Chapter 42: Skill Renovation

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PS1: Honestly, I quite enjoy writing about skill attributes.
PS2: I’m giving Hao Ren an overpowered advantage—any objections? Ha↘ha↗ Even if you have them, I’ll just ignore you!

“Summoning Link” has been upgraded to “Summoner’s Heart.”

Talent: “Summoner’s Heart” Lv10 (256,000/256,000). As a summoner, you possess the authority to control the attributes of summoned creatures, receiving a reverse bonus from their attribute points—currently 100%. The bonus cannot exceed the summoner’s own attribute limits. The number of links equals the Charisma value, currently 11. As a summoner, you possess the authority to control the life of summoned creatures; any damage taken by the summoner is shared by the summoned beings. All summoned creatures’ recovery abilities are increased tenfold. As a summoner, you possess the right to command actions; you can summon any linked creature to your side from afar, with a skill cooldown of one hour, calculated separately. As a summoner, you possess the right to borrow skills; you may temporarily use a skill from a summoned creature, but only one skill at a time. As a summoner, you have the duty to grant benefits; all skills of summoned creatures gain +1 level without changing the required upgrade points. You may spend 10 LP to temporarily increase all skills of one summoned creature by +3 levels for ten minutes.

“Kemph Contract” has been upgraded to “Magic Pact.”

Talent: “Magic Pact” Lv10 (256,000/256,000). The contract holder may spend 10 LP to establish a pact with a female humanoid, granting her a contract card and a special class. The contract card is generated based on the abilities and class of each pact holder, with no limit (Lv10 lifts restrictions). The contract holder may use any contract card, but only one at a time; unlimited (Lv7 removed LP consumption). You may spend 10 LP to forcibly contract with a female boss-level (or lower) humanoid, gaining absolute control over her. The number of contracts equals Charisma, currently 11.

“Summoner’s Cottage” has been upgraded to “Dimensional Space.”

Skill: “Dimensional Space” Lv10 (256,000/256,000). Creates a unique ecological space, customizable by spending LP. The area depends on LP spent; time flows synchronously with the creator’s world. The space creator and summoned creatures may freely enter and exit; the owner has absolute authority over it. All beings within recover fully within one hour. There is also a static storage space for game items and nonliving objects, immune to theft and loss. You may spend 100 LP to banish an enemy creature to a fragmented space area.

The upgraded skills didn’t catch Hao Ren’s attention; what truly shocked him was the astronomical LP required to max out these three skills—1,531,000 in total, if paid out of pocket! Is this how much it costs to upgrade skills to the highest level?

Actually, it’s because Hao Ren’s three abilities are all rare S-class, so their LP costs are doubled. Ordinary lower-level skills, even at max level, consume less than ten thousand points. Hao Ren just doesn’t know that.

Of course, even ten thousand points isn’t something ordinary players can afford.

Relieved after passing the trial, Hao Ren shook his head and, with the ice dragon Sherry, returned to the main brain space.

Reality—Hao Ren’s home.

After a lengthy explanation, the girls more or less understood Hao Ren’s current situation—in short: he got extremely lucky.

“Why doesn’t Sherry take off her armor?” Shizuka asked curiously.

“My appearance and skin are only revealed before my master.” Was that a problematic statement?

Immediately, Hao Ren felt countless lethal glares.

“It wasn’t me who taught her!” Hao Ren quickly waved his hands to clear up any misunderstanding, but suspicion still lingered.

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“By the way, I’ve already reserved a villa on the outskirts of the city. Want to go take a look?” Saya unexpectedly didn’t press further, but changed the subject.

“With this dozen or so people, how are we going to get around? Taking ‘Route 11’ (walking) isn’t ideal, and you probably don’t want to stay in my space all the time. Wait—space!” Hao Ren waved his hand, bringing everyone (including the cat) into the Dimensional Space.

Endless blue sky and black earth—nothing else. Hao Ren and the girls sat in a daze.

“I’m giving you the right to remodel, Saya. If anyone has ideas, talk to Saya. Try to keep LP consumption low; don’t spend too much. I’ll head back to school. Do whatever you like. If you need my input, just shout, I’ll hear you.” Hao Ren had absolute authority over this space.

“Understood~” The girls saluted Hao Ren, collectively acting cute.

“I wish to remain with my master,” the ice dragon Sherry clung to Hao Ren’s hand.

The black cat, tail jingling, grabbed Hao Ren’s coat.

“Let’s leave Sherry behind; you can’t walk the streets in that form, not even with a cosplay excuse. Black Cat, you can come.”

Sherry looked deeply aggrieved, though her helmet hid it from Hao Ren. The black cat, triumphant, leapt into Hao Ren’s arms.

He donned an overcoat, tucked Black Cat inside, leaving a small feline head poking out. After withdrawing some cash from the bank, he took the bus back to school.

Bored on the way back, Hao Ren checked the attributes of his new recruit.

Name: Ice Dragon Sherry
Attributes: Strength 93
Agility 69
Constitution 101
Intelligence 13
Spirit 54
Charisma 17

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Loyalty: 100
Relationship: Spouse

Skill: “Iron Fist King” (no rank), passive skill, allows the use of martial techniques from all Iron Fist characters to some extent.

Skill: “Cold Bloodline” Lv1+1 (0/500), can summon ice walls, manipulate icy flames, release ice-element dragon breath. Skill cooldown is 160 seconds; all three abilities share the cooldown.

Skill: “Dragon Knight Armor” (no rank), transformed from the dragon’s own scales, grants double the base defense; the wearer cannot be harmed until the armor is destroyed. Attackers suffer cold exposure, with attack and movement speed reduced by 30% for ten seconds. Only equippable in human form; self-repairing.

Skill: “Dragon Transformation” Lv1+1 (0/1000), consumes 10 LP, reverts to ice dragon form, all attributes become 1.75 times those of human form, “Cold Bloodline” cooldown is removed, lasts fifteen minutes.

What!? Spouse!? What am I supposed to be—a beast? At least call it husband and wife! This makes no sense! Wait, was that kiss ritual actually a marriage ceremony? Is this what they mean by “taking advantage and suffering because of it”?

Hao Ren had just turned eighteen—and now he’s stepped straight into his grave.

How delightful! Let’s all gloat together!

…

Damn it—I want a luxurious grave like this! Unforgivable!

Lost in thought, Hao Ren got off the bus and returned to school.

Imitating Nine Blades, Hao Ren experienced for the first time the thrill of slapping the principal with bundles of cash.

Having just permanently solved his academic path to a PhD, Hao Ren received a call from the class monitor about a dinner gathering tonight.

Alright, alright, I wonder if they mind Hao Ren bringing a pet along.