Elena and Lenore had a set of dumbbells each in their hands. They stood facing each other, separated by a few steps in between.
They had a strained expression on their faces, but their eyes were burning with fighting spirit, doing the bicep curls.
Their arms were pumped and refusing to lift themselves up, their training tops soaked with sweat, muscles screaming for oxygen, but no one was backing out. Sparks were flying between them as they stared right into each other, refusing to bend first, as if they were in an unspoken competition with each other.
Aeron and Blaze stood in attention while Thorgar was giving them instructions. On the other hand, Grey was seated on the bench, sweat dropping on the floor, gasping, after he was done with his bench press.
He was staring at Blaze, though his eyes were fixed on him, inside, various thoughts were troubling him one after the other. All the question marks on Blaze's character panel were making him curious.
In the game, the characters had no concept of bloodlines and origin skills. The only details available were the stats, the general skills and the level. After transmigrating, he was introduced to the bloodlines, the cultivation realms and the origin skills.
The one thing that was striking his mind again and again were the future events. Blaze was the hero of the story that the game was based on. The character storyline that followed when players played as Blaze, were important for the main story.
He didn't know if Blaze really was in the C class during his academy days, or this was the butterfly effect caused by his interferences. If Blaze doesn't awaken and recovers the powers he should have had, this will disrupt the complete balance of the original plot.
His eyes of revelation were not revealing the hidden information, and his demonic eyes were also not helpful since all he saw was a sphere of unknown aura source hidden within his aura core, which was probably his potential yet to awaken.
What surprised Grey was that he saw a small sphere of unknown aura dormant even within Aeron, but the character panel had shown nothing of this sort previously.
Grey came to a conclusion that the eyes of revelation was still lower in class, the demonic eyes were showing him hidden aspects, but not definite stats or description to look at.
Then, a thought struck him. What if he could combine eyes of revelation and demonic eyes. Wouldn't the two evolve and eradicate the weakness both of the skills had.
"System! Can origin skills be combined for evolution?"
DING!
[It is possible to combine origin skills but not origin and general skills]
[Success depends on compatibility of the skills]
[Rate of success is 12%]
[Upon failure both the skill may be lost, in turn awarding a skill of lower tier]
"There are stakes it seems." The system's words put Grey into worry. There were chances that he would get an overwhelmingly powerful skill after evolution. But if it fails, he'd lose everything, the eyes of revelation, was too precious a skill to lose, it was the basis for his confidence right now.
Grey went into thought. Both the skills were related to vision and provide information and details. If he had to guess, their compatibility with each other shouldn't be low. Rather, they were the most compatible skills in his arsenal right now.
After struggling a lot, Grey finally decided.
A deep sigh escaped him. Steeling his mind, he conveyed his wishes to the system.
"Combine eyes of revelation and demonic eyes for evolution."
[Proceed with combining the skills for evolution
-Accept -Reject]
Hesitation and uncertainty were still heavy in his senses, but taking a leap of faith, he decided to go on with it, clicking on accept.
[Selected skills are combined]
[Skill evolution activated]
[Skill Cosmic aura (SSS) affecting the evolution process]
[Bloodline Dark Demonic Solarian affecting the evolution process]
[Skill evolution in progress: 1%....3%...5%....7%.....18%.....25%.....]
Seeing the cosmic aura and bloodline affecting the evolution process, Grey finally felt a bit relieved, when these two factors get involved, the results would never disappoint, only surprise awaited the other end.
[98%....99%....100%]
DING!
[New skill obtained: Eyes of omniscience (SS+)
The eyes that see everything. You can see the character information of others, along with hidden details as well as potential. Nothings can hide in front of your gaze. The eyes now hold a godly pressure, shaking the very cores of your enemy. There is a small chance you may see flashes of the future.]
"Damn! I can see future now? But how would it work, can I see the future willingly system?"
There was no response. No matter how much he asked, the system kept its silence.
Grey sighed in helplessness. Pushing his curiosity back, he immediately activated his new skill to look at Blaze.
[ Blaze Maximus ]
RACE: Human (Half Sunforged)
BLOODLINE: Dawnbringer (Primordial)(Dormant)
LEVEL: 15 (EXP: 1578/ 1600)
CULTIVATION REALM: Aetherial Spark
STAMINA: 18
STRENGTH: 18
INTELLIGENCE: 12
AGILITY: 19
ORIGIN SKILLS: Lord of flames (SS+) (Dormant), Heavenly physique (S+) (Dormant)
GENERAL SKILLS: Dash (B+)(Active), Aura slash (B+)(Active), Leap (C+)(Active)
"That's the hero for you! The day his bloodline awakens, he'll jump up the ranks like crazy. He's a Sunforged like me. But what is this bloodline? Shouldn't he have Solarian blood if he's a Sunforged?"
Confused and skeptical, Grey turned to the only encyclopedia he had, the system. And this time the system didn't answer with silence.
[Dawnbringer is the royal bloodline in the Sunforged race, higher than the Solarian. They are the bane of dark beings. Known and feared across the universe.]
"It's a primordial rank for a reason then. I hope he awakens soon and fulfills his role as the hero. Or else the future will change drastically, and I don't want to be part of that, or be the hero."
DING!!
As if the system read his mind, it jumped in to help Grey, or not.
[Urgent Mission: Right what you wronged
Blaze Maximus was to awaken his bloodline in the sunfall dungeon. Since you took the opportunity away from him. You are to now help him awaken. Find the Dawn stone in the cracked lands dungeons. Refill the stoup holding the Sanguine wellspring and let Blaze awaken]
[Time limit: 94 days]
[Reward: Activation of main storyline missions, map to Grimhold (Land of the dwarves)]
[This mission cannot be declined]
"You really are a bastard system! You're the biggest death flag of mine!"