Chapter 9

Currently I’m suffering from leakage.

No it’s not due to old age.

So, Advice, how can I get rid of this [Miasma (lesser)] debuff?

Simply use up the stored souls.

Got it. To do that we need a skill that uses souls as power.

Here are the skills you can learn at your current level.

[Magic Absorption (lesser)]: 5sp

[Magic Expulsion (lesser)]: 5sp

[Magic Armor (apprentice)]: 3sp

[Detect Magic (lesser)]: 2sp

[Soul Conversion]: 5sp

[Life Siphon (lesser)]: 5sp

[Exorcism]: 7sp

[Purification]: 15sp

There are four new skills. Let’s see, [Soul Conversion] might solve my problem.

[Soul Conversion] is a skill that substitutes magic power with Souls. Since you have no way of depleting your magic power by yourself, it is not a recommended choice.

What if I took [Magic Armor]? Isn’t that a spell?

[Magic Armor (apprentice)] is a skill that converts a portion of damage received into Mp loss, instead of Hp loss.

Since you have no way to hurt yourself this choice is not recommended.

Damn it!

I don’t think [Life Siphon] would help so the answer has to be in the last two.

[Exorcism]… That’s banishing evil spirits, right?

It refers to monsters that take the form of ghosts to commit evil deeds. If your Int is high, and the level difference is not large, you can defeat these monsters easily.

Then it’s [Purification] as I thought. I was hesitating on choosing it however, because…

The skill [Purification] costs 15sp. You currently have 16sp.

My precious skill points…

Is Miasma really that big a deal?

Not only are monsters attracted to Miasma, it is generally believed to be residue left behind by an Evil God. Most sentient races won’t hesitate to dispose of you, the source.

[Purification], GET!!!

Skill acquired! [Purification] has been added to the skill list.

Now, to use it on myself.

Even though it’s dark inside the pocket, it briefly lights up when I use [Purification].

Status Debuffs have been removed. The souls you were carrying have been purified and turned into experience. Soul Gauge has been depleted.

Title acquired! Due to your achievements, you have gained the title of [One Who Lays the Dead to Rest].

Titles [One Who Reaps Souls] and [One Who Lays the Dead to Rest] have combined to create a new title [One with the Death God].

…

This is where I splendidly use my powers of ignorance. Death God? Never heard of it. Unless it affects my daily life, I plan on keeping it that way.

The important part is that the Miasma is gone. It’s nice to know that Souls can become experience too.

Upon reaching level 20, you can now evolve again.

This again? I find it hard to care when I was spectacularly let down last time.

Normally there is only one path of evolution, and it is heavily influenced by your stats.

Explains why I became a magic pebble.

However you have unlocked the requirements to branch into a special evolution line.

Let’s hear the differences.

Normal evolutions are mainly straightforward upgrades to stats and skills. Special evolutions deviate from this and can increase stats in unexpected ways and can grant skills that are otherwise unobtainable.

It’s a gamble then.

One is general, but reliable. The other is rare, but unorthodox.

Hmmm.

Should I play it safe? No, it’s times like these that you have to take risks… but…

Ugh! Whatever! I choose the special evolution!

Special evolution confirmed. Base stats will be changed, and skills will be updated. During this time you will experience mild discomfort, therefore you will be put to sleep to avoid this.

Oh, this didn’t happen before! Can I expect something?

No, no. Better to expect nothing and be pleasantly surprised.

My eyes grew drowsy as a feeling of sleepiness washed over me. I’ll be a new pebble by the time I wake up. I just hope it’s for the better.