Case 9: Smile.jpg
Okay, what even are these skills-
''Lady Aurora! Please be careful!'' Skeleton suddenly catches my wrist and blinks us to the entrance of the room.
''What? What's going on-''
My sentence is instantly cut off by a deafening sound that pierces through my ears, accompanied by a blinding white light and a shockwave so powerful it blows my entire robe backward, making an exhibitionist again.
The whole cave trembles for a while, and when the explosion dies down, I can see a large crater in the place where the golem's body was.
I completely forgot about the self-destruction skill or whatever it had. Why are there so many things to keep track of when playing RPGs...?
''...''
''Are you alright, Lady Aurora?''
''No. I an, yes. Wait a second.''
[Horror Lord: Summon horror the way you want. CD: 240 hours. (0/2)] [Unique]
[Monarch: Reign supre over all things.] [Unique]
Summon horror...?
...Okay. Now I know that soone intentionally threw here and I can't do anything about it yet. But aside from that...
''Yes...!'' I clench my fists in the air.
''??''
Horror summoning?! How exciting is that? Really? Can I really do it? Anything I want? No limit? They won't hurt ? Can I command them? How can I-
-okay, let's calm down first.
I'm also curious about this [Monarch] skill, the description is way too short and vague, I don't know what it does. Let's just say, I want to activate [Monarch]!
...Another panel, just as expected.
----------------------------------------------------------
Territories: None.
Followers: 0.
Allies: 0.
Progression: 0%.
----------------------------------------------------------
So assuming that this is supposed to be a skill to aid in building a kingdom or sothing along that line, and I'm supposed to claim territories and recruit followers for myself, what is the 'progression' part, then? Progression of what?
Oh, wait, can I press them for more information?
[Territories: Friendly forces staying within claid territories will have their status slightly improved]
[Followers: Followers will gain a slight status buff under the Monarchy. Followers cannot harm the Monarch]
[Allies: Allies cannot harm each other]
Hmm... Hm? I can't press 'progression'. So they won't tell anything about it.
Anyway, the skill as a whole is pretty nice. I suppose.
''Hu~!''
''Oh, you're here, Ariel. It's over already.''
Ariel... Can I make her my follower?
[Follower request sent]
Ariel tilts her head and begins to ponder. After just a few seconds, she presses sothing in the air, and then-
[Ariel has beco your follower]
[Automatically linked a skill of Ariel: Cuteness]
[Linked: Cuteness (Ariel). (1/5)]
Wait, what?
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Na: Aurora
Race: Owl-kin Title: Brute Force
Level: 12
HP: 35/35 MP: 44/44
STR: 3.4 INT: 8.2
AGI: 3.7 STA: 3.2
Skill: [Cuteness Lv.6], [Sharp Claw Lv.4],
[Domination Lv.3], [Stealth Lv.2], [Inspect Lv.1],
[Night Vision Lv.1], [Enhanced Hearing Lv.1],
[Pain Tolerance Lv.1].
State: Normal.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Wait, where are the unique skills that I just got...?
Okay, let's not worry about that for now, but can I at least get another skill, please? Like [Incorporeal State] for example, I would love to be able to go through solid objects.
[Skill incompatible]
''...''
Fine, the other one is definitely not available, then, since I'm not a banshee.
''Hm? Did your stats just go up a bit?'' Skeleton puts his fingers under his chin and looks at Ariel curiously.
''Hu!'' Ariel points at .
''I just got a unique skill.'' I say nonchalantly.
''What?!'' Skeleton exclaims. ''That would be extrely rare, Lady Aurora. My intuition wasn't deceiving , you really are an incredible person!''
''Is that so? Want to be my follower then? It'll give you bonus stats, just like what Ariel got.'' I rise to my feet slowly and reply.
[Follower request sent]
''Follower... Cannot harm the Monarch, obey the orders...'' Skeleton mutters, reading sothing in the air.
'''' ... ''''
''Hmm... Alright, Lady Aurora. I trust you and my intuition. Above all, you are my savior.'' He nods intently.
[-- has beco your follower]
[Automatically linked a skill of --: Language]
[Linked: Cuteness (Ariel), Language (--). (2/5)]
No, can I have [Teleportation] instead?
[Successfully linked --'s skill: Teleportation]
[Linked: Cuteness (Ariel), Teleportation (--). (2/5)]
[Teleportation: Enable the user to instantly move to a known location. Cost: 10 MP, CD: 30 seconds] [Legendary]
The cost is a bit too high, but alright.
''Plus 0.2 to all stats... This is amazing, Lady Aurora.''
''That's good for you.'' I reply. ''Now then, I need to test out my new skill first.''
''You an [Teleportation]?''
''No, another unique skill that I got.''
''You got two?!''
I simply shrug and turn around. Okay, let's think about what to summon first. If I were able to summon whatever I wanted, what would it be? Godzilla? Cloverfield? Or number 169 - aka Leviathan?
...Co to , Godzilla!
[Entity not available]
...Leviathan!
[Entity not available]
...Siren Head!
[Entity not available]
''Tch...!''
''Hah...'' I let out a big sigh, massaging my temples.
''It is not going well, Lady Aurora?''
''Yeah, wait so more seconds...''
I've been trying for a few minutes already, and every single one of my requests got rejected. The reason is probably because of their 'brokenness', as Chloe would say, they're so powerful to the point of breaking the whole ga. So I guess only the relatively normal ones are allowed.
''...''
Smile.jpg.
"!!''
Suddenly, the 'reality' around us... Fluctuates. There's not much visual, just subtle warping of random points or areas that can be seen. Gradually, those distortions beco more and more noticeable, until everything looks like a noodle ss of everything.
''W-What?'' Skeleton exclaims, even Ariel is panicking, flying around in a circle restlessly.
[Entity: Smile.jpg successfully summoned]
''...It stopped.''
Behind the red ssage panel, I can clearly see the fluffy legs sitting there. I quickly swipe the ssage away to reveal a husky dog, no, a husky puppy, looking at with its round blue eyes, tongue out, and tail wagging uncontrollably. The only difference between this one and a normal husky is that it has human teeth instead of dog teeth.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Na: --
Race: Smile.jpg Title: --
Level: 1
HP: 15/15 MP: 17/17
STR: 2.5 INT: 4.5
AGI: 2.6 STA: 2.1
Skill: [Induce Madness Lv.1], [Dream Invasion Lv.1].
State: Happy.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Induce Madness: Cause extre ntal devastation to the target] [Unique]
[Dream Invasion: Able to take over the target's dream] [Unique]
gulp
I slowly kneel, hands outstretching to the fluffy ball of fur.
auf
The dog imdiately pounces on , jumping straight into my embrace, licking my cheek with its small tongue repeatedly.
''You're so cute...!'' I exclaim, spinning around the place with my newfound friend.
''...Lady Aurora, is this your new summoning?'' Skeleton asks.
''Yes. From the unique skill.'' I reply.
''How curious... I can't perceive its status screen at all.'' Skeleton ponders. ''And it's not like it has [Inspect Evasion], right?''
''I can see it though. What did the system say for you?''
''Nothing. Nothing at all.''
''Hmm...'' I turn back to my new friend, who's tilting its head cutely with a stupid smile on its face.
[Would you like to na Smile.jpg?]
''Oh, I can na it?''
''It seems like there is a naming feature in your [Monarch] skill.'' Skeleton interjects. ''Ah, would you mind giving a na as well?''
''Alright...'' I ponder. ''Because you're always smiling, I will call you 'Smiley'...!''
[Na registered]
''Wait, Lady Aurora-''
''And because you're a skeleton, your na from now on will be 'Skely'!''
[Na registered]
'''' ... ''''
Silence falls, Skely looks speechless, probably because he is amazed at his new na, while Ariel seems genuinely happy for her friend, patting Skely's shoulder gently.
''Good. I'm feeling better again.'' I put Smiley down and stretch out lazily. ''I'll probably rest for now. It's been a hectic day.''
auf auf
Suddenly, Smiley runs off in the direction of the earlier explosion.
''Ah, wait, where are you going?!''
Not wanting to lose him, I quickly follow the curious puppy, along with Skely and Ariel.
Stepping onto the scattered rock shards, I strangely don't feel any pain. Just a bit numb, and that's it. I guess I'm a superhuman, or, super owl now.
While I'm admiring that, Smiley has already sat down, looking at intently.
''Wait, is that a door?''
''Indeed...''
Beneath the rocks is a dark tal door, it seems quite damaged by the golem's self-destruction, and I can clearly see a staircase through the holes in it.
''Do we try to go down?'' I ask.
''Hm... I don't feel any mana traps down there, though I think we should let Ariel go scout first. What do you think?'' Skely turns to Ariel, who imdiately nods and flies into the pathway.
After a bit, she cos up and gives us a thumbs-up, which ans that it is probably safe.
Skely's eyes and mine et for a second before both of us nod at the sa ti. We lift the tattered door and begin to descend the staircase, with Smiley and Ariel leading the way.
About a minute of descending guides us to a simple and small room with only a single stand in the middle of it. On the stand is an old notebook of sorts, with so bloodstains on the brown cover.
"Hmm... Let try it out first.'' Skely walks calmly towards the stand and grabs the notebook.
'''' !!! ''''
At that mont, a blinding light bursts out of the book, engulfing all four of us at the sa ti.
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