Bro, I'm not an Undead!

[ Name : None ]

[ Level : 1 ]

[ Experience : 1000/1000, <Pending> ]

[ Class : None ]

[ Race :  Discount Human ]

[ Inv. Status  : Still doomed ×2, Cursed ]

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[ Stats ]

[ Strength : 40 ]

[Agility : 10 ]

[ Intelligence : 40 ]

[ Endurance : 10 ]

[ Luck : Atrocious? ]

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[ Health : 60/60 ]

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[ Mana : 20/105 ]

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[ Skills ]

[ Basic Mana Manipulation | Lv. ]

[ Flesh It Like You Mean It | Lv. 1 ]

[ Bitter-Sweet Hell's Inferno | Lv. 3 ]

[ Artless Dodger | Lv. 1 ]

[ Mana Bolt | Lv. 4 ]

[ Null Extraction ]

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[ Affinities ]

[ Evil Darkness - D ]

[ Just Light ]

~~~~

Skullius grinned.

His new status held promise. Already, the effect of the additions to his stats were starting to show as his mind didn't feel muddled anymore. He felt a powerful surge of strength and a growth in his core to carry over a 100 Mana Points!

'This is interesting! Does everyone go through this process? Wouldn't you become unbelievably strong just by participating in this place? No, probably not,' Skullius thought as he turned behind him.

There was nothing but darkness. No exit where one could simply wave goodbye and thank the Labyrinth for the meal.

'I don't think you can leave after killing everything in your way. Oh! Is that the reason why Labyrinth splits people up?!' Skullius inferenced.

This seemed like a reasonable assumption. If this place could split up challengers, in many a case at the very least, those with the Keys would most likely be separated, unable to find their way to each for an escape after reaping some gains.

This conclusion still begged the question of why Fulgardt was willing to grant capable challengers who could defeat these prisoners a sizable boost to their strength.

What would he gain?

Was he that benevolent?

No one would believe that, even Skullius as the short introduction he had been given of Fulgardt didn't exactly chalk him to be a saint.

'Hmm. Anyway, if I have to continue going forward, then I guess I should wait for my mana to fill up. I can also try out to see what this increase in [Evil Darkness] can do.'

Skullius reached his hand towards the darkness and surprisingly, it moved along with the movement of his hand!

There was vast difference from when he had used it prior to killing Sila.

Visible lumps of darkness swayed this way and that, following his every intended gesture.

While this feeling was great, he didn't get what the endgame was? What else could this darkness do? It was called [Evil Darkness]. Was there something more to it?

Skullius suddenly got an idea when he looked to at the illuminated ground where Sila's body lay.

There was no way this was an infinite space with no walls. This was a labyrinth, so logically, this was supposed be a room filled with this mystical element.

The Discount Human raised both his hands and began focusing to part the darkness before him. Slowly, the black was pushed away and some manner of visibility was restored.

Skullius walked for a few meters before he reached a wall.

Since his sight had already acclimated to the normal darkness, he could see the contents of the wall just fine.

Various markings could be seen strewn about on the wall.

They weren't simple markings drawn without a sense of substance. Darkness could be seen wiggling in the groves of the carved symbols that looked consistent enough to be a form of language or some sort of spell.

Skullius couldn't read it. [Greater Communication] didn't cover literacy after all.

He touched the symbols and a strange feeling bubbled within his body. It was a reaction from [Evil Darkness] which sought to connect with what was written on the walls!

Skullius found a surge of darkness welling up within his body as his affinity to the dark element caused him to grasp some of the symbols written on the walls.

Instinctively, Skullius began saying out the words he understood under the influence of [Evil Darkness].

"One... bound... forever.... yoked.. Those... to... captives... gain.... their strength... will.... done..."

Skullius confusedly tilted his head. Even though his upgraded affinity to [Evil Darkness] had helped him understand some of the words, the paragraph that he had read made no sense.

As he looked further, parting the darkness, he saw that there was a whole lot more to be unlocked.

Unexpectedly...

[You have managed to partially learn a high level art with your flimsy level of affinity to 'Evil Darkness']

[You are the second individual to achieve this feat and the Labyrinth gives its reluctant congratulations]

[Certain conditions have been met...]

[You have awakened the forbidden art of 'Evil Veneration', created by Fulgardt to battle the Deities of Aigas and beyond]

[You are unable to use the fullness of a high level art]

['Pseudo Evil Veneration' has been awakened. You are able to use the art of 'Evil Veneration' at a capacity of 1%]

"What? I gained something like this?" Skullius looked at the notifications dumbly. "Veneration? What does it do?"

As this was already available in his status panel, Skullius checked the details.

~~~

[ Pseudo Evil Veneration | 1% ]

<Verbal Veneration Type>

Words delivered with an evil and cruel intent will be actualised to reality to a certain extent. Due to the art being a lesser form of the true 'Evil Veneration', the use is limited to short phrases and the efficacy varies depending on luck and how cruel the intent propounded is. Differences in strength barely matter, unless opponent has reached a high Realm of power.

~~~

"..."

This was...

Skullius re-read what was written many times before he slumped and cooled down.

"Whatever I say... actually..." he said. "But wait, there must be a limit. This is ridiculous. Of course, it says that level doesn't matter but..."

What was this?

This was a bit too much for Skullius. Things were happening a bit too fast.

It was really a good thing for him to have escaped from Denille when he did as now he had managed to reap some sizable benefits already.

'Is this something someone of my level should have though?' Skullius thought. 'Who cares?! With enough practise I'll definitely make this into something that will allow me to reap Somanda... among other things...!'

At a moment like this, Skullius was again thinking to do all night spam spree with Red Rage if the future allowed.

"It's based on luck though... <Sigh>. Will this end well for me? I should still try it out, right?" Skullius said as he once again stared at the status panel, genuinely thinking that this new addition to his arsenal would suddenly disappear.