Nael's eyes scanned down the page, his gaze locking onto the next entry.
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[Achievement: Unique Slayer]
[ Grade: Unique ]
[ Condition: Be the primary contributor to the defeat of a Unique-grade entity. ]
[ Your Fulfillment: Defeated the Gloom Predator (Lv. 21). ]
[ Rewards:
· Title: Unique Slayer - You have felled an anomaly. This feat marks you as exceptional among the Awakened.
Effect: Predator's Aura - Your presence carries the scent of a slain anomaly. Lesser creatures (Common/Uncommon/Rare) instinctively fear you, while other Unique-tier entities within a significant radius become acutely aware of your presence and deeds.
· Attribute Enhancement: +10 to all Attributes.
· Unique Skill Shard: [Echo of the Void] ]
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'...This... I actually did such a thing...'
A complex mix of pride and apprehension settled in his chest. The title and the massive, across-the-board attribute boost were monumental. But the aura... it was a double-edged sword. It would make grinding through weaker zones trivial, but it also meant he could never truly hide from the most dangerous beings in the wilds.
The memory of the Gloom Predator's final, reality-rending attack was seared into his mind. He had no desire to face another like it anytime soon. He had been utterly, completely defeated, saved only by a miracle of light and a voice screaming his name.
His eyes dropped to the next achievement, its name a stark reminder of how close that miracle had needed to be.
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[Achievement: From the Jaws of Death]
[ Grade: Rare ]
[ Condition: Survive a situation where death was 99% certain. ]
[ Your Fulfillment: Survived the Gloom Predator encounter. ]
[ Rewards:
· Title: Unbroken Will - Your spirit's grip on your body is tenacious. When your Vigor is fully depleted, a final surge of determination can briefly sustain you.
· Attribute Enhancement: +10 Vitality.
· Skill Unlock: [Adrenaline Surge] - Burn Focus to rapidly convert it into Vigor. ]
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'Another trump card,' Nael analyzed instantly. The title could mean the difference between a fatal collapse and a chance to use a healing potion or escape. The skill was a direct, logical conversion of his immense mental focus into life-saving endurance. Both were perfect for his high-risk style.
Then, his gaze fell on the next achievement, its name alone hinting at the strange, fundamental violation he had endured.
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[Achievement: Void-Touched]
[ Grade: Unique ]
[ Condition: Survive direct exposure to a concentrated source of void/nothingness energy. ]
[ Your Fulfillment: Endured the Gloom Predator's [Void Rend]. ]
[ Rewards:
· Title: Edge-Walker - Your essence borders two states, granting mild resistance to energies that impose absolute order or structure.
· Attribute Enhancement: +15 Wisdom, +10 Intelligence.
· Affinity Unlocked: [Void Affinity] - You can now sense, and with training, learn to manipulate energies of negation and emptiness. ]
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"Whoa!" Nael exclaimed out loud.
This... This was different.
This wasn't just a new skill or stat; it was a change to his very nature. It seems like the void had scoured him and left a fragment of itself behind.
'An affinity, huh?'
The Void Affinity hummed within his core, a cold, silent potential he couldn't yet grasp, but could undeniably feel.
'Then... I can learn space-related skills too, right?' Nael's mind raced with the possibilities. The potential was as vast and dark as the affinity itself.
'Like teleport? Store things in sub dimensions? And-'
Just as he was about to dive deeper into his fantasies, a subtle movement caught his eye.
'Hmm?' He turned his head.
On the chair beside his bed, Mireille was stirring. She let out a soft, sleepy murmur as she raised her head, her silver hair cascading around her shoulders. She stretched her arms slightly, a quiet yawn escaping her lips.
Nael watched her for a moment, the morning light softening her features. "Good morning," he said, his voice quiet but clear in the stillness of the room. "Did you sleep well?"
The effect was instantaneous.
"!" Mireille froze. Her half-lidded eyes snapped wide open, locking onto him. All traces of sleep vanished, replaced by sheer, disbelieving shock.
"N-Nael...?" she whispered, her voice trembling.
"Mm..." Nael nodded.
Then, as if a dam had broken, tears welled in her eyes and streamed down her cheeks, tracing silent paths through the faint dusting of freckles he remembered from their elementary school days.
"Nael!"
In a burst of motion, she threw herself forward, wrapping her arms around him in a desperate, trembling hug.
"W-Woah!" Nael gasped, his own arms instinctively coming up to steady them both. The movement sent a dull throb of pain through his still-healing body, but it was distant, secondary.
"You're..."
She held him tightly, yet with a careful softness, as if afraid he might shatter. Her face was buried in his shoulder, her entire body shaking with silent sobs.
"Nael... You're alive," she choked out between ragged breaths, her voice muffled against his hospital gown. "You're alive... Nael... I thought... I thought I was too late..."
Nael first allowed her to let it all out while gently patting her back, his voice a soft murmur. "No, you were on time."
"You saved me."
"..."
"Thank you, Mira."
But she suddenly shook her head violently, pulling back just enough to look at him through her tears.
"N-No," she insisted, her voice thick with guilt. "It was my fault. You almost died because of me. I... I should've known. I should've checked myself..."
Nael's confusion grew. This wasn't the reaction he expected. Where was this guilt coming from? He gave her shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "What are you talking about? It was you who saved me, right? You found me in that cavern."
She nodded, wiping at her eyes with a trembling hand. "Y-yes, but you were in danger because of me, because I believed them, because I was so stupid and just listened..."
A faint frown touched Nael's lips.
'Believed them?'
The words clicked into place with cold clarity. This was about the people around her. Either her party or the recruiters. The ones who had dismissed him, who had told her he was a deadweight 'commoner' and shouldn't interact with him.
'Hm...' Many thoughts spiraled in his mind, vague theories forming. But he couldn't be certain of the situation before hearing more details.
"Hey, Mira," he said, his tone firm but gentle. "Calm down. Just breathe."
He waited a moment for her ragged breaths to even out slightly.
"Now, explain it to me. What happened? Who did you believe? Why are you blaming yourself?"
Mira nodded weakly, sobbing once before starting.
"I..."