72 The powers hidden within and the baggage
I looked at the ID card in my hand as I lay on the rather mediocre bed in one of the inns I checked in—Living in a lavish mansion for 2 years sure had spoiled me rotten. Now this place felt severely lacking, even though it would have been good enough for my standards 2 years ago.
The ID card was a world's difference from the Adventurer ID card Sharon had, both in form and features. Hers was made up of metal with gold inlays and showed her A-rank status, was enchanted with a special magic and acted as a semi-magical artifact. This one, on the other hand, was made up of a wooden plate, clearly indicating the lowest rank of an adventurer: F, and the provisional status of my card, with none of the features of the other card.
Not that I cared much about them right now.
'I need to do at least 10 quests in the next month before I can be a 'legit' adventurer.'
Luckily, I could do so in any guild branch, so I didn't have to be stuck here in this no-name town that was too close to the Maximus city.
I wanted to leave this place and go to a better one. One with a dungeon, if possible. Thankfully, I had caught word of one such town with a dungeon and after a small check-in with the guild's public map posted on one of the side walls in the reception, it also happened to be close to the first location I needed to visit. Of course, I had the option to go to the places and dungeons I knew from the game, but the problem with that was that they were too further away from my location, most of them were closer to the Royal Capital, and the others were spread around the entire continent. Traveling to some of those locations would take me months. So, it wasn't feasible. Plus, a lot of them were places a Tier-3 weakling like me couldn't survive.
'It used to be so much easier to fast travel to those locations. Now the already expansive map of Criotopia is fucking huge in size.'
[That is to be expected.]
'Yeah. I wanna learn space-time magic so I can learn high-level Teleport magic.'
That would make my life so much more convenient. Unfortunately, I hadn't gotten my hands on any spellbooks related to me and the only way to find them was from one of the dungeons or a side quest that I was in no shape or form to do. Not until I was at least a Monarch rank.
My thoughts wandered to other things and stopped at my possible future companions. If I could convince them to join me, that is.
'I guess I'll be finding 'her' first after a bit of leveling. I wonder how she was before she joined the Noble's Academy. She must be aiming for 'that' in her hometown if I remember correctly. Yeah, I should start with her. She seems the closest and easiest for me to reach from here.'
I smiled, reminiscing about one of the party members/Harem members I used to play with in my playthroughs of Criotopia. Emma was one of them in my starting playthroughs. Though I didn't give her much love and attention in later playthroughs in order to "experience" the game with other Capture Targets. You could do that in the game. It was quite dynamic in such places.
'After her, it would be 'her'… Ah, but how do I meet 'her' though? Shit, I can't just meet 'her' without possibly making use of my identity. Sigh. Forget it. That's the problem for the future me. For now, I should focus on my first target.'
My smile faltered when I remembered her initial personality.
'… Oh dear, that would be troublesome to deal with, wouldn't it? I'll have to fix her habits if I want her to be happy and content. All while gaining her affection.'
***
2 days later, I was finally able to finish the first of my many goals on this journey, while also completing my first Main Quest. I had to stay in the town for longer than expected, but I couldn't do anything about it for the time being, though, I had made the arrangements already.
[You've defeated a Tier-1 Terra Slime!]
[You've gained EXP!]
[Level 4-> 5]
[+5 Unallocated stats]
[Main…
…
…
"Yes!"
There were many more notifications, a lot of them, in fact.
[Alex.]
Iris's composed and pensive voice interrupted my happy mood.
'Yes, what's up? Finally going to tell me about my hidden power?'
I guessed with a smirk.
[About that. I don't think you should read the notifications here in the wild. Especially the ones about your 'hidden power'. I'll be better if you were in a safe and sealed place.]
Something about the way she spoke felt off. But I agreed to the idea. Iris was probably saying this for my own good. As I made my way towards the city, leaving the smelling goblin corpse as it is—I didn't want to ruin my mood by plucking out another Goblin liver. That shit still hurt my nostrils and upset my stomach—I asked Iris.
'Wait, don't tell me… is this something that's gonna hurt? Not again.'
[Don't worry, it won't hurt. As a matter of fact, you've already activated your powers. There's another reason why I'm asking you to do this. Just trust me and go to your inn room.]
That sounded a little foreboding because of her unusually neutral voice, but I complied.
'Weird. I can't feel any difference though.'
…
Using a Silencing Charm in my inn room—another piece of advice that Iris gave me and which I was starting to get quite used to using for privacy anyway— I pulled up the remaining notifications.
[Main Quest "I need to be stronger!" completed!]
[+10 Unallocated stats]
[+10 in LUC stat]
[Unlocked linked Quest "I need to be much stronger!"]
[+20 free Stat points]
[+10 in LUC stat]
I relished for a moment in the multitude of notifications that covered a fair portion of my vision. I had to scroll down in the Logs to read all of them.
'So many stat points are nice. I still have the ones from my level-ups stored too. I'll use them all in a bit. But before that.'
[You've unlocked your hidden power!]
"Ooh! Finally!"
I almost jumped in my bed, eager to read to see what it is.
After 2 whole years of constant tease, finally, it was time I learned of it.
[A new Bloodline is now active!]
[A separate page for your "Bloodline" has been created!]
[New skills have been unlocked!
Error! Your Bloodline powers do not fit in the standard 'Skills' section.
Note: Skills related to bloodline powers are listed on the "Bloodline" page.]
"Huh?"
[Error! Bloodline skills do not show on the live 'Status page'.
Note: Status Page will be updated to encompass the unique Bloodline skills.]
"Also weird. What's going on here? Iris?"
[I had to recalibrate some things and adjust the bloodline skills. They were… Just keep reading. I'll explain later.]
'Uh, okay.'
I raised an eyebrow but continued.
…
There were a few other notifications, mostly related to my Bloodline, and a few things of note that rang a lot of warning bells and raised some serious questions and frustration inside me. Before anything, I quickly opened the main notification describing my new bloodline.
My mood was ruined quite quickly as I read the contents.
[You have the bloodline of a Monarch from an ancient era!
Your distant ancestor, named Zeshur Hin Roknirsk Keineir, once ruled the majority of the joint continent of Grepianura 5000 years ago (which was later divided after his death to form the 5 continents that exist in the present) and was the most powerful Monarch in the history, both in title and strength, who conquered everything that he could under the heavens. All so he could ascend to the realm of deities and be all-powerful and immortal.
Even if it's been thousands of years and his heritage and bloodline have been diminished to near-nothingness, there's still a minuscule amount of it running through a few people's veins that live today. One of them happens to be you.
However, you aren't the sole wielder of the said bloodline. There exist others, somewhere in this world, that possess the same bloodline and can use their unique powers. Though, they have their own mutations based on their body and soul. It is your ancestral duty to discover them and then eliminate or subdue the others of the bloodline and flourish YOUR bloodline. There can only be one True Monarch's Successor.]
[Notice! The portion of the vestige of the Ancient Monarch now lives within you. You must take the other vestigates and complete the incomplete soul of your ancestor, Zeshur Hin Roknirsk Keineir.]
[Notice! A curse has been inflicted upon you the moment your bloodline is activated that can not be undone. It'll force the will of your ancestor's unique skill upon you in case you refuse to do your ancestral duty.
[New Quest has been automatically generated!]
I continued reading the others. Some of them now made much more sense.
[Note: Due to your unique body, mind, and soul, the Bloodline has been activated, strengthened, and mutated to create a power suitable to you.]
[Warning! You have been inflicted with a special uncurable mental curse!]
[Warning! A severe mental attack was negated completely by the 'Mind Field' skill!]
…
[Notice! A previously unnoticed dormant foreign will has been found activating in your physical mind!]
[A foreign will has been eliminated by the 'Mind Field' skill!]
…
[A mental probe has been negated!]
[A mental probe has been negated!]
…
"What the actual fuck!? What the hell is this motherfucking bloodline?! Who the fuck is this fucktard with a corny-sounding title? And why on goddamn Ear—Cryotopia do I have this power?! I have so many goddamn questions! This is fucking bullshit, man."
I literally yelled, dumbfounded, as I stared wide-eyed at the notifications, in utter disbelief, realizing what had happened.
The next thing I did was to ask the only person—AI, whatever, who could explain this fuckery to me.
"Iris, what the hell?"
[*Sigh.* I'm really sorry about this, Alex. This wasn't what I was expecting either. I was aware you had a strong bloodline and I thought it'll be beneficial for you if you had access to all of your latent powers. But I wasn't expecting there to be… such drawbacks and side effects attached to it. There had been no such signs until the moment it activated. But when it did, I had to take action. Though, your skill 'Mind Field' saved you from the said side effects.
Due to their nature, both of them were considered mental and/or soul attacks and eliminated. Rest assured, you're completely fine now. Besides, there's no way I'll let any foreign being live inside your soul. That place is reserved for only me.
Also, I salvaged whatever valuable info that I could find from the said 'Will' and turned it into that description before it was completely wiped clean. Though, most of it was lost. I wasn't fast enough. Sorry.]
'First of all, you don't have to apologize. I'm not gonna shout at you or anything. You tried your best. Second of all, I feel like calling them "side effects" is a massive understatement. I was almost cursed with some uncurable curse. Damn. I was lucky its nature was mental and not physical. And the whole thing about the Ancient Fucktard with too long of a name and his 'Will' living inside me is way too unsettling. To think my mind was occupied by a weirdo till now.'
I shuddered.
'I wish I'd known about this sooner. To think, I spend two whole years with such a thing in my head… How does that even made sense, though? Wasn't this body created by the Creation God or something? I thought you said he had no intentions of messing with me. This feels like he was messing with me.'
[My assumption is, it is part of your "identity" as Alexander K. Maximus that he created. I don't know why, though. I have no data regarding him. And since he's the one who did it, even I was kept in the dark.]
My head ached, hearing this.
'This is very upsetting. Please tell me I gained something decent from this Bloodline crap. The two years of waiting for "this" is…'
[Don't worry. I was able to get everything good from it and put it on your new Bloodline page. You can read that to know more.]
'Okay. That sounds good.'
I pulled up the new Bloodline page that I now had.
[ —Bloodline—
Class: The Conqueror's Bloodline(The Ancient Monarch's Bloodline)
Rarity: SSS
Description: No description available. Relevant information on your new abilities is presented in the 'Powers' section, under each ability's descriptions.
Powers:
You have acquired these abilities from your Bloodline:
1. Subduing(Taming)
Type: Active/Passive
Rarity: Legendary
Description: You have the ability to tame, not just mindless beasts and monsters, but even beings with consciousness and will. As a Monarch, you hold the power to subdue the whole world and everything within it. You and only you shall sit on top of the world, just below the heavens.
Effects: You have the power to 'Subdue' beings. The chance of its success varies from absolute certainty for beings much weaker than you(at least 3 Tiers weaker), to near impossibility for being much stronger than you(3 tiers stronger or more). A subdued being will have a fixed minimum Obedience of 90. Though, it can be more than that.
Subdued beings have an inherent liking for you. [Their Affection increases to at least 80] They see you in high regard. [Their Reputation increases to at least 80.]
Note that they can, however, betray you still since they retain their free will.
Special perk(Locked): You can go beyond simple subduing and make beings absolutely loyal to you by enslaving them, either by naturally gaining their absolute loyalty(Obedience: MAX) or by forcing your own will on them. Can only be used on beings whose will is either low enough to be completely enslaved by you or have 100 Obedience towards you.
Enslaved beings can never betray you or deny your orders. But, they'll hold part of their free will only if you allow them to. It can be changed at any given moment.
–Unlock by subduing any Monarch Tier being or higher. A relevant quest will be generated.
---
2. Summoning
Type: Active
Rarity: Unique
Description: You are a Monarch and the loyal subjects that you have tamed(subdued/enslaved) are bound to you. You can summon them at will with the use of your mana.
Effects: Beings you have subdued/enslaved become your partial summons and can be teleported at will to where you are from anywhere in the world. As long as you have the required amount of mana needed to cover the cost, they'll be in front of you, at your command or even their request, if they can afford the cost themselves.
Special Perk(Locked): Summoning costs no mana.
–Unlock by turning the ability into an Authority by obtaining a space-related divine artifact or by earning a Divinity related to space. [Rarity will be changed from 'Unique' to 'Divine'.] A relevant quest will be generated.
---
3. Impassive Indifference (Monarch's Apathy) )[A/N: Read the A/N at the end.]
Type: Active
Rarity: Legendary
Description: You are a Monarch, and Monarchs don't show stray emotions and weaknesses in their expressions, be it facial expressions or body language.
Effects: This ability allows you to have a cool indifference towards anything and everything, allowing you to make the most rational decisions in any situation. You will see everything and everyone as "characters in a game," including yourself, and you will be able to make decisions that surpass your physical and emotional capabilities.
Special Perk: None.
---
4. Inherent Linguist(Monarch's Tongue)
Type: Active
Rarity: Unique
Description: You can speak like a Monarch and make others feel your spoken words on a deeper level, thus making them more effective and making them more prone to listening to your suggestions and commands. You're also affluent in speaking the languages you've heard before.
Effects: You can speak and understand any language you've seen before.
Your words are fluent and well-spoken. And they compel others to listen to you.
Special Perk(Locked): You can learn and speak any language at will.
–Unlock by finding one of the lost legacies of your ancestor: The scroll of Vrykolakas' Tongue of the Divine. A relevant quest will be generated.
---
5. ???(Locked)
– Unlock by subduing/eliminating one of the two other bloodline power holders and claiming their power as yours. A relevant quest will be generated.
---
6. ???(Locked)
–Unlock by eliminating/subduing both of the other bloodline power holders and claiming everything beneath the heavens as yours. A relevant quest will be generated.
---
Extra minor perks:
· You have the Appeal of a Monarch. People of all genders and races will find you more appealing. [Easier gains in Affection from all genders and races.]
· You have the Aura of a Monarch. Others will find you more respectable. [Easier gains in Reputation.]
· You have the Will of a Monarch. Others find themselves more subservient to you. [Easier gains in Obedience.]
· You have the Desire of a Monarch. Your greed and libido are increased tenfold.
· You can make a Monarch's Harem. [The girls who like you romantically (having 75 or more Affection) will be subconsciously more open to the idea of sharing you with others. [Upgradation of the title "Harem King" to "Harem of the Monarch" when the said title is acquired.][Pre-existing Quest as a Chain Quest! Quest content has been modified!]
★★★
]
'Ah, so that's why I had a bunch of new quests suddenly. Now it makes sense.'
"…"
I stayed silent for a minute, processing what I had read so far.
It was a lot to take in. But I still wasn't quite done. I still had to go through the quests.
'Let's finish with the rest of the notifications first.'
[New Quest generated!]
[Quest Title: …]
[New Quest generated!]
[Quest Title: …]
[New Quest generated!]
[Quest Title: …]
…
In the end, I spent the entire afternoon and evening mulling over everything. There was a lot to it, and then some.
***
A/N: In case you noticed and were curious, yes. The Impassive Indifference(Monarch's Apathy) ability is, more or less, a copy-paste of the skill from The Author's POV(if you know what I mean) with minor tweaks to suit my story's needs. I take no credit for the creation of this ability nor was I planning to simply copy-paste others' work(even though this story is inspired by one such work). But I really wanted a skill like that and that one seemed like a perfect one. So, I ended up borrowing it(in the name of inspiration, of course!). I hope the author of The Author's POV wouldn't mind. I feel like I've modified it enough for it to not be simple plagiarism, but I hope this is okay.
The other skills are fairly commonplace, so I don't think I have to write such notes about them. I didn't really base them off of any work. At least I don't think so. The way I came up with them was a random idea about a backstory and history. So, in case you find them similar to other novels, please bear with it. I'm not going to create new unknown, unprecedented powers. I don't have the required brain cells to do that.
