Only I Am A Reader

"It works…"

Leo's mind was overwhelmed by a strange mix of emotions. Excitement, confusion, expectations, curiosity, and many others joined as one as he witnessed the change occurring to his own hand!

To be more accurate, the end of his arm could no longer be called a hand, rather, it had extended forward to take the shape of a sword blade!

The blade didn't seem fully metallic as it was closer to darkened bones, but its edge was just as sharp. The one part that fascinated Leo the most was that the blade's shape was exactly as he imagined it to be…

"This is another new…"

Leo had plenty of new experiences ever since he came to this world, but his current experience definitely deserved a spot at the top. Even his first 'ascension' couldn't be compared with it in Leo's opinion.

'Breathing' did give him a supernatural ability. However, that ability was undeniably 'external'. On the other hand, the ability to transform one's limbs into blades was the exact opposite of that!

Unfortunately, despite wanting to understand everything, Leo was completely lost as a new 'mutant'. He only understood the principle behind the ability from the record, but that was it.

The Sword of Epoch's fragment that was planted within the Sword Seed was now 'flexibly' under his control, allowing him to form 'swords' with his body tissue by joining with it, which also explained the metallic sheen it had.

"Time is the only answer."

In the end, Leo could only rely on the most trustable teacher, learning by experimentation! He would figure it out with time, but this wasn't the place to do so.

Leo knew that it was time to leave, but he moved his eyes away from his 'Sword' as there was still one last thing to do! Checking his 'Personal Book'!

[ Book 1 ]

Name: Arthur (Leo Lock)

Age: 19 (18)

Role: Reader

Reading Points: 1745

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Personal Statistics:

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True Sword Breath: 1000/1000

Physique: 3.52

Mind: 1.5 (+2)

Sword Breath: 1000

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Personal Skills:

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'Intermediate Swordsmanship' - Chapter 2 - page 10/10

'Intermediate Smithing' - Chapter 2 - page 0/10

'Basic Horsemanship' - Chapter 1 - page 8/10

'Basic Close Quarter Combat' - Chapter 1 - page 7/10

________________________

Personal Abilities:

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'Universal Sword Breathing' - Grade 9 - 10/10

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Personal Talents:

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- 'Sword Body' - 1/10

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Events:

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- Event Erasure - Special

- Teaching Crane - Unique

- Jared's Survival - Unique

- Source Uprooting - Unique

- Realigning Destiny - Impossible (3)

- Counter Elimination - Impossible

________________________

'Sword Body!'

The page had many changes to it, but the very first thing Leo laid his eyes upon was the completely new addition!

The change to his True Sword Breath was what he sought by coming here, and something unreachable to most. After all, it was a necessity for Leo who planned to join in the fun with Ray and the final boss, the monsters whose abilities weren't confined by normal people's concept of the peak.

However, all Leo could think about now were the countless possibilities this new 'Talent' of his represented. Ascending beyond the peak was an incredible feat, but breaking out of the 'rules' was an entirely new concept!

At the same time Leo was checking out his 'Personal Book', his Sword Breath was being roused for one last test… There was no discrimination towards his 'Hand Sword'! His body truly achieved the goal that the Holy Sword School so desperately sought!

Swish!

The researchers desired to emulate the Sword Beasts' natural weapons, but what Leo embodied was far ahead. He was a human, but he was also a vessel, a sword, and its sheath, all in one!

"Worthy of being the mid-boss."

Leo solemnly commented as he watched his hand take shape once more. In order for his body to accept the complete mutation, his Physique had received a huge boost that made his mutation all the more terrifying. This was mostly due to the character he inhibited, but Leo believed that he finally had the right to be called a 'monster' as well!

'There is no way this is just a coincidence.'

Leo had taken it as irony when he first found himself in Arthur's body, but as time went by, he was proven completely wrong. Being Ray's brother naturally had its disadvantages, but it had brought him more good than harm.

A loving 'family', a generous friend, a caring teacher, and an advantageously mutated body. While it was true that Leo had to act upon his knowledge as a Reader to reach this point, Arthur's identity was just as precious as it was dangerous.

It was as if Leo was intentionally put to become something special, someone who wouldn't have the option of remaining as an observer from the sidelines!

Although Leo wasn't sure about the basis behind his 'character selection', he was now sure that it wasn't random, there was definitely a certain criteria behind it!

Unfortunately, this was another question that Leo couldn't get the answer to anytime soon, replenishing the long list that shrank after Leo read the research record.

"All at a time."

Putting away the 'Personal Book', Leo held the thick stack of paper before taking out a flint lighter and setting it on fire. Not only did the record contain enough information to spark the foundation of ten more Holy Sword Schools, but it also held vital information about his special nature, so there was no way he would leave it out in the open like this.

"This should be enough."

With time already being tight due to the sequence of unexpected outcomes, Leo hurriedly rummaged through the place to display a certain 'state'. He took one last glance at the helpless children, only to walk away in the end. He would certainly save them, but not this way.

"You-"

Swish!

Going back above ground, Leo resisted trying out his 'Hand Sword' as he used Sword Breaker to silence the few 'actors' that occupied the pub. He made sure that his clothes didn't have blood on them before walking out.

'The race with time begins now.'

Walking as fast as he could without attracting attention, Leo's gaze sharpened as it focused in the direction of his 'hotel', he had to leave Sky-Pierce City before it was too late!