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A World of Death Chapter 39 — What Now?
🕑 Added 2025-12-17 09:02:47 +0000 UTC
The morning light filtered through the cracks in the shutters and cast patterns across the small room where Arthur lay on his back with Cassie pressed against him. Her naked body rested fully on his chest, her legs tangled with his while one arm draped across his chest, she traced slow circles on his skin with her fingertips. She could still feel his seed inside her, a warmth that lingered deep within and made her body feel complete in a way that she had never felt before. Cassie, who usually rose before the first hints of dawn to tend the children and start the day's chores, remained unwilling to move... this moment with Arthur felt too precious to end.
It was only a few moments later before Arthur stirred, drawing a deep breath that expanded his chest beneath her, he yawned widely while his eyes opened slowly to the familiar ceiling. He had slept deeply and without interruption for the first time in weeks, the exhaustion from the fight and the comfort of her presence combining to grant him true rest.
Cassie lifted her head slightly, her hair falling across his shoulder as she smiled at him with eyes that shone with affection. "Good morning," she murmured, little huskily from the sleep as she brushed her lips lightly over his collarbone.
Arthur smiled back, his hand sliding up her back to tangle gently in her hair. "Morning," he replied. He stretched a little beneath her, then asked, "How long have we been asleep? What time is it?"
Cassie glanced toward the shutters, where sunlight now poured in more strongly. "Just past mid-morning, I'd say," she answered, settling her cheek against his chest again with a contented sigh.
Arthur raised an eyebrow. "Mid-morning? That's late even for me, and you're usually up before the roosters," he said with a small amount of amusement.
She laughed quietly, the sound vibrating against his skin as she nuzzled closer. "I know. I should've been in the kitchen an hour ago, but I don't want to move. Not yet."
Arthur's arms tightened around her, pulling her impossibly closer. "Me neither."
They stayed like that for a long while, breathing together in the quiet comfortable morning, her fingers drawing idle patterns while his hand stroked slow lines down her spine. The orphanage beyond the door was unusually silent which meant Alys was likely keeping everyone busy elsewhere.
Eventually Cassie spoke again though she seemed almost hesitant. "Arthur... what happens now?"
The warmth in his chest cooled. He stared at the ceiling for a moment, feeling the weight of everything settle back onto his shoulders. Cassie felt it too; her fingers stilled against his skin as if both of them had been dropped in cold water. She had just spent the night with another woman's husband, confessed her love, and taken him inside her without a thought for tomorrow. Guilt twisted in her stomach at her actions even if she didn't regret them.
She pushed herself up on her elbows so she could look at him properly. "I'm sorry," she said quietly while her eyes searched his. "I never meant to put you in this position. I know you love Mira, and I know what we did... it complicates everything. If I ever meet her, I'll tell her myself and apologise until she's sick of hearing it. I just... last night I couldn't stop myself."
Arthur shook his head quickly, reaching up to cup her cheek. "Hey, no. Stop that. This isn't your fault, Cassie. Not even close." His thumb brushed across her lower lip. "No one gets to choose who they love. It just happens. And if Mira's the woman I know she is, she'll understand that much, even if the rest hurts... at least I hope she does, anyway."
Cassie swallowed, her eyes glassy. "I won't ever ask you to leave her," she said firmly. "You two have been through too much together. You deserve to be happy with her. I could never take that away, not after you fought so hard to save her."
Arthur sat up slowly, wincing a little at the pull on his stitches, and drew her with him so they sat face to face on the narrow cot. He took both her hands in his. "We don't know what's going to happen yet," he said. "I'm scared too... of what she'll say, how she'll feel when she finds out. But I need you to hear this clearly: I love you, Cassie. Just as I love her. That's the truth, and I'm not going to pretend otherwise. I don't know how we make this work, but I'm going to try my hardest to make sure no one ends up sad because of it."
Tears slipped down her cheeks, but she leaned forward and kissed him. It was a slow, passionate kiss, full of everything she couldn't put into words. The kiss deepened naturally, both their mouths opening as hands began to wander again. Arthur hardened against her belly almost instantly, and he shifted his hips so he ground gently upward, drawing a soft gasp from her.
Cassie smiled against his lips, breathless. "Already?" she whispered.
"Always, when it's you," he murmured back, nipping at her lower lip.
She rose up on her knees, guiding him inside her with one smooth motion that made them both groan. Cassie began to ride him slowly at first, savoring the way he filled her completely, the thick drag of him against her inner walls sending sparks through her core with every rise and fall. For Arthur, the heat and tightness of her gripped him perfectly, each downward stroke pulling pleasure from the base of his spine upward until his breath came in ragged bursts.
"Gods, Arthur," she moaned, bracing her hands on his shoulders as she quickened her pace, her hips rolling in a rhythm that drove him deeper inside her. "You feel so good inside me."
He gripped her waist, thrusting up to meet her, his eyes locked on hers. "You're perfect," he rasped. "So tight... I can feel every part of you."
The pace built quickly, her moans growing louder as the pressure coiled in her belly. Arthur's hands slid to her hips, guiding her harder, faster, until Cassie threw her head back with a cry, her body clenching around him in release that sent warm liquid spilling across his stomach. The sensation pushed him over the edge; he pulled her down hard one final time and came with a deep groan, pulsing his seed inside her in long, powerful waves that left him shaking.
Cassie collapsed forward onto his chest, both of them breathing hard. After a moment she lifted her head while her hair shifted wildly around her face, and grinned at him. "I'm never going to get tired of that," she said, leaning in to kiss him lazily.
A loud knock rattled the door.
"Arthur, Alys!" Alys called through the wood, her voice carrying a distinctly teasing lilt. "If you two are finished making the cot squeak, the children are starving and there's work to be done. Up with you, lazybones!"
They both froze, eyes wide, half-expecting the door to swing open. When nothing happened except retreating footsteps, the tension snapped and they burst into laughter, foreheads pressed together.
"Think she heard anything?" Arthur whispered.
"Definitely," Cassie giggled, stealing one more quick kiss before she rolled off him. "Come on, hero. Time to face the day." Cassie finally pushed herself up, the thin blanket falling away as she swung her legs over the side of the cot. The morning light caught every curve of her naked body while she stretched her arms overhead, her back arching slightly in a way that made Arthur's gaze linger. He reached out without thinking and gave her bum a playful slap.
Cassie yelped and spun around, her eyes widening in mock outrage while a grin tugged at her lips. "Arthur!" she scolded, though laughter bubbled underneath her words as she swatted at his hand. "Behave yourself, you great oaf."
Arthur propped himself up on one elbow with an unrepentant grin. "Can't help it," he said, reaching for her waist to pull her back toward him. "You're too tempting standing there like that."
She let him tug her closer for a moment, leaning down to kiss him quickly before she danced out of reach again, her hips swaying as she bent to retrieve her discarded dress from the floor. "We have to get up," she insisted, though her tone carried no real sternness while she stepped into the fabric and pulled it over her head. "Alys has been handling everything alone all morning, and the children will be running wild by now."
Arthur caught her hand as she passed the cot again, pulling her down for another kiss that lingered longer than the first, his free hand sliding up her thigh under the hem of her dress. "Five more minutes," he murmured against her lips.
Cassie laughed into the kiss, pushing weakly at his chest even as she leaned into him. "You're impossible," she said, nipping at his lower lip before she straightened and smoothed her dress down. "If we don't go out there soon, Alys will come dragging us both by the ears."
He relented with a dramatic groan, flopping back onto the pillow while he watched her tie her braid quickly. "Fine, fine," he said, holding his hands up in surrender. "Go on, then. I'll follow in a minute."
Cassie paused at the door, turning back to blow him a kiss that made him chuckle. "Don't take too long," she warned with a wink before she slipped out into the hallway, the door clicking softly behind her.
Arthur lay there for a moment longer, staring at the ceiling with a contented smile that refused to fade. He finally pushed himself up, wincing slightly at the pull on his stitches, and began to dress carefully so that he avoided straining his injuries. He pulled on his trousers and tunic, laced his boots, and ran a hand through his hair to tame it somewhat before he stepped out into the corridor. The main hall was fileld with the familiar sounds of the orphanage waking fully to the day, children's voices overlapping as they darted between the tables. Jory spotted him first from across the room and barreled toward him with the energy only a fourteen-year-old could muster after two hours of sleep.
"Arthur!" Jory shouted, skidding to a stop in front of him while the younger children trailed behind like ducklings. "You're awake! What happened at the manse? Did you find your wife? How many men did you fight? Did you kill them all? Was there blood everywhere?" The questions tumbled out in a rush that left Arthur blinking, and the other children crowded closer with wide eyes, Meggie tugging at his sleeve while Ben bounced on his toes. "Did you use your sword?" Ben asked excitedly. "Did it go whoosh like when you sliced off a bad guys head?"
Alys appeared then from the doorway, wiping her hands on her apron. "Enough, you lot," she said firmly. "Let the man breathe and get some food in him before you bombard him with questions. Seats now, breakfast is ready, it'll get cold if you keep yammering."
The children grumbled but obeyed, scrambling to their places at the long tables while Alys guided. Arthur followed more slowly, nodding his thanks to her as he passed, and took his usual seat near the end where a bowl of porridge and a chunk of bread already waited. Lunk sat across from him, the giant's massive frame dwarfing the bench while he carefully spooned porridge into his mouth with deliberate movements that avoided jostling his bandaged thumbs. He looked up when Arthur sat, his broad face breaking into a tentative smile.
"How're you feeling today Lunk?" Arthur asked.
"Lunk good," he said simply, gesturing to himself before pointing at Arthur. "Arthur hurt?"
Arthur returned the smile, reaching for his own spoon. "I'm mending," he replied. "Thanks to you carrying me back here. How about you? Thumbs giving you much trouble?"
Lunk held up his wrapped hands and shrugged his shoulders. "Hurt little. Alys fix. Good now."
Arthur nodded, warmth spreading through him at the sight of Lunk safe and content among people who truly cared. "Glad to hear it. It's nice that you're here, I'm sure Alys appreciates it."
Lunk smiled at that before he started looking off into space. Breakfast unfolded in the usual whirlwind that happened every day at the orphanage. Children chattered nonstop, spoons clinking against bowls while Meggie recounted a dream about flying on a pink dragon that had everyone giggling. Ben and Thom argued over who had the bigger piece of bread until Alys settled it by breaking one in half, and little Lena spilled her milk for the third time, which prompted Cassie to swoop in with a cloth and a sigh.
Alys sat beside Lunk, helping him with his bowl when his injured thumbs made gripping the spoon awkward, guiding his hand gently. "There you go, love," she said softly. "Slow and steady, that's it."
It reached a peak when Sam started flicking bits of porridge at Thom, which earned a sharp reprimand from Cassie that sent the boy sulking into his seat. Arthur watched it all with a fond smile. Finally he cleared his throat and raised his voice just enough to carry over the conversation. "All right, you lot," he said, leaning forward with elbows on the table. "You want a story about last night?"
The hall quieted instantly, every child turning toward him with rapt attention while even Alys paused in her fussing over Lunk.
Arthur grinned and launched into the tale, . "There I was, facing the fiercest swordsman in all of King's Landing, a man so big and ugly I almost dropped my sword. But as ugly as he was, he was equally fierce, he had killed more men than you've had hot meals. He came at me with a longsword longer than Jory is tall, swinging it like a scythe through wheat."
The children leaned in with wide eyes as Arthur described the clash in the courtyard, exaggerating every parry and thrust until Karl became a towering villain with a booming laugh and a blade that sparked lightning. He played up his own dodges and counters, making the children gasp when he described shattering Karl's sword with a mighty blow that rang like a bell across the city. "And then," Arthur continued, building to the climax with a dramatic pause, "I drove my sword straight through his heart, and he looked down in shock, like he couldn't believe a simple farm boy had bested him. He toppled into the mud with a splash that soaked me from head to toe, and the rain washed his blood away while thunder rolled overhead like the gods themselves were cheering."
The children erupted in cheers and laughter, Jory pumping his fist while Meggie clapped wildly. Even Lunk chuckled deeply, the sound rumbling like distant thunder.
Cassie appeared at Arthur's side then, a jug of watered ale in hand as she refilled his cup with a smile that lingered just for him. She settled onto the bench beside him, her thigh pressing against his under the table while her hand rested lightly on his knee, a subtle touch that sent warmth through him.
"But it wasn't finished, with the sword in his chest he stood up! Raised from the dead by his master." Arthur said dramatically making most of the children gasp.
"Who was his master!" Ben asked with wide eyes.
"It was the Great Other, he turned him into a White Walker and had him attack me!" He replied getting even more gasps. Arthur finished the story with an even more exaggerated flourish, claiming he had leaped ten feet through the air for the final strike, which sent the children into gaps and laughter that filled the hall.
Breakfast wound down eventually, bowls scraped clean and benches pushed back as the children scattered to their chores or play. Cassie leaned over to press a quick kiss to Arthur's cheek, her lips lingering a moment. "I'm off to help Alys with the washing up," she murmured, her hand squeezing his leg before she stood.
The children noticed immediately, a chorus of "oohs" and teasing whistles rising from the tables while Ben made exaggerated kissing noises that set the others giggling. Meggie covered her face dramatically, and Jory grinned. Arthur took it all in stride, ruffling Ben's hair as he passed and winking at the others. "Mind your own business, you lot," he said with mock sternness that only fueled their laughter further.
He rose slowly from the table, stretching carefully to test his wounds, and made his way back toward his room, closing the door behind him as he went over to his bed. He glanced around at his few possessions, which someone—Cassie, most likely—had neatly arranged on the small table beside the cot. His cloak hung on a peg, folded with care, and Sunset leaned in its scabbard against the wall. A few changes of clothes lay stacked in a corner, and his tools from the shed rested in a tidy pile.
He reached for the canvas pack that held the items he had carried from the manse, opening it slowly to inventory what remained after the fight. His fingers brushed against the heavy leather pouch that Willem had offered in his final moments, the one filled with gold dragons that clinked softly as he lifted it. Arthur paused, staring at the pouch in his hand with a mixture of shock and amazement that rooted him to the spot.
He had seen a gold dragon only once before in his life, when Willem had tried to buy his mercy in the solar, and even if he wasn't tempted it had gleamed with a promise of wealth far beyond anything a farmer's son could imagine. Now an entire pouch of them rested in his palm, with the stamped faces of long-dead kings staring up at him when he loosened the drawstring and peered inside. Dozens of the coins glinted in the light, enough to change lives in ways he had never dreamed.
With this much gold, he realized, he could rebuild the orphanage completely, new beams, a proper roof that did not leak, walls strengthened against the damp of Flea Bottom, and perhaps even stuff for the children to play on. Beyond that, he could buy armor fitted to his frame, a horse strong enough to carry him into battle, and equipment worthy of a true knight: a shield, a lance. The possibilities unfolded in his mind, yet he felt strange handling the coins, as though they carried a taint from the man who had owned them, or as though wealth on this scale was not meant for someone like him.
He tied the pouch closed again and set it down on the table, the weight of it thumping softly against the wood. Arthur lowered himself onto the edge of the cot, elbows resting on his knees while he stared at the floor in silence that stretched for long minutes.
What was he going to do now?
The question circled in his mind. For so long his days had revolved around a single goal; revenge against Willem, rescue for Mira, survival through whatever obstacles stood in the way. He had planned every step, trained every morning, pushed through pain and doubt because the path ahead had been clear. But Willem lay dead now, and Mira waited safe within the Red Keep, protected by the princess herself. Reaching her should not prove too difficult.
Yet with the goal achieved, he felt adrift, a strange emptiness settling where purpose had burned so fiercely.
He shook his head, trying to dispel the feeling. He should be happy. The nightmare had ended, and he could truly start his life now, here with people who cared for him, with Cassie who loved him, with the children who looked to him like an older brother. Everything had turned out well in the end, and he should feel thankful for that blessing instead of lost.
Arthur drew a breath and focused his mind on something else, pulling up the system notifications that waited from the completed quest.
First came the new title that glowed faintly at the top.
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[TITLE ACQUIRED] FLEDGLING HERO
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Description:
When faced with overwhelming odds you are able to go beyond. Provides additional experience points when performing heroic deeds.
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Arthur read the description twice, surprise giving way to a slow smile that spread across his face. He liked the sound of it, that kind of ability would definitely come in handy. Also the promise of extra experience was nice.
He moved on to the other rewards: a Skill Upgrade Token, a Random Skill Token, and an Otherworld Token. Arthur considered the upgrade token first, his thoughts turning immediately to Falling Star Style. He focused on applying it there, willing the token to activate.
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[SKILL UPGRADE TOKEN]
Attempted Target: Falling Star Style
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[WARNING]
Constant use of Skill Upgrade Tokens on the same skill will result in weaker overall mastery.
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Arthur frowned, confusion creasing his brow. 'Why?' he thought.
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[SYSTEM RESPONSE]
Without Gamer's Body, skills are only partially ingrained into the physical form. Most of the benefit manifests as knowledge, which must then be embodied through repeated practice and use.
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Arthur nodded slowly as understanding dawned. 'I see, By skipping the steep learning curve with tokens, I miss the full range of techniques and the deep embodiment that comes from training the body to move instinctively.'
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[SYSTEM RESPONSE]
Correct.
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Damn, Arthur muttered under his breath, disappointment settling over him. It made sense in a frustrating way, the system could grant knowledge, but true mastery required sweat and repetition to make the movements second nature. It was not too bad, he decided after a moment. He still had options that would benefit from the boost.
His choice narrowed to two: Water Dancing Style, which offered speed and precision with the blade, or Shibukawa-ryū , which he could use even unarmed against larger foes like Lunk. In the end he selected Shibukawa, reasoning that versatility without a weapon could save his life in situations where he lost Sunset.
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[SKILL UPGRADE TOKEN CONSUMED]
[Shibukawa-ryū Jujutsu]
(Novice) → (Apprentice)
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Knowledge flooded into his mind then, a rush of understanding that reshaped how he perceived movement and balance. He grasped instinctively how to use his legs more effectively for explosive shifts in direction, how to manipulate an opponent's body weight with subtle pulls and pushes that turned their strength against them, and a deeper feel for the flow of momentum in grapples that allowed redirection rather than brute resistance.
Arthur flexed his hands experimentally, testing the new instincts that settled into his muscles even without practice.
He turned to the Random Skill Token next, not having high expectations.
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[RANDOM SKILL TOKEN CONSUMED]
Skill Rolled: Cooking (Expert)
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[NOTICE]
Cooking (Novice) already exists. Merge the two?
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Arthur considered for a moment and thought yes. He was not particularly thrilled with another cooking boost when combat skills would serve him better, but the ability remained useful for the orphanage and long travels.
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[SKILL MERGED]
Cooking → (40/100) (Expert)
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Arthur sighed, accepting the outcome with a shrug. It could have been worse.
Finally he focused on the Otherworld Token.
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[OTHERWORLD TOKEN CONSUMED]
You have obtained: The Shining (Legendary)
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Description:
Your mind has awakened to a frequency most cannot perceive.
Thoughts leave impressions.
Emotions carry weight.
Places remember what was done within them.
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Arthur stared at the description, confusion deepening as he read it several times. He understood the words individually, yet their meaning together eluded him completely. What frequency? What impressions did thoughts leave, and how would he perceive them? He had no clue what this ability did.
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[WARNING] Legendary ability detected.
Rebalancing world parameters.
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'Fuck!' Arthur thought.
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[WORLD EVENT TRIGGERED]
30 Devil Fruits have been scattered across Westeros and Essos.
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Arthur blinked at the panel, wondering what the fuck a devil fruit even was. The term meant nothing to him no fruit he knew from the Crownlands or anywhere else carried that name.
He rubbed his temples, annoyance flickering before he pushed it aside. Whatever devil fruits were, they could wait; more pressing matters demanded his attention. He and Mira had been separated for far too long, and with Willem dead the path to the Red Keep lay open. He needed to reach her, to reunite and begin building the life they had planned before everything unraveled.
Putting his sword in his sheath he tied it to his belt and walked out the door intent on heading towards the Red Keep.
Towards Mira.
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STATUS MENU
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Name: Arthur of Harrowfield
Class: Farmer
Heritage: Valyrian / Stormlands
Age: 16
Level: 6
Unallocated Stat Points: 1
Title(s): [Fledgling Hero]
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COMBAT ATTRIBUTES
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Strength: 16
Dexterity: 9
Constitution: 17 (+35%)
Intelligence: 5
Perception: 4
Luck: 3
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TRAITS
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[Comely]
You've got the kind of face that gets you smiled at, flirted with, and forgiven for things you probably should not be.
[Sword Prodigy]
You wield a blade like it belongs in your hand—faster learning speed, tighter reflexes, and better execution with swords.
[Sharp Ears]
Your hearing is unnaturally acute. You can detect faint sounds, whispers, and movement even from across the room.
[Blood of Valyria]
Your veins run silver and fire. Whether by birth or by bed, the Old Blood knows its own. Grants heightened affinity with magic, dragons, and Valyrian relics. Also makes you just a little more unhinged than you'd like to admit.
[Dexterous]
Your hands and fingers are exceptionally nimble. Tasks requiring precision, balance, and control are performed with greater ease. You are less likely to fumble, and you can learn skills involving fine motor work—such as swordplay, crafting, or stealth—with increased speed and efficiency.
[Linguist]
You possess an instinctive grasp of language. You can understand and communicate in any spoken tongue once exposed to it, even those long thought extinct. You also possess a natural affinity for learning magical languages, runic systems, and coded enchantments, allowing you to interpret and pronounce them with uncanny precision.
[Arcane Script]
Your mind deciphers any written language, rune, or script as if it were your mother tongue. Ancient texts, foreign codices, and enchanted glyphs reveal their secrets at a glance.
[The Shining]
Your mind has awakened to a frequency most cannot perceive.
Thoughts leave impressions.
Emotions carry weight.
Places remember what was done within them.
[Gift]
You may transfer one of your traits or skills to another individual. The recipient will receive a weaker version, but the skill or trait will be permanently removed from you. No duplication is possible.
[Inventive Genius]
You gain the instinctive ability to imagine, design, and improve tools, weapons, structures, and mechanisms far beyond the understanding of your time. Your mind naturally sees flaws and solutions. You feel a compulsion to tinker, adapt, and create. Every item you hold, every structure you see whispers possibilities of how to make it better.
[Demon Back]
The secret to overwhelming strength lies in the back. When the body is pushed past its limits, your muscles lock into a terrifying alignment that resembles the form of a demon. Strikes delivered in this state carry far greater force, and your strength briefly surpasses human limits.
⚠ Overuse places extreme strain on the body and risks permanent injury.
[Weapon Bond — Sword]
Your first true blade has become an extension of yourself. Each swing flows more naturally, precision improves, and your connection to sword styles grows stronger over time.
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SKILLS
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[Observe]
[Carpentry] (6/100) (Journeyman)
[Conditioning] (35/100) [+35% Constitution]
└─ Recovery (Sub-skill)
[Novacaine] (60/100)
[Cooking] (40/100) (Expert)
[Tracker] (8/100) (Legendary)
[Axe Mastery] (49/100) (Novice)
[Carnal Knowledge] (65/100) (Adept)
[Shibukawa-ryū Jujutsu] (42/100) (Apprentice)
[Lumbering] (55/100) (Novice)
[Falling Star Style] (10/100) (Journeyman)
[Water Dancing Style] (10/100) (Novice)
[Herbal Insight] (Unique)
[Horse Riding] (10/100) (Novice)
[Poison Resistance] (11/100) (Journeyman)
[Massage] (0/100) (Master)
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(AN: So we have Arthur finally going to go and find Mira but will he have an easier or harder time than he expects? He also finally has an ability that you could consider magic. I know I could've given him greenseer or dragon dreams but I thought this was much cooler.
Comments
Alfie
Nightmare mode
Car Crash
Is the devil fruit from One Piece? Wouldn’t 30 devil fruits available to the world be a little too over reactive when compared to 1 person having a legendary skill?
Dragonslayer29
Thanks for the chap. Damn he gained the Shining that could be interesting ability if he can master it as some powers used by the Shining have been op. Thanks again and I can’t wait to see the reunion.
