…
[
Item: Gae Bolg
Grade: Heroic
Sub-Grade: Top
Specification: The cursed spear that Cú Chulainn obtained from Scáthach in the Land of Shadows
Requirement:
— A Spear-related Ability
— Cú Chulainn's Recognition
— 3rd Threshold
— Strength > 150
— Stamina > 100
— Worth >500
Attributes:
— Measurement: 2 meters
— Material: Sea monster Curruid's bones
— Base Damage: 1500 HP
— Base Damage: 1875 HP (+25%, upon calling out its name)
— Semi-Sapient: Can follow simple commands
Skill: ???
Quality: 100%
]
…
This was the notification, detailing Gae Bolg's Stats, that Kai could see after he had obtained it by defeating Lancer.
A Top-level Heroic-Grade Item!!!
This was Kai's second such Item, the first being The Philosopher's Stone (Named).
The Storyline Artifact that Kai had obtained after manipulating the Hogwarts children all over the year, the same year when he had also obtained The Fate Borrower, was truly a power to behold.
Combined with Kai's Biokinesis and with its innate ability to purify corrupted souls, The Philosopher's Stone deserved its Heroic Grade. Even the Top-level Contestants of the 15th floor would go crazy over it if they somehow learned of all its Skills, Meg had claimed.
Its existence became an even bigger impossibility, and a greater mystery, when one remembered that the timeline that had offered this Item to Kai… had an Overall Difficulty of C+ Grade.
In Contestant's terms, that meant this particular timeline, on the rarest occasions, could bestow Items like The Philosopher's Stone up to Low-level Epic-Grade only, with most of them limited to Rare-Grade (Named).
For Kai to obtain the same Item as a Top-level Heroic-Grade, and that too a Named one, suggested that there was something extremely wrong with the timeline itself.
One could go even as far as suggesting that the Timeline was favoring Kai over other Contestants, something that would go against the Great Old Contract. Which, in turn, would mean that not only was there something wrong with the Timeline, but even the Deep One, who was allowing this favor to continue, was problematic as well.
And, ultimately, they would conclude that it was only possible if Kai's existence and potential stood on the same platform as Timeline and Deep One, meaning… he was an Outer One.
Merely knowing The Philosopher's Stone's Grade would get Kai in trouble.
The only reason he was still alive, despite Zelretch learning The Philosopher's Stone's Grade, was because He didn't know the Overall Difficulty of Kai's Main Mission's timeline.
So, yeah.
One Top-level Heroic-Grade Item was enough to become an existential threat for Kai, opening a world of possibilities to become powerful in return.
It didn't change one fact, though.
The Philosopher's Stone was a support-type Item.
That's why, when Kai had gained Kanshou and Bakuya Overedge, he had gone as far as using them as sticks, despite not being able to meet the Item's Requirements.
The swords were also Heroic-Grade, but of Low-level.
Gae Bolg surpassed Kai's wildest imagination, turning out to be of Top-level.
Yet, like Kanshou and Bakuya Overedge, and Kai not being favored by this Key Timeline of the Fate Bubble, Gae Bolg's Requirements didn't suit him.
As of now, he had only met two of the seven Requirements.
Getting an Ability was no big deal for Kai if he really wanted one. Barring that, even if he were to Buff him in the Reality Marble to the teeth, he would still not meet all its Requirements.
However, all changed when Black became a Hero.
Because a Hero could do unimaginable feats… like this.
…
[Congratulations Contestant Kai D. Stormborn. You have obtained three Skills for obtaining the Hero Title.]
…
Time stagnated around Black as he took the stance, pulling back his spear-wielding hand.
Medusa Alter was monstrously powerful than before. It was impossible to say how much strength he would need to overpower her. So, he needed a hand. He needed something that went against her entire existence.
So, proudly, Black asked for Sakura's help, keeping his spine straight, because — A Hero Never Turns His Back!
…
[
Skill: A Hero Never Turns His Back
Grade: A-
Specification: Gives a Chance to stand against all odds
Effect:
— Use one of your loyal followers' abilities
— Time Limit: 60 seconds
— Cooldown: 24 hours
Warning: Only one ability can be used at a time
]
…
On the tip of Gae Bolg, a black ball of Imaginary Element bubbled into existence, tiny spikes protruding out of it.
Hollow Element was a Heroic Spirit's nemesis as it directly attacked their spiritual nature.
Unluckily, this wouldn't be enough, either.
So yellow bolts of lightning danced around Gae Bolg, Black's mere gaze pinning down the Blackened Servant, because — A Hero's Will Is Unmatched!
…
[
Skill: A Hero's Will Is Unmatched
Grade: A-
Specification: Gives Courage to stand against all odds
Effect:
— Boosts all Will-related abilities
— Helps in comprehending various Will-related abilities across Multiverse
Warning: The Skill can result in the Contestant manifesting Conqueror's Haki-like concepts unwillingly
]
…
Black didn't need this Skill to comprehend any Will-related ability, but it did let him put his Conqueror Haki to better use.
Unfortunately, pinning Medusa Alter wouldn't matter if he couldn't even wield the weapon in his hands.
But Black strained his muscles and put all his hope on Gae Bolg anyway, because — A Hero Lives On!
…
[
Skill: A Hero Lives On
Grade: A-
Specification: Gives Hope to stand against all odds
Effect:
— Ignore the Requirements of all Heroic Grade Items
— Time Limit: 30 seconds
— Cooldown: 24 hours
Warning: Requirement of Luck and Worth cannot be ignored, unless compensated through other means
…
Item: Gae Bolg
Grade: Heroic
Sub-Grade: Top
Skill: Anti-Unit Cursed Death
Skill's Effects:
— Mana Consumption: 1000 MP
— Cancel all pure Mana-based Skills in 500 meters
— Reverses the nature of Causality, the Cause and Effect, to strike the target's heart
— Damage: +100 Target's Max. HP
— Curse: -10 HP/second
— Curse's Time Limit: Until Gae Bolg's Quality reaches 0%
— Can change its course to meet the Heart Is Pierced result
— Range: Unlimited [The target must be within 500 meters range when the Skill is activated]
Skill: Anti-Army Soaring Death
Skill's Effects:
— Mana Consumption: 3000 MP
— Life Consumption: 500 HP
— Detonates after the spear is hurled at the target/-s
— Splits itself into numerous spearheads to attack all targets
— Range: Unlimited [The target/-s must be within 500 meters range when the Skill is activated]
— AOE: 500 meters
— Damage: 4000 HP
WARNING:
— Anti-Unit Cursed Death only works against one living being [HP>0] at a time
— Even though Anti-Unit Cursed Death's Range is Unlimited, once the target leaves a particular timeline before the spear strikes, it is on the Contestant to help Gae Bolg continue the chase
— Anti-Army Soaring Death's Damage will be divided equally among all the spearheads
— Using Anti-Army Soaring Death in timelines with less than a C+ Overall Grade is forbidden
— Gae Bolg is Semi-Sapient. It will judge the Contestant on Cú Chulainn's perception. Using it for actions that go against Cú Chulainn's ideals can result in severe backlash
]
…
The spear shuddered as it bathed in Black's Haki, eying the evil down.
Gae Bolg promised to butcher Medusa Alter right here and now… only if Black could use its Skill.
But how?
Black could neither refill his Mana reserves on his own, nor could he ask for someone else's help.
However, in the very next moment, Mana rushed into Gae Bolg, making it explode with bloody flames.
Because a Hero could do unimaginable feats… like this
…
[
Congratulations Kai D. Stormborn
Your Item — Black's fate is resonating with your Hero Title
…
Congratulations Contestant Kai D. Stormborn
Your Item — Black has upgraded
…
Item: Black
Grade: Heroic (Growth)
Sub-Grade: Top-level
Specification: Black is…
Error!
Error!!
]
…
With his Mana, Life, and Breath reserves shooting to their maximum limit, combined with other Buffs, Black poured 1000 MP in the Heroic-Grade Item, making them both feel drunk.
"Gae…"
CRACKKKKK!
Black planted his foot on the ground, yellow bolts of lightning tearing through the space, upending everything.
Then, under the admiring gaze of Deep Ones and Timeline, the Hero fulfilled his duty.
"… Bolg!!"
Booooooooom!!!
A red streak, tipped with an imaginary blackness, traced a straight line toward the Blackened Heroic Spirit, the Greater Grail's black hole shuddering in the sky.
But all knew that throwing the spear wasn't necessary, because when Black had thought of killing Medusa Alter, Gae Bolg had already pierced her heart.
What happened next… was merely a formality.
*****************
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