Chapter 42: Gaining A New Skill

Chapter 42

Meanwhile, in a large executive suite on the top floor of Bluepeak corporation, there was an intense silence.

Nyx stood by the window with her back facing the room while she gazed into the city lights that stretched endlessly into the night. Behind her was the baby faced girl who stood there in silence.

Suddenly, Nyx’s calm voice rang out, breaking the tense silence.

"So, Doris. What’s your professional take? Is he an Awakened like you?"

Doris hesitated before answering.

"Honestly... I’m conflicted. His raw strength is higher than that of a peak human and is hovering right around an Early-Realm Awakened, so there’s a huge chance that he might be an Awakened... But during our bout, he didn’t display any ability. A hallmark that usually set us apart from normal humans."

"So what you’re saying is that... He is an anomaly that sits somewhere between human and awakened."

Doris lowered her eyes slightly.

"It’s possible," she added softly. "Or he’s just really good at hiding his ability."

Nyx didn’t respond. She was thinking back to that night. Her brow furrowed slightly— a rare crack in her icy composure. Logically, after Alex took her virginity, she had intended to discard him, perhaps even eliminate him... But something held her back. She just couldn’t understand how he was able to affect her body during that night.

It was also the reason why she had forcefully claimed him as her man. It was not out of impulse, and certainly not out of something as stupid as love, but because of the way he had bypassed her mental walls and made her body crave him... That alone defied all logic, but it also made things intriguing.

Nyx pressed her fingers lightly against the glass, while continuing to ponder over the enigmatic young man. If she was being honest, she wanted to find out how the bastard had done what he did. And if possible, use it against powerful women to gain their wealth and power.

"Nyx?" Doris called softly, noticing the subtle shift in her silence.

Nyx blinked once, then turned around, her expression already returning to it’s calm and unreadable state.

"I’m fine... But do make sure that what we talked about stays within us. I don’t want anyone to know about Alex. If he is what I think he is, then he’s too valuable to let others find out."

Doris nodded solemnly and slipped out of the room. Left alone, Nyx whispered to the empty air while gazing at the city.

"Alex... just what exactly are you?"

*****

[Finally! Congratulations Alex, you’ve finally completed your training session... so since I’m feeling generous and you managed to survive, I’ll increase your stats by five points and give you a free gift]

"You bastard! You abandoned me inside that hell hole and you think a few... Wait! A free gift?! Okay I guess I forgive you... Now show me my reward. Ouch!"

[Hold your horses, I’m coming]

There was a brief pause, then the familiar translucent blue screen unfolded before his eyes with a soft, almost ceremonial glow. Alex didn’t know how long he had waited to see that beautiful panel, especially after a long time in isolation without the system.

[Status — updated]

[Name: Alex Walker]

[Age: 21]

[Body Condition: Peak young male]

[Vitality: Good]

[Strength: 52→57]

[Speed: 55→60]

[Agility: 55→60]

[Perception: 48→53]

[Charm: Above Average]

[Baseline Charisma: High]

[Libido: High]

[Desire points: 610 points]

[Desire energy: 48/300]

[System Rank: D]

[Skills:]

• Aura Of Seduction (Lv.1)

• Profit Instinct

• Spatial Storage Space

• NEW: Infinite skill absorption

[Physical Development: Optimized]

[Current length: 10 inches]

[Harem Slots: 2 / ∞]

[Title Earned: Indomitable cockroach]

[Description: Like a humble cockroach that crawls through filth, you endured overwhelming odds, and refused to die. Truly, you are the king of pests]

Alex stared at the screen, his eye twitching. Did the gremlin just seriously call him an indomitable cockroach? Of all the badass titles like slayer, warrior or survivor, the bastard goes with a cockroach?

"So of all the titles out there, you chose to call me a cockroach? A freaking cockroach?"

[Not just any cockroach, but an indomitable one. Do you know how hard it is to kill one]

"I am going to kill you." Alex growled. But then, his eyes locked onto the new skill. "So what’s up with the skill, infinite skill absorption? Does it mean I can steal skills from anyone? Because if it is, then... that is so freaking cool. Maybe I could steal a skill from my enemy mid battle. Yeah I can picture it already."

[Uh yeah about that. You do absorb skill from people but not in the way you’re currently thinking... How do I put this gently, you absorb abilities specifically from awakened women by having sex with them]

"Come again?"

[You literally copy an awakened woman’s ability by having you know? Sex with her. It’s a really good skill, right? No scratch good, it’s a great skill]

It was a good thing that Alex wasn’t drinking any water, if not he would have probably sprayed it out of his mouth by now. He wondered how the hell, he just gained an OP skill that managed to look perverted. Couldn’t the system have just given him a skill that could help him absorb other awakened abilities by simply touching them, now that would have been amazing... Still he wasn’t complaining about it. The skill was pretty okay, and with his natural charm and aura of seduction he was pretty confident in his ability to seduce and conquer more women. Plus he already had just the right person to try this on, but that’ll be later.

"It is perverted." Alex sighed, though a small devious smirk played on his lips. " But it’s efficient. I can work with that."

[Good now let’s get out of here, you’ve been in here for too long and you need a really good shower, like a really good, long shower. Your body smells like a wet dog in a dumpster. I could even smell it all the way in the real world]

Immediately she said that, everywhere suddenly distorted as colors stretched endlessly into a void. After a second or two, he found himself back in his apartment with the familiar scent of laundry and stale coffee.

Alex almost had the urge to kiss the floor. After who knows how long, he was finally back to his sweet, comfy apartment. His joy really knew no bounds.

[Oh, before I forget to tell you, check your damn phone, that crazy thing had been ringing non stop for forever, almost giving me a massive headache... You know I was almost tempted to smash the damn thing, if I weren’t so tiny]

Alex frowned at the system’s words, the gremlin was really melodramatic but he decided to check it. Still feeling the lingering pain in his body as he reached for the phone on the bedside table, exactly where he kept it last. The screen suddenly light up in rapid intervals, vibrating nonstop like it had a mind of it’s own.

"Damn... Who the hell is this persistent? Can’t an injured guy just get a break once in his life?"

He unlocked the phone and his heart nearly skipped a bit when he saw various missed calls and text messages flooding the phone. There were literally dozen of them and all from the same person.

’Nyx’

Alex blinked once. Since when did he ever give Nyx his phone number? He realized that the damn woman must have gotten his number one way or the other. But right now he really didn’t want to talk with her... Even though he missed her a bit... Just a bit, okay!

[Oooh, looks like someone important is missing you. Alex and Nyx, sitting on a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G]

Alex scoffed while rubbing his temple.

"Missing me? Don’t make me laugh. She isn’t missing me one bit, she’s probably just calling to send me on a stupid task."

[Well I don’t know about that? But I feel like she missed you, after all you’ve been gone for three whole days, but she doesn’t know that, so from her perspective, you just vanished after she claimed you as her man. Honestly I’m surprised she hasn’t sent people to drag you back already]

Alex’s lips twitched slightly at that.

"... Don’t joke about that. There’s no way in hell that a cold blooded woman will ever miss someone like me."

[Wanna bet on it?]

"On what?"

[That if Nyx misses you at any point in the future, you’ll give me your entire desire points. Hehe... But if she doesn’t I’ll give you +15 desire points, so what do you say?]

Alex replied with sarcasm.

"As tempting as that sounds, I’ll pass on it."

[What if I make it +50 Desire Points?]

"Still n—"

His speech was abruptly cut off as the phone began vibrating again.

Incoming call: Nyx

Alex stared at the screen for a few seconds, he felt really tempted to cut the call.

[Well aren’t you going to pick it?]

"... No."

[No?]

"I just got back from hell with a broken arm and shattered ribs and you expect me to answer her, only for her to give me some ridiculous task? No thank you."

[That’s fair. But you do realize that if you don’t answer, she might show up at your door instead]

Alex’s thumb, which was about to hit the decline button, immediately paused.

What the system said was true. What if she suddenly visited him... Though it would be nice to see such an amazing beauty, with those mouth watering curves and perky, soft yet firm butt... No focus! If she visited him and found out that he had been snobbing her, then he might as well kiss this life good bye.

With a sigh, he clicked answer. For a brief second, there was only silence on the other end, before a cool voice rang out.

<Where are you? And why haven’t you been answering my calls?>

Alex leaned against the bed and exhaled slowly.

"I’m currently at home. And as for why I haven’t been answering your call... I was busy."

<Busy?" Nyx repeated, her tone going noticeably colder. "Busy enough to ignore over twenty calls?>

Alex glanced at the call log again.

"... It was more than twenty?"

[Forty-two, actually]

He ignored the system.

"Look, I really had something important to deal with, so that’s why I couldn’t answer your calls."

Silence lingered again, then Nyx spoke coldly.

<Do you have any idea how many people in this city would kill for a single phone call from me... And you chose to ignore me for three days?>

Alex let out a small sigh.

"Look, I’m just really tired, okay" he replied bluntly. "So if you’re going to threaten me can you do it tomorrow?"

The silence on the other side became deafening. When she spoke again, her voice sounded extremely cold.

<I see. You’ve grown quite bold since last we met. It seems like your previous lessons wasn’t thorough enough. Don’t go anywhere, Alex. I’m coming over now to personally refresh your memory>

"Hold on, who said you could just..."

Click.