YM778.TV Chapter 25: Chapter 25: Rest and Bonding
"Strength, undeniable strength," he mused inwardly as he treaded silently towards the mansion. His steps were deliberate, avoiding any unnecessary noise until he reached the solace of his chamber.
"Now, let\'s assess my skills and the spoils of battle," he murmured to himself, eager to delve into the rewards that awaited him.
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Title: Undead Slayer
Class: Magic Swordsman
Level: 16
HP: 40
MP: 40
Strength: 46
Agility: 55
Intelligence:40
Perception: 39
Luck: MAX
Undistributed Points: 30
Skills:
[Gluttony EX]
[Skill Forge S]
[Rewrite Illusion A]
[Checkpoint A]
*****
[Elemental Blessing A]
[Quick Learner A]
[Ricochet Strike A]
[Spellblade Storm A]
[Tactical Mirage A]
[Demon Eyes B]
[Full Resistance B]
*****
[Forced Contract S]
[Heaven\'s Blessing S]
[Market Value S]
[Arcane Barrage A]
[Auto Spell A]
[Beast Mastery A]
[Divine Insight A]
[Divine Judgment A]
[Storage Space A]
[Light Blessing B]
[Clone D]
[Night Vision D]
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[x3 Red Rune Stone]
[x3 Green Rune Stone]
[x3 Yellow Rune Stone]
[x3 Dark Rune Stone]
[x1 White Rune Stone]
[x5000 skeleton bones]
[x2 Great Firefly wings]
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"How should I manage this abundance of rune stones?" Jett pondered, scrutinizing one of the stones with a thoughtful gaze.
*****
Rune stones served as one of the medium through which individuals acquired skills, through the act of crushing them, they had the potential of gaining a new skill. Each stone bore a distinct color, indicative of the type of skill it held within its core. Red stones promised potent attack abilities, while yellow stones offered buffs and crowd control.
Green stones harbored skills associated with health, blue stones housed elemental skills, black stones gave skills related to the dark attribute, and white stones embodied the purity of holy attributes. Moreover, these stones were graded from A to F, their purity ascending with each grade.
The higher the grade, the greater the purity of the stone, thus amplifying the chances of success and the possibility of attaining a higher-tier skill. Even the lowest grade stone held considerable value, coveted by adventurers, warriors, and mages alike for their rarity and potential.
*****
"Using all these rune stones myself would be tempting, especially with my maxed out luck, but it wouldn\'t align with the ending I want," Jett mused aloud, his gaze fixed on the ceiling as he contemplated the best course of action. "I need them to grow stronger too, and I can always replicate whatever skills they acquire. Teaching them how properly use these stones seems like the logical step."
After much deliberation, Jett resolved to allocate the stones based on their compatibility with each individual\'s affinity for a particular color, providing them with guidance to maximize their effectiveness. As he formulated his plan, a sly grin spread across his lips, enjoying the illusion of generosity he projected.
While he freely distributed these valuable gifts without any hope of return, he was aware that they would view it as an act of great kindness.
With his distribution complete and his items organized, Jett focused his attention on the task of merging several skills, eager to enhance his prowess through their combination.
*****
The dinner table was a scene of quietude as everyone savored their meal. Avon and Jerry exchanged glances, silently questioning if the boys were bonding well. Jett, sensing the curiosity directed towards him, offered a nonchalant response before returning his focus to his plate, his appetite evidently sharpened by the day\'s events.
Nerissa, eager to stir conversation, directed her inquiry towards Jett\'s experience at the fair. Despite her casual tone, Jett detected a hint of suspicion in her persistence. Sensing her probing, he opted for caution in his response, downplaying the significance of his encounters.
"It was enjoyable," Jett replied, his tone casual, though internally he braced himself for further interrogation.
Nerissa pressed on, attempting to extract more details, but Jett remained guarded. As she mentioned his newfound friends, Jett\'s instincts went on high alert. How did she know? Was she following him? The barrage of questions left him mentally fatigued.
As everyone sat quietly for dinner, Avon and Jerry couldn\'t help but wonder if the boys were getting along well. They asked a casual question, receiving a standard response before returning to their meals in silence.
Nerissa, however, decided to break the quietude with a conversation starter. "Hey Jett, care to share your experience at the fair?" she inquired, attempting to spark some dialogue.
"It was enjoyable. I had a good time and picked up some nice souvenirs," Jett replied, his focus still on his food, clearly working up an appetite after the day\'s events.
Nerissa pressed further, her persistence evident. "Anything interesting happen?" she prodded, trying to extract some details.
Jett sensed her ulterior motive, wary of divulging too much. "Nothing particularly noteworthy," he deflected cautiously.
Unsatisfied with his response, Nerissa decided to ignite the conversation herself. "You won\'t tell us about your new friends?" she pushed, her tone tinged with impatience.
Jett\'s internal alarms went off, realizing her intentions. Was she onto him? Did she somehow know? His mind raced with questions, his exhaustion mounting.
Eva, however, chimed in with pride, oblivious to the tension. "Jett made some friends? That\'s wonderful! I always worried because you didn\'t spend much time with the other kids. You were usually by yourself or with us adults. I\'m so happy for you!"
"That\'s not all" Nerissa continued.
\'Please no, stop talking.\' He looked at her as though he knew exactly what she was about to say while trying to beg her with his facial expression. He takes a sip of water to reassure himself that she wouldn\'t say anything bothersome.
But Nerissa persisted, undeterred by Jett\'s silent pleas. "And they were the divine lords, just casually hanging out with him," she revealed, her words landing like a bombshell.
Jett\'s reaction was visceral; he spat out his water in disbelief, spraying a mist across the table, but his shock went unnoticed amidst the unfolding revelation.
Jerry\'s shock was palpable as he processed the revelation. "Is that true? Unexpected indeed! You truly are something else," he remarked, adding to Jett\'s discomfort with a friendly tap on the back.
Jett, feeling the pressure mounting, attempted to divert the conversation. "You do realize Finn is one of them, right?" he interjected, hoping to shift the focus onto Finn, who seemed oblivious to the unfolding discussion.
Jerry, caught off guard, responded with surprise. "Is that so? I never knew," he exclaimed, extending his congratulations to Finn.
Eva joined in, offering her congratulations to Lola, Finn\'s mother. "Wow, congratulations," she said warmly, her pride evident.
Lola, touched by the sentiment, replied, "Why thank you, dear," feeling a swell of pride for her son.
Avon, echoing the sentiment, expressed his pride in Finn. "Yes, he will do great things someday," he affirmed.
However, Richard, who had been silent until now, couldn\'t contain his disdain. "Tch... Just an elaborate story to feed the royal family\'s ego. There\'s nothing special about Finn, so don\'t worry," he spat out before storming out.
Avon sighed with a hint of embarrassment in his voice. "Leave him be, he\'s always like that," he muttered, attempting to diffuse the tension that had arisen.
*****
Richard\'s frustration with the constant focus on the Divine Lords was rooted in deeper insecurities. As the heir to the Emberville family business, he felt overshadowed by Finn, who seemed to effortlessly garner attention and favor from their father. The emergence of the Divine Lords only exacerbated this dynamic, amplifying Richard\'s sense of threat to his position within the family hierarchy.
Meanwhile, Finn, unaware of Richard\'s inner turmoil, remained indifferent to the attention he received. Though he harbored no desire for the spotlight or the responsibilities of heirship, he had his own mission to fulfill, one that was thrust upon him regardless of his intentions.
*****
After dinner, Jerry and Avon departed to reminisce, while Eva and Lola retreated to the garden for a private conversation. Richard\'s absence was noticeable, though understandable given the vastness of the estate. Meanwhile, Jett sought solace on the roof, his gaze fixed upon the stars, his expression devoid of joy or warmth.
Nerissa emerged from behind, interrupting Jett\'s silent contemplation with a tray of late-night snacks. "What\'s with that gloomy face?" she remarked, offering him some cookies she had received from the maids. Sensing his solitude, she sought to share the treats with him.
Jett, surprised by her sudden appearance, attempted to speak, but Nerissa cut him off. "I told you before; you\'re nowhere near the level of detecting me. Want some?" she teased, handing him a few cookies before settling down beside him.
Accepting the cookies with a defeated sigh, Jett admitted, "I wasn\'t even able to detect you."
Nerissa couldn\'t resist patting him gently. "Well, you just need to get stronger then."
"Oh right… What was that about?" bringing up what had transpired during dinner.
Her eyes widened in feigned innocence "What? I have no idea what you\'re talking about." she exclaimed, her lips pursed in a failed attempt to hide a mischievous grin. She turned away, hoping to divert attention from her obvious guilt."
"What was that stunt you pulled during dinner? And how did you even know about it? Were you stalking me?" he asked, pointing back to the dining room in an attempt to jog her memory.
Nerissa finally abandoned any pretense of innocence. "Calm down, twerp. I wasn\'t stalking you; I just happened to catch a glimpse of you during that sparring match," she confessed, unable to deny the truth.
Jett remained skeptical. "Right. How come you didn\'t talk about that, though?" he pressed, noting her selective silence.
Nerissa offered a rational explanation. "Because Finn didn\'t seem to want to bring it up himself, maybe because of Richard. And even if I didn\'t bring it up, they\'d find out sooner than you think because of how significant it was," she reasoned.
Her words left Jett feeling uneasy. "So you do know how to read the room. But you disregard that when it comes to me," he observed, disappointment evident in his gaze.
Nerissa softened her expression, her playful demeanor returning. "Well, that\'s because you\'re my cute and precious brother, of course," she declared, affectionately pinching his cheeks. "Aww, so soft."
"Quit it," Jett ordered, attempting to escape Nerissa\'s playful grasp until she relented.
A peaceful silence enveloped them as they gazed at the stars, broken only by Nerissa\'s voice. "You know they care and equally worry about you," she said, her gaze drifting towards Jerry and Avon who were still engrossed in conversation. "I only did that to give them peace of mind, so they knew they don\'t have to worry about you."
Jett sighed, understanding her intentions. "I understand if that\'s the case, but you still have to respect my privacy."
With a smirk, Nerissa teased, "Oh? Is my little brother talking about privacy? What are you, 16?" as she attempted to cuddle him.
"Let go of me," Jett protested, trying to free himself from her embrace.
Nerissa relented, adopting a pleading expression. "Alright, alright, I understand. I may have gone overboard back there. Will you forgive your big sis?" she asked, her eyes shining with innocence.
Unable to resist her charm, Jett relented. "It\'s alright..."
"Yay!" Nerissa cheered, clapping her hands in delight.
As he glanced at her, a sudden thought crossed his mind, causing a blush to creep onto his cheeks. "Are you really my sister?" he questioned, trying to divert attention from his embarrassment.
Confused by his inquiry, Nerissa replied, "Huh? Where did that come from?"
Shrugging off the momentary lapse, Jett looked away, masking his embarrassment. "Nothing," he muttered.
But before he could dwell on it further, Nerissa thanked him unexpectedly. "Thank you for being there for mom and dad," she expressed, her gaze still fixed on the stars.
"Huh?" Jett could only respond with a puzzled, as she smiled and left him alone to ponder their conversation.
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I\'m so jealous ✿ ♡