23 The Echidna’s Overpowered Skills
After the conversation with Ramiris about the situation with the newborn Elementals, Aria decided to check on her new skills before they make their way to the Jura Forest.
Just from going to a Walpurgis, she was able to get two Unique Skills, and back to back at that too. She was probably the only one in the history of the Central World to achieve such a feat.
Anyways, the two skills she got are [Scholar] and [Gluttony], the latter being a canon skill of the Slime Boi, but since she now has it, he wouldn't be able to get it unless she evolves it within two years.
'I'll try evolve it before then, I'm sure my flaw will not be happy enough to stop at the Unique level. Evolution and Scholar may be able to help too.' That was what she had decided on, after all, he will technically be her family, and Aria didn't mind giving a hand to family, but it didn't mean she would solve all his problems.
«Notice. It is suspected that individual 'Clayman' has awakened a Ultimate Skill.»
"…." Aria's face blanked at those words.
'You done that on purpose didn't you? Mentioning when I said I won't solve his problems.'
«Answer. No. Occurrence was a inconceivable coincidence as Unique Skill: Scholar was analysing the section of your memories related to the series 'That Time I got Reincarnated as a Slime'. »
'Sure…' Aria drawled, before asking, 'Don't tell me he awakened it at the Walpurgis.' She didn't know if she should laugh or cry if that was the case.
«Answer. The chances is more than 99.99% based on observations.»
'And what are these observations?'
«Answer. Individual 'Guy Crimson' momentarily glanced at individual 'Clayman' when he mentioned how you helped individual 'Elaine' evolve her Unique Skill.»
Aria raised an eyebrow at that, it seems like she was too focused on Elaine at the time that she missed it, but you couldn't really blame her, after all, who would have expected Clayman out of everyone to awaken a Ultimate Skill.
«Notice. After analysing your memories related to individual 'Clayman', it is high likely that the souls in his possession were used to fuel the awakening of the skill.»
'Which he means he won't be able to pseudo-awaken like he did in the original.' Aria easily deduced.
«Answer. Yes.»
The Echidna had mixed feelings about this revelation, but overall, she felt indifferent about it, he couldn't beat her just cause he had an Ultimate Skill. This wasn't her being arrogant, it was just a fact, she could easily stop time and kill the dude.
«Notice. There is a chance that individual 'Clayman' has broken the Domination of the Dominion Bullet after awakening an Ultimate Skill.»
'What would I ever do without you scholar?' Aria asked, now recalling that a strong will is needed for the formation of US, which means that there was a chance that Clayman was no longer under the effect of Dominion Bullet of Kondou, or he might inform Yuuki who should be able to break it with his Anti-Skill.
Now that she thought about it, was she even immune to Domination? She knew she had Spiritual Attack Nullification, but a domination from an US skill is on another level.
«Answer. Individual 'Echidna Tempest's' ability Cleaning clears the mind and negates control.»
'So that's why I was no longer receiving passive analysis about my abilities, you took control of the Parallel operation.' Aria said with a look of understanding.
«Answer. Yes. You can leave any analysis to Unique Skill: Scholar.»
'Thanks.' The Echidna saw no reason to reject the help as it would make it easier for her.
Anyways, she digressed.
Gluttony, a demonic skill from the sin series, Aria's version was similar yet different to Rimuru's. The skill has four sub-skills, namely; [All-Consumption], [Hoarder], [Dismantle], and [Library].
Just as its name suggested, All-Consumption allowed Aria to consume anything, be it magic, skills, energy, etc, though it was limited to her line of sight. And the stronger a target's will, the harder the consumption process. Though that wasn't the weirdest thing in Aria's opinion about the sub-skill, it was the fact to activate it, she had to clamp her teeth together.
What the Echidna found cool about All-Consumption was the way the devouring process happened, it was like a combination of Alucard's shadow and Jegal Taek's Megolodon and Greed. Basically, a shadowy eldritch-like creature bites her enemies whilst pulling them down with tentacles.
(Image)
Freaky was the only way to describe it, and Aria knew she must be insane to find it cool.
Next was Hoarder, it was nothing really special really, it was alternate space similar to Rimuru's Stomach. With it, Aria could even store energies, whether magical or informational, Stardust also shouldn't be impossible.
Dismantle, how the Mother of All Monsters wished that it was exactly like Sukuna's. (Un)fortunately, she could only dismantle devoured targets for anything and everything they are worth, analysing them.
Their Body, Soul, Magic, Skills, Aura, all was hers to dismantle.
Lastly, Library, all the information relating to the consumed and dismantled target was stored here, from their history to their skills—if analysed—Basically Aria's own personal Akashic Records.
Overall, Aria was pleased with her version of Gluttony and liked more than Rimuru's.
Her next Unique Skill was her new trusty partner, Scholar.
«….»
Scholar also had four sub-skills, they are; [Truth-Seeker], [Wisdom], [Guidance], and [Skill Alchemy].
Truth-Seeker was basically a combination of Milim Eye and Veldora's Pursuit of Truth. In other words, the skill allowed Aria to see through any and all falsehoods, and also gave her access to Records of the World's events.
A deadly combination if the Echidna had to say so.
Wisdom, it wasn't an attacking skill, but it didn't change the fact that it would help Aria in a fight. Why? Because it literally gave her access and knowledge of her subordinates skills and how to perfectly use them. The only limit of it was that she didn't have access to their Ultimate Skills, unless they gave her permission.
Currently, only Elaine had a US, and the way it worked made it so that even Aria wouldn't be able to bring out the skill's potential. Though it didn't mean she wouldn't analyse the skill and add it in her Library.
After Wisdom came Guidance…The skill responsible for helping Elaine and Clayman awaken their respective Ultimate Skills, mainly the latter, as the former also used the remenant energy from her evolution to push her Unique skill to the Ultimate level.
Anyways, Guidance allowed Aria to help others unlock their potential and develop their skills at an accelerated rate. While also sharing of knowledge and concepts directly to someone's mind.
'Maybe I should start preaching? Or Shapeshift into a old sect elder and start picking up disciples as I stroke my beard.
Glory to the beard sect!'
«….»
Ahem! Aria felt slightly embarrassed, feeling the silent presence of Scholar in her mind.
Shaking her head, she focused on the last sub-skill that excited her the most; Skill Alchemy. It did as its name suggests, combining and modifying existing skills to create new or even advanced skills.
If it weren't to maintain her image, Aria would already be drooling, as she imagined the possibile skills she could get from combining skills.
'Scholar, I want you to combine all my analysis skills to create something more effective, and do the same for my elemental related Extra Skills .' The Echidna wisely left the work to the skill that would know what to do better than her.
«Confirmed.»
With that out of the way, it was time to talk about Elaine's Ultimate skill: Eusebeia. Thanks to Wisdom, Aria already had knowledge of its abilities.
As she mentioned before, Aria wouldn't be able to bring out the potential of this skill as it literally depended on devotion. The stronger one's devotion, the more powerful the sub-skills.
The first couple skills of the Ultimate skill were the common analysis skills; Thought Acceleration, All of Creation, Chant Annulment, Analyse and Assess. They were all rather self-explanatory.
Then came All-Consuming Passion which had changed in a way that Aria didn't imagine, or rather, she knew it could happen, but she didn't think Elaine was capable of it. It seems she underestimated her adoration towards her.
It became a World-System skill; Devotion World. The name reflected Elaine's deep devotion and obsession towards Aria, which also fuels the power of her skill.
As for it's ability, all entities within the Devotion World are bound by an unbreakable sense of loyalty and devotion to Elaine and Aria, if the will isn't strong enough.
The Devotion World itself is saturated with all of Elaine's feelings towards Aria, these feelings are absorbed by the targets, overwhelming any previous desires they had ever had in favour of serving Aria.
The devoted targets can also be used as batteries by Elaine to further strengthen herself temporarily. If there was any drawback to this sub-skill, it would be that the moment Aria stepped into it, all authority over the Devotion World would be transferred to her.
It weirdly made sense though, Elaine was loyal to her after all.
Next was the Persistence, or rather Undying Devotion: Echidna Tempest. Indeed, this skill had also taken a weird path. Now, as long Aria existed, Elaine would always resurrect, and vice-versa, even with destruction of the Heart Cores. The resistance against elements and natural effects now also becomes a Nullification.
Elaine was now the ultimate Yandere, her love even brought her back from the death.
Master's Generosity fortunately was the same the same, no changes to that. The same for Thought Domination.
Devotion Shield…Like Castle Guard, allowed Elaine to create a impenetrable barrier, but it was powered by Elaine's devotion rather than subjects loyalty.
The Echidna wasn't sure if it could contend with one of the strongest skills of Angelic Series though.
The second last sub-skill was Parallel Existence, it allowed for user to create multiple clones that can operate on their own but are in the end, one self and one person, sharing the same magicule pool and skills.
Aria could already imagine that the reason for Elaine having this skill is so that she never needs to leave her side, even when she's assigned a task.
The final skill was Space-Time Manipulation, rather self-explanatory if she had to say so herself.
Now that she thought about it, wasn't her cute High Elf's skill way more overpowered then hers?
Aria shrugged, cause all she needed to say to get the same skills was, 'Do your thing my good Scholar!'
The Echidna's shamelessness knew no bounds.
«…..»
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A/N: Hope you enjoyed the chapter. I feel like I made Elaine's ultimate skill a little overpowered, but you know what? Fuck it~
