Book 3: Chapter 76: Surprises


    <strong>Scarlet</strong>


    A frown reces the grin on my face when I hear a cracking sound akin to ss shattering.


    Huh?


    <strong>{Level 421 Demon Vanguard defeated. An enormous EXP bonus is awarded for killing a creature one hundred and fifty or more levels above your level.}</strong>


    <strong>{One hundred Skill Points are awarded for killing a being one hundred and fifty or more levels above you without assistance. The prey has be the predator, climbing their way to the top of the food chain with or without their sanity intact.}</strong>


    <strong>System error</strong>


    <strong>User is below the age of etching yet haspleted two achievements unlocking etched skill slots.</strong>


    <strong>Allocating resources</strong>


    <strong>Resources allocated</strong>


    <strong>Searching for a solution</strong>


    <strong>Solution found</strong>


    <strong>User Scarlet Art Asger de Archeron has now forcibly had their etched skills feature unlocked.</strong>


    <strong>Resources returning to usual procedures</strong>


    I nkly stare at the System Error notice for a few seconds before I ignore the message prior to it about me possibly having lost my sanity as I mutter out loud, Whats the age of etching?


    <strong>Its the minimum age the System will allow users to use any etched skill slots theyve gained, </strong>Tar answers, not sounding surprised. <strong>Generally most people dont manage to get etched skill slots until theyre ss V anyways, so this has never been a problem before now. And the few times people have gained etched skill slots, they only gained a single one before reaching the Age of Etching at thirty years old. Something that the System just holds in reserve for them, only making a Universal Announcement about the achievement when they reach their Age of Etching.</strong>


    Oh. Wait, doesnt that mean-


    My thoughts are interrupted by a dinging sound and the sight of a Universal Notification appearing in front of me.


    <em>Warning! This is a universal notification!</em>


    <strong>[REDACTED] has obtained an etched skill slot through reaching ss III under the age of twenty years old!</strong>


    <strong>May their achievement ring out throughout the known universe!</strong>


    Wait, Ive never heard of someone getting an etched skill slot for achieving that before.


    <strong>Well, no one <em>has </em>ever achieved that before you did, so of course you wouldnt have heard of it, </strong>Tar answers, shocking me into silence as another Universal Notification appears right after it.


    <em>Warning! This is a universal notification!</em>


    <strong>[REDACTED] has obtained an etched skill slot through defeating a being one hundred and fifty or more levels above them with no assistance!</strong>


    <strong>May their achievement ring out throughout the known universe!</strong>


    Well now I am even happier that Amelia redacted my name.


    Tar nods his head at that without saying a word.


    Then I get another notification from the System, although not a universal one this time.


    <strong>System Notice</strong>


    <strong>User haspleted three out of four of the necessary achievements in order to obtain a Title-Bearing Mythic Skill.</strong>


    <strong>The achievements they havepleted include the following:</strong>


    <strong>Reach ss III while under twenty years old.</strong>


    <strong>Defeat a being one hundred and fifty levels above you without any assistance.</strong>


    <strong>Have the Predator V Skill.</strong>


    <strong>Complete the final achievement in order to attain the Title-Bearing Mythic Skill.</strong>


    I nkly stare at this notice for several seconds before turning to find Tar gaping with a nervous look on his face.


    So when are you nning on eating your tail? I ask him without a hint of smugness in my voice. Absolutely none.


    He blinks and retorts, <strong>Just because youvepleted three of the achievements doesnt mean youll get thest one!</strong>


    Hmm. If you say so.


    Anyways, considering that Predator V is a requirement, I think its safe to assume this is for the mythic version of the skill. Although I didnt realize it was a Title-Bearing Mythic.


    <strong>Yeah, neither did I, </strong>Tar answers, surprising me. Or at least, surprising me until I remember what he just said earlier.


    That Im the only person to ever reach ss III while under twenty years old.


    Doesnt that mean there isnt a single being alive that has the mythic version of Predator?


    <strong>Thats correct, </strong>Tar answers as the notice fades away. <strong>Not even the Demon King or the Demon Lords have the mythic version of the skill.</strong>


    Oh. Wow.


    <strong>Most people dont end up fighting beings that far above their level, and those who do generally end up dead, </strong>Tar exins rather bluntly. <strong>Youre an exception thanks to your being a blood lycan of the royal family born with at least thirteen etched skills, along with the upbringing you had.</strong>


    I grimace at the mention of my upbringing.


    You do have a point though. Without the prophecy I probably wouldnt have ended up in the situations where Id end up fighting those demons in the first ce, nor would I have wanted to fight them.


    I sigh at that thought before letting the rest of the System Messages flow.


    <strong>{Fifty Skill Points are awarded for taking enough damage to kill most people your level twenty-five times over and surviving. This is not a safe habit either. It is suggested you stop this as well.}</strong>


    <strong>{Ten Skill Points are awarded for killing your first Mummified Drake.}</strong>


    <strong>{One Skill Point is awarded for killing a demon.}</strong>


    <strong>{Congrats, you have leveled up to level 272. Four Free Points have been awarded to you and your stats have been updated.}</strong>


    <strong></strong>


    <strong>{Congrats, you have leveled up to level 290. Four Free Points have been awarded to you and your stats have been updated.}</strong>


    <strong>[Skill Pain Diffusion has leveled up to level 14.]</strong>


    <strong>[Skill Pain Diffusion has leveled up to level 15.]</strong>


    <strong>[Skill Blood of Ruin has leveled up to level 7.]</strong>


    <strong>[Skill Blood of Ruin has leveled up to level 8.]</strong>


    <strong>[Skill Metallicized Blood ws has leveled up to level 15.]</strong>


    <strong>[Skill Life Drain has leveled up to level 15.]</strong>


    <strong>[Skill Blood Regeneration has leveled up to level 15.]</strong>


    <strong>[Skill Metallicized Blood has leveled up to level 5.]</strong>


    <strong>[Skill Metallicized Blood has leveled up to level 6.]</strong>


    <strong>[Skill Blood Chains has leveled up to level 11.]</strong>


    <strong>[You have gained two Etched Skill Slots. To use them, simply wish for one of your skills to be etched, and it will be passed down to all of your descendants regardless of if they were born before or after you etch the skill or skills.]</strong>


    Okay, seriously. Does the System just think I make a habit of getting myself hurt or something?


    Tar turns to look at me as he asks, <strong>Wait, you dont?</strong>


    I stare at him for several seconds before reaching out to grab him, only for the tanuki to retreat to the in-between.


    Coward.


    <strong>Its called a tactical retreat, </strong>Tar says, making me roll my eyes in exasperation.<strong> Not the least bit cowardly.</strong>


    If you say so.


    Anyways, thats a lot of skills that just leveled. And quite a few of them reached level fifteen.


    Lets see what changes if any were made to their descriptions