"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!"
This ti, similar to Russell Moon's experience during his birthday last October, it was now Freya Moon's turn to celebrate as the present day hit her birthdate, which was December 21, and was also just ten days away from the end of the year 2062 and welcoming the year 2063 of the Star Era.
But unlike Russell's birthday, this ti, Alie Rose rveil and Ary Blight attended in their ho in South Obelisk City. Ken Raven, on the other hand, didn't attend Freya's simple celebration even though the house that Russell had given to them was just a few blocks away from Moon's residence — it's all because he was embarrassed in front of Russell's family, which was one of Ken's sides that they didn't expect him to have.
"Thank you, Mom... Dad..."
With a group hug from her family, Freya spoke of her gratification.
"Sigh... I should be the one thanking you for being safe because of the terror attack that happened more than a week ago."
It was lina Moon's words. She was worried when the sudden attack happened, but they had quickly inford their parents that they were safe at that ti, but lina just couldn't help to speak about such dangerous circumstances again.
"Don't worry, Mom. Oppa is always there for ."
With her words, Arche Moon glanced at his son with a proud smile on his face. Russell then nodded with the sa genuine smile, causing Alie and Ary to look at him as various thoughts surfaced in their minds.
"Alright. Alie, Ary, join us for dinner."
lina invited the two of them, which they gladly obliged. Though Russell and Freya's mother's face was painted with an expression that would take "No" for an answer.
"Thank you for the food-!"
With that, they enjoyed Freya's birthday in a simple, yet aningful way.
***
After so ti, the minor celebration ended and the bluish moon in the sky reached its peak, causing its moonlight to spread throughout the continent, along with the serenity that seed to embody it.
On the roof of their ho, where Russell was when he experienced his first vision that showed him what had happened inside the Oldest Root of Yggdrasil and seeing for the first ti the nurous, ancient peculiar coffins that were still mysteries to this day, Russell, Freya, and the other two were sitting as though they were having an after-party for Freya.
"I have sothing to tell you. Consider this as part of my gift for you tonight."
Russell's words, as he looked at his beautiful younger sister, caused the three of them to look at him, waiting for his next words.
"But first, let's call Ken here."
After that, Ken arrived quickly since their new ho was close by.
As they ford a circle, with so snacks in the middle, as well as so drinks, which weren't alcoholic in respect to Freya's birthday, Russell fell into deep thought.
'...We've grown this much in quite a short amount of ti, but this isn't enough for us, especially when the Black Veil is destroyed...'
At this mont, with the help of the increase in Growth Rate after successfully conquering the Tower of Growth, their ranks had gone up in a short amount of ti due to the fact that they had access, with Russell's help, to nurous Chaos Dungeons that would certainly be coveted if it beca known in the world.
Russell Moon was now in C- Rank; Freya Moon was now in D Rank, which was also the rank of both Alie Rose rveil, as well as Ary Blight, while Ken Raven was in D Rank.
With Russell's rank, and with the nerfed Chaos-related Skill: Cull and Cut, the multiplier stats effect would be rendered useless since it was capped at only 999.
'Also, it's only a matter of ti before ordinary players discover the existence of Micro-Strayed Dungeons.'
When Russell and his Chaos Companions had sold the rights for it, the Obelisk Organization, especially the branch where Emmanuel Lyncoster was the one leading, had been excellent in finding nurous Micro-Strayed Dungeons, but they wouldn't make any plans of exposing it to the public since they could capitalize it by themselves.
'Well, I guess new items will be on the market soon enough.'
Russell thought before he spoke to every one of them.
"To begin with, I'd like to know if you are satisfied with the strength you have now."
His tone was sothing that resembled loftiness as though at this mont, he was viewing them as students to be taught a lesson similar to disciples or apostles of martial artists and the church.
They shook their heads without even pondering for so ti. Their minds were occupied by what had transpired in Alastor's capital.
Although Ary was alone in the Chaos Training Grounds at that ti, she was inford of what had transpired so she was an exception when it ca to the reason why she considered herself as not strong enough.
"Alright. I'm glad that every one of you doesn't think that way, so I'll be frank.
"We won't survive the next few months when we stay at our current strength.
"I can't tell you the reason for now, but I want the four of you to trust , especially you... Ken. I know you're doubting or becoming confused as to why I seem to know unusual circumstances, but I apologize because it's not ti yet for you to know.
"But I want to assure you that whatever I'm doing, whether openly or discreetly, is for the sake of everyone important to ."
Russell said in a serious manner. It was unusual for Alie's perspective since she had known him to be truly introverted and had barely spoken even to people he was close with.
"Alright. I trust you. And sorry for having doubts, especially when you're one of the reasons why my parents survived the Mana Poisoning."
Ken replied apologetically for being short-sighted.
"There's nothing to apologize for. Since this world is sothing where the aning of normal is ambiguous or rather cannot be defined anymore, just be prepared your body and mind because you'll probably see sothing more bizarre circumstances."
Russell spoke in the sa manner, referring not only to Ken but also to the others.
"..."
Freya, Alie, and Ary were just listening, perhaps having their own flood of thoughts within their minds.
"Alright then, let's go with sothing you all need to learn."
With his words, Russell proceeded to explain to them the existence of Inherent Powers.
***
"...I-is such a thing really exist? I an— is it possible to have sothing that's not recorded in the Status Window?"
Alie's mouth trembled in excitent. Freya and Ary looked at Russell in disbelief, but with anticipation of the potential of Inherent Powers, while Ken glanced at him with a mix of admiration and confusion that just couldn't easily leave his mind.
"Yes. Inherent Powers are either Passive or Active Skills that can be acquired by utilizing the preferred skills and eting various conditions, mostly environntal in nature.
"For you to understand more..."
Russell Moon then took out the mysterious Egg from his Dinsional Inventory.
'Thanks to that, there's another blessing for us.'
When the Egg reached the 17% hatch rate when the Administrator of the Tower of Growth has given Russell the book titled Bestiary of the Chaos Dungeons, he also received a blessing, which for so mysterious reason, was delayed.
But this blessing was not similar to the one that allowed him to combine the two mysterious weapons, rather, it was the blessing of getting pieces of advice, just like when Russell shared the bites of Fruit of Chaos with three of them before.
"W-what's that?"
Ken was taken aback for a mont because the mysterious Egg, which size was the sa as an ostrich's egg, was floating beside Russell, and seed to be looking at him.
"...Hmm... It's your first ti seeing it, right? Well, let's just say it's part of because it was entrusted to by my Goddess.
"But that's not what's important right now. Please, look at the Party Notifications on the holographic screen."
After Russell asked them, sowhat politely, he then asked the Egg for the activation of blessing.
"Egg, recomnd them suitable Inherent Powers to learn, and how to achieve it."
[The mysterious Egg is giving its blessing to the Chaos Companions of the temporary diator of Chaos.]
[Information regarding the Inherent Powers will be unlocked.]
[The individual, Freya Moon, is advised to learn the Inherent Powers that...]
[Learning Conditions...]
[Estimated Learning Duration...]
[Estimated Inherent Powers Effects...]
[The effects of the Inherent Powers heavily depend on the individual's ti and effort in learning them.]
Every one of them, except for Russell, received various System ssages as the Egg had bestowed to them its blessing.
"T-this is unreal..."
"For now it is, but in the future, it'll beco a thing. Although it's rare, it doesn't an that it's only for us to have, so put your ti and effort into acquiring them."
Russell respond to Alie's admiration, while the other three's eyes widened in shock.
"By the way, Inherent Powers are sothing to be nad by yourselves."
'I don't even have the mory of naming my Inherent Powers or where the hell they ca from...'
Russell inwardly lampooned as he spoke to them.
After a few seconds, as they were scrutinizing every detail of what was recomnded to them according to their respective professions, Russell added, though this ti, his words were for his younger sister only.
"Freya... This is my gift to you. Again, Happy 17th Birthday."
With that said, the cold night quickly flew by as the bluish moon hide under the horizon, giving the sun its turn to shine.
***
A week after Freya's birthday, as the normal vacation, not due to the terror attack, started, the envoy from the Elnira Kingdom had already inford the Obelisk Organization, as well as the Council of Vulcan from the Vulcan Kingdom or the Dwarven country, of the matter regarding the vampires.
Artorious Hall, along with the other main heads that were inford regarding Tanya Drusilla's case, which was fabricated as being a failed player from the Tower of Growth, acted ignorant because they couldn't fully trust the Elves as they were only inford of such information just because they needed aid against the Vampire Clans.
In the end, after discussing the pros and cons, the alliance was made, not because the Humans or the Dwarves fully trusted the Elves, but rather because if the Vampires' influence were to spread further, the safety of their own races would be in jeopardy.
The Three-Way Alliance between the Humans, Elves, and Dwarves beca a heated topic before the year 2062 would end, especially the contents of how the bond between the races was to be strengthened.
"What a freaking cliche."
Russell scoffed upon reading the posted news using his laptop. He had just finished managing his stocks to keep the money flowing, and with Thorn of Rose, his identity was anonymous.
The content of the news, although he had known about it as the author of the mysterious unpublished novel, were the following:
[Three-Way Alliance: Fourteen Days of Founding Deep Connections!]
1. Capital Tour
— Allowing representatives from each race to tour the capitals they are not familiar with.
2. Students Exchange
— Allowing the students or aspiring full-ti players to admit to an educational institution that is being run by the other races.
3. El-Vul-Or Tournant
— Elnira–Vulcan–Orion Tournant, where the best-selected players from each country's respective prestigious academies will fight for honor and rewards.
"Sigh... These events, though necessary, are an embodint of cliches and foolishness."
Russell mustered in the air as he closed his laptop before putting it in his Dinsional Inventory.
After that, he left by blending into shadows as wore the Mask of Night.
Soti later, he arrived at a certain building just near the headquarters of the Obelisk Organization.
Seeing the digital logo, Russell couldn't help but smile as he muttered the words that were digitally written.
"Obelisk rcenary Guild."
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