This isn't working. I shook my head, unable to stop laughing.
The more I looked at the new shape of my hand, the better it looked. It was almost identical.
"Little hand... Could it be you?"
Scary Movie really is on another level.
... The nostalgia hit me hard.
I spent a few seconds laughing to myself before checking what I wanted to see. It didn't even seem like I'd been anxious about this just moments ago.
"Status."
Well… it probably hasn't changed much, but even a little is a lot to me anyway.
—————
Name: Lucca Carvalho.
Race: Human.
Age: 22.
Titles: —
Overall Rating: F.
Abilities: [Rite of Flesh and Blood — No rank (new).]
Resistances: [Pain — Grade A (Grade updated).], [Poison — E (new).], [Fire — Grade D (new).], [Mental — Grade A/S (Grade updated).], [Biological — Grade F (new).]
Attributes: —
Physical Abilities: [Strength — Grade F.], [Speed — Grade E.], [Reflexes — Grade D.], [Resilience — Grade A (Grade updated).], [Stamina — Grade E.], [Acceleration — Grade D.], [Balance — Grade B.], [Five Senses — Grade D (Updated Grade).], [Body Control — Grade C (Updated Grade).], [Vitality — Grade A (Updated Grade).], [Spatial Sense — Grade D.]...
Mental Abilities: [Processing — Grade A.], [Improvisation — Grade B.], [Creativity — Grade B.], [Cognition — Grade C.], [Combat Intelligence — Grade D.], [Mental Fortitude — Grade A (Updated Grade).], [Practical Intelligence — Grade A.], [Tactical Intelligence — Grade B.], [Lucidity — Grade C.], [Madness — Grade B (new).], [Adaptation — Grade B.]...
Mana: [Capacity — Grade E.], [Conductivity — 17/100% (Updated percentage).], [Manipulation — Grade F.], [Sensitivity — Grade F.], [Quality — Grade D (Updated grade).]...
Physical Integrity: 87% (permanent).
Mental Integrity: 43%.
—————
This...
This is much better than expected. In two years, I've never grown this much...
I even had a skill now.
[Rite of Flesh and Blood — No Rank
Category: Curse/Voodoo
Description: A temporary bond is created through the mutual sharing of flesh and blood between two living beings.
During the bond, any physical damage suffered by one party is replicated equally in the other.
Duration: Ends when the material ingested by one party is completely digested.
Details:
Only damage is shared.
Distance is irrelevant.
The bond cannot be broken by external means.]
"... So this is what a skill window looks like? It really lists everything I already know. How useful."
Others might dismiss these gains as nothing or achieve better results effortlessly in a single day—but this was better, much better than anything I've done in the two years since I awoke.
... And who would've thought I didn't get emotional watching Click, Titanic, Marley & Me, or even City of God, but here I am now, all teary-eyed...
Sure, I got screwed over big time because of this, really big time, and I'm still not sure, but...
It was worth it. Somehow, it was worth it.
Sigh... What a sense of satisfaction.
Maybe it's just the madness talking now, but I'd go through it all again.
It's not much. Yeah, I know it isn't, but it's still a lot for someone as pathetic as me.
Finally...
Finally, my effort has rewarded me with something.
So is this what satisfaction feels like? Validation?
I only knew frustration until now. Maybe I'll get addicted to this feeling...
But who cares? I don't mind getting addicted to it.
"Hey, become my patron!" I shouted, looking up at the sky—or rather, half the sky now. My right side is completely dark.
... Seconds passed as I waited for an answer, but nothing came. My disappointment was obvious.
Am I really that uninteresting? I guess I shouldn't have rooted for São Paulo even for a moment, but fuck it.
"I don't need you anyway, you perverted bitch!" I cursed as I stood up, though I ended up tripping and falling to the ground, so I decided to flip her off right there.
I had to get her attention somehow, and it ended up working...
[Ungrateful.]
"Hey there. I knew you were still there." I smiled as I got her attention again—or rather, made her respond.
I cleared my throat before continuing.
"First of all, I'm sorry—I'm not ungrateful, but I needed to make you say something. And second, how rude of you not to answer." I shook my head in disappointment as I said the second part.
"Constellations really don't have a shred of manners."
"So, are you going to become my patron or not?" I asked again. I already had the 'no'; now I was after the humiliation—or maybe a 'yes.' It happens sometimes—not often, but it happens.
[No.]
Yeah, it didn't happen this time... At least it was just a "no"...
[You're just good at taking it. Why would I become your patron?]
[And no. I'm not asking for explanations.]
[I expected you to evolve more to be my toy.]
[But you couldn't even manage that.]
[What a disappointment.]
[The best you can do is entertain me.]
... What's the point of this? A simple "no" wouldn't have been enough...
And then they say the most she can say is "no"...
There's nothing left.
"I see..."
Disappointing, but I kind of asked for it. Now it's time to try to come out on top.
"Just don't regret it later when my show gets too big for you"
[Don't worry. The pain of regret is exciting.]
[And you're already my dog anyway.]
"Woof woof, then."