Chapter 133: Do Not Disappoint Me, Champion.
[The User has gained a new blessing from the god Charon. Due to the presence of a stoner blessing, the blessing from the god Charon cannot be delivered to the user in its divine form. The system has quantified the blessing and converted it to a usable form. The blessing will be represented in the form of a stat increase as well as a new skill.]
…
[Stat increase due to blessing]
Strength: +500
Stamina: +500
Agility: +300
Durability: +400
Mana: +500
…
[The User has gained a new Divine Skill [Styxwatchers Discernment - MAX]]
[Styxwatchers Discernment: Styxwaters Discernment endows the user with an infallible ability to perceive truth, drawing upon the wisdom of the River Styx to unravel deception and reveal the sincerity of others. This is a passive skill that cannot be deactivated, therefore, the user cannot be lied to.]
[This skill cannot be upgraded or improved. All inherent properties are permanently set.]
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SUPERHUMAN SYSTEM
Name: Mark Vanitas
Race: Human
Title: [He Who Perseveres Through Hell. [+10% increase to all stats.]] [He Who Defies Destiny]
Rank: S [4380/5000]
Affiliation: True Neutral
Unused Stat Points: 0
Unused Skill Points: 0
…
Strength: 1880 [+188] [+376]
Stamina: 1350 [+135] [+270]
Agility: 1150 [+115] [+230]
Durability: 1210 [+121]
Mana: 1020 [+102]
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Artifacts: [Gloves of the Thunder God - S]
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Wow, that was… kind of awesome.
The skill was definitely not a combat skill. Mark did not expect it to be a combat skill since he knew that Charon was not a combat-type god. Even Mark was able to overpower him, so Mark did not have much expectation in that regard, but that does not mean that the skill he got was completely useless.
The skill was a very useful one, and if there was ever a superhuman that had a skill like this, then they would be a very valuable addition to any police force since it would make it impossible for you to lie to them! They could be in charge of detecting lies and carrying out investigations, and their lives would be set for the better.
The stat points that Mark received were just enough to make him as strong as a B-rank superhuman, and it was a little sad that all of Charon's blessings were only enough to make someone a B rank. Some of the stronger gods were capable of creating multiple S ranks with their blessings, but Charon could only make a single B rank with all his power.
Even if Mark didn't want to pity him, he couldn't help but feel a little sorry for the transporter. Just how weak does a god have to be that their entire blessing would only make you B rank? This revelation made Mark appreciate and respect Sozin a lot more. Just how strong was Sozin that his blessing made Mark this powerful? If Sozin ever went all out, how much damage could he cause?
Mark stared down at his hands as he frowned in dissatisfaction.
Just how long would it take to reach that level of strength? Will I ever be able to stand up to someone like Sozin? Mark shook his head and got rid of that thought. Allowing depressing thoughts like that to fill your head is what holds most people back from ever becoming strong.
Thinking that you are weak and being discouraged just because you see that there are many strong people around you will make it impossible for you to surpass your own limits. You have to keep moving forward no matter what. That is the only way to gain strength.
"Get off. We have arrived."
Charon spoke up once he docked the boat, but Mark just crossed his arms and raised his brow as he waited for Charon to do something. Charon seemed confused about what Mark was trying to ask for, and Mark just waited until Charon's eyes widened in surprise as he realized what Mark was waiting for.
"Just how greedy can you be!? You already took everything from me and now you want more?"
Charon couldn't believe that Mark was holding onto that promise that they made at the start of the trip. Charon swore by the Styx that he would give Mark a gift if Charon falls into the water. Charon did not think that Mark would even think about trying to claim the gift, especially since he already took Charon's blessings for himself.
Just how greedy is this mortal?
"You swore by the Styx, Charon. I'm only trying to help you. I don't know what the consequences for breaking such a promise are, but I'm sure that it cannot be pretty since the Styx is so important. Trust me, this hurts me just as much as it hurts you. No, maybe it hurts me even more. I do not enjoy this at all; all I am doing is looking out for you."
The sneer on Charon's face deepened in irritation as Mark started to speak condescendingly with a sad look in his eyes. This bastard was mocking him!
Charon was one moment away from trying to attack Mark again because of how he was speaking, but he held himself back because he knew that there was no way he could win against Mark in the state that Mark was in now. Since Mark had both the blessings of his original patron god as well as Charon's blessings, Mark was definitely stronger than Charon, and Charon would never win in a tussle.
But even though Mark was only speaking condescendingly, Mark was right about what he said. It would be a bad idea to break a promise that was made in front of the River Styx. If Mark had not asked for the gift or if he had relinquished Charon's responsibility and allowed him to not keep to the promise, then the Styx would have simply let it go, and there would be no punishment.
But now that Mark has spoken about it, Charon has to keep his word or he will receive punishment from the Styx.
"I am the son of darkness and the night, the overseer placed in charge of the River Styx. By my power, I grant you this gift."
…
[The User has been granted a Divine Gift by Charon, the Guardian of Souls.]
[Assimilating.. Assimilating… Assimilating…]
[The gift is being converted to an Accessible form for system integration. Conversion successful.]
[Unpacking… 10%]
[Unpacking… 30%]
[Unpacking… 50%]
[Unpacking… 60%]
[Unpacking… 90%]
[Unpacking… 99%]
[Unpacking successful. The User has gained a new Divine Skill [Achilles Heel]]
[Achilles Heel: This skill enables the user to swiftly detect and expose weaknesses and vulnerabilities in opponents or objects, providing a strategic advantage in combat. Vulnerable areas will be exposed using a red hue. The darker the shade of red, the more vulnerable the area is.]
[This skill cannot be upgraded or improved. All inherent properties are permanently set.]
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[Comment from GoG: Oh, that's a pretty useful one. For a useless god, Charon really knows how to show off when it counts. Show the proper gratitude, Mark.]
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"Thanks, Charon. I'm really grateful for the gift and your blessings."
Charon huffed.
"Well, at least you know how to show proper gratitude in the face of such enormous favor. It will do you well to not disappoint me after all, champion."
Mark couldn't see Charon's face properly, but he could glimpse a small smile tugging on Charon's lips as he said the word champion. Charon was really happy that he had a champion like Mark, wasn't he? This damn tsundere.