Cecil displayed a near-fanatical adoration for this special forging material sourced from the lower floors of the Dungeon.
In her hometown, the City of Swords, such materials were rarer than dragon scales, and the price of a single small chunk was enough to bankrupt an ordinary family.
After all, these precious materials were produced nowhere else in the entire world except within Orario's Dungeon.
Excluding the massive demands of Orario's own major blacksmithing Familias, the amount that could be exported to the outside world was minuscule, naturally driving the price sky-high.
Once everyone had their fill of food and drink, they moved on to the segment every adventurer looked forward to the most—updating their Status.
This time, Focalors personally performed the updates for them. Furina was afraid of pain, and with Focalors around, she was more than happy to slack off.
Robin, Jeanne d'Arc, Tifa, and the others had all seen steady growth in their Statuses over the course of this grueling expedition. Everyone wore satisfied smiles.
And when it was Aiden's turn, Focalors dripped divine blood onto his back. Looking at the holy script that surfaced, she revealed an expression of I knew it.
"Strength: SSS, Endurance: SSS, Dexterity: SSS, Agility: SSS, Magic: SSS... Unsurprisingly, after that life-and-death struggle transcending your limits with Eula, all your attributes have broken past their limits, reaching the theoretical maximum your current level can support."
And the Great Feat column clearly displayed the word [Achieved].
He was ready to level up.
"Aiden, are you ready? I'm going to begin."
Focalors's voice carried a trace of solemnity.
"Do it."
Aiden took a deep breath.
Accompanied by a wondrous sensation that felt as if his very soul was being elevated, surging power flooded into his body.
The barrier to Level 4 opened right then and there.
"Your development abilities... Let's see. Fire Flash, Swordsman, and Diving all ranked up with your level. For your new development ability, I've chosen Strong Strike for you."
Focalors explained as she worked. "This ability can massively boost the explosive power of your single strikes, even granting a certain probability of ignoring part of the enemy's defense. It's a classic high-risk, high-reward offensive ability. It suits you well."
"Understood."
Aiden nodded.
But just then, Focalors suddenly let out a soft sound of surprise. She noticed a new, blurry line of text slowly manifesting beneath Aiden's Magic section.
He had actually awakened a third, and final, magic during this level up.
Focalors didn't hesitate. She immediately allocated all the remaining experience points from the level-up into it.
As the experience points poured in, that blurry line of text rapidly solidified and became clear.
And when Focalors clearly read the detailed description of that magic, a look of unbelievable shock appeared for the first time on her usually composed, flawless face.
"The level up is complete."
Hearing Focalors's voice, Aiden curiously accepted the parchment recording his brand-new Status.
He first looked at his basic abilities. After leveling up, all core stats had returned to their initial "0" stage, which was within his expectations.
In the development abilities section, the ranks of his existing [Fire Flash], [Swordsman], and [Diving] had all increased, and a brand-new [Strong Strike] had appeared.
Finally, his gaze fell upon the Magic section.
There, alongside [Ripple of the Past] and [Everlasting Flames], a third magic had indeed appeared.
However, as he read the name of that magic and the chilling annotations that followed, his eyes widened in profound shock.
[Magic]
Magic Name: [Lord Ravager]
Type: Deification Magic · Extended Chant
Effects:
When the incantation begins, the caster will actively strip away their own consciousness and emotions, turning their mortal vessel into a container meant to house "Divine Authority." Once the chant is complete, the caster will enter a "Deification" state.
Deification State: "Lord Ravager"
The five basic abilities—Strength, Endurance, Dexterity, Agility, and Magic—will all shatter the limits of their current level, temporarily granting overall combat prowess exceeding the caster's own by two full levels.
The power, range, and duration of all mastered magic will receive geometric amplification.
Ultra Instinct: Consciousness and body are entirely separated. Every part of the physical body will execute autonomous, reflex-like actions, capable of performing ultra-high-difficulty maneuvers such as dodging, parrying, and counterattacking without thought. Reaction speed and movement rate will completely shatter mortal limits, entering the combat realm of "selflessness."
Temporary Development Ability Acquisition: During the Deification period, the caster will temporarily awaken and acquire various development abilities, including but not limited to [Magic Defense], [Strong Body], [Thunder Strike], [Night Fighter], [Chain Attack], [Crush], [Tyrant's Light], [Strong Strike], [Mage], [Spirit Healing], and [Destruction].
Cost & Restrictions:
For the duration of the Deification state, the caster will completely lose their human emotions. Divinity will entirely suppress their humanity, transforming them into a pure "Lord Ravager" existing only for destruction.
Once the Deification state ends, the caster will immediately enter a state of extreme weakness. All basic abilities will suffer a massive temporary reduction, and this magic cannot be used again for a severely extended period.
Overusing or forcibly extending the Deification time will result in the caster gradually losing their humanity, leading to divinity completely overwhelming humanity.
Incantation:
"Ignite the dawn—with the newborn blazing sun, tear through the firmament, and grant you the first light of incinerating stars. I am the blazing sun that will eventually rise, burning all to ashes until the very end. Irrelevant of choice, irrelevant of survival; forging armor with residual embers, forging a sword with stellar sparks. With a solitary and lofty vessel, I bear the wounds of ten thousand eras. At this moment, the ideals of the masses converge into a single grand wish. Step forward, for this is the name of salvation. Crossing the long night, shattering illusions, cleansing chaos, and eradicating calamity. A mortal vessel bearing the mandate of heaven, the fire of the heart illuminating the desolate wastes—this is the Moment of Deification."
The night had grown deep.
The clamor within Palais Mermonia gradually quieted down, the celebratory banquet having long since concluded.
The entire palace felt like a silent, underwater temple soaked in moonlight, leaving only the crisp echoes of dripping water from the fountain plaza and the occasional night breeze, carrying the scent of flowers, brushing through the gardens.
Reaching Level 4 and awakening a third magic was undoubtedly something to be ecstatic about.
However, as Aiden stood alone on his bedroom balcony, pinching the parchment that detailed the [Lord Ravager] magic in his hand, his brow furrowed slightly.
The power he sought seemed to be pushing him toward a realm far removed from "human."
Deification... What an ironic word.
It meant absolute power, but it also meant absolute isolation.
When divinity suppressed humanity, when he transformed into a Lord Ravager existing solely for destruction, would he still be himself?
----
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