Chapter 2: Divine Blessings

Keiran stood still, his eyes fixed on the glowing Status Board floating in front of him. It was a familiar sight, reminiscent of the RPG games he had spent countless hours playing.

The layout was simple, with clear labels and numbers, making it easy for him to understand. He reached out and tapped on the information icon, curious to see what each stat meant.

A new set of text appeared, explaining the functions of each status point.

[Constitution: Each point adds 10 HP, increases HP regeneration, and improves resistance to status ailments, crowd control, and debuffs.]

[Intelligence: Each point adds 10 MP, increases MP regeneration, enhances magical attacks, and improves memory, problem-solving, and observation skills.]

[Strength: Each point adds 10 SP, increases SP regeneration, enhances physical capabilities and attacks, and improves appearance.]

[Dexterity: Each point improves body maneuver, weapon proficiency, reaction time, and sleight of hand.]

[Agility: Each point increases movement, dodging, and attack speed.]

Keiran nodded as he read through the descriptions. It all made sense to him, thanks to his gaming experience. He then shifted his attention to the skill section.

This was where the blessings Bequeathal had mentioned were listed. His eyes scanned the list, taking in the details of each skill.

[Divine Inheritance (Active): Absorbs all skills from a corpse within 24 hours of death. Skill power scales with the user's stats. Some abilities require partial or full transformation into the original owner's form to activate. This skill allows transformation at will as long as the user possesses the skill of a certain form. The user gains experience points for each unique skill absorbed. Each skill can only be absorbed once. MP Cost: 1]

[Sacred Elevation (Active): Sacrifice 10 skills of the same rarity to upgrade one skill to the next rarity tier. The user earns experience points for each skill upgraded. MP Cost 1.]

[Arcane Creation (Active): Sacrifice 20 skills of the same rarity to create a fully customized skill of the next rarity tier. The user can define its attributes, effects, and mechanics, but its maximum power and capabilities are restricted by its rarity. The user earns experience points for each skill created. MP Cost 1.]

[Blessing of Bequeathal (Active): Allows the user to transfer their skills to others. The recipient gains experience points based on the rarity of the transferred skill. MP Cost: 1]

Keiran felt a sense of satisfaction as he read through the skills. They were powerful, and he could already imagine how he might use them in the future.

He then looked at the skills he currently had. There were three of them, all of Common rarity. These were the standard skills that every human was born with, and they were nothing special, but they were a start.

[Iron Fist (Active): A well-trained punch that focuses on proper form and technique, allowing the user to deal slightly increased damage with their fists. Can cause minor bruising and pain to opponents. MP cost 1]

[Quick Step (Active) A short burst of speed that allows the user to quickly reposition or dodge an incoming attack. MP Cost 1]

[Enduring Spirit (Passive): Through sheer determination, the user can withstand slightly more pain and exhaustion than the average person, allowing them to fight a little longer before succumbing to fatigue.]

As soon as he acquired these skills, they connected with his instincts, making him feel as though he had been using them for years.

There was no need for training or practice; he could use them naturally.

Keiran took a moment to think about where he should allocate his stat points.

He understood that performing physical activities, such as running and basic attacks, relied on SP, while casting skills relied on MP.

After some consideration, he decided to distribute his points evenly, putting 2 points each into Constitution, Dexterity, and Agility, and 3 points each into Intelligence and Strength.

With his stats allocated, Keiran began to explore the forest. The trees were tall and thick, their leaves forming a canopy that filtered the sunlight into a soft, green glow.

The air was fresh, filled with the scent of earth and vegetation. He moved cautiously, his eyes scanning the surroundings for any signs of movement.

He spotted a few horned rabbits darting through the underbrush, but they were too fast for him to catch. Instead, his attention was drawn to a slower-moving creature nearby.

It was a brown slug, about a foot tall, slowly munching on algae. A small notification appeared above it.

[Common: Earth Slug Level 1.]

Keiran raised an eyebrow. This creature was supposed to be nocturnal, yet here it was, wandering around in broad daylight.

He decided it would be a good target to test his abilities on. He clenched his fists, feeling the energy of his Iron Fist skill coursing through them.

He took a deep breath and rushed toward the Earth Slug.

The slug noticed him almost immediately. It reared back and spat a glob of mud in his direction. Keiran activated Quick Step, dodging the attack with ease.

He closed the distance between them and swung his fist, activating Iron Fist as he struck the slug's body.

The impact was harder than he expected; the slug's body was surprisingly tough.

The creature wriggled violently, causing the ground around it to tremble. Keiran stumbled slightly but managed to keep his balance.

He knew he couldn't let the slug continue to shake the ground like that.

Keiran's fists pounded against the slug's stone armor, each hit barely making a difference.

His knuckles throbbed, and the creature hardly reacted, its jagged hide grinding as it moved. It swung at him again, forcing him to step back.

His punches weren't enough.

He grabbed a sharp stone from the ground and slammed it into a crack. A small chip broke off.

Gritting his teeth, he struck again and again until the crack split wide. The slug shuddered, its armor giving way to the soft, unprotected flesh beneath.

Wasting no time, Keiran drove the stone deep into the exposed spot, twisting and tearing until the creature convulsed one last time before falling still.

[You leveled up.]

[You have received 12 Stat points.]

[Your HP, MP, and SP have been replenished.]

Keiran stood up straight, breathing heavily. The fight had been tougher than he expected, but it had gone more smoothly than he had imagined.

He looked down at the corpse of the Earth Slug and activated Divine Inheritance. A white, glowing essence emerged from the slug's body and was absorbed into Keiran's own.

A series of notifications appeared in front of him.

[You have received 3 Skills.]

[Mud Spit (Active) The Earth Slug spits a glob of sticky mud at a target, reducing their movement speed and accuracy for a short duration. The mud hardens over time, making it difficult for the enemy to move freely. MP Cost 1]

[Tremor Wiggle (Active) The Earth Slug wriggles violently, causing small tremors in the ground around it. Enemies standing nearby may trip or lose their balance, making them vulnerable to attacks. MP Cost 1]

[Stone Skin (Passive) The Earth Slug's body is naturally reinforced with a rocky outer layer, reducing damage from physical attacks. Though not impenetrable, it makes the slug more resilient to weak blows.]

Keiran smiled as he read through the new skills. They weren't the most powerful, but they were a start.

He could already see how they might be useful in future battles.

[For acquiring three common unique skills, you have received experience points.]

[You leveled up.]

[You have received 12 Stat points.]