He had to say whatever he was asked to say, which seemed to conflict with mind reading—but hey, if it came with ten billion, who was he to complain? Another effect was the ability to control the enemy, turning them into his slaves. Of course, it didn't work on those with strong wills.
For enemies under Blaine's control, even the slightest command could make the implanted spiritual seed detonate. Those weaker than him would have their heads blown to pieces, while stronger ones would still suffer serious mental disruption.
For instance, in battle, if Blaine used the Soul Tracking skill and then detonated the spiritual seed, his opponent's mind would erupt like thunder. Even a brief lapse in concentration could become fatal. At Blaine's level, where strength was measured in split-second reactions, a single moment could shift the tide of a fight. If he was lucky and the target's mental fortitude was weak, the explosion might not kill them—but it could shatter their sanity, leaving them permanently deranged.
Originally, Blaine bought the skill only to track enemies instantly—essentially a replacement for his old tracking paper cranes. He hadn't expected such a powerful secondary effect after upgrading it to Level Five. This was far better than mere tracking. (It was basically cheating.)
"Amazing… truly amazing. Worthy of a Level Five skill."
Once a skill reached Level Five, it wasn't just talk—it was transcendence. Fifty billion might sound like too much, but it was absolutely worth it.
Next came the God of Destiny's Favor and the weakened Space Gem Ring.
When he bought the God of Destiny's Favor, Blaine assumed it would be useful when forging weapons. He hadn't expected it to cost ten billion, but since he happened to be flush with cash at the time, he bought it anyway.
As for the weakened Space Gem Ring, that one had countless potential uses. It was the real highlight of this shopping spree.
After a rough calculation, Blaine realized his purchases included two Level Three equipment pieces, one Level Five skill, and two non-upgradeable items—for a total of 75 billion and 2 million. With the 20% B-rank Hunter discount, the price came down to about 74.8 billion and 1.6 million.
"Looks like I've still got a few dozen billion left. Might as well upgrade the older skills."
First up were his physical techniques. Combined with Captain America's fighting style, he could already hold his own in an alien war. Swordsmanship and combat techniques were sufficient—no upgrades needed.
Next, Mind Control. Level Four was good enough. Even if he pushed it higher, it wouldn't affect stronger targets, and weaker ones weren't worth controlling. Besides, the Level Five Soul Tracking skill already made Mind Control redundant—once a spirit seed was planted, Mind Control could step aside.
Then there was Shadow Stealth, currently Level Three. It might prove unexpectedly useful later, but Level Three should suffice. Future enemies wouldn't be amateurs—most would sense hidden threats anyway. No need to waste points there.
That left only the Diamond Body of King Kong.
"Upgrade it. Take it to Level Six."
[Upgrading Diamond Body to Level Six will cause transformation. Proceed? Yes/No.]
"Yes."
Blaine didn't hesitate.
At Level Six, the Diamond Body of King Kong was practically half-divine. As his body upgraded, he felt crackling energy ripple through him—signs of rebirth. Before Level Five, the golden effect only coated his skin. Now, the change began from within: his bones gleamed gold, and even his blood shimmered with a metallic hue. If someone struck him, the sound would ring like tempered steel.
"The me right now—Hunter suit or not—you couldn't beat me even if you tried. Shock me, and I'll shock you to death!"
"Four billion, discounted to 3.2 billion. A steal."
Considering the effect, it really was a bargain. Then again, when it came to the system, it never truly lost money.
"There's still some left. Let's upgrade the Hunter suit to Level 50."
[Upgrading Hunter Suit to Level 50 will cost five billion. Proceed?]
"Five billion? Forget it."
After double-checking the zeros, Blaine froze, scratched his head, and canceled awkwardly.
[Recommendation: Host may upgrade to Level 40 instead.]
"Fine, Level 40 then."
Another 3.2 billion gone.
"Add fifty more physique points—make it full."
[Increasing total physique to 350 requires **; to 375 requires **. Proceed?]
"How much after the discount?"
Even Blaine, usually confident in his math, was lost this time. Ten billion here, four billion there—so many zeros that it hurt to count. Thankfully, the system handled calculations automatically.
[After applying a 20% B-rank discount, total cost is **.]
"Alright, fine. I've got enough balance. Go ahead."
[Host balance confirmed. Since today's total spending exceeds **, a limited-time discount zone has been activated.]
Blaine, still mourning his recent 90-billion spending spree, perked up instantly at the announcement. Maybe the system was finally showing mercy—offering a sale or a small gift. Instead, it opened the Discount Zone directly.
The moment he saw it, his heart leapt. Every time the Discount Zone appeared, it was full of insane deals—90% off, sometimes more. Each time, the items were either god-tier skills or ridiculously high-value equipment.
Blaine's excitement surged as he looked.
[System Property: Hunter Space 2.0]
Original Price: **
Current Price: **
Endless discounts! Constant price drops! Genuine markdowns! Buy before it's gone!
The ad copy was as obnoxious as ever—but Blaine didn't care. Who cared about cheesy slogans when 100 billion dropped to 1 billion? That was insane. He'd been worrying about how to get Hunter Space 2.0, and now it appeared like fate itself had handed it to him.
When you're cold, someone brings firewood. When you run out of paper, someone hands you a roll.
"God—no, God of Luck—thank you! Thank you! I, Blaine, swear I'll worship you for eight lifetimes! You're too damn timely—too damn perfect!"