The Villain has Perished

The rankings of this world followed skills, not the stats. In general, one could say, stats were like raw fuels, while skills were the devices that ran on those fuels.

Fuel was important, but the devices were more important.

To give an example, in my 2nd life, there were incandescent bulbs and LED bulbs. LED bulbs used less than 75% energy than incandescent lighting but still produced better results.

Like that, Skills were the hardware that needed stats to act as their fuel and ranked skills were better quality hardware.

Depending on the skills, an ascender can generate mystical phenomena while having low stats too. Of course, a minimum threshold of stats was necessary nonetheless – and this was what the first three ranks did.

The ranks went in the order:

Beginner

Intermediate

Proficient

Master

Grandmaster

Saint

King

Emperor

Tyrant

Anything above Tyrant rank was a whole different realm altogether.

The first three ranks (Beginner, Intermediate, Proficient) are known as Mortal Awakening.

From the Master rank, one gets access to 'World Link' and ranked skills — these people are called Ascenders.

However, after Coalescence, when all the worlds combine, the 'World Link' will change and the connection will be rerouted to Tower of Babel.

Tower of Babel was a spiritual interface that acted as the 'Multiverse Link', the superior version of 'World Link'. It allowed one to learn skills faster than one did from 'World Link'.

'Interface'

[Floor 0]

[Shop]

Two lines appeared in my vision. Since I have yet to reach any rank, the other options weren't unlocked, and I had access to only Floor 0 right now.

I chose the first option.

My soul flew out of my body, and I found myself standing in an 8X8 white room.

Closing my eyes, I could sense my body standing stationary in the real world.

Inside the white room, there was a small white table in the middle and had a black book resting on it.

Walking to the book, I flipped it open.

Each page held a different information.

————

Name: Sol Lionel

Age: 19 years

Race: Demi-Human

Rank: N/A

Profession: N/A

Coins: N/A

—

[Stats]

Physique: 2.00

Magic Power: 100.00/100.00 (Dormant)

—

[Skills]

<Bluff> Lvl.3

<Celestial Swordsmanship> Lvl.1

<Bitch Slap> Lvl.6

————

'Ha Ha Ha…'

A hollow chuckle left my mouth. I had to double check what was written in the book to make sure I wasn't misreading.

'I'm not… human? Wasn't my mother a normal maid who later became a concubine?'

Father was human. I had no doubt about it because it was explicitly said in the .

'It's surprising that mother was a nonhuman, but what's more, she didn't belong to a normal non-human race.'

My stats proved that.

The average physique and Magic stat for normal humans was 10. Those who have gone through 1st mortal awakening have 30 stats on average.

'What the hell, mother? Who were you?'

Stats and their growth are greatly affected by one's race. A human wouldn't have such high stats before the third mortal awakening.

And, I had 100 stats in Magic Power even though I had yet to go through first mortal awakening!

Other than these two, there were two more hidden stats: [Luck] and [Wisdom].

'My family is possessed by Daemons and my mother was a non-human. What's left? Is Mother alive and hiding somewhere because it would spell trouble if she were with me?'

Tsk, what is this, a third-rate web?

Wait!

What if… this is a web? You know, like one of those conspiracy theories that says our universe is a B+ grade science project resting on the bookshelf of an alien.

'Heh' I shook my head. 'Something that involves me can't get anything less than A+ grade.'

I was too great for a B+.

So, that theory was wrong!

Snorting, I read my skills description.

'I have three skills.'

————

<Bluff>

<Level: 3>

<Cost: 20 Magic Power>

<Description: People are slightly susceptible to believing your lies. Works only on those with less Magic Power than you>

————

<Celestial Swordsmanship>

<Level: 1>

<Series: Phantom Swordsmanship>

<Description: The swordsmanship known to contain the essence of all swords techniques ever invented. It can slay Gods and Dragons alike. Each level unlocks new moves under your series.>

*

<Phantom Slash>

<Level: 1>

<Cost: 10 Magic Power>

<Description: Creates one phantom sword slash to distract the opponent.>

————

<Bitch Slap>

<Level: 6>

pαndα`noνɐ1--сoМ <Cost: 5 Magic Power>

<Description: Increases your right-hand slap attack damage by 5 percent.>

————

'The skills are good, but why does it look like a scammer skill-set?'

<Bluff> and <Bitch Slap> were useful, especially <Bitch Slap>. But the name was… quite unique.

Sighing, I decided to ignore the weird skills.

'I will have to awaken my Magic Power before I can use any skill and that means going through the first mortal awakening.'

Coincidentally, I was already planning on doing that today.

<Celestial Swordsmanship> was the Lionel family sword technique. It is said to have endless series' combined into it. Phantom Series, Wallowing Series, Ice Series, Sun Series, and countless more.

What made Celestial Swordsmanship remarkable was that each series was the peak of its respective sword technique.

However, only if the series is a perfect match for you, can you reach its true potential, otherwise it will be no different from a good sword technique.

It had a near infinite series, making it impossible to know what series suited you best. The only person to have mastered his series was the first head of Lionel Family, the Ghost Swordsman.

'At the end, it's time for dessert. My blessing!'

Smacking my lips, I carefully turned the page.

——

[Attributes]

<Reader>

<Summoner>

——

'Two attributes?'

Flipping further, I did not find any explanation on the <Reader> attribute.

Attributes were abilities that came from oneself. Only a very rare minority has an attribute, and this was the first time I saw double attributes.

'<Summoner> is from the blessing that I got in my 2nd life, so <Reader> must be my attribute of this life.'

Thinking back, I could guess what this attribute did. I have experienced its effect many times.

I then read about the Summoner attribute.

<Please complete 1st mortal awakening to summon Grimoire.>

This wasn't an issue. Rather, my excitement bubbled.

It was pleasant news that <Summoner> was an attribute and not my profession, because I had my eyes set on a specific profession, one that would give me a massive advantage over everyone.

'It's good that I'll get to see my attribute in action today! Sebas should be coming any time soon with…'

Knock—! Knock—! Knock—!

Right on cue, someone knocked on the door in the real world.

I willed it, and found myself back in the real world, out of the white room.

"Enter."

"Please excuse"

A man with white hair sporting a tuxedo entered.

"Young master, I bought the magic stones you requested."

A smile appeared on my face.

'First Mortal Awakening, here I come!'