Akros Zero
patreon
31) It's already been seven years
🕑 Added 2025-11-26 14:32:39 +0000 UTC...
{Ember’s Pov}
Two full years had gone by since the day I shattered my limits and stepped into what could only be described as the territory of cheaters.
The morning after receiving my new skills, I celebrated by throwing a feast for the entire familia.
I cooked and bought everyone the best food I could find.
Since I had more than enough money saved up, arranging the whole thing barely counted as an inconvenience. It felt right to share my happiness with the people around me, especially after everything that had led to that moment.
After the celebration, I focused entirely on testing my new abilities.
Three months were enough to reveal the results clearly.
Thanks to my Limit Breaker skill, my parameters pushed past S999 without any of the usual resistance or stagnation.
They continued to rise as if the barrier didn’t exist at all.
My growth rate was noticeably faster than before, which I suspected was largely due to my Double Croissance skill doubling the effectiveness of my efforts.
It fueled my motivation even more, and without realizing it, I ended up hitting another wall by the eighth month.
Apparently, the Falna had a second limit: SSS1599.
I found it strange that the number was so random, but that was just how the system was designed.
Thankfully, thanks to the same Limit Breaker skill, I managed to push through that barrier too.
This time, there wasn’t any dramatic requirement like killing a peak Level 3 or hunting down a Level 2 stronger than the natural order. However, things became more troublesome in a different way.
After breaking through SSS1599, each additional point in any parameter demanded the equivalent of breaking the previous S999 limit.
In simple terms, for every single point of growth, I needed to overcome the same difficulty as breaching the first major limit.
So once again, I threw myself into a non-stop hunting spree.
By now, the land surrounding the village—spanning several hundred square kilometers—had been almost entirely cleared of monsters thanks to my relentless grinding.
It was honestly getting ridiculous.
This time, raising my parameters took another year and four months.
I was aiming to push all my stats to 1999, but it proved far more difficult than I initially estimated.
Without my Limit Breaker, I would have been forced to defeat at least one Level 3 monster for every single point I wanted to gain beyond SSS1599.
It was insane to think about.
After analyzing my situation carefully, taking into account the limits, the scaling difficulty, and the diminishing returns, I finally made a decision.
Instead of dragging this out even longer, I would level up.
"Finally, you are going to level up!" Goddess Aurora exclaimed with genuine excitement, practically bouncing in place.
"I am really looking forward to seeing what kind of Development Abilities you might get this time!" she continued, clapping her hands repeatedly with childlike enthusiasm.
Her eyes were literally sparkling with anticipation, and the joy on her face was impossible to miss.
I couldn’t help but smile a little at her reaction as I lay down on the bed, my upper body fully exposed.
The moment her gaze landed on my torso, she drooled slightly, which instantly made things awkward for me.
Then, as if she had no concept of shame, she rubbed her hands all over my back, humming softly.
“~Fufu, look at this… a perfectly built muscular body with toned six-pack abs. And you don’t even have those grotesque, overblown muscles some adventurers develop. Instead, you have a compact, balanced type of physique. Honestly, this kind of body can easily steal the hearts of countless women.”
I let out an embarrassed cough and said, “Goddess…”
She released a dramatic sigh.
“Alright, alright, I’ll behave. Anyway, let’s begin!”
She pricked her finger and let a drop of divine blood fall onto my back.
The familiar holographic-like status screen appeared, hovering momentarily as she started updating it.
A second later she froze, blinked twice, and then shouted, “What the—?! You have five Development Abilities to choose from! And wait—WHAT?! You can choose two Development Abilities?!”
She looked at me with her mouth wide open in complete disbelief.
I had already suspected that something like this might happen, but having it confirmed directly still filled me with a strong sense of satisfaction.
“Goddess, what are the Development Abilities I got?” I asked calmly.
Aurora shook herself out of her shock and leaned forward eagerly.
“Let’s see… They are: Swordsman, Mage, Spirit Healing, Hunter, and Mystery! And—oh! Spirit Healing and Mystery are extremely rare. I’ve only heard about those two through Aschelois!” she said, panting slightly as if the discovery was too much excitement for her.
Her reaction put me in a difficult situation.
I had no idea why I was granted Mystery; maybe it had something to do with the scientific knowledge I have from my previous life.
Spirit Healing was also incredibly rare, practically unheard of among normal adventurers.
Mage and Swordsman were more common choices, while Hunter was normally only available starting from Level 2.
Following the plans I had made for myself, magic-related abilities were far more useful and aligned better with my objectives.
Initially, I thought that getting two Development Abilities per level was completely broken—an overpowered cheat.
But after hearing the available choices, it felt less overwhelming and more balanced than I expected.
I sighed deeply and thought for a moment, ‘If I can’t make firm decisions now, how can I survive in the long run? I have to commit to my strategy.’
With that thought, Swordsman and Hunter were immediately ruled out, leaving me with the magic-oriented options.
I finally made my choice.
“Goddess, I want Mage and Mystery,” I said with certainty.
Aurora broke into a wide, proud smile and quickly updated my status.
“Done! Now take a look at your spectacular new status sheet!” she said as she happily handed me the updated paper.
[Level 1 → Level 2]
Strength: EX1673 → I0
Endurance: EX1689 → I0
Dexterity: EX1702 → I0
Agility: EX1723 → I0
Magic: EX1819 → I0
Mage: I
Mystery: I
Skills:
Decipher: Helps the user Decipher the truth, theorems, and workings of the world through logic, prediction, and guess.
Limit Breaker: Enables the user to permanently surpass the normal upper limits of ability parameters and break through boundaries set by the Falna system.
Double Croissance: The user’s rate of Falna growth and acquisition of abilities is doubled under all circumstances.
Orc Slayer: Grants twenty percent buff in all parameters against pig-like monsters.
Eagle’s Eye: Enhances visual perception, allowing improved accuracy and range.
Magic:
Cremation (Chant): "O’Flames of Legends! Burn brighter than thy enemy! Turn them into cinders! Let their Ashes wash in your blue flames! Cremation!"
2) Cure-Se (Chant): "Devoid of any injuries and poison, Heal Mine self!"
3) N/A]
“Damn, I actually acquired a new magic… and it’s healing magic?” I muttered in disbelief. The surprise quickly turned into curiosity, and I immediately wanted to test it.
“Let’s try… Devoid of any injuries and poison, Heal Mine Self!”
A warm, gentle yellow glow wrapped around my entire body, and I instantly felt the fatigue from hunting drain away, as if someone scrubbed the exhaustion right out of me.
I repeated the chant several more times to understand the mechanism properly.
After the third use, I finally concluded, “So it’s a healing spell that only works on me…” I spoke under my breath.
Despite the limitation, it was still incredibly useful.
Something like this could literally save my life in dangerous situations, especially since chanting a spell during combat would be easier and quicker for me than fumbling with a potion.
For someone who fought constantly, this magic was practically a lifesaver.
Now that I had finally leveled up and secured my new abilities, it was time to push forward to the next phase of my plan. I took a deep breath and said, “Goddess, I’m planning to leave this place for a while.”
Her expression immediately turned a bit gloomy, and although she tried to hide it, I could see in her eyes that she had already anticipated this moment.
“Where do you intend to go?” she asked quietly.
“Altena,” I answered without hesitation.
“It’s the most suitable place for what I need to do next.”
I had been thinking about this for a long time now.
While the problem with my parameters was settled—thanks to my skills, I could grow continuously—my magic still required attention.
I needed more magical versatility.
In this world, a person naturally has only three magic slots, and to exceed that natural limit, the only known solution was acquiring a magic grimoire.
But grimoires were insanely expensive.
The kind of expensive that made most adventurers go broke.
Fortunately, after seven years of grinding, clearing areas, and saving every spare valis I could, I had accumulated about 110 million valis in total—45 million valis in pure cash and the rest stored in magic stones.
It represented seven years of dedication, hard work, and borderline insanity.
My objective in going to Altena was simple: buy a magic grimoire that would grant me a magic similar to what Lefiya and Riveria used, allowing me to bypass the natural magic slot restriction.
If I wanted to use more magic than the standard limit, I needed this grimoire—no matter how much it cost.
There was absolutely no way I was going to settle for using only three magics for the rest of my life.
That just wasn’t happening.
Now that I had obtained both Magic and Mystery, my ambitions had expanded far beyond simply learning a few spells.
I wanted to dive deeper—much deeper—into the world of magic.
I wanted to learn magic tool crafting, experiment with enchantments, and eventually even figure out how to create magic grimoires on my own.
The most logical place to learn all of that was, without any doubt, the Magic Country Altena.
As I was planning everything out in my head, Aurora suddenly spoke, “How do you feel after leveling up?”
Her tone was filled with genuine curiosity.
I stood up, stretched my arms, and tested my body a little, feeling the way my muscles moved and how my strength responded.
“Honestly? I feel like I’m at least three times stronger than before,” I answered.
The difference wasn’t insanely obvious at first glance, but the improvement was definitely there—solid, stable, and undeniable.
Then I focused on my magic.
My magic parameter had always been my highest, so the moment I got the Mage development ability, I could practically feel the surge.
If my guess was right, my Mind stat was now comparable to that of a Level 4 adventurer—even though Mage was only at rank “I.”
Once it ranked up further, the increase was going to be ridiculous.
The potential was honestly exciting.
Aurora watched me with overflowing joy, but then her expression suddenly shifted.
She looked nervous, almost anxious, and began fidgeting with her fingers.
“Ember—No, Tet,” she said, correcting herself like she was trying to be more intimate though she failed as it was opposite however for some reason her calling me Tet made me feel something.
“I… have something I want to tell you.”
I paused and turned toward her fully.
She looked extremely uneasy, and her cheeks were already turning red.
“I know you must be planning to throw a big celebration now that you’ve ranked up,” she began hesitantly, “but… um… Can you go on a date with me?”
Her voice dropped into a tiny whisper at the end, but I heard every single word clearly.
A date?
That one question confirmed every suspicion I’d had so far.
She really was in love with me.
All the small hints, the affectionate gestures, the clinginess—it all made sense now.
But the important part was… how did I feel?
I liked her.
Quite a lot, actually.
She wasn’t just my Goddess; over the years, she had become someone close, someone important, someone I genuinely cared about.
The idea of her becoming my lover didn’t feel strange or uncomfortable.
In fact, it felt… nice.
The moment the thought settled in, my heart skipped a beat.
She was standing there, blushing intensely, looking like she was bracing herself for heartbreak.
And honestly, leaving her waiting like that would’ve been rude as hell.
So I made up my mind.
“Goddess,” I said, speaking firmly so she wouldn’t misunderstand, “if it’s with you, then I’m willing.”
She froze for a moment, completely stunned.
“R-Really?” she asked, sounding like she couldn’t believe it.
Her eyes were wide, her mouth slightly open, and she looked adorable in a way I wasn’t prepared for.
I gave her a soft smile. “Yup.”
And then she exploded—literally jumped in place—cheering loudly, “Yes! Yes! Finally! Finally! I said it! A-And he accepted it!”
She hopped around in joy like she had just won the jackpot.
Her excitement filled the entire room.
Meanwhile, I couldn’t help feeling awkward because she was doing all of that right in front of me without holding back even a little.
Her excitement was overflowing to the point I didn’t know where to look.
Suddenly, with zero warning, she grabbed my hand tightly and announced, “Tet! Get ready for the best date of your entire life!”
Her enthusiasm was so strong that it felt contagious.
“Sure!” I responded, still processing everything, and right after I spoke, she leaned in and planted a quick kiss on my cheek.
My brain practically short-circuited.
Before I could say anything, she spun around and dashed toward the exit.
“Don’t forget! Tomorrow, 11 A.M. sharp! Don’t you dare be late!” she called out as she ran, sounding both threatening and excited at the same time.
The door shut with a loud thump, and I just stood there for a moment.
I slowly touched the exact spot where she had kissed me, still feeling the warmth lingering there.
“This girl…” I muttered with a helpless smile.
Despite being a Goddess who had lived for who knows how long, she acted like an energetic woman in her late twenties—vibrant, emotional, and full of life.
I felt my heart warm up from the inside, and a genuine excitement started bubbling up.
This was going to be my first date in this life.
Not only that, it would be with someone as beautiful and expressive as Aurora.
The thought alone was enough to make me nervous and thrilled at the same time.
“Still… it’s already been seven years, huh?” I whispered to myself.
The realization that I was twenty-three now came with a wave of nostalgia.
It had been seven long years since I last saw my mother and sister.
I missed them terribly, even though I tried to stay connected.
I had written letters every six months without fail, but I never received a single letter back.
It wasn’t surprising though—revealing my location could have put all three of us at risk if my father somehow got hold of that information.
‘Once I reach Altena, I’ll send them the address from there. If I settle down temporarily in a big city, it’ll be safer, and they’ll finally be able to write back,’ I thought.
It felt like the most sensible and safest plan for now.
But tomorrow was a different matter entirely.
Tomorrow was my date with Aurora.
Now that the adrenaline of the moment was fading, a dreadful, stressful realization hit me out of nowhere.
'What the hell am I supposed to wear tomorrow?'
I froze in place as the panic settled in.
Clothes weren’t exactly my specialty.
Fighting monsters? Sure.
Training? Absolutely.
Surviving? Easy.
But picking an outfit for a date?
That was an entirely different kind of challenge.
For the first time in a long while… I felt genuinely troubled.
...
“He accepted it! He actually accepted it! I can’t believe it!” she screamed internally as she rolled around on her bed like an overly excited child, hugging a pillow so tightly it looked like it might burst.
Ever since Ember had appeared in her life seven years ago, she had slowly but steadily fallen for him.
At first, it had been simple amusement—a curiosity.
But as time passed, that small spark turned into a crush, and that crush eventually developed into full-blown, undeniable love.
For reasons she herself couldn’t fully comprehend, she loved calling him by his nickname “Tet.”
The name felt intimate, soft, and personal—like something meant only for her lips to speak.
Every time she said it, her heart tightened just a little, as if some invisible thread connected the two of them.
It felt natural, almost like it had been decided long before she even descended into the mortal world.
She believed that Ember—Tet—was meant to be hers.
She knew Ember’s secrets, his habits, his thoughts better than anyone else in Shawn Village or Argon Town.
She had watched him grow, struggle, push forward, and change.
That knowledge made her feel special, privileged even.
“Oh Ember… oh Tet…” she whispered while giggling into her pillow, burying her face into it as her entire body squirmed with excitement.
Suddenly, she jumped up from her bed and rushed to her drawer.
“What should I wear tomorrow? This one? Or this one?!” she exclaimed, pulling out multiple outfits and tossing them onto the bed.
Logically, she knew that Ember would probably appreciate anything she wore.
He wasn’t the type to judge her appearance harshly.
But this wasn’t about logic.
She wanted tomorrow to be special.
She wanted him to look at her and think she was beautiful—no, stunning.
As she sorted through the clothes, some far more revealing than others, certain thoughts slipped into her mind.
Naughty, embarrassing thoughts.
Thoughts that turned her cheeks red and made her thighs press together involuntarily.
She imagined how the date might end, and the idea alone made her swallow hard.
‘That’s how a proper date is supposed to end… right?’ she wondered, despite not having any real experience.
She was a virgin Goddess, after all—untouched, inexperienced, and extremely curious.
She had never known the pleasure mortals or gods indulged in, but the thought of sharing that experience with Ember made her heart throb in anticipation.
She spent hours pacing around, imagining different scenarios, changing outfits over and over, and even practicing lines she might say.
Eventually, after exhausting herself mentally, she finally lay down on her bed again.
But the moment she closed her eyes… her brain refused to calm down.
‘I’m so nervous I can’t sleep!’ she panicked, tossing around as her heart hammered wildly inside her chest.
What she didn’t know was that, at that exact same moment, a certain High-Elf was lying awake on his bed too—experiencing the exact same sleepless misery.
To be continued...
Comments
Marvin Baltes
God i wish i could read all the chapters....
Akros Zero
Thanks for pointing out!
Azur Kris
There is a tiny mistake on the magic part of the status. The healing magic is not written on it?
