Chapter 24: Awakened Trait, A Harsh Encounter
Within the World of Promise, inside of the beautiful garden of roses and clear waters. A beam of colorful light had suddenly bolted down from the heavens forming into the previously seated figure of Nero. As he smelled the fragrant air around him, his eyes even caught sight of a few small semi-transparent beings with wings that fluttered around the flower buds, some of them even yawned as they laid down at its center with cute appearances.
Nero found it cute, so he touched one of their cheeks causing its face to puff a bit as it stared at him sleepily. Soon though, it showed a comfortable look as it wrapped around his finger with its small arms.
Initially, Nero thought they would have run away, but oddly, these strange little semi-transparent beings seemed to have thought he was more appealing than the flowers. They changed their targets from the flowers and began to fly around his body, nestling themselves into his hair.
Nero was a bit alarmed he asked inwardly, "What are these?"
Adult Nero didn't ignore him this time, he spoke, "They are known as World Spirits, peculiar little creatures that are born of the world, they thrive in nature and are typically docile and peaceful beings. However, if one were to provoke them, they would certainly have no good end; for you see these small beings are capable of wielding the elements..."
Nero hearing this was startled, he asked once more, 'Huh? So dangerous, then why are such mystical things attracted to me?'
"You have partially awakened a tiny fraction of your Inheritance Bit. Naturally, it would lead to certain changes. Check your stats and refrain from asking things you can learn yourself," Adult Nero said, no longer saying anything more.
Nero, hearing his words, didn't bother to curse at him; he was too excited at the sudden changes, so he spoke in his mind, "Check Status."
Ding!
[Name: Nero Valstine]
[Title - None]
[Tier - Novice Rank Digitizer]
[Level 3 | Class: None]
[Next Level EXP: 495]
[Current EXP: 125]
[Influence: None | Prestige: 100 - Good Villager]
[Health 140/140]
[Magic Power 140/140]
[Combat Power: 60(+4) stones]
[Body Tenacity: 16(+4)]
[Spiritual Awareness 20]
[Speed 56(+1) km/h]:
[Genetic Trait:]
[Grade??? Inheritance Bit (Mazello(Level 10)) - A powerful Spiritual Being of an ancient era, as you've earned his recognition, you have awakened a small portion of his strength. Your awareness of spirits has risen, you will naturally attract the love and care of goodwill spirits, but those of a dark nature shall view you in a manner no different from their mortal enemy.]
[Reaper's Eye - A talent that allows one to see the origin of nature. It enables the living to see those that exists between both realms of reality.]
…
[Skills:]
[Passive Techniques:]
Low-grade Skill:
[Foundation Body Refinement: Stage 1 (10/50) | 3 Stages]
[Effects: Technique is limited to 3 Stages, and each stage can increase Combat Power and Body Tenacity by a total of +5.]
---
[Foundation Weapon Control - Stage 1 (10/50) | 3 Stages]
[Effects:]
[Technique is limited to 3 Stages, and each stage can increase the Combat Power used by any weapon +5 | Current Stat Boost (1/5)]
---
[Combat Techniques:]
High-Grade Skill:
[Four Point Unity Steps - Stage 1 (10/50) | 9 Stages]
[Description: This is a speed-boosting art that can increase speed allowing graceful movement and superior reaction capabilities. Each stage can grant the user and increase of 5km/h in speed.]
[Effects: MP Consumption: 30]
[User can increase speed by 5km/h]
[Requirement: User must at least have Stage 1 fitness.]
---
[Items:]
[???Special Gift - Item locked (Level10)]
[Simple Novice Stick: Combat Force +4, Indestructible]
[Simple Novice Robe: +4 Body Tenacity, Indestructible]
[Simple Wooden Sandals: +1 km/h, Indestructible]
[Common Iron Sword: Combat Force +6, Durability: 5/5]
....
Nero was stunned as he saw the details, he didn't think he would have undergone such changes, his eyes narrowed as he read the details paying keen attention to the bit about 'those of a dark nature.'
'So while others have good will towards me, the rest are more likely to target me... I don't like how that sounds,' Nero said inwardly.
Adult Nero chuckled as he spoke, "You shouldn't, it wasn't one or two times I had to run away from dangerous spirits. But don't worry, I am sure that if you play your cards right, you will survive..."
Nero was frightened at those words, and Adult Nero enjoyed seeing that expression, but as if he didn't want to tease Nero any longer he spoke, "Okay, it's time for you to get moving, we have a long day ahead of us."
Nero hearing this came back to his senses, he remembered that they only had 24 hours, and he didn't want to waste a single moment to get stronger. He was about to leave the area as he took a step forward, but right at this moment, a bright light appeared before him before his head smashed into something hard.
"Ouch!" Both Nero and the person said as they held their head.
Nero looked at the person before him with anger, as did the opposing party, but right at as the two saw each other, they reacted similarly.
"IT'S YOU!!" The shouted at the top of their voice.
Nero felt alarmed that he would see this girl here, the very new transfer student Elly from his class. He wondered why she knew him on earth, but never would he imagine that they had met in this world.
He thought for a bit and recalled yesterday he was called a pervert by a girl. He recalled that the blurry image also had similar colored hair, and the voice was the same after thinking it over.
'Why didn't you tell me that it was her from that time?' Nero cursed in his mind; he was really beginning not to like Adult Nero's methods.
Adult Nero chuckled and replied, "And ruin such a typical encounter? You must be joking, you need to understand that I have to get my own form of entertainment, I can't always be sitting in meditation like some monk. It's your duty to keep me entertained..."
Nero gritted his teeth and cursed inwardly, "Well, that's your fault for being reborn in such a half-assed manner."
Adult Nero frowned as he spoke coldly, "Oh, so you want me to reincarnate properly?"
Nero trembled a bit as he realized his mistake, he hesitated and replied, 'I... I'm sorry,'
Adult Nero hearing nodded and spoke, "That's more like it,"
While Nero had a literal internal conflict, Elly looked at him in rage, seeing that he didn't even apologize for bumping into her forehead.
She was about to act out in a violent manner, but right at this time, she remembered what her mother had forced her to recite when she had returned home.
'Be calm... be graceful...' Elly said in her mind as she controlled her breathing, bringing her anger down by a notch.
Soon, she had calmed herself to a level where she could speak in a refined manner, "Hey, it's not nice to bump into a lady and not apologize, you do know that its rude, right?"
Nero, who had only now awakened from his internal feud, looked at her deeply. His eyes flashed as he couldn't help but find her appearance appealing in her dress-like armor, her sparkling chestnut brown hair, and sweet fragrance, giving him a warm feeling as it tickled his nose.
Nero shook his head and cleared those thoughts, he made a strange look as he could have sworn she was angry just now, her manner of change was rather too quick.
As Elly saw Nero's suspicious look, her face turned slightly red as she didn't know if he saw through her act, she hurriedly spoke again to consolidate her standing, "Excuse me, are you deaf? I believe you owe me an apology?"
Nero was unusually smart even as a child; he could see things many found difficult. He smiled as he rose to his feet and brushed off the dirt as he casually replied in a look of confusion, "Umm? Apology, what for?"
Elly seeing Nero's confused look puffed her cheeks and clenched her fists tightly, she seemed no different from a boiling kettle.
Nero didn't like her at first, but as he saw this change, he couldn't help but find her fascinating, as if he discovered a new continent he muttered, "How cute...'
"Eh? What was that?" Elly asked with widened eyes as she looked at Nero suspiciously.
Nero having realized his slight outburst was alarmed, he hurriedly cleared his thoughts and spoke while walking off, "You are Elly from my class right, it's a pleasure to meet you. With regards to earlier, I believe that we are both at fault, and as such, I do not need to send you an apology, now if you'll excuse me, I need to get training..."
Not even waiting for a moment, Nero ran off towards the town, leaving behind Elly, who had a dumbfounded expression.
After a while, she regained her senses, and stared at where he went before she cursed, "You think this is over, no it's only just beginning, I'll follow you to the end of the world until you apologize!"
Like the wind, she blurred and ran towards Nero's direction, leaving behind the now silent and empty garden. Soon though, a ray of light beamed down, reforming into the husky figure Raynas.
He waited in his spot for a few minutes but saw that Elly wasn't here, he frowned as he spoke with eyes that showed a helpless look, "That darn little sister of mine..."