Chapter 39

Aaron immediately accepted the offer. Though it was weird and a little awkward doing it whilst Yendal stared him down. But most importantly, moderate? That was better than minor, right?

“So, are you just going to stare at me?”

“Oh, right,” Aaron nervously nodded and checked the blessing offer.

Moderate Blessing of Yendal the Empty-Handed.

Provides: Supreme Senses. Balance, control, and the foundation of a true martial god start with refined senses. Supreme Senses sets the user on a path of understanding and gauging the world around them at a supreme level above what normal mortals can comprehend.

+5% to all Stats

Skill [ Epic - Legacy ] Equal and Opposite

Your mastery of your body and your energies has reached a level where you can nullify your opponent's attacks and defenses without making a move. Passively allows you to move your own energy in a way that counteracts the opponent's attacks or defenses. Effectiveness scales with how well you understand your opponent's attacks and defenses.

“That is… that’s pretty good actually,” Aaron nodded as he read the blessing description. “Wait, is that why you never seem hurt when I hit you?”

“One of the reasons,” Yendal conceded. “I am still a goddess.”

“Point taken.”

“So?”

“Oh, right. Yeah, getting to it!” Aaron grimaced as he accepted the prompt.

Moderate Blessing Received: Yendal the Empty-Handed.

“A Moderate Blessing is a much more significant investment than a Minor Blessing,” said Yendal. “Minor Blessings cost very little divinity. Powerful deities can hand them out on a whim without expecting any kind of return. Moderate Blessings cost more, and therefore show more interest from the deity in question.”

“Divinity?” asked Aaron.

“A finite resource possessed by gods used to increase our power. We can choose to spend it on blessing mortals, and as the mortal grows, we will receive small amounts of divinity back.”

“Without me doing anything?”

“We receive divinity as you grow, so as long as you continue to grow, we will continue to benefit. This does not take away from your own growth. But a Moderate Blessing is a significant investment that may take a long time to see returns, unlike a Minor Blessing, and therefore also grants the mortal more power.”

“I see…” said Aaron. “So what you’re trying to get at is that your Blessing is better than Oozagh’s.”

He wasn’t quite socially inept enough to miss the subtext of what she was saying.

“Exactly. The path I walk is better for you as well. Control and finesse are fundamental attributes of my martial path, and they suit your talents well. The same cannot be said for gluttony and cooking. The brute’s path is one of overconsumption and greed.”

Yeah, right.

It wasn’t that he disagreed with anything Yendal had said, but, well, she came on stronger than he had expected. It wasn’t long ago that he wasn’t even sure if he’d be getting her blessing, and was forced to forge his way through the pits of hell, fighting her. And now? Well, she kind of sounded a little desperate.

“Yeah, you’re right,” Aaron said, flashing a smile. Whatever strangeness he felt at her odd shift in asserting her blessing wasn’t worth pushing. Especially not if it risked irking a freaking god.

Yendal stared deeply into Aaron’s eyes for a very uncomfortable moment. “Good. I’ll be watching. Don’t disappoint me, mortal.” And with that, her shadow dissipated to the winds.

Okay… why did she feel almost like a possessive girlfriend just now?

Sighing, Aaron shook the thought from his mind. He had one too many things to worry about, and really didn’t want to start wondering if his godly supporters were being possessive of him. Plus, it was just kinda weird.

Chain Quest: The Shadow Trials

Stage four of [ Trial of the Challenger ] COMPLETED!

You have tested yourself in one-on-one combat against a weakened shadow avatar of a god and have emerged victorious.

Quest Rewards: Skill Book: Lingua Multiversa [Unique], Dining Hall upgraded to level 4.

Experience rewarded for completing a quest stage!

“Well, there’s that too,” Aaron smiled at the quest reward notification. He had thrown himself into the duels with everything he had, and died way too fucking many times. Being notified that it was over was as much a relief as earning the blessing itself. “Another book?”

“Someone’s in a mood,” Douglas said as he came walking.

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

“Yeah, well. I’ve got a kind of strange relationship with a bloody goddess, so spare me. I suppose she did give me her blessing, so I can’t complain too much. I dunno… It was just weird.”

“Oh no, I feel so sorry for you. Two gods have taken an interest in you; have mercy,” Douglas acted out exaggeratedly. “How will you go on, mortal? Life is so unfair. Two blessings, when will it end?”

“Alright, alright, I get it. But it’s not like I didn’t work really hard for that win.”

“Human, you have two blessings. You have no idea just how lucky you are. The denizens of the multiverse would do unspeakable things for such a boon.”

“I get it. It’s just, I wish it didn’t feel strangely complicated, get me?”

“Oh, I think I do. You’re complaining that a primordial goddess has taken a direct interest in you and provided you with her blessing. My oh my, you really have no idea how lucky you are. Most nobodies in the multiverse would be lucky to score a blessing from some weak, infant god whose name nobody knows, nor cares to repeat. And you, well, you don’t just have one god, but two. And worst still, both of them are incredibly powerful. And here you are complaining about it like some spoiled child. So, forgive me if I don’t sob alongside you. I’ve seen generational talents enter this place and leave with naught a single blessing. Consider yourself lucky she even bothers to speak to you. You should be kissing her feet.”

“I’m not into that. Anyway, it seems I’ve struck a nerve. But point taken. I am appreciative. Just a little confused as well. That’s it. I’m not complaining.”

“If that’s an apology, it’s a bad one.”

“Really Douglas?” Aaron grimaced. “Sorry, I didn’t fall to my knees fawning over meeting a goddess, happy?”

“Hmph. So, what can I help you with? That confused tilt to your eyes is impossible to miss.”

Aaron nodded and inspected his loot before answering. As long as the assistant wasn’t going to keep insinuating he was a spoiled child, he was happy to continue the conversation.

Skill Book: Lingua Multiversa [Unique]

Consume this Skill Book to unlock the latent Human Racial Skill, Skill Lingua Multiversa.

Provides: Passively grants the ability to understand and speak every language of the multiverse as if it were your native tongue.

“I got this book. Lingua Multiversa. Says I can speak every language in the multiverse?”

“Exactly. One of the best treasures found in the place. Racial Skill Books are almost impossible to find anywhere else. They are highly sought after since they are almost all useful, and don’t count toward the Skill caps. Consider yourself lucky. If you fail as a warrior, your world might be willing to hire you as a galactic diplomat with a Skill like that.”

“I see,” Aaron nodded. “Well, I guess I’ll use it then,” he added as he accepted the prompt, consumed the book, and opened his status page.

[ Name: Aaron Dober ]

[ Age: 23 ]

[ Race: Human ]

[ Grade: F ]

[ HP: 7400 ]

[ MP: 4400 ]

[ SP: 6900 ]

[ Class: Brawler, lvl 21 ]

[ Profession: Ogre Taste Tester, lvl 15 ]

[ Stats ]

[ Strength: 69 (+13) ]

[ Vitality: 74 (+14) ]

[ Fortitude: 69 (+21) ]

[ Dexterity: 82 (+32) ]

[ Agility: 104 (+35) ]

[ Intelligence: 5 (+5) ]

[ Willpower: 44 (+15) ]

[ Charisma: 5 (+5) ]

[ Perception: 18 (+6) ]

[ Titles: Shadow Trials Trailblazer, Stamina Control Prodigy, Mana Control Prodigy ]

[ Traits: Fate Weaver (Alpha), Minor Blessing of Oozagh the Rotund, Moderate Blessing of Yendal the Empty-Handed ]

[ Racial Skills: Inspect, Lingua Multiversa ]

[ Profession Passive Skills (2/3): Questionable Recipes, Conductive Gut ]

[ Profession Active Skills (2/6): Concoct Toxic Gloop, Oozagh’s Breath ]

[ Class Passive Skills (2/3): Faux Core, Equal and Opposite ]

[ Class Active Skills (5/6): Thick Skinned, Relentless Scourge, Gorgon’s Time Dilation, Overclocked Haymaker, Gust Step ]

“Not bad,” Aaron muttered as he glanced over his ever-improving stats.

“You really are lucky, aren’t you?” Douglas shook his head. “That book came just in time. You’ve got company.”

“Company?” Aaron raised a brow.

“Yes, the first person to arrive from the Tutorials. We’re just a little over halfway, too. Quite amazing. Most don’t arrive until the last days or even hours of the Tutorial. To arrive this early is truly something remarkable. A true universe-wide talent. A future god in the making.”

“Wait, a little over halfway? How long has it been?”

“Almost two months since we last spoke.”

Two months! I spent almost two freaking months fighting Yendal?

“That look on your face tells me you weren’t expecting that. Hardly surprising. You were in quite a trance.”

“Yeah, tell me about it. Anyway, what’s done is done. So, where is this Tutorial champion, or whatever I’m supposed to call them?”

“They are in the viewing room. I think that little sootball of yours has made a friend.”

Of course he has. Well, hopefully that means Sooty is in a better mood. I really don’t need another person laying it on me.

“Well, good talk as always, Douglas,” Aaron said with a tinge of sarcasm. “I guess I’m going to go introduce myself.”

“Goodluck. Remember, they’re the kind of talent that can enslave your entire world. You probably don’t want to make enemies with them.”

“Got it. Make a good impression or doom all of Earth. That should be easy enough, I am a bit of a people person.”

“Could have fooled me.”

Ignoring Douglas’ jab, Aaron turned for the viewing room, but halted as he got near. Actual laughter was echoing through the door.

They really have become friends, haven’t they? Oh well, no point in delaying it.

The threat that this was some super elite that could threaten his entire world was pretty heavy, but then again, backing down wasn’t really Aaron’s thing. If his fear sense had been lacking before the integration, it was essentially entirely absent now. Which might be problematic in some circumstances, but he would deal with that when he had to.

Okay, here goes nothing.

Pushing on the door, he entered.

Stepping into the room, he saw his new roommate. The man was huge. Like really fucking big. At least seven feet tall. No, scrap that, Aaron thought. He was probably eight feet tall, and way, way wider than any human he had ever seen. His shoulders were just stupid, and his biceps looked like freaking bowling balls. And on top of his arms being massive, he also had six of them. He was also purple-skinned, had pointy horns protruding from his scruffy black hair, and a wild, poorly tamed beard growing down to his chest. His clothing was like silken robes, but fitted and tailored to his form. They kind of had an exotic, south-asian look to them.

That’s an actual alien. A live fucking alien. Not just some shadow, but an actual alien.

This reaction might have come across as weird to some, considering he had just met a goddess. But Aaron had met gods a few times by now, and the idea of living in a world with real aliens was still kinda fresh and settling in on him. Besides, he had always liked aliens and leaned into the belief that they were real, and maybe even had visited Earth. So this was pretty damn cool in his eyes.

“Oh, hey! You must be A-ran!” The huge, alien man turned to him and gave him a 3-armed wave. “A pleasure it is to meet you!”

Mo’han Khan [ ??? ]