The situation below was deteriorating rapidly. The "Demonic Humans" were beginning to chant, their voices weaving a discordant melody that resonated with the icy air. I knew I couldn't just jump in blindly; against an S-Rank Paladin and a squad of cultists, I needed more than just raw power. I needed the system to bend in my favor.
"[Notice: Thank you for your purchase! 15,000 Coins have been deducted!]"
A series of strange, seemingly junk-tier items materialized in my inventory: a 'Broken Wheel', a length of 'Golden String', and a small 'Pin of Hotei'. Along with them was a flickering C-Rank Skill-Book. I didn't waste a second.
"[Notice: You have successfully learned the C-Rank Skill 'Gamer's Intuit'!]"
"[Info: Your luck and fortune will increase when you take a risk. 20% base increase. High risk = High reward.]"
"Luck is just another stat if you know how to manipulate it," I whispered. Melchior watched from the ring, his brow furrowed as he saw me pull out the junk items. He knew I was "cooking," but even his ancient wisdom couldn't predict the results of my 104-account knowledge.
"[Activating the Exclusive Skill, 'Fusion'!]"
"[Fusing: C-Rank Skill 'Gamer's Intuit', B-Rank Item 'Broken Wheel', C-Rank Item 'Golden String', and C-Rank Item 'Pin of Hotei'...]"
The items dissolved into gold and silver stardust, coalescing into a shimmering, ethereal wheel that floated behind my shoulder.
"[Congratulations! You have successfully obtained the A-Rank Skill: 'Tyche's Wheel of Fate' Lvl 1!]"
"[Info: Spinning the Wheel will increase 'Luck' by 80% on 'Fortune', or decrease it by 80% on 'Misfortune'.]"
It was a double-edged sword that could cripple a player, but I knew the hidden mechanics of the Tower's 'System'.
"[Activating 'Tyche's Wheel of Fate' Lvl 1!]"
The wheel spun with a blurring speed, clicking rhythmically until it slammed into a golden slot.
"[Notice: The Wheels of Fate have granted you 'Fortune'. May the blessings of the Light be with you!]"
"[Congratulations! Your 'Luck' has increased by 80%!]"
"[Effect: The level gap restriction on 'Red Demon's Eye' has been temporarily removed!]"
"Perfect," I smirked. My eyes flared with a crimson intensity that pierced through the snowstorm and the divine aura surrounding the battlefield.
"[Activating 'Red Demon's Eye' Lvl 2!]"
The "ERROR" that had previously blocked Jean D'Arc's status evaporated, revealing the reality of an Awakened Paladin.
"[Personal Information]"
- [Name: Jean D'Arc]
- [ Age: 23 | Gender: Female | Sex: Virgin]
[Nebula: Eden]
- [Class: Paladin (Rare) | Rank: S-Rank | Level: 25]
- [Stats: STR: 20 | AGI: 17 | VIT: 17 | PER: 16 | Essence: Divinity Lvl 19]
- [Exclusive Ski ll: 'Blessings of the Stars']
- [Skills: 'Sacred Healing' Lvl 5, 'Divine Judgement' Lvl 4, 'Sacred Restraint' Lvl 4... (List Truncated)
- [Copy Condition: Jean is a warrior of Light with a strong sense of Justice. Save her life from a dangerous situation to copy her Exclusive Skill or one of her Skills.]
I felt a whistle of admiration in my throat. Level 25 already? The 2nd Floor had only just opened. Then I saw the reason: [Nebula: Eden]. She had already been chosen by a Constellation, a high-tier sponsorship group. [Eden] was investing a massive amount of resources into her, fueling her growth at an exponential rate.
Looking at the others, I confirmed that this was a "Merge Floor." The European and other regions had collided here. While Jean herself was unaffiliated, her companions wore the sigil of the 'Fires of Body Steel' Guild, a powerhouse in England.
But as powerful as she was, the "Demonic Humans" were preparing something that even a Paladin of [Eden] couldn't withstand. The Copy Condition was clear: I had to save her life.
"If I intervene now," I thought, watching the cultists raise their daggers, "I don't just get an S-Rank Paladin's Exclusive Skill. I get a front-row seat to whatever hell these shadow worshippers are trying to unleash."
I looked at the S-Rank ID in my pocket and then at the shimmering [Tyche's Wheel] behind me. It was time for the 9th S-Rank to make his debut.