The results displayed on the parchment far exceeded his expectations. Charlie had never imagined that his stats, previously ranked only at I, could skyrocket to the maximum level in an instant.
"If I think about it carefully, this result isn't actually surprising. Heracles wasn't just stronger than me—this was a case of the weak challenging the strong. Moreover, I had to take his life twelve times. This outcome is fair compensation for the Excelia I received."
Calming his shock, Charlie realized he had been somewhat pessimistic in assessing his own achievements.
Excelia is essentially the crystallization of life experience. The more meaningful and challenging the experience, the higher the quality of Excelia an adventurer obtains.
For example, defeating 500 Goblins might mean nothing to a Level 3 adventurer, yielding only minimal Excelia. Only by fighting opponents at least close to one's level—or those capable of providing meaningful challenge in battle—can one gain enough Excelia to affect their Status.
In Charlie's case, he gained an overwhelming amount of Excelia after risking his life and successfully defeating Heracles—a feat that required twelve different methods to kill him.
"Has Charlie fulfilled the other requirements for leveling up?"
Aishia's question snapped Charlie out of his reverie.
"Yes. The great achievement has been fulfilled. I can level up anytime."
A great achievement is a life-threatening feat that grants an adventurer a massive amount of high-quality Excelia—the specific type of experience required to level up. It is a pivotal event that proves one has overcome their personal limits, not merely gradual Excelia accumulation.
(Thank you, Heracles. You truly are my lucky star. Not only did you give me Excelia and a great achievement to level up, you even bestowed upon me both of your priceless Noble Phantasms. Gratitude alone doesn't seem enough.)
Charlie felt deeply grateful for Heracles' generosity. Of course, none of it came free—he fought for it by risking his own life.
"Hurry and level up, Onii-chan. We don't know what enemy will come next. I don't want anything bad to happen to you."
"Sorry for making you worry, Est. Alright, I'll level up now."
Charlie patted Est's head to comfort her.
"…"
Meanwhile, Kei, sitting beside them, didn't understand what they were talking about—Excelia, Noble Phantasm, Level. He just ate quietly while watching Charlie interact with the two spirit girls, but his instincts told him something important was about to happen.
"…"
Charlie no longer delayed. He immediately began the leveling process. This was a crucial moment in preparing for the next threat.
With practiced motion, he once again dripped Hera's blood from the glass vial onto his forehead, then activated the skill The Chosen Savior to initiate the evolution.
*BUZZ!*
The Falna on his back glowed again, radiating a holy aura stronger than before. Charlie felt an unstoppable surge of energy coursing through every cell in his body.
He experienced an incredible rush of power as he leveled up to Level 6. It felt as if his entire body was flooded with pure energy, every cell reinforced and infused with new strength.
His exhausted body recovered completely in an instant—not just wound healing, but a fundamental enhancement of his physical limits. His mind sharpened, and the world seemed to slow down, granting absolute clarity to every detail around him.
This was the intoxicating sensation only an adventurer could feel upon reaching a higher tier…
At the same time, Charlie was presented in his mind with two Development Ability options to choose from.
(Hunter and Nexus. An unknown Development Ability…)
Thanks to his access to the Hera Familia archives, Charlie knew nearly every Development Ability that had ever appeared in history.
Luck, Mystery, Chain Attack, Strong Body. Those were his four Development Abilities so far. Though extremely rare, they weren't truly unique.
But Nexus… This was the first time Charlie had encountered a Development Ability not recorded in the archives. In other words, he would be the first adventurer in history to possess it.
(Compared to Hunter, whose effects are certain, Nexus is like a gacha with unpredictable results.)
Charlie hesitated.
Hunter provided a boost in performance against monsters he had previously fought, plus bonus Excelia—a safe and profitable choice. Nexus, on the other hand, was full of uncertainty.
(Never mind, take the risk. Worst case, the effect isn't very useful. But if I'm lucky, the benefits will be massive!)
Without hesitating too long, Charlie quickly made his decision. He chose to try something new rather than follow the mainstream path most adventurers would take by playing it safe.
*BUZZZZZ!*
The leveling process concluded after Charlie selected his fifth Development Ability: Nexus.
Next, Aishia repeated her earlier action, copying Charlie's Status from his back onto a blank parchment and handing it to him.
⊰✧⊱
Charlie Avalon
Level 6
Strength: I (0)
Endurance: I (0)
Dexterity: I (0)
Agility: I (0)
Magic Power: ∞
Magic:
✧ [Spirit Art]
- High affinity with Spirits
- Manipulation of Odo to cause world-altering phenomena without magic circles or incantations
✧ [Spirit Contractor]
- Form contracts with Spirits
✧ [Aithra Athanatos]
- Inflicts incurable curse wounds
- The closer the user is to the target, the user can reopen the target's wounds if within sufficient range
- Effect disappears if the target or user dies
Skills:
✧ [The Chosen Savior]
- Rapid growth rate
- Highest-rank Instant Death resistance
- Highest-rank poison and curse resistance
- Highest-rank charm and mind control resistance
- Status can be updated independently using only divine blood
✧ [Prodigy Swordsman]
-100% comprehension of swordsmanship
✧ [Infinite Essence]
-Infinite energy source, enabling limitless combat
✧ [Triptolemus Arc]
-Increases speed and luck when pursued
✧ [Dragon Slayer]
-Natural enemy affinity toward all dragons, boosts all attributes when fighting dragons, and deals special extra attacks against dragons
✧ [Armor of Fafnir]
-Nullifies physical and magical attacks equivalent to Rank B
✧ [Crystallized Wisdom]
-Can communicate with all animals, including phantasmal species
✧ [Six Eyes]
- Absolute control of energy down to the atomic level
- Sees energy flow within living beings
- Vision comparable to high-definition infrared camera
- Can easily see objects several kilometers away and clearly distinguish figures within that range
✧ [Immortality]
- Longevity
- Does not age
✧ [Senrigan]
- Clairvoyance to any location in the world to see and hear distant events as if physically present
- Can view the past
✧ [God Hand]
- Immunity: Automatically nullifies all physical or magical attacks of Rank B or below
- Twelve Lives and Stacking Resistance: Each time the host is killed by a specific type of attack, they revive and immediately gain total immunity to that damage type
✧ [Nine Lives]
-Ultimate attack technique that adapts to any weapon and unleashes nine consecutive simultaneous strikes
Development Abilities
Luck: G
Mystery: F
Chain Attack: F
Strong Body: H
Nexus: I
Charlie examined his new Status with mixed feelings. He had reached Level 6 in record time. He worried that reporting this to the Guild would cause an uproar in Orario, and trouble would follow.
(Whatever. With Level 6 power, there aren't many problems I can't handle.)
He left that responsibility to his future self. His priority now was the present!