My Time Is Limited

One magic spell, three skills.

For someone who had just received a Blessing, that was indeed an outrageously high starting point.

Even Loki, who had descended to the lower world several decades ago and forcibly raised her Familia to become one of Orario's strongest, had only ever seen such potential in one person.

That person was the first Familia member Loki had found after descending to the lower world: the current captain of the Loki Familia, one of fewer than ten Lv. 6s in Labyrinth City Orario, the Pallum hero known as the Braver—Finn Tim.

When this captain of the Loki Familia had first received his Blessing, he had awakened one magic spell and three skills just like Riezel. Now, he possessed two magic spells and five skills. As far as Loki knew, he held the greatest number of skills, and was only one spell short of the maximum.

Of course, having more magic spells and skills did not necessarily mean someone was stronger than those with fewer. There were people in Labyrinth City Orario stronger than Finn. It depended on the specific effects of those magic spells and skills.

Magic spells could be strong or weak, and skills could have useful or useless effects. Awakening one did not mean it would necessarily be useful or increase one's strength.

But what effects did Riezel's magic spell and skills possess?

"This really is something."

Loki stared at the effects of the skills and magic spell imprinted on the parchment, bright glints repeatedly flashing through her rarely opened eyes.

Especially one of the effects of the skill Self-Salvation—"Ability Value can be independently updated by consuming the corresponding amount of divine blood."

"Damn independent Ability Value updates." Loki cursed under her breath. "Forget someone like me who has only been in the lower world for a few decades. Even those old geezers who have been down here for centuries probably have never seen a skill with an effect like this, right?"

Loki had never heard of any child in the lower world being able to update their own Ability Value.

Where would that leave gods like them? How could they possibly live with themselves?

After all, once their divine power was sealed, the only things gods could do in the lower world were grant Blessings and update their contents.

Riezel naturally had no idea how Loki felt. He merely looked at his own Ability Value.

There was nothing much to say about his basic abilities.

Since he had only just received his Blessing and had not had the chance to gain Experience Points and grow, all five categories were at the lowest Stage I, each with a proficiency of 0.

Proficiency referred to the progress of a particular ability.

0–99 was I.

100–199 was H.

200–299 was G.

300–399 was F.

And so on. When proficiency reached 900–999, it became S.

People generally believed that Stage S was the highest stage for basic abilities, and that 999 was the upper limit of proficiency.

To raise the proficiency of a basic ability and increase the stage of each category, the only way was to use that ability frequently.

To raise "Strength," one had to attack with force repeatedly.

To raise "Endurance," one had to endure attacks repeatedly.

To raise "Agility," one had to accelerate and charge repeatedly.

Likewise, to raise "Magic," one had to use magic spells frequently.

The more often an ability was used, the more its proficiency would rise. However, the closer it got to the maximum value of 999—an Ability Value rating of S—the slower its growth became.

It was said that very few people could raise even one ability to the highest Stage S. Even those who reached Stage A or Stage B were rare.

Of course, as someone familiar with the original story's plot, Riezel knew that for certain cheaters, not only was the highest Stage S no problem, even breaking through that theoretical limit was not difficult.

That was right. He was talking about the original protagonist.

"I wonder if I can break through that limit too."

While thinking about that, Riezel focused most of his attention on his magic spell and skills.

When he saw the one magic spell he had awakened, All-Rounder, his gaze paused slightly.

"A memory magic spell?" Riezel mocked himself inwardly. So my only strength is still my memory.

Clearly, this magic spell embodied Riezel's exceptional memory, the manifestation of the sole talent from his previous life that he had been proud of.

The reason it had manifested in the form of magic was probably related to the original owner of the body Riezel had taken over being a native of a magical world, naturally blessed with powerful magic.

As for the three skills, they were entirely crystallizations of Riezel's obsessions.

For now, Riezel memorized the effects of these magic spells and skills so he could explore them later.

At that moment, Loki seemed to have finished sorting out her emotions and spoke again.

"I'll use divine blood to lock your Ability Value. In other words, I'll hide your Blessing so that others can't peek at it."

Loki picked up the needle again. As she pricked her finger and pressed it against Riezel's back, she spoke to him.

"Also, I need to remind you that Ability Value is the greatest secret of everyone who receives a Blessing. Generally speaking, aside from your most trusted Familia companions and your Familia's god, you should never reveal information about your Ability Value to anyone. Otherwise, people with ulterior motives may figure out your strength and target you out of malice."

For the first time, Loki put on a stern expression and looked at Riezel with extreme seriousness.

"Especially you, Riezel. Aside from Familia members, you'd better not let anyone know about your magic spell and skills."

Without question, Riezel's magic spell and skills were all abilities beyond the norm.

Riezel might still need to explore them, but as a god with vast experience and astonishing insight, Loki could already see their capability and potential.

They were absolutely the sort of things that would shock certain people—or even drive them mad.

That was why Loki had to warn Riezel.

"I understand."

Naturally, Riezel would not casually reveal his secrets to outsiders.

He knew very well that what could be hidden was often the key to victory and one's trump card.

"It's good that you understand." Only then did Loki relax, grinning mischievously again. "Of course, you don't need to be overly timid either. My Loki Familia isn't some stray cat or dog off the street. If anyone dares lay a hand on you, they should be prepared to lose their claws."

Loki ran her divine-blood-stained fingertip across Riezel's back. Immediately, ripples spread across his back like the surface of disturbed water.

Before long, the Ability Value on Riezel's back disappeared.

It had been locked.

Unless Loki herself unlocked it with divine blood, or someone forcibly undid it through illegal means, no one could make it appear.

Riezel felt that, given the effects of the skill he had obtained, he should be able to unlock it himself using Loki's divine blood.

But there was naturally no reason for him to do that.

"All done!"

After finishing everything, Loki clapped her hands, looking as though she had accomplished a great task and returned with a full load.

Riezel had put his clothes back on as well. He burned the parchment bearing his Ability Value over the oil lamp beside him before turning to Loki.

"When can I go to the Dungeon?"

Riezel asked casually.

"What? Are you in a hurry?" Loki rolled her eyes. "You just received your Blessing and already want to dive into the Dungeon? Aren't you tired?"

According to Riezel himself, he had only arrived in Orario today.

Though Loki did not know where Riezel had come from, he had sought out her Familia on his first day in Orario, received a Blessing, and now wanted to enter the Dungeon. His energy really was excessive.

"You should get some proper rest first. We'll talk about everything else after you've settled in." Loki said irritably. "I'll have someone take you to an empty room. Tomorrow, they can show you around the headquarters, help you get familiar with the place and meet everyone."

Hearing that, Riezel frowned so slightly it was almost imperceptible, then relaxed again.

"Then can I take this?"

Riezel pointed at the short sword casually lying on Loki's bed.

"You want that?" Loki's expression turned strange. "I don't mind giving it to you, but it's only something with nicer decorations. Its value as an artwork is much greater than its usefulness as a weapon. If you take it, it can only be used for self-defense, you know?"

"That's enough." Riezel smiled faintly. "I just want a weapon for self-defense. Walking around empty-handed makes me feel a little unsafe."

"I see." Loki narrowed her eyes and stared at Riezel for a long while before waving her hand. "Then take it. Consider it a gift from your god to a newly joined child."

"Thank you."

After bowing to her, Riezel picked up the short sword.

Then, Riezel left Loki's God's Chamber and walked out of the room.

Loki watched him leave. Only after quite some time did she mutter to herself.

"I thought he was a steady child, but it turns out he has an impatient side too."

"Forget it. Let him go. The children in my Familia are all like that anyway, always looking like they're carrying something unbearably heavy."

"I hope this child can grow up safely and smoothly."

Inside the God's Chamber, the chief god who seemed unreliable at first glance but was actually meticulous and farsighted quietly closed her eyes.

At the same time, at the Great Gate of Twilight Manor, Riezel gripped the extravagantly decorated short sword and left.

His gaze was fixed on the very center of the city.

There stood a Chalk Giant Tower that pierced the clouds, taller than even the central tower of Twilight Manor—so tall that it could overlook the entire city.

"That's the Tower of Babel?"

The Tower of Babel, also known as the God Tower, was the most important and iconic structure in Labyrinth City Orario.

It had many functions and purposes.

Among those many functions, the most important was that it served as the lid of the Dungeon, suppressing the Dungeon entrance beneath its base.

That was right.

The entrance to the Dungeon lay beneath that Chalk Giant Tower.

"Sorry, Loki."

A cold resolve flickered in Riezel's eyes.

"My time is limited."

Muttering that to himself, Riezel immediately headed toward the Tower of Babel.

His destination: the Dungeon.