From the familiar platinum interface that Ishiki had summoned hundreds of times—he realized with uncomfortable certainty that he had somehow never thought to examine his main skill in proper detail.

Exclusive Skill - [Soul Archive]

Skill Description - [Allows the Memory Reaper to chain the very consciousness of the Slain in an eternal collection. The new master can reap the memories within.]

Precisely because of the fact that the description was just right there. What else was there to see, right?

Skill's didn't had complex abilities like those with the protocols and Vestiges, so it never occurred to him that there might be something else.

Or so he thought.

Now, driven by desperation and morbid curiosity in equal measure, Ishiki focused his attention specifically on the words describing [Soul Archive].

Another translucent, platinum window bloomed in front of him.

It was... a bit different.

'Doesn't this have... a lot of things?'

Ishiki frowned as he absorbed details. This interface looked far more complex, than anything the system had shown him before.

====================

Skill - [Soul Archive]

Rank - [Mythical]

Adaptability - V

Skill Description - [Allows the Memory Reaper to chain the very consciousness of the Slain in an eternal collection. The new master can reap the memories within]

Inherent Abilities - Mimic, Soul Chain, ???, ???, ???

Mimic - [Allows the Memory Reaper to mimic one of the souls in his eternal collection. One soul can only be mimicked once, and has set time limits]

Mastery - 1/5

Reward - [-----]

Soul Chain - [The souls in possession of the Memory Reaper are his property. The master can use them however he wants. Souls are built to be used again and again after all, providing their utmost support to the master is what they wish]

Mastery - 1/5

Reward - [-----]

??? - Information Locked

??? - Information locked

??? - Information locked

=====================

Ishiki was at a loss of words.

He stared at the floating text with expression caught between horror and fascination—unable to look away.

He was beyond stunned at what he saw. The truth that they are too unknown to mostly everything about the system was once again laid bare in front of him.

Reading it again and again, Ishiki made sure that he was not seeing things. His heart hammered against his ribs like crazed creature trying to escape confinement.

The description of the skill was by far enough to make it look very... very disturbing and ominous.

And now this... it felt creepy and for some reason he felt a sense of profound relief inside of him.

'What... what are inherent abilities. Sounds like something that I inherit. But from whom? and why me?'

The question was right at place. And it was connected to too many things to be just randomly eradicated.

Ishiki was just a normal human being like everyone else. Hell... he was even less than normal. He didn't had any remarkable talents. then why? Why did he have that weird protocol called [Recursive Anomaly]? Why was his first trial glitched and why did he... of all people get a Mythical Title?

'Not to mention that sick protocol it brought.'

As Ishiki read further into the screen, his heart became heavier and his expression darkened with each word he read.

'Allows me to mimic a soul?' he frowned.

The description of the ability called Mimic was rather simple and devastatingly difficult to understand at the same time.

What Exactly did mimicking a soul meant? Ishiki as always had no idea, the system loved providing inadequate information wrapped in deliberately vague terminology.

The next was Soul Chain. Which made him especially worried and disturbed. "The souls in possession of Memory Reaper are his property" That line made something twist in Ishiki's chest.

'I... I don't like the sound of it. Not at all.'

And after that followed the most ominous and by far the most disturbing aspect of this whole window. Ishiki grimaced as soon as he looked at them.

'No... not again. What's up with those question marks again?'

But things were different with them too, this time around. There was a new phrase - Information locked.

'Locked. Huh? What do i need to do to unlock it?'

Even if he left them behind, there were more things on this window that were new and did not make any sense.

'What does mastery means? and i will get a reward when I reach 5 or maybe 2?' He shrugged. 'I wanna punch someone real hard right now. Damned system.'

But no matter how much he denied it, something inside him was happy and excited to witness how these horribly described abilities worked.

Some small, dark part of his consciousness felt eager anticipation at witnessing what "mimicking a soul" actually entailed. Wanted to understand what controlling consciousness as "property" would feel like.

'What's wrong with me?' He shook his head. 'When did I become someone who thinks like this?'

Does he have to kill someone? Something? Were there specific requirements for souls to enter his "eternal collection"? Did they need to be sentient? Did animals count? What about Demons or Withering Beasts?

Endless possibilities branched from each question, creating decision trees that spiraled into darkness.

'No good thinking of anything else. Only survival is all that matters. No one will come to save me, everyone is in it for their own benefits. That is how humans are, at the end of the day. We're animals wearing civilization's mask, and the mask slips easily when we are given enough power to go wild.'

Thinking of humans. That brought Ishiki back to that one question that he was not willing to remember again.

Who was he? Was he special? or just unlucky?

The princess was special, yes. It made sense if she would get a Mythical Title. But then again, there were even more important figures in the world and there... were people who would want to use their powers as players to do all kinds of things that could have gotten them behind bars.

'What would I care for? Mom... i think she is dead. Ren... maybe he is alive, and a player even. But -'

A very enthusiastic scream tore through the clearing with volume that suggested genuine joy.

"The Princess has woken up!"

The shout echoed across the settlement, bouncing off ancient wooden structures and carrying hope.

Ishiki sat up sharply, abandoning contemplation of dark skills and darker implications.

His gaze snapped toward the house where the Princess had been unconscious.

'From now on, things are really going to change.'

Maybe for better.

Maybe for worse.

All Ishiki knew with certainty was that change—any change—was infinitely preferable to stagnation.

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