I finally finished recounting everything while sitting on the bed across from Clementine.
And her reaction was obvious.
"How disgusting... So humans like that still exist. It's even worse because he's powerful."
She then met my gaze.
"But are you sure about the project?"
I nodded.
"I vaguely know what'll happen in it. It's fine."
"It's not fine. You're going to suffer just to get a little stronger...? Amon, there must be another way."
"There isn't."
There wasn't any other way that would get me the same results.
That much, I was completely sure of.
So as much as Clementine didn't want me to do it, I wanted to.
I thought we'd go back and forth in disagreement, but instead, she lowered her head and nodded at me.
"You must promise me that whatever happens, you'll return safely."
"..."
"I promise."
I don't intend to die here.
"Good."
A faint smile appeared on her face.
"In that case, you'll need to get a bit stronger. You need my help with your second gift, so I'll help you. Let's start right away."
Before she could do anything, I raised a hand, stopping her.
"Not here. Let's get out of the city."
She blinked, then furrowed her brows in understanding.
Just like that, the two of us left our home and flew out of the city.
When I could no longer see the city in the distance, I knew it was fine.
"You thought he was going to feel your second Gift?"
I nodded.
"I don't want the headmaster knowing about it just yet."
She shrugged and then sat down with her back turned to me.
"Sit behind me and place your hands on my back... over my heart. I'm going to channel both of my Gifts, so feel how my energy flows, okay?"
I could probably do it just with Blood Sight alone.
But since she's offering, why not?
I sat down, and when I placed my hands on her back, I could feel her slender back through her clothes.
She sat there silently for a moment, and after coughing, she began channeling her energy.
At first, it looked the same as when I do it.
However, when she began channeling the second Gift, I realized the difference.
When I channeled Telekinesis and Lightning Affinity, it was always through the same pathway as Telekinesis.
Whereas Clementine channeled her Charm and Soul Weapons Gifts through different pathways.
I felt as though I was enlightened, and so for the next two hours, I observed how Clementine's energy flowed.
I finally took my hand off her back and then stood up.
At first, I channeled my Telekinesis, and it was the same as usual.
However, it still contained some traces of lightning.
So I decided to look at it more deeply.
I closed my eyes and imagined myself creating two pathways inside my heart.
I separated Telekinesis into one pathway and the crackling energy into another.
Although I didn't expect it to be easy, I was met with quite a lot of resistance.
But regardless of the resistance, I continued imagining that pathway and separation until finally...
[Ding!]
I immediately opened my eyes, and I was met with two pleasant surprises.
[You have unlocked the Gift: Lightning Manipulation]
[You have unlocked the Special Ability: Lightning Resistance]
I did it.
Clenching my fists, I tried my best to hold back my excitement.
I used Telekinesis to uproot a nearby tree, and to my surprise, there was no lightning infused into it anymore.
Then, I tapped into the second pathway I had just made.
I felt like I had total control of lightning, and so, when I glanced at the uprooted tree, I imagined my lightning hitting it.
And to my surprise...
Crackle
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!
Lightning descended from the sky, obliterating the tree and causing rocks and debris to fly my way.
Instead of letting it fly past, I snapped my fingers, freezing every single projectile.
Then, by using lightning manipulation, I destroyed all the projectiles, turning them into dust.
As the dust from the earlier explosion faded, I saw a massive crater in the ground.
It spanned tens of meters, and it looked like a meteor had crashed down.
This attack was extremely powerful, and if that wasn't enough, it didn't even cost that much energy.
"..."
It was overpowered.
I could use both Gifts at once, and if I wasn't ready before, I definitely am ready now.
But before that, I wanted to check my status again.
•—Amon Everness—•
Level 123 → 128 [Low-Grade 12 → High-Grade 12]
▷Stats
[Strength 112 → 113]
[Stamina 130 → 131]
[Speed 110 → 132]
[Perception 122]
[Vitality 140]
▷Inherent Gift
★Telekinesis [Advanced] (Lv.18 → Lv.19)
★(NEW) Lightning Manipulation [Intermediate] (Lv.1 → Lv.3)
▷Special Abilities
★Blood-Sight (Lv.23 → Lv.24)
★Demonic Energy Resistance (Lv.2)
★(NEW) Lightning Resistance (Lv.1)
▷General Abilities
☆Sprint (Lv.32)
☆Pain Tolerance (Lv.55)
☆First Aid (Lv.12)
☆Mental Resistance (Lv. MAX)
▷Core Traits
◆Dragon Heart [Beginner] (Lv.25)
•——•
It really was a second Gift now.
Not only that, it boosted my Speed stat by at least 20 points.
It could be better, but I wasn't complaining.
Lightning Resistance wasn't the greatest of resistances, but one Demon King did control lightning, so if I stack Demonic Energy Resistance and Lightning Resistance, he will be the first one I ought to kill.
Nonetheless, with this, I was satisfied.
Footsteps soon rang out behind me, and when I turned around, I saw Clementine.
She was the reason I was able to do this, and she took time out of her day to help me.
How couldn't I...
"..."
"You got it," she said. "You know, you owe me dinner now."
I almost did something I might've regretted.
Shaking my head inwardly, I smiled at her.
"Wanna eat dinner in a nearby town? They have the best pizzas, and they're cheap too."
She tilted her head.
"Pizzas?"
Right...
I never did tell her what a pizza was, did I?
But it's fine.
I'll treat her to dinner, and for the next week, I needed to prepare myself.
The assignment came first, and right after was the real deal.
But I won't bring these depressing thoughts out now.
Tonight was a date.
I extended my hand toward Clementine.
"Shall we?"