Not everyone gets the opportunity to choose a Development Ability when leveling up, but famous adventurers typically possess two or more.
The time for growth at each level is limited, so chances to obtain Development Abilities are correspondingly scarce, and no matter how many appear, only one can ultimately be selected.
For example, if no Development Ability appeared at Lv. 2, but three suddenly appeared when leveling up to Lv. 3, even then, only one could be chosen.
This was the common sense of the world, a limit imposed by the gods upon the children of the lower world.
Hephaestus is quite an experienced Familia deity, a master smith who has seen every manner of growth, and while she has many excellent children under her care, nothing could have prepared her for the parchment currently in her hands.
"This is just too absurd!"
Her voice echoed through the forge, sharp and full of genuine disbelief.
The gods love excitement and surprises, but this is straight-up shocking.
Even for a Goddess of the Forge, who dealt in the legendary and the impossible, the status update before her defied the logic of the Falna itself.
[Blacksmith], [Mixer], [Escape], [Abnormal Resistance], [Healing], [Crushing], [Mystery], [Mage], [Hunter], [Fist Strike], [Magic Resistance], [Mind Healing], [Fortitude], [Diving], [Enhancement].
Hephaestus lost count trying to see how many options there were.
The list seemed to scroll endlessly down the boy's back, etched in the divine ink of her own blood.
'Did this boy sweep up every single Development Ability in existence?' she wondered, her eye twitching at the sheer impossibility of the sight.
It was as if the world couldn't decide what he should become, so it offered him everything at once.
"Noah, listen..."
"Huh?"
The boy stood dumbfounded after hearing his deity's description.
He felt the heat of the forge behind him, but his mind was freezing over as he tried to process the words coming from Hephaestus.
Due to this abnormal situation, he had no choice but to take the list of Development Abilities transcribed by the goddess and carefully consider them.
A full three pages.
All different Development Abilities.
Noah stared at the papers, his mind racing.
He pondered: 'The condition for Development Abilities to appear is fulfilling specific requirements during the accumulation phase—meaning gaining corresponding experience and accumulating a certain amount.'
'No way... does Truth Seeker could it even do something like this?'
He clutched the pages tighter.
How many times had Truth Seeker triggered over the past year? Too many to count.
Every strike of the hammer, every sharpened blade, every moment of contact with the gear of others—it had all been recorded.
Because of this, he now embodied the potential of thousands of adventurers across Orario!
The experience of the masses had been distilled into his own flesh through that singular, terrifying skill.
'And with so many Development Abilities, i could only choose one? Hahaha, damn it—is this a joke from the gods, or is this the limit of mortals?'
Hephaestus watched him, her expression softening into something more serious, even cautious.
"That skill of yours clearly has far too many unknown aspects. Now I realize my earlier judgment was far too shallow."
'It might actually be the strongest skill—'
Hephaestus didn't voice the latter part aloud, afraid Noah might grow arrogant from it.
She had seen too many children of the lower world stray down wrong paths due to lack of mental fortitude; the seven deadly sins are roots of great sin even the gods cannot avoid.
It's not that she didn't trust her children.
It was simply what she learned from experience.
Unlike eternal, unchanging gods like them, children of the lower world change easily—for better or for worse.
In any case, a process plays a crucial role.
Both corruption and growth require time.
As the deity of his Familia, she must witness her child's life to the very end, guiding him through the flames like a piece of raw iron.
"Eh, this is!?"
The moment a certain Development Ability's name appeared at the very bottom of the third page, Noah's body—no, his very soul—stirred with excitement.
It wasn't because of the power it promised or the tactical advantage it might provide in the Dungeon.
Not because of the ability itself, but simply because of those familiar strokes.
The characters were written in a way that resonated with a memory he couldn't quite place, yet knew intimately.
The goddess followed his gaze and explained, "Ah, this skill—I can't read it either. The Falna merely draws out the latent potential of the lower world's children. Many hidden matters even the gods cannot comprehend."
"I choose this Development Ability!"
Noah's gaze instantly turned resolute.
He gently traced the word with his finger, no longer feeling any reluctance or hesitation over losing the other Development Abilities.
[Blacksmith] could wait, [Mystery] was tempting, but this... this was his.
"Since it's my child's choice, as a parent, I'll support you all the way." Hephaestus smiled faintly and completed the status update for Noah, her thumb pressing firmly against his skin to seal the choice.
[Name]: Noah
[Level]: LV. 2
[Status]:
Strength: I0 |
Endurance: I0 |
Dexterity: I0 |
Agility: I0 |
Magic: I0
[Development Ability]: Enhancement I
[Magic]: (Empty) [Skills]:
-Truth Seeker
Can appraise anything touched, effect strengthens with closer contact.
While repairing equipment, has a chance to gain insights from the equipment's user and grow.
When crafting items, has a chance to raise the product's grade by one level.
-Spell-Weaver
Can directly manipulate magical power.
Can directly manipulate elements.
-Nullifier
Nullifies one lethal attack and removes all abnormal statuses; can only activate once every 24 hours.
He didn't choose Blacksmith, nor did he choose Mystery, but instead selected the Development Ability named "Enhancement," which even divine script couldn't decipher.
After his ascension to Level 2, Noah successfully awakened the Enhancement Development Ability and immediately gained some understanding of it.
This was undoubtedly a power surpassing Blacksmith.
It could even change the entire value assessment of equipment in Orario—no, the entire world!
And this was just the basic effect of Enhancement I.
"Enhancement I"
Activates at will.
Cannot target living beings.
Has a chance of failure.
Upon success, increases the target's base capabilities by 10%, effects can be stack!
Can be used up to 5 times within 24 hours.
After understanding it, Noah let out a deep breath, his heart hammering against his ribs.
'Damn! Isn't this just equipment enhancement from games?!'
'Well, well—this is practically ushering in a new era for the Dungeon! Will Orario's ever be the same again?'
The thought of adventurers standing at the entrance of the Babel tower, shouting for "plus-level" gear like players in an MMO, made him want to laugh and cry at the same time.
He looked at his hands, realizing the sheer weight of what he now held.
'I've stopped being normal too...'
Noah shook his head, clearing away the distracting thoughts, and began to think seriously.
This is Orario, where cheaters gather.
No matter how overpowered Enhancement seems, in the end, it's just a "Development Ability."
Compared to Orario's three biggest cheaters it's not strong enough to create a generational gap yet.
But from today on, he had likely secured the fourth seat among Orario's biggest cheaters.
He looked back at Hephaestus, who was watching him with a mixture of pride and curiosity.