NOVEL NEXT Chapter 103: Afterwards
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Ding!
[Stats have been updated!]
[Stats have also been abbreviated]
[Mana has been divided by 1,000]
[Required mana for all attacks has been divided as well]
[Notice: Any skills that once required mana below or equal to 1,000,000 will not consume any mana(Passive Skills are not affected)]
[Change: Shadow King Domain has evolved into Shadow Overlord Domain]
[Shadow Overlord Domain: Consume and drag your enemies into complete darkness| Effects: Create a 100-meter radius dome that can negate, absorb, or reverse any form of mana performed by your opponent trapped in this domain; Overwrites any current domain laid out; Enemies trapped in this domain will have their senses go haywire| Conditions: 100 mana to activate for 1 minute and 10 every second that passes; No incantation is needed| Cooldown: 10 minutes after use]
[Change: Ameliorate has evolved into Mitigate]
[Mitigate: With broken chains, you are granted better growth| Effect: XP earned slaying enemies x21(Applies to skill levels as well)]
[All party members' level cap will be raised by 100,000]
[Class obtained: Warrior]
Ding!
[Warrior --> Altima Swordsman]
[Title Obtained: Sin of Greed]
[Sin of Greed: Fulfilling desires through trickery has increased your luck| Effects: Luck +666%]
[Notice: You can now equip 5 sub-titles]
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[Active Skill Obtained: Altima(Majin)]
[Altima(Majin): Transform into your Altima form| Effects: All stats are boosted by 500%(400% for strength and 600% for agility when in Primal)]
[Passive Skills Obtained: Divine Energy Manipulation]
[New Function Unlocked!]
[Altima Ability Set: Skills that can only be performed in Altima form until the skill is at max level or the last astral chain has been broken]
[Altima(Only) Passive Skills: Satanic Energy Manipulation]
[Altima(Only) Skills: Twisted Chaos Dance(Lvl.1)]
[Twisted Chaos Dance: A more powerful and enhanced version of Distorted Fist| Effects: Fire a barrage of Distorted Fists, battering your opponent from all sides. Another wave will be fired after the first but this one will strike your opponent's every pressure point| Conditions: Consumes 100 mana per use]
[Altima(Only) Active Skills: Timeless Purgatory]
[Timeless Purgatory: Drag your opponents into the infinite purgatory and make them suffer| Effects: Stare your enemies directly in the eyes and drag their souls into yours; Opponents can be revived as many times as you want; Time that has passed inside the soul will not affect the current world| Conditions: None| Cooldown: None]
{Status}
Name: Nero Akuma
Title: Pink Rank Adventurer
Sub Titles(3/5): Sin of Sloth| Shadowseer Emperor of the Dead| Enemy of Cocytus)
Class: Jack of All Trades
Status: Normal
Level: 66,666
Mana: 6,666,666
Strength: 166,666
Agility: 166,666
Technique: 166,666
Perception: 166,666
Aura: 166,666
Stat Points: 0
{Abilities}
Passive Skills Count(58)
Active Skills Count(7)
Skills Count(74)
{Altima Abilities}
Passive Skills: Satanic Energy Manipulation
Active Skills: Timeless Purgatory
Skills: Twisted Chaos Dance(Lvl.1)
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[Notice: If you want to browse through your skills, just say "Open" and what category you want to open...]
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***
My eyes fluttered open and I was staring at the ceiling of my bedroom in the manor.
I lifted myself and stretched before getting on my feet.
"Whoa…"
I wobbled for a bit before using the bed as support. Huh… my legs feel weak and numb. I guess I'll just use Cursed White Arts for now until I can feel my legs again.
As I floated, I noticed that my nails were different. They were… completely dyed black.
Well, this is great, like the shadow trims around my eyes didn't make me edgy already.
After I had donned my clothes, I floated out of my room and down the hallway.
It was rather… quiet.
I wonder…
Eventually, I could feel my legs again and I returned to walking. I walked over to the wall where the hidden room was located and entered the room to see Celestia, Layla, Lloyd, Katrina, the girls, and a few maids circling around Francis.
"Grandfather…" I heard Katrina's voice speak, followed by coughs from a dying old man.
"It's alright little angel. It is natural for humans to die. I've become old and rusty… it is about time that I said my goodbyes." Francis said, coughing a few more times.
"No, not yet," Katrina responded.
Suddenly, Celestia placed her hand on my shoulder.
"Huh, you've arrived just in time. Come."
"Huh?"
Celestia took me by the arm and dragged me through the servants.
"He's here," Celestia said and everyone stared at me.
"Nero… I like to thank you for what you've done." I heard Lloyd say.
I scratched my head and said it wasn't necessary. I just did it for my own benefit. I had planned to get myself impaled by the sword to obtain the Altima. I've been thinking about it and made plans with Seffirot so he would pull my consciousness away to remind me if I were to forget.
"Nero…" I heard Francis say weakly, beckoning me with his finger.
I walked over to his side and leaned in forward, listening to what he had to say.
"I…" He muttered.
"I… I… would like you to…"
"Would like me to what?" I asked him as I inched my ear closer to him so I could listen closely. His voice was getting even lower and lower that it was almost inaudible.
"I would like you… to marry my granddaughter."
…what?
"Say that again?" I asked him so he could repeat himself. "I don't think I caught that. You want me to…"
"Yes, I want you to marry my granddaughter."
…
"But… isn't that something Lloyd should be saying?" I asked.
"Meh, Lloyd is too much of a coward to say such things." He said and Lloyd just seemed to look pissed.
"But is that really alright?" I asked, glancing at Katrina and Layla who was behind her.
"You have my consent. It all depends on Katrina's answer." Layla said before looking at Katrina who's face was completely dyed in red.
"Yeah, me too." She muttered shyly.
"And so it's sett-" Layla began but I quickly interrupted.
"Wait."
Everyone turned their attention to me again and I closed my eyes before taking a deep breath.
"You guys haven't asked for my consent yet. I haven't even said yes or no."
"But you'll obviously say yes, right?" Lloyd asked me.
"It's also not the matter of saying yes or no. We met for like... well not even a full month yet and you want me to get engaged to your daughter?"
"Well, she has feelings for you and I assumed you were already enchanted by her beauty."
"Mother!" Katrina yelled at Layla who place her finger over her mouth and chuckled.
I stared at them blankly before looking over at the girls. They looked at me and smiled before they nodded. Specifically Akane. Akane is probably the closest one to Katrina out of the others so if she agrees, then I guess I'll comply.
"I guess so..."
"Then it is officially settled," Layla said. "You two are now officially engaged and your marriage will be held a month from now."
"I see... wait what?"
Did she say marriage? And it will be held in a month?
"Yes. In a month."
"What? Isn't that a little too early? I just agreed to this now and you want us to get married already?"
"Well, the sooner you two get married the sooner we can have grandchildren."
...I can see why she became a fallen angel now.
Now that I think of it...
"Mrs. Lay-"
"Call me mother-in-law."
...
I blushed as I hesitantly said what she requested.
"M...mother-in-law..."
"Yes?"
"D-do they know you-"
"Yes."
She stroked Katrina's hair and Katrina nodded.
"I know what she did... she did it so you could save me and I am glad that her efforts were not in vain."
Katrina and Layla looked at each other and giggled. Huh... they have a strong bond... even if one did something they were not supposed to...
"So, you should get a uniform prepa-"
"We are not marrying so quickly!" I quickly retorted.
"Why not?" Layla asked me.
"...well... I..."
I could feel my face heating up as I continued to speak.
"I have... feelings for others... you know." I finished as I took a quick glance at the girls.
"I see, now I understand the many moans I've heard from your room."
I immediately turned bright red and so did the girls. Celestia laughed as Katrina tilted her head in confusion.
"Umm..."
"I will tell you after you get married, Katrina," Layla said as she patted her head.
I turned to Francis and he smirked as he told me to come closer.
"Protect my granddaughter for me... this is my last request."
I nodded as I pulled away from him.
...
Francis died the day after with a smile on his face. His funeral was to be held in a week which we all attended.
His shadow... I would do it but it would be disrespectful to the dead. I decided it was best to leave the dead to rest in peace.
Eventually, everything settled down... we arrived back at the guild a month later and eventually went back to our regular schedule.
The only difference now was that Katrina was following along with us and registered herself as an adventurer. I had managed to add her to my party without the use of Mark of Fidelity, which I just remembered was a skill I had.
She was given permission by her mother to come along with us... and she also forced the responsibility onto me, saying I should watch over my "Future bride."
Though I didn't want to, I owe a debt to the Oria's. If it wasn't for them, I wouldn't have been able to defeat Deroc and keep my identity a secret.
And the wedding? I tried cooperating and asked if we could choose it on a later date like 2 years from now but she insisted and it ended up a year from now.
Things were getting wild... but it was fun that way, though it is slowly turning my life into a comedy. Anyway, with my new power, the Altima, I feel like things will get easier considering the stat boost I've received along with Transcend...
Now... I'm just hoping things settle down for a bit...
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