NOVEL NEXT Chapter 23: Chapter 23: Cycle of Wings
"Nera, huh? So much for being an Insect. Did the system make a mistake and give me a [Titan Form Token] instead?"
"Is this form not to your liking?" Nera asked.
Looking at the massive "Icon of might and power," as the system put it, Alchemy could only shake her head.
"Not particularly. Your [Analytic] stat would make for a good advisor or maybe a detective. While the subtlety needed for that seems impossible, a siege weapon is probably more useful right now anyway." Alchemy shrugged in response.
"Subtlety…" Nera pondered.
"By Subtlety, do you mean a smaller form?" She continued to inquire.
Humming, Alchemy nodded.
"Then I can grant this wish of subtlety, O' great Alchemy."
"What are you…" Alchemy began speaking, only to shut up moments later.
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In front of her, the massive Nera began to shrink rapidly as her form condensed. The fuzzy chitin that covered her body all merged together, mimicking human hair, which fell to her butt.
What remained was a snow-white mimicry of a human, one just as small as Alchemy. Her beady black eyes remained but were given eyelids despite not needing them. Her four arms all shrunk, becoming that of a petite girl.
Despite the change in size, her pair of antennae remained the same, looking like massive black feathers that rested over Nera's ears.
"Oh, and you're a pretty naked girl now. This is the angle we're going with." Alchemy whistled, looking at the petite beauty in front of her.
Nera was so close to appearing human. Not a healthy one, with how her skin lacked any pigment, and her eyes looked like a demon had possessed her… And her massive wings…
Okay, she didn't look that human after a glance, but the uncanny resemblance caused Alchemy to become a little flustered upon seeing the naked woman in front of her.
Luckily, it wasn't so bad that she'd lose her composure. To some extent, she was perfectly fine with seeing naked bodies. It was a part of life, and there was no shame in showing it as far as she was concerned.
What she was concerned about, however, was that skill.
'How are you going to explain this one System?'
|< The Exclusive skill [Cycle of Wings] was rewarded based on your desires. Think of it as a boon from the System to the prospects who were dragged here against their will.>|
'That's a half-assed answer. Exclusive Skills aren't something you give away so easily, isn't that right, System?'
The next panel took a few seconds to pop up, only to repeat the exact same words, causing Alchemy to sigh.
"Is this form still not to your liking?" Nera questioned, her voice far higher pitched and feminine than before, matching her transformation.
"No… It's not that. The System is being obnoxious. Can you bring up your status for me?"
"Certainly."
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'All stats. No base stats or a multiplier? Just what is this system planning?' Alchemy sighed inwardly.
At a glance, everything seemed fine. Whenever a Hero was created, their base stats would be similar to their Prospect's total evened out. The Personality of a Hero determined how effective their stats were. Each arrow next to a stat meant it was 15% higher or lower than it said. Nera's 4th stat, [Analytic], was also OK, increasing her efficiency in discovering things and giving her a bonus in [Research] type buildings.
The issue was this Exclusive skill of hers. A [Heroic] unit has never had one before. They were event-only skills that were extremely powerful. Alchemy had her own when she was the rank one player. It was so notorious that the devs gave her a title named after it, [Monarch of the Myriad Swarms].
Including her, only 113 prospects had an Exclusive skill. A further 17 end-game bosses in the [Ancients] also had them.
That was only the start of Alchemy's worries, however. The System's response to her question truly put her on edge. It was different from what the notification said before Nera's creation.
Not that the skill being related to Alchemy's Ancestry and being a gift from the system can be exclusive to each other, but the fact that the answer was different for both irked her.
"Am I overthinking it? Granis and Sylvies make Nera some clothing. Something to keep her warm."
Now wasn't the time to worry about such things. It's the exact opposite. The birth of a new hero was a cause for celebration. It's a shame Alchemy didn't have the means to throw a party right now.
"Nera, once you get dressed, report to me," Alchemy said with a smile, walking back into her hut.
The moment she was out of sight, she grabbed her head.
"Are you alright, Master Alchemy?" Sapphire asked.
"NO!" Alchemy complained in response, sitting on her throne.
"Too much is happening in too short of a time. I don't know where I should put my energy, and I might be slightly paranoid now. So no, I'm not alright in any capacity of the word, but I'll manage…"
Alchemy blurted words out, not caring if they meant anything to Sapphire. She was a deer; what could she possibly understand about the problems of a modern girl suddenly getting dropped into a foreign world and told to conquer it?
"I'll manage because I have to."
"Uhm… I don't get it!" Sapphire spoke up.
"I don't understand, but you saved me from those mean wolves! If it puts your mind at ease at all, please rely on me! I'll do my very best, even if I can't measure up!"
Seeing Sapphire try and cheer her up, Alchemy put her smile back on.
"Then I'll make sure to make up for what you lack, little deer. A Goddess's job is to guide her subjects, after all."