Chapter 41 - Edit

Leon opened the door to his office, the soft creak of the hinges a familiar sound.

He stepped inside, closing the door behind him with a soft click. The room was dimly lit, the only source of light being from the slightly open window.

Leon let out a deep sigh, the sound escaping his lips like a deflating balloon.

Haah.

He sank into his chair, his body language screaming exhaustion. His eyes drifted shut, his mind replaying the events of the day.

That kid, had picked a skill that left Leon baffled.

When he had taken Ryuk to the vault, he had expected him to choose something impressive, something that would give him an edge in this unforgiving world.

Maybe an orange grade artifact, or a high-grade sword, or at least a decent skill.

But no, Ryuk had to go and pick a nameless, useless skill. Leon's eyes snapped open as he heard the ring of his comms device.

He picked it up, his movements swift and efficient.

He placed the device on the ground, and in one fluid motion, he knelt on his knees.

His voice was low and respectful as he spoke: "Your Excellency."

The black silhouette that appeared from the hologram seemed to fill the room with an aura of power and authority.

Leon's voice was laced with a hint of surprise as he reported: "You were right, Your Excellency. He really chose that useless skill."

The silhouette's voice was low and gravelly, the sound sending a shiver down Leon's spine.

"Good," the silhouette said, the single word dripping with satisfaction.

Leon's curiosity got the better of him, and he asked: "But how did you know that he would choose that skill?"

The silhouette's response was cryptic: "That is none of your concern. Simply focus on the mission I gave you."

Leon's shoulders slumped in defeat, his head bowing in submission: Bow. "As you command, Your Excellency," he said, his voice laced with resignation.

The hologram flickered and died, leaving Leon to his thoughts.

******************

I sat on my bed, the soft mattress a familiar comfort. The Edit skill book lay in my hand, its cover a dull, unassuming gray.

I had just returned from the association building, my mind still reeling from the events of the day.

As I prepared to open the book, a sudden, melodious voice echoed in my mind.

[Hello Ryuk. Missed me?]. Ella's robotic, feminine tone was like a warm breeze on a summer's day.

It had been a while since I'd heard her voice, and I realized, with a start, that I had actually begun to miss it.

A wry smile spread across my face as I responded, "Finally awake, huh?" My tone was laced with sarcasm, a hint of teasing.

[Yes. Don't worry, I know that you missed me], Ella retorted, her voice dripping with amusement.

I let out a deep sigh, feeling a mix of emotions. "So, is there a reason you've been gone for nearly three days?" I asked, my curiosity getting the better of me.

Ella's response was cryptic: [Yes, actually. Well, you're not strong enough to know that, so I can't say. Just know there's a reason]. Her words hung in the air, a tantalizing hint of secrets yet unknown.

My eyes narrowed, my mind racing with possibilities. "What were you taking permission for, then?" I pressed, my tone firm.

Ella responded, her voice tinged with confusion: [When?]. I felt a surge of irritation, my response sharp: "When the monster was about to pulverize me."

[Oh], Ella said, her voice filled with a sudden understanding, as if a puzzle piece had fallen into place.

But instead of providing answers, she simply said: [Unable to answer]. I felt my frustration boiling over.

"You know what, forget I asked," I said, my tone tired, resigned.

I turned my attention back to the Edit skill book, its unassuming gray cover belied by the secrets it might hold.

I asked Ella, my voice filled with anticipation, "Ella, can you analyze this?" The air seemed to vibrate with expectation as I awaited her response.

[Very well], Ella replied, her robotic voice dripping with efficiency.

[Analyzing], she continued, the words hanging in the air like a promise.

The silence that followed was palpable, a sense of anticipation building in my chest like a coiled spring.

And then, Ella's voice cut through the silence, her words painting a picture of unparalleled power.

[Edit: A skill that allows the user to alter and manipulate available skills, traits, and artifacts. With the use of crystals, the user can rewrite the fundamental code of their abilities, granting them unparalleled flexibility and strength. The user can reconfigure ability parameters, modify trait effects, and even reforge artifacts to suit their needs. The possibilities are endless, limited only by the user's imagination and the power of the crystals at their disposal].

I stared at the skill book, my eyes wide with disbelief. "Shit," I muttered, the word barely above a whisper.

The Edit skill was ridiculously overpowered, a game-changer that could rewrite the rules of reality.

How did it end up on the shelf, just waiting for me to pick it up? Were the association guys seriously clueless? I let out a low, amused chuckle.

"Haaa, okay. Anyway, it's their loss." I shrugged, grinning to myself. "At least I scored an insanely powerful skill."

I placed the book against my forehead, feeling a thrill of anticipation. The moment the book touched my skin, it erupted into a blindingly bright light.

I closed my eyes, feeling the warmth of the light seep into my skin. The book began to dissolve into tiny particles, which then proceeded to stream into my head through my forehead.

It was a weirdly exhilarating sensation, like a rush of pure energy flooding my brain.

As the particles entered my mind, I felt a surge of information flood my consciousness.

It was like a download of pure knowledge, a direct upload of the Edit skill's parameters and instructions.

I felt my mind expanding, adapting to the new information. And then, just as suddenly, it was over. I opened my eyes, feeling a sense of wonder and excitement.

I knew, without a doubt, that I could use the Edit skill. And to my surprise, it felt almost... intuitive.

I muttered the word "status" under my breath, and the system window materialized before my eyes like a ghostly apparition.

The familiar layout and neat rows of numbers and stats greeted me like an old friend.

________________________________________________________________________________

Name: Ryuk Vers Heidal (James Ford)

Age: 13

Level: 2

MP: 210

Exp: 15/600

STR: 32

AGI: 33

DEF: 34

INT: 34

Skills:

Body Strengthening

Flame Manipulation

Ice Manipulation

Space Manipulation

Traits:

Soul Absorption (Unique): [Souls available:1]

Weapon Master (Unique)

Bloodline (locked)

________________________________________________________________________________

As I scanned the window, my eyes widened in surprise.

I had gotten significantly stronger, my stats showing a noticeable bump in power. My experience points had increased, and my MP had taken a nice jump up.

I felt a surge of excitement at the prospect of being able to take on tougher challenges.

But then, my gaze landed on my Soul Absorption trait, and my heart skipped a beat. [Soul available: 1].

What the...? I hadn't killed any humans or intelligent species, had I? A shiver ran down my spine as a horrifying thought crept into my mind. What if that monster... what if it was human?