[You have gained an attribute.]
I opened my runes, still staring at Fenrir through the transparent screen.
Attribute name: [Blasphemer.]
Atribute description: [A child nearing its death prayed for salvation. He did not believe, nor was he aware of the blasphemy he had committed.
The -Unknown- blesses "his" Heir, to make sure the child does not lose faith in "him". ]
I just stared at the runes. Jaw slack.
"That was an actual prayer?!"
Fenrir growled in front of me, smoke curling upwards from his nostrils.
I decided to ignore it for now. Surely, it wasn't anything too bad, or too important.
I needed to wash my face. Fenrir had licked it enough times for it to be red and disgusting.
I shuddered at the feeling, slowly standing up.
Only to fall back down, my brain screaming at me.
I grasped my head with my only remaining hand. And then I screamed, louder than when my soul was torn apart. Louder than when the spell itself tried to kill my existence.
The scream tore out of my throat like a creature. Clawing its way out.
My vision was tinged red, blood overflowing. My hearing muffled.
And then I gagged. My whole body convulsed. Throwing up blood.
My nose was a fountain, leaking blood like water.
I gagged again, but managed to hold it in.
And just as soon as it came, it passed. The thousands of eyes I felt on my person vanished, seemingly pleased.
I gasped for air as if it were trying to escape. I almost screamed again, not in pain. But in rage. Why did I have to suffer?! Why me, always me?!
The spell, this -unknown-, humans. Everyone seemed to love making me suffer. And now? I didn't even have an arm!
My right arm, my dominant arm.
I gritted my teeth, tears welling up. I punched the ground, and it cracked. I did it again and again and again. Finally, my knuckles bled. The insignificant pain steadied me. My mind slowly came back to its senses, my eyes darting around, making sure Morgan wouldn't just appear in front of me.
Fenrir whimpered loudly, prodding at my side with his front paw.
I chuckled silently, the action lacking any amusement.
I petted the wolf on the head, at least he was fine. Even if I was not. I hoped that the others hadn't died either. If they had, I might return the favor, so to speak.
Finally, after a few minutes of lying down. I stood up, looking at Fenrir.
"I think it is time to move to a new place."
The wolf nodded his bone-covered head.
***
I sat in a clearing behind my newest home. My breathing was even, shallow. My eyes were closed, and my legs were crossed.
My black hair had grown to the bottom of my back, swaying gently in the breeze.
It had been two months since the series of events I hated had occurred. I had seen Morgan once since then. And she made it clear, she would not end her search for me. It was starting to get annoying rather than scary.
My reserves have grown a lot since then, and the next time I would fight her. I would have over double the energy. Even if she was still superior to me in most ways. There is zero chance she could ever actually capture me.
I had also figured out my newest attribute. [Blasphemer] it didn't do much. Seemingly only used for a single time. At least it hadn't done anything else after I had gained it. Its seeming function was to receive information, and then pass it to me.
A very, very painful experience.
I had gained only a sentence from the minute or two of suffering.
"Concepts on oneself"
I hadn't understood it at first. I had to slam my head into a wall after several days, trying to make sense of it.
It was actually a simple, but important clue. It was of course, talking about my awakened ability, [Concept's Heir].
Which I had tried. And failed miserably at. And I am still failing at.
This is why I'm sitting in a clearing, talking to myself mentally.
I let out a snort, lips twitching, but my breathing remained steady.
Soon enough, my thoughts slipped, entering full meditation. Or at least I think I did. Didn't have anyone to teach me after all.
***
I walked outside, my [Assassin's wear] already equipped. I was trying to reach its next rank, or whatever it would gain after filling up the kill counter. Sadly, the [Vamparic dagger] was off the table for a while. I still hadn't even gotten used to eating with only one arm, fighting was not an option. I just used it to be able to deflect projectiles. Or warp it straight into an enemy's head.
[Twilight bow] was a Godsend. Or rather, its arrows were. I couldn't summon the arrows only, but I could use them separately from the bow as soon as they were created. And of course, that is how I fight now. It was far too easy, far too strong to not abuse. I always have a single arrow ready, stuck in place, fully charged. If I run into a Tyrant like I did that one time? I just summon it, then run. Simple, efficient. Not too draining with a single arrow and my larger reserves.
I had also learned something very important. I could augment my memories, and the arrows.
A shiver of excitement ran through me. I could already envision the devastation a single Transcendent arrow would bring. The crater that would form. It would be cinematic, whatever that word actually meant.
I raised my hand, stretching. Today, [Assassin's wear] would evolve, if I'm lucky. If not, oh well, there would always be tomorrow.
I had also decided, after around six months of staying in these forgotten parts of the world. That I would move on after all three of my memories evolved.
I wanted to explore the world, to see it with my own eyes, not through pages old enough to be my grandparents' study material.
I estimated two weeks, perhaps three. It depended on the [Vampiric dagger] mostly; its growth slowed for obvious reasons.
Finally done with my stretching, Fenrir appeared by my side. Both of us blurred, our movements were invisible to any mundanes. Perhaps even to normal sleepers.
***
I sidestepped a jaw full of fangs, backpeddeled away from a claw. Then [Vamparic dagger] blurred while being in my hand. The next moment, it was in the creature's skull, leaving a fist-sized hole.
Efficient, quick, easy. That is how I fought now. I didn't waste energy, even if I had more of it now.
I didn't flip or roll. That always put my body in weird positions. The actions were also a lot harder now, the lack of an arm offsetting my balance greatly.
If I needed to create space I warped, simple as that.
I didn't need to worry about my balance, weight destitution.
I heard a low howl, it seemed Fenrir had gotten his own target.
I checked my runes, two kills remaining on the attire. The dagger needed twenty-two. The bow is almost a hundred.
I sighed, this would be a few boring weeks.
***
I looked over the memories I had evolved today.
Memory name: [Assassin's wear].
Memory type: [Armor].
Rank: [Ascended].
Progression: [0/1000].
Memory description: [A wear specifically made to hunt and kill, to remain unseen and hidden, the assasins location only revealed when he strikes].
Memory Enchantments: [Stealth], [Growth], [Bluntness], [Soul armor], [Kinetic].
[Soul armor] description: [Provides great resistance to soul attacks.]
[Kinetic] description: This attire absorbs kinetic energy received by physical blows, able to empower the user once after being charged fully. ]
I let out a whistle, a new Enchantment, as well as a stronger version of soul defense. Even if the rank didn't evolve, this was very, very good.
Memories with slight defense were already rare, going for hundreds, if not thousands of soul shards. Depending on their quality.
But with such an Enchantment as [Soul armor]? I would quite literally be one of the richest people on the planet, not including clans and such.
At least I think so, no idea about the economy in this day and age. It fluctuates faster than I can change my socks at this point.
Then I turned my attention to the dagger.
Memory name: [Vamparic dagger].
Memory type: [Weapon].
Memory rank: [Ascended].
Progression: [0/1000].
Memory Enchantments: [Vampirism], [Growth], [Rejuvenation], [Blood sense], [Kinetic].
[Blood sense] description: [The user can sense blood in a large area around himself as long as he holds the dagger and infuses it with soul essence.]
I grinned wickedly, this was what I needed. Something, anything, to scout. To gather information, to count possible enemies. And it had Kinetic as well, just like my attire. But still, the sensing ability, this almost sounded like an attribute.
Was it a slightly weird way of sensing? Perhaps. But this was still a massive victory.
My current weak spot has lessened. Now I didn't even need to worry about Morgan creeping up on me!
I laughed, joy surging through my veins like blood itself.
Speaking of which, felt really, really weird.
I focused on the dagger, pouring in a little more essence.
An invisible field expanded.
I could "see" Fenrir behind the house, feasting.
I could feel the nightmare creatures a street or two away, prowling the dark alleyways.
My grin widened. This was far better than I imagined.