Vile Evil Hides Under The Veil

1705 True Demon Transformation

There was one more advantage of having a Unique Skill.

The users of the Unique Skills could tweak their Unique Skill execution through the use of the Mesh.

It meant that the users of the Unique Skills had all the convenience of using the Mesh while enjoying the versatility of spell execution. Best of both worlds– so to speak.

Usually, the levels of Skills people could buy and use through the Mesh were matched according to their individualities. The users of the Mesh didn't have to do much while casting their Skills as a result. They only needed to pour mana into the Mesh and let it cast Skill almost automatically.

It means an A-Ranked Grandmaster would have all their Skills set as A-Ranked level by default unless they wanted to use a lesser form of that particular set of Skills. It also meant that Grandmasters didn't have access to S-Ranked Skills no matter how much they were willing to pay in terms of Menaka's Runes.

However, with Unique Skills, one could adjust the output of the Skills effect, breaking this fine balance. As long as the Unique Skill execution was compiled in one's Spectral Screen, the users of the Unique Skills could practically cast a Skill effect that was greater than the Skill effect boundary defined for their respective Rank.

For example, it was possible for the Grandmaster with Unique Skill access to contend with a Sage Ranker. All they needed to do was compile a Unique Skill execution in a way that the Skill effect would rival an S-Ranked Skill. In some cases, the wielder of the Unique Skills could even compile a Skill effect that rivaled Saint Ranked Skills.

Of course, merely obtaining a Unique Skill was not enough. The wielders themselves needed to be capable enough to compile the Unique Skills' execution, which could only happen if and when they were proficient in using the intent-based magic.

In the case of Rankers with Unique Skill access, they needed strong and potent Individuality to compile a logic-defying Unique Skill execution. The access to Unique Skills could be said to be wasted on someone with weak Individuality.

Unique Skills couldn't be bought through Menaka's Market. And as far as Eren knew, he couldn't rob them from the Unique Skill owners as well. At least not using the way he was familiar with.

Unique Skills were like the original template of a Skill that was accepted to exist in the Mesh. Through this template, others could use the Skills in a definite way. Thus, it was said that the Skill owners had a higher chance of turning their inventions into Unique Skills in the future.

In most cases, it was the Skill owners' proficiency with the intent-based magic that was preventing them from turning their inventions into Unique Skills.

Unique Skills were unique in the sense that no two similar Unique Skills could exist in the Mesh. Therefore, the Unique Skill users were also one of a kind by definition, allowing them to lord over the others.

The Unique Skill holders were very famous in Labh Salem because almost every one of them had achieved something monumental for themselves. They were a sought-after recruit for any organization, enabling them to reap maximum benefits from their supposed services.

Eren was sure that his Individuality was potent enough to make him a well-known Unique Skills user. All he needed to do was to unlock a Unique Skill for himself.

Thus, he couldn't help but be interested in Labh Salem's urban legend that was Hvergelmir Springs. If possible, he wanted to unlock a series of Unique Skills to himself given the fact that he was already an owner of multiple Greater Skills.

***

"I see. Any other benefits apart from what you have mentioned so far?" Eren asked Roza as thoughts about the Unique Skills swirled inside his mind.

The butcher was sure that the demonic entities were not foolish enough to run after something that could only happen to one in a million. At least not all of them who were inside the den he had just raided. There had to be something much more feasible that made them look forward to the supposed appearance of Hvergelmir Springs with such zeal.

Roza was lost in her thoughts when Eren asked her the question. She kept on walking ahead as she tried to answer.

"Um… my liege… you should know that most demonic entities sign a Faustian Contract with the demon they can summon in the material plane. However, for most, these demonic soul fragments stay slumbering.

Through the Hvergelmir Springs, they have a chance to awaken the demonic soul fragments within them and trigger a soul-

based transformation, turning them into true demons. It's something similar to what happened to me after I took over the original Roza's body.

What's a true demon, you might ask. A true demon is different from other living beings. In a way, they are a higher form of existence. They can progress in their respective Paths to Power at a much higher rate than it was ever thought possible for someone who is not a true demon.

For example, an A-Ranked demonic Ranker who has become a true demon might be able to become an S-Ranked demonic Sage within a few decades. This speed of progress would be an unimaginable feat for those who are not true demons.

True Demons have access to a dedicated Skill Tree for themselves. They have a higher chance of obtaining Unique Skills or Greater Skills. They become so proficient in using intent-based magic that they cannot be countered by someone from their generation.

Of course, there's a chance the true demons might lose a sense of self after their metamorphosis. This happens when the demon soul fragment that had fused with their souls ends up dominating them at the time of soul amalgamation.

The true demon transformation triggered by the Hvergelmir Springs would be a sought-after choice for these demonic entities because they would largely be unaffected by the transformation. It means, for the most part, their sense of self would not change."