[Ding! You have removed Glistening Moonlight.]
[Ding! You have removed your Enigma II.]
[Ding! You have equipped World Eater!]
[Ding! You have obtained a new S-Craft: Eater of Chaos!]
[Ding! You have changed Occupations.]
[Ding! You have equipped Child of the Progenitor Occupation!]
[Ding! Your Stats have been updated and are ready to view.]
I can't deny that I have the Gamer System, so let's have a little preview of what changed. My total HP and EP have decreased a good chunk since I changed Occupations and removed my Enigma II, but World Eater thankfully offset that difference a little bit. I'm still well over what a normal LV92 character should be in terms of Trails, haha!
[Stat Preview]
HP: 55,480/55,480
EP: 85,715/85,715
Attack Damage: 20,100
Arts Damage: 27,489
Resistance: 6,283
Arts Resistance: 1785
Extra Attack Damage: +300%
Extra Arts Damage: +200%
Craft Rank Up: +1
Attack Damage Taken: -30%
Arts Damage Taken: -30%
A/N: What do you readers think of this stat preview?
If I had a more normal progression to the games, my Attack Damage and Arts Damage would be a tenth of what it actually is. While my Stats no longer exceed 9,999 for STR or ATS with World Eater equipped, the Skills that I possess like Weapon Mastery II are more than enough to make up for it. These Skills currently boost my Attack Damage by 300%, and that is why it is all the way at 20,100 right now. The same can be said for my Arts Damage. The change in my Occupation to Child of the Progenitor provides a bigger boost to my ATS and EP than what Crown Prince does. Knowing that, I can go in close and attack, or stay afar and use ranged attacks without worry.
I like it!
Moreover, it doesn't end there. Most of my Crafts and Spells fall within rank C and S as far as damage output goes. That's a final multiplier after everything else is calculated, barring critical hits and Efficacy application. It can increase my normal Attack Damage anywhere from an extra 20% all the way to 180%! It normally counts as 100%, and then it just adds onto it. I could easily dish out 50,000 damage a hit. Now, if you factor in both Bloody Hearts and my new S-Craft, Eater of Chaos...that's when the damage really soars, providing up to an extra 500% increase, give or take. Crazy, right?
Those mechanics haven't changed at all. Knowing that, my Child of the Progenitor Occupation is now equipped. It didn't take long for the air to change around us. As that happened, my violet hair began to dye some of its strands into a crimson red. Different to how Vermillion Eyes changes my eyes from its normal golden sheen suddenly changed to a deep crimson red as well. Wooosh!
It was as if my whole demeanor had changed. A hidden pressure swept out all around us. The Vander disciples flinched at it, as did our group. I saw Princess Alfin's eyes turn wide, acting as if a cold wind swept around her. A hint of worry appeared in Prince Cedric's eyes, as he too withstood the pressure. Kurt and the rest did too, but it was clear they saw the visible change in front of them.
"Are you alright, Alfin?", Prince Cedric uttered, wanting to be sure.
"Yes. Thank you.", Prince Alfin uttered back, keeping her voice quiet. She knew she couldn't interrupt the fight that was about to happen. 'So this is the other you, Naoto? The side that you didn't want us to see...'
Princess Alfin kept her thoughts to herself, and steadied the look in her eyes. She was going to commit this fight to memory.
I paid their reactions no mind. My eyes remained on Sherryl. I haven't used this Skill in a while. A triple-layered eye-color isn't something I was expecting to see happen. Feels rather cringe to say that, but it is what it is. I feel like Sasuke using the Mangekyo Sharingan, haha!
[Ding! You have activated Vermillion Eyes!]
Wooosh! Wooosh! Wooosh!
The pressure released by me switching Occupations from Crown Prince to Child of the Progenitor was one thing, but a much thicker pressure suddenly spread out in all directions. It was much more intense the moment I turned on my Vermillion Eyes. I haven't used it for a prolonged period of time since I fought against the One of Swords. Thankfully, this situation wasn't as drastic as that one was.
[Ding! A minimap has now entered your view. You may expand or shrink it at will.]
[Ding! You may now automatically analyze your targets.]
[Ding! By spending a certain amount of EP, you may now view past or future events.]
"This...", Sherryl said, becoming shocked to see yet a third color appear around my irises. The vermillion hue overpowered the golden and crimson hues. Even from afar on the other side of the platform, she could see my eyes clearly. The pores on her skin were at Sherryl now to run away. What she saw before her was dangerous. That much she knew.
But Sherryl knew well she couldn't run away. She let her Battle Aura flourish. Seeing Sherryl not back down, I smiled. Things are getting heated now, aren't they?
"Excluding my primary weapon, this is me at my full power. Are you sure you want to proceed with this?", I said, and did a twirl of World Eater, just like how Estelle did it. My left hand was raised up and my right hand further down, gripping tightly onto it. I was ready to strike at a moment's notice.
Sherryl thought like her entire being was in the process of being scrutinized. It wasn't just her, everyone else felt the hairs on their back stand on end. Even the Thunder God's gaze turned serious. Before Sherryl could respond, I saw the Thunder God approach the fighting platform. He was quiet for a good moment before he spoke.
"So that legacy has not been lost...", Matteus murmured. His eyes remained on me. As that happened, I saw the floating tag above his head, and even that made me want to run away.
[Matteus Vander - The Thunder God - LV250]
Sheesh. He's already at the level cap. But he's earned his way there through an endless amount of hard work and training under the way of a sword. One day, I will get there too. Instead, my interest was what he just said.
"You know of these eyes, Lord Vander?", I asked, not expecting to hear.
"I do. I did not think I would receive a chance to see them in this age. The power to discern truth from lies.", Matteus responded, and nodded his head. "It looks like you have already gotten used to the strain that these eyes possess. I will have to adjust our training schedule going forward."
So the Thunder God knows about the Vermillion Eyes. Why am I not surprised? He's of the older generation, and I'm sure he knows a secret or two. As I looked around, I saw more name tags show up.
[Roselia Millstein - The Crimson Roselia - LV250.]
[Aurelia Le Guin - Demon of Thors - LV150.]
[Princess Alfin - Erebonia's Treasure - LV1.]
[Prince Cedric - Flamboyant Prince - LV25.]
[Kurt Vander - The Overlooked - LV50.]
[Vander School Disciple LV60.]
[Vander School Disciple LV65.]
[Vander School Disciple LV70...]
Seeing Roselia already at LV250 also makes sense. You do see her state that she's been alive for more than eight hundred years. After the time of the Great Collapse to the second iteration of the Crimson Roselia's consciousness forming, I take it that was around three to four hundred years ago. It's been a long time since then, and she's already at LV250. It looks like both Prince Cedric and Kurt have already started the grind, with Aurelia being much higher than me, LV150...
Talk about a literal demon, no pun intended. Haha!
What was interesting about this was Princess Alfin. I did hear from her that she should be starting self-defense classes soon, but it looks like that hasn't kicked off yet. Receiving no actual physical training yet, her LV remains at 1. A fresh start. She is still a couple years younger than me though, so she has plenty of time to grow stronger.
And last but not least...
My eyes wandered back toward Sherryl. I clearly saw the tag above her name. I was surprised to see it.
[Sherryl Sky - The Unshaken Fist - LV100.]
...Just what in Aidios's name did you do these last couple of years!?
The girl I once knew back in those caves, scrawny, weak, and half-beaten to death no longer existed before me. She was pretty badly beaten by the time I was transferred to the Sun Fort where I first met her. Sherryl was the first of the victims I've met. We've really come a long way. Thanks to the Vermillion Eyes, I could even see the outlines of the scars still laced around Sherryl's body, even if most of them have faded by now.
"Do your scars still hurt?", I decided to ask. Hearing that, Sherryl smiled at me.
"No. They're practically gone at this point, and I've never felt better. Now, I'm on my way, striving to be better. You gave me the means to do that, and I am eternally grateful, Naoto.", Sherryl said. I could see a resolute look appear in her eyes. "And now, I must see how far I have come. I will not back down from this. Like I said before this, I have something to show you that I haven't even told Teacher yet. I can only hold this for around eight to ten minutes at most."
Before we could do anything, we all saw Sherryl change her position. She lowered her body, and brought her right fist downward. In a very familiar and particular stance that I have seen before. Just like how Luffy triggers his Gear Second. Except there's a clear difference. Luffy's body has the property of rubber. It is very elastic and can stretch far and wide, or move his muscles in ways that shouldn't be moved.
Sherryl, on the other hand, couldn't exactly do that. But that didn't stop her from doing this new technique she had recently developed. Hissssss!
We all heard a loud hiss suddenly escape from Sherryl's body. Particularly, from her mouth. It soon began to exert very hot steam, causing another stir in the air. As that happened, Sherryl's body began to glow a bright red with scattered spots.
"The hell?", Prince Cedric cursed. Sherryl now looked quite different. "What is going on with Sherryl?"
"I do not know. I have not seen a technique like this before.", Kurt replied, shaking his head. He didn't know either.
"You...", Matteus said. His eyes even turned serious. Something that rarely happened for him. He approached Sherryl, but remained beside the fighting platform. He didn't enter it, but it was clear he was visibly shaken. "Do you realize what you are doing!? You are killing off your life force!"
"Father?", Kurt replied. He was taken aback by seeing the Thunder God's sudden outburst. It was rare for him to do that with how stern he was in the games. But honestly, I appreciate him. It was clear he was concerned, even if Sherryl rejected his offer to become his direct disciple.
Still, all Sherryl did was gently raise her head upward, finishing her new technique. "I do thank you for your concern, Lord Vander, but I very much know what I am doing here. I wouldn't have given it a single thought otherwise. I cannot...exactly go into explicit detail on the matter, but you can rest assured my life is not hindered in any way by doing this. I was given...a rather special constitution that lets me do this without repercussion. I doubt any other person could replicate what I can do."
"I see...", Matteus murmured. He spent another moment observing Sherryl's new appearance. Blood was rapidly pumping throughout her body, turning into a very excited state. Much stronger than what a normal person could withstand. All thanks to her Enhanced Vitality she received from Gnosis, but refused to provide such details. I don't blame her. "I take it this is your hidden ace up your sleeve. And yet, you want to show it right away?"
"As complacent as that appears to be, I do. And I feel Naoto here can withstand what I am about to do.", Sherryl said. Her resolute look remained.
"Very well. Then I have no objections. As long as you are aware of what you are doing to your body.", Matteus responded. We then saw him retreat a few steps. "I shall officiate this battle. The victor will not be decided until one of you faint or cannot continue. Will that be sufficient?"
"I wouldn't have it any better.", I immediately replied without hesitation. I kept World Eater pointed at Sherryl, ready to strike at a moment's notice.
"I have no objections either.", Sherryl replied, and gripped her attacking fist hard.
"Very well. Then you may begin!", Matteus declared. The battle has begun!