 4)
A gaze that burns through the veil between the living and the dead.
Passive Effects:
- Spectral Perception: Grants high-definition vision of the ethereal plane. You can clearly distinguish between spirits, souls, and residual energy echoes.
- Mental Interference Detection: The detection radius for hostile mental influence has increased to 100m.
- Illusion Immunity: Grants 80% resistance to low and mid-tier illusions.
- Ethereal Grasp [NEW]: Your aura naturally coats your body with a spiritual frequency. You can now physically touch, grab, or strike incorporeal entities without activating a specific technique.
Active Effect:
- Soul-Scorching Gaze (Evolved): Channels concentrated spiritual flame to ignite a target’s core for 10 to 20 seconds.
- Soul Anchor [NEW]: Upon activation, inflicts [Spirit Shock]. It stuns the target for 1.5 seconds and locks their spatial coordinates, preventing them from phasing, becoming invisible, or teleporting for 5 seconds.
Cooldown: 12 hours.
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Right, the upgrades were massive for this one, especially the new additions and evolution.
I stared at the description of Soul-Scorching Gaze, a cold glint entering my eyes.
This skill had firmly cemented itself as my biggest trump card.
Most resonators focused entirely on physical defense or elemental barriers. Very few had the means to protect their souls.
If I were to catch an enemy like that Red Envoy off guard...
I narrowed my eyes, calculating the damage output.
Yaro might have been a Peak Tier 6 pseudo-ascendant with terrifying blood manipulation, but if I hit him with this while he was distracted? His physical armor wouldn’t mean a thing. I could likely one-shot him, or at the very least, leave him brain-dead before the battle even began.
And even if the active skill was on cooldown, the strengthened passive effects weren’t bad either. Being able to physically grab ghosts with Ethereal Grasp meant I wouldn’t be helpless against the incorporeal horrors that roamed the Spire’s corridors. And I wouldn’t have to worry about someone being hostile toward me. I could easily detect them as long as they were near me. The same goes for illusions. Unless they were created or cast by high-tier entities, the probability of seeing through them was almost close to 100% now.
"Good. Very good," I muttered, dismissing the window.
Then, my gaze shifted to the next skill.
Phantom Twin.
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Phantom Twin (Lv. 3)
One is a lie. The other is a trap.
Effect: Summons a spectral duplicate of yourself that possesses physical mass (30% of your stats).
Traits:
- Mirage: Draws enemy aggression with a high priority.
- Cognitive Feedback: Upon dismissal, you instantly gain the twin’s memories and experiences.
Void Transposition [NEW]:
- You can instantly swap positions with your Phantom Twin if it is within a 100-meter radius.
- Restriction: Requires spatial awareness of the twin.
- Cooldown: 1 day.
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I read the new effect twice, and then, I couldn’t help but let out a dry, helpless chuckle.
"Heh."
Although I hated to admit it, this new effect was exactly what I needed.
It was almost suspicious how perfect it was.
Since the Spire’s density crushed any attempt at normal teleportation or portal opening, I had been feeling claustrophobic, trapped without a movement ability. But Void Transposition wasn’t a teleportation spell. It was a positional swap between two existing entities.
I could use it as a loophole.
’The System really doesn’t want me to die here yet, does it?’ I mused, shaking my head, and turned my gaze to the two important narrative-related skills.
Character Insight reached level 6 and directly evolved into Omniscient Insight Lv. 1.
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The eyes see the face; the mind sees the mask; the Author sees the truth.
Active Effects:
- Basic Profile: Reveals Name, Race, Age, True Rank, Affiliation, and current Status.
- Resonance Analysis: Reveals Path, Gift, and Major Abilities.
- Psychological Autopsy [NEW]: Penetrates the target’s mental defenses to reveal their [Primary Trauma], [Deepest Fear], or [Current Obsession].
- Relational Clarity [NEW]: Displays the target’s "Hidden Loyalty" or "True Attitude" toward specific individuals, expressed as a raw value (e.g., Devotion: 90%, Murderous Intent: Hidden).
Usage: 5/day.
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