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"A genius without information is just an idiot, an idiot with too much information is a genius" - Author
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The revelries lasted deep into the night, due to the curious act of a certain server, Loki ended up revealing some of the tools "Pierrot" had made. Although he did understand why it had to be done.
In a way, that was one method to help Pierrot avoid further attention. It was basically a declaration that the Loki Familia was going to monopolize his tools but Ryuta "asserted" that for the right price, others could avail his tools.
People asked for the price and some turned away in horror hearing the amount while others stared curiously at the two birds flying about.
The revelry continued and after they finished their food and drinks, the Loki familia and Ryuta left the Hostess of Fertility taking two separate routes.
"Are you sure you're alright?"
Finn asked, his expression sincere but Ryuta returned a simple smile saying-
"Yeah, I'm gonna be fine"
His words held a deep air of confidence which made Finn shake his head as he patted Ryuta's shoulder-
"Be careful out there"
Ryuta answered with a laugh-
"What's there to worry about? Hahaha!"
Seeing the nonchalant attitude that Ryuta presented, the Loki familia could only wish him well before they turned to leave towards their headquarters, while Ryuta took a route that was heading for Daedalus street.
"Was it alright for us to just leave him?"
Riveria asked, her words ladened with worry, despite the short and sudden meeting, she felt a genuine sense of camaraderie with the mysterious Pierrot.
"He told us that he could handle it, he knows that he's being watched-"
"But does he know who's watching him?"
"..."
Everyone remained silent but Finn's words prevented any more discussion-
"Whether he ends up joining a new familia or not is up to him. Given his value, he won't die but whether future transactions would be the same depends on what happens tonight"
His words were simple, "do not get involved".
It was cruel but this was also Pierrot's decision, Finn asked and the man refused. If Finn were in the man's place- he would have asked for assistance, but since he denied it-
'He has something up his sleeve'
Finn thought as he led the group back to their headquarters.
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(Ryuta POV)
I walk through the silent streets of the city, foot traffic getting more and more sparse as I walk deeper into the darker streets. I activate my abilities, my eyes, my ears, my senses… all of them running at top gear to assess the situation.
As I observe the action that follows me I start to go over my experiences… the revelations I've found and the realizations that came to me.
It's been three days, three days since I came to this world, after all that time, I could finally see the light, the light of knowledge about the powers of this world.
Falna, as legendary as it seems, is nothing more than a trick.
Much like magecraft, it takes advantage of various loopholes to allow the execution of events and phenomena that are akin to- miracles.
Yes, that's what Falna is, a tool, powered by the power- the arcanum of the God's, it allows humans to bring forth strength that they should not, could have or would not have had.
I've seen it- the difference between a level 6 adventurer who could easily slay a minotaur and the monsters on the level of a minotaur.
My weakness at that time- it was not born from my existence being lower, it was just that the minotaur's inherent strength was far greater.
The reason I was able to rush through the top floors of the dungeon was because of the enhancements I got from regular reinforcement magecraft. But when I reached the deeper levels, monsters get stronger not only physically but also their enhancements are increased.
Falna is the tool used by humans in this world, they give enhancements that allow them to match monsters. This allows humans to increase their strength by simply fighting and training.
Now, the problem with this system of Falna is its heavy reliance on the God's…
Although they say it brings out the "inner strength" of someone, this "strength" would still vanish once the falna disappears.
I've seen how it affects Finn and Maria, along with my own observations of my own body, Edward and the five girls- I could safely conclude-
Falna is nothing more than a buff, an endless reinforcement spell fueled by the Arcanum of the God's.
Hestia said that even her own Arcanum could destroy the world easily, so using that as a basis, it is simple to see how the mechanism of Falna works.
Moreover, the concept of excelia, ranking up… killing monsters don't give a consistent amount of excelia. Excelia acquisition is based on the difficulty of ones task, the challenge of an act-
Training to death day and night won't bring as much gains as rushing into the dungeon and facing death.
One life and death encounter could boost stats by the hundreds while training till you can't move your limbs would not even pass 50.
Based on those concepts, those experiences…
Falna is a tool designed to empower mortals to battle monsters. That's the simple logic behind the spell.
Endless struggle, endless battle, endless growth-
A truly sinister spell indeed but a spell that is pretty powerful and complex on its own…
Unfortunately I wasn't able to study it in my reality marble… next time, for now-
But now's not the time for musings, a blue-silver flash, a man with cat ears, a spear-
My crimson eyes flash with a light of blue and my whole body erupts with a dark pressure.
I feel something snap within me-
I didn't want to use this- no, I couldn't use it. Not before I was able to calm down.
In the past it would have taken me days, maybe months to recover from using this spell for just five minutes. But my reality marble was worse, just a moment of usage would have incapacitated me for a week but look where I am now?
Hestia-sama's Arcanum is truly a blessing, my choice may have been… a bit of a joke but I think that was fate playing its tricks…
I've gotten the perfect tool to sustain my madness…
It's fortunate that I learned this after my first dive in the dungeon.
Well, enough musing more- fighting…
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Allen Fromel, the vice captain of the Freya Familia, a powerful level 6 adventurer, with the order of his Goddess, Allen used his skill and rushed towards the white haired man believed to be Ryuta Takehara in disguise.
He attacked with lethal precision, capitalizing on his speed to land a powerful strike, his goal?
To cripple the man and take him back to their headquarters.
At least… that's what he was told to do but-
"What?"
Shocked, Allen watched as the man, a level one who should have not been able to sense him had sidestepped his attack.
Not only did he sidestep, the man had also started- chanting?
-Where there is light, there is darkness-
Allen stopped he quickly twisted his body and aimed the spear at the man but again- but a hair's breadth, the man dodged-
-Where there is virtue, there is sin-
Not stopping, Allen attacked the man with a flurry of strikes, no fancy technique, not powerful skill. Just a wall of strikes carried by pure force, pure strength, agility and dexterity.
-In these dark times, let me be the light-
-The chalice steeped in sin-
Allen could feel a horrifying air from the man, but he can't touch him.
-Within the eternal darkness, the light of dawn shall shine once more-
Like a leaf dancing in the wind, Ryuta fluttered about, the power and force of Allen's strikes being his guides to move away, to dodge and evade.
-The morningstar shall rise… Lucifer-
Finally, his chant has reached its end-
-Let there be light-
As his final words fell, a pitch black aura emanated from Ryuta, his crimson eyes glowed bright with blood red light.
All sounds vanished from the world, the darkness seem to grow deeper and at that moment-
"DODGE!"
Allen heard a cry and he quickly moved to the side, in the space where he once stood, black feathers softly danced.
The feathers did not seem to carry much power, but Allen could sense it-
"Tsk- a curse?"
He murmured as he made his distance-
Beside him, a blonde haired, glasses wearing, golden eyed elf appeared.
"He could manifest black feathers that carry a potent curse within a ten meter radius. Hogni was hit, the curse seems to cause those affected to be put to sleep, from the appearance of Hogni, it's quite possible that it places the affected in an endless nightmare, though whether that's the only effect is yet unknown"
Hedin, the blonde haired elf stared at Ryuta, his white hair now turned black once more and his blue eyes turned silver.
He carried with him a silver case in one hand while his other hand was on his sword-
"How do we go about this without killing him?"
Allen asked, unwilling to risk it all just to incapacitate Ryuta.
"We've called for Heith, what we need to do now is stall him"
"Then-"
Allen was about to move when he felt a powerful wind pass him-
"Let him handle it"
Hedin said as he stood there watching.
"Our job is to prevent him from escaping"
Allen stood silently, clutching his spear as his eyes focused on the battlefield.