Chapter 9: New Skill Unlocked!
Kim Hajun was sitted leaning back on his chair as he stared at the monitor almost lost in it.
Confused he decided to open up the game's server group chat to atleast get an insight of what had happened.
---
[4ever_top: Nobody look at me, I'm just as confused as you all are...]
[cutiepatootie6: Anyone know why those Arch-priests attacked the main cast team?]
[Carrot_soup: I think it's something to do with that rune stone at the corner of the church...]
[Party_pooper33: Naah, it can't be that rune stone...why would they attack because of that. Doesn't it bring a curse to whoever touches it?]
[I_bed_elves: Hmmm...you could be right, though the game gets more confusing, the more you play the more the mysteries keep on piling up]
---
Kim looked at the fandom group chat and pondered for a while.
"I've been playing that particular scenario for the past 8 days and if there's something I have come to conclude it's the fact that the church rune stone is far more important and powerful than what people think about it..."
Kim muttered in the silence of his room.
"That stone can do far much than just bring about a curse..."
***
Noah sat on his bed in the silence of his room as that specific memory played from his past life.
It was a memory about the game.
"After planning for 2 days...I finally got the skill I wanted from that rune."
"Initially in the original game, that rune stone located at the corner of the church was used back then in the earlier magic days to strip off talents from those unworthy and those who used it for evil purposes..."
"But with time, talents continued increasing in the world and the higher ups realised there was no need...all they could do was just accept the fact where light is cast there will always be shadows."
"Now the rune lays unused and if you were to actually touch, you will cease to progress in your talents...some say it's a curse from the constellations themselves...so it's forbidden to go near that side of the church."
"Still beats me how they actually decided to keep it..."
"But later in the game, players would come to realise that rune stone granted a specific skill that was considered overpowered.
They would then start to flock to that area and even killing each other for it..."
"Though people realised it was a false rumour...they touched the rune yes, but...the curse part was real as they couldn't advance in their ranks, talents and couldn't even change classes.
This just had people create new accounts, start over from scratch thinking it was a bug..."
"But only I knew they right way to acquire that skill...even after that mysterious player leaked it..."
"I'm grateful to him..."
Noah concluded his thoughts as he remembered to the events that had taken place for him to acquire that skill.
***
"My my, your affinities are the same as back when you were 8," father Aric said.
Noah scratched his head smiling nervously.
"No worries Noah, atleast you get to continue with perfecting those elements," Aric stated.
While Noah was listening he looked at the corner of the church and waited for the perfect moment.
When Aric was talking with Noah's parents, he saw the opportunity presented to him.
"This might be stupid...but..."
Suddenly a loud boom was heard as smoke filled the air.
Aric went down even forming a protective barrier with his skill shielding Noah's parents.
"My babbyyyy...."
Margaret called out as Aric lifted the barrier.
Everyone's eyes fell on where the small explosion had come from.
As the debris and dust dissipated Noah arose from it.
His cheeks and clothes were covered in small rocks and dust but he looked okay.
Margaret moved instantly to her son.
"Are you okay...are you okay?"
Margaret asked touching Noah's face all over checking for cuts or any signs of injury.
But she found none.
"What happened?"
Aric asked.
"I...I...uhhh...I tripped and my lightning magic got activated the moment I touched that rune stone..."
Aric's eyes seemed to widen in disbelief.
"Y-you touched the rune????!!"
The old man said in higher tone than usual.
"Yeah...is it bad?"
Noah asked.
"Uhhh...haha, it's not," Aric said.
'Liar...'
Noah said in his mind.
"I...I think it shattered...
I'm so sorry Priest Aric, I broke church property..."
Noah began apologising seeming sincere as ever.
'You should be thanking me, or this place would've turned into a bloody slaughter house in months...'
Noah thought but didn't say it.
He then saw Aric give his parents a worried look and them showing it back.
Before they left the church, Aric had been talking to Mr and Mrs Ashbourne for a while.
"He's probably telling my parents not to reveal to me the effects of touching the rune stone and its curse..."
Noah thought while sitted at one of the church benches.
"Atleast I did it...I'm the only one who will get that skill..."
"Okay Noah, make sure to visit the church every month to strengthen your relationship with the elemental constellation."
Aric said bringing back Noah from his thoughts.
***
"After that we left..."
Noah mumbled recalling the events.
At that moment he knew he couldn't have used his lightning magic as the countdown of his mana deficiency was still going.
It was an inconvenience but he immediately thought of something else.
"The rune can only be shattered by lightning...
So I had to use my last system coins in the shop and purchase something similar or atleast close to it."
[■Coins: 650]
[■Would you like to purchase the items?]
---
[■Items successfully purchased]
[■Coins: 0]
"It was an immense sacrifice but worth it...the second item especially that can only be purchased once and then its gone from the system shop."
"I bought a bottle with lightning dust in it...
[■Lightning Dust: ○Price - 150 coins]
Making sure it collided with the rune stone.
The impact caused sparks therefore acting as a catalyst for the lightning. And in return it shattered."
"That was the only way to get the skill.
Not by touching but shattering the rune stone."
Noah thought as he looked at the system window.
●|System Status Window|●
○ Name: Noah Ashbourne
○ Race: Human
○ Age: 16
[■ Class: None]
[■ Skills]
□Active Skills:None
□Passive Skills:
●Constellation Insight: Allows the user to view the status windows of others, revealing their attributes, skills, and more. A rare ability granted by the constellations, providing unique insight into the strengths and weaknesses of those around you.
[■Attributes]
○ Charm: ★☆☆☆☆
○ Strength: ★☆☆☆☆
○ Dexterity: ★☆☆☆☆
○ Intelligence: ★★★☆☆
○ Endurance: ★☆☆☆☆
○ Luck: ★☆☆☆☆
[■ Magic Attributes]
○ Ice: ★☆☆☆☆
○ Lightning: ★☆☆☆☆
[✟ Constellation: The God of Elements]
[■ System Shop]
[■ Quests Available: 0]
[■ Summary]
Noah, you've unlocked a rare skill! Constellation Insight is a true gem—an ability that only a few are blessed with. You can now peek into the stats of others and perhaps even learn something valuable from them. But let's not get ahead of ourselves. With stats like yours, knowing how others succeed might just make your mediocrity all the more glaring. Still, good job! You're slightly above average... in being disappointing.
---
[End of Status]
"One thing I forgot to mention...is that everyone in this world has a stat window available to them..."
"Knowing my average stats won't be of help that much especially in my personal quest of killing the main characters.
Constellation's Insight just gave me an upper hand as of now..."
Noah muttered then slumped back on his bed as the last item he purchased materialized in his hand.
[■ Reset Ticket: ○Price - 500 coins]
○The Reset Ticket is a rare, single-use item with the power to reset the player's memories. When the ticket is ripped in two, it triggers a process that attempts to recover lost memories and integrate them with the player's current memories. This powerful effect can potentially restore forgotten experiences and knowledge, blending them seamlessly into the present.
[■ Note: This Ticket is only available once]
[■ Warning!: You possess two body memories]
[■ Chances of the Ticket taking effect: 1.04%]
[■ Host might lose all memories. Do you still wish to use it?]