With a decisive movement, he turned to one of the sin pages and marked the section labeled "See Previous Abilities."
Not even two seconds later, the new abilities began blurring away like smoke, replaced by the familiar ones he had seen before.
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PRIDE (Violet) AVAILABLE 24 HOURS
I. Minor Gravitas — Your presence intimidates the fearful for a brief time. (Cost: 5 PSP)
II. Tongue of Command — A single charged word that makes the hesitant obey once. (Cost: 7 PSP)
III. Lion's Gaze — For ten heartbeats, weaker wills cower before your eyes. (Cost: 9 PSP)
{FULL DESCRIPTION AFTER PURCHASE}
GREED (Gold) AVAILABLE 24 HOURS
I. Thief's Sense — Feel where value lies within short range. (Cost: 4 GSP)
II. Lightfinger's Boon — Your touch becomes subtle; theft attempts are easier. (Cost: 6 GSP)
III. Golden Clutch — Objects you seize resist being taken back briefly. (Cost: 8 GSP)
{FULL DESCRIPTION AFTER PURCHASE}
LUST (Crimson) AVAILABLE 24 HOURS
I. Honeyed Whisper — Brief sweetening of speech that sways willing hearts. (Cost: 3 LSP)
II. Serpent Gift — Body modification. (Cost: 2 LSP)
III.OWNED Elixir of Eros [Unique Lust Skill]. (Cost: 3 LSP) OWNED
{FULL DESCRIPTION AFTER PURCHASE}
WRATH (Dark Scarlet) AVAILABLE 24 HOURS
I. Kindling of the Blood — Surge in Strength and Endurance, with exhaustion afterward. (Cost: 5 WSP)
II. Hunter's Focus — Lock onto one enemy; your first strike hits deeper. (Cost: 7 WSP)
III. Fury Unbound — Strikes become faster and harder briefly, but you suffer backlash. (Cost: 9 WSP)
{FULL DESCRIPTION AFTER PURCHASE}
ENVY (Emerald) AVAILABLE 24 HOURS
I. Mirror's Touch — Briefly copy a simple skill just witnessed. (Cost: 6 ESP)
II. Borrowed Step — Take another's movements or posture to pass unnoticed. (Cost: 7 ESP)
III. Stolen Shadow — Mimic a lesser skill at half strength. (Cost: 9 ESP)
{FULL DESCRIPTION AFTER PURCHASE}
GLUTTONY (Orange) AVAILABLE 24 HOURS
I. Sip of Vitality — Draw energy on contact to heal your wounds. (Cost: 5 GLSP)
II. Storage — Hold stolen essence for later use. (Cost: 7 GLSP)
III. Devourer's Hunger — Absorb essence fragments from defeated enemies. (Cost: 9 GLSP)
{FULL DESCRIPTION AFTER PURCHASE}
SLOTH (Ice Blue) AVAILABLE 24 HOURS
I. Moment's Languor — Lay heaviness upon a space or target briefly. (Cost: 6 SSP)
II. Restorative Pause — Exhaustion fades faster while remaining still. (Cost: 7 SSP)
III. Frozen Drowse — An enemy's limbs become sluggish as if caught in sleep. (Cost: 9 SSP)
{FULL DESCRIPTION AFTER PURCHASE}
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Looking at the familiar abilities, he found himself reconsidering their value.
"Somehow all these previous abilities are starting to look pretty awesome," he murmured, though he knew he was really just trying to convince himself that going broke wasn't worth the new powers.
After weighing his options, he decided on Lust and Gluttony. Those were the only categories where he could afford something worthwhile. He exchanged 15 SP for 3 LSP and purchased Honeyed Whisper, then traded 35 SP for 5 GLSP to acquire Sip of Vitality. Once the transactions were complete, he marked the sections for full descriptions.
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HONEYED WHISPER — Brief Sweetening of Speech (LUST)
Mode of Acquisition: The Bearer must first tear a strip from the Lust-leaf and consume it wholly, whereupon the art becometh bound unto his very essence and may be call'd forth at will.
Mode of Application: Once the art is learn'd, the Bearer needeth only think upon its use, and a crimson-gold mark (as a droplet of honey) shall appear upon his hand, visible unto him alone.
Effect:
• The Bearer's words carry subtle enchantment, making speech more pleasing and persuasive unto willing ears
• The chosen findeth the Bearer's voice notably pleasant and are inclined to view his requests more favorably
• Speech gaineth honeyed quality that doth sway neutral hearts and soften resistance
• Worketh best upon those already disposed to hearken unto the Bearer
Activation & Duration:
• Mental command alone doth summon the mark and begin the enchantment
• Each use lasteth up to fifteen minutes of active discourse
• The Bearer may end the art at will by thought alone
• Mark vanisheth when the enchantment ceaseth
Limitations:
• Thrice daily may this art be invoked, no more
• Each person may be thus address'd but twice per day, else suspicion groweth
• Thirty minutes must pass betwixt each use
• Range: Normal discourse distance (ten feet or less)
• Resistance: If the chosen's Intelligence exceedeth the Bearer's by three measures or more, the art faileth utterly
• If exceeded by one or two measures, the target may sense something amiss
• Cannot compel action against one's deepest nature or moral conviction
• Requireth direct speech written words carry no such power
Warning: Over-much use breedeth wariness in those so treated. The wise Bearer useth this gift sparingly, for even honey turneth bitter when too oft tasted.
Thus speaketh the Book: Sweet words may open doors, yet let not thy tongue become a serpent's, lest all men flee thy presence.
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SIP OF VITALITY — Draw Energy on Contact (GLUTTONY)
Mode of Acquisition: The Bearer must first tear a strip from the Gluttony-leaf and consume it wholly, whereupon the art becometh bound unto his very essence and may be call'd forth at will.
Mode of Application: Once the art is learn'd, the Bearer needeth only think upon its use, and crimson veins (as of blood or life's essence) shall spread across his palm, visible unto him alone, branching outward from the center.
Effect:
• The Bearer draweth small portions of life force from the chosen through direct touch of flesh
• Stolen vitality mendeth minor cuts, bruises, and surface wounds upon the Bearer
• The chosen feeleth mild weariness, as if they had labour'd for several hours
• Healing occurreth gradually over ten to fifteen minutes of sustained contact
• Life essence floweth through the Bearer's palm whilst the veins do pulse
Activation & Duration:
• Mental command alone doth summon the veins and begin the draining
• Contact must be maintain'd throughout the drawing of essence
• The Bearer may end the art at will by thought alone
• Veins vanish when the draining ceaseth
Limitations:
• Thrice daily may this art be invoked, no more
• Skin-to-skin contact must be sustain'd throughout the process
• The chosen must be willing, unknowing, or senseless to the Bearer's intent
• If the chosen's Endurance exceedeth the Bearer's by four measures or more, no essence floweth
• If exceeded by one to three measures, the healing be greatly lessen'd
• Can heal only wounds equal unto one day's natural mending per use
• Those of high Intelligence (fifteen or greater) may sense something amiss during long contact
• Cannot mend broken bones, deep gashes, or wounds within the body
Warning: Oft draining from the same soul may weaken their constitution for all time. The Book cautioneth against excess, lest the Bearer leave a trail of sickened victims in his wake.
Thus speaketh the Book: Take only what is needed, for a glutton's appetite knoweth no bounds and inviteth discovery.
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"So that's how they both work," he muttered, satisfied with what he saw. "Now with 60 SP left, I can focus on my stats."
He flipped to the Bearer's page and gave it careful consideration. After a moment, he allocated his two free stat points. One went to Agility, the other to Intelligence. Then he exchanged his remaining SP for additional stat improvements. Strength went up by two. Charisma increased by two. Agility gained one more point. Endurance rose by one.
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Name: Isaac Wilson
Race: Human
Age: 19
Level: 2
Stats:
• Strength: 8 → (+2) → 10
• Agility: 9 → (+1) → (+1) → 11
• Stamina: 12
• Endurance: 10 → (+1) → 11
• Intelligence: 14 → (+1) → 15
• Charisma: 6 → (+2) → 8
══════
The numbers represented a significant improvement from just days ago. He was becoming something more than he had been.
"Guess I'll have to go through the process of eating pages again," he sighed, dreading but accepting what was to come.
He tore from the Lust page first. The sweet strawberry flavor burst across his tongue, so addictive he nearly tore off more. Fighting the urge, he watched the page regenerate before turning to Gluttony, curious about its taste.
The moment the Gluttony fragment hit his tongue, his eyes widened in shock. It was rich. Incredibly rich. Like the most savory broth he had ever tasted, almost as if he had actual beef in his mouth. The flavor was so satisfying he briefly considered treating the Book as his personal restaurant, but pushed the absurd thought aside.
Finally, he consumed the torn fragment from the Bearer's page. It was tasteless, but he didn't mind. He focused on all the stat increases he had purchased while chewing.
He had barely set the Book aside when the familiar pain began. But this time, it was beyond anything he had experienced before. If the previous transformation had been painful, this was indescribable agony. Every muscle and bone felt like it was being reconstructed from the inside out.
Worse, he couldn't even scream. It was as if his voice box had been severed. He trembled violently, blood seeping from his eyes, ears, and mouth. Veins bulged across his skin like a volcanic eruption contained within human flesh. The pain was so intense he couldn't form coherent thoughts.
He had planned to stay conscious this time, to witness the changes, but as it felt like his skull was being hammered from within and his brain fried, darkness claimed him. He collapsed, unconscious, as his body continued its supernatural transformation.