Clang!
Swords clashed as reverberations echoed through the air when they made contact. Hit after hit, a sharp metallic sound rang out.
"Kuh...! How are you so strong!? I thought I'd close the gap once I'm level three!"
Gamon cried out. He was duelling with Fran in the training grounds in front of the inn.
"You too, I didn't expect you to grow this fast."
[Gamon ✦✦]
[Equipped Beginner Sword (C)(87%)]
[Lvl. 3]
[Strength - 4 (51%)] [Agility - 4 (62%)] [Intelligence - 2 (93%)] [Endurance - 3 (40%)] [Stamina - 3 (11%)]
[Unique Gift - Demon Blessing (Weak)]
[Goblin Slayer Lv. 1 (C)]
[Fran Asroth ✦]
[Lvl. 4]
[Equipped Beginner Sword (C)(100%)(+4)]
[Strength - 4 (84%)] [Agility - 5 (7%)] [Intelligence - 4 (67%)] [Endurance - 3 (80%)] [Stamina - 4 (48%)]
[Unique Gift - King's Authority]
[Vulnerable Strike Lv. 1 (U)]
[Endless Strike Lv. 1 (R)]
[Goblin Slayer Lv. 1 (C)]
[Fragment (KLO-47) Blessing (Soulbound) (L)]
[As one of the conquerors of the Fragment, all your stats are given +1. Remains in effect for as long as Cradle (EVO-C1191) controls Fragment (KLO-47). Soulbound: This skill is directly tied to the soul and cannot be removed by [Rebirth] or extraction]
[King's Gambit (Soulbound) (L)]
[Base: (All stats: 50%)][Passive]
[King's Privilege: Protection against a fatal attack once a day (non-stackable). Release a shockwave shortly after in all directions based on the King's (Strength) plus (+2). Soulbound: This skill is directly tied to the soul and cannot be removed by [Rebirth] or extraction]
[Requirements: Capture a Fragment as a (King)]
"How are you getting faster...!?"
Gamon, with each hit, was getting pushed back. He was only defending against Fran's relentless attacks that seemed subhuman.
Clink!
"Wha—!?"
Gamon's sword flew to the side, his face in utter shock.
"That concludes it, just let me know when you want to train again."
Fran sheathed his sword as he relaxed his muscles.
"Tsk... I still can't beat you, huh?"
"You will soon do, you're much better than me, after all."
"Cut the bullcrap. Having more stars or whatever, it means nothing if I can't win."
Gamon was annoyed by his remark, he clearly had lost one-sidedly. How could Fran say that? He thought.
"I'll go clear the stages again."
Not waiting for Fran's reply, Gamon picked up his sword and went straight to the Rift, not even looking back.
"Well, he really was strong. That's a two-star for you."
Fran wasn't wrong; if it wasn't for the skills that he had gotten after clearing the Fragment stage, he would have been beaten. Gamon's growth was fast, which is all due to him being a two-star and his unique gift.
"I'll hit my ceiling soon..."
[Are we heading to the heart?]
Most one-star characters generally stop growing after level 5. This meant that no matter how hard one tries, their stats will plateau at a certain number. Fran was nearing his limit, and his skills could only improve him by so much.
"Yeah, it's a bit early, but we can do it now."
"Rebirth, that is."
Rebirth.
The core mechanic of King's Cradle. It allows a character to sacrifice their level and skills in exchange for a chance to increase their tier and boost their growth. By advancing to the next tier, one is then given another [Unique Gift].
Sacrificing one's level, will mean faster exp accumulation and the benefit of increased training. Aside from that, skills are then transmuted into permanent stat increases.
<<----------->>
[Proceed with (Rebirth)?]
[Y/N]
The screen popped in front of him as he stood below the giant floating crystal. Oddly enough, Fran felt restless—his nerves were getting the best of him. This was a game of luck, after all.
If he failed in advancing to the next tier, it would mean that he would only come out only as slightly better than the previous. Of course, he had prepared for that possibility.
"Yes."
[Commencing (Rebirth), may the Stars shine upon you, King Fran!]
Axy's voice reverberated throughout the entire dome; it seemed to be making a Cradle announcement.
Light once again enveloped the Cradle's heart. Yellow streaks of light concentrated and hit Fran in the center. The gigantic yellow crystal floated further above him.
"That's..."
It slowly rotated on its own axis, and the light coming from it became ever brighter than before.
Rumble.
The ground shook, and before Fran noticed, the heart shot out a light above, piercing through the transparent roof directly above it.
"Not good... I'm losing consciousness."
Covering his eyes, Fran could feel his feet giving up, forcing him to be on his knees. It was as if the light was pressing down against him.
"..."
<<----------->>
Weightlessness.
Or more specifically, it was as if his body wasn't with him.
"Wait...? Huh!?"
"Hello, it's been a while, Mr. Fran Asroth."
Fran looked around. There was nothing visible; his feet, his hands—they were gone, as if his body simply wasn't there.
"Now, now, don't be so shocked every time, haha" The figure giggled, amused.
"Evo!"
"Yes, Evo reporting for duty!"
Evo saluted, as if he were a military soldier responding to his officer.
"What is going on here...?"
"Hah... we haven't seen each other for over a week, and you look like you don't want to see me already... so cold."
"Answer me properly."
Fran, wildly bewildered, found Evo's usual antics annoying. In fact, he's not quite sure why he is here in the first place. He was sure Rebirth didn't cause you to lose consciousness or even transport you to meet god.
"Hah... Alright."
"Well, you see, I think you have encountered a 'Bug'."
"A... Bug?"
Evo sounded a bit apologetic, as if he had done something wrong.
"You're... not supposed to be able to Rebirth as a King."
"What!?"
Fran was perplexed; this was something he had feared for the worst.
"You see... No one has tried to Rebirth as a King before... So... I mean, you technically can, it's just that... I'm not sure how it'll turn out."
"..."
Fran looked at Evo with eyes of scrutiny, as if completely losing faith in it.
"Aiyah... Please don't be mad! We totally overlooked this."
"We...?"
"Oh, that slipped. Hehe."
Evo moved to cover their mouth. Or at least, where their mouth is supposed to be.
"In any case, this will be fine. Good luck!"
Snap!
Fran lost consciousness once again, this time, in an instant.
<<----------->>
[Rebirth Starting]
[Fran Asroth ✦ -> Fran Asroth ✦✦]
[New: Unique Gift - Wall EXP]
[Gain EXP by leaning on a wall]
[Lvl. 4 -> Lvl. 1] -> [EXP Boost (+50%)]
[Synthesis of Skills]
[Vulnerable Strike Lv. 1 (U)] -> Intelligence +50% (Base), Agility +50% (Base)
[Endless Strike Lv. 1 (R)] -> Agility +1 (Base)
[Goblin Slayer Lv. 1 (C)] -> Strength +25% (Base)
[WARNING: ERROR CODE(404)]
[Entity (King), No RepositoryFound, Rebirth Error]
[Trying Again.]
[Fran Asroth ✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦]
[Lvl -1111111]
[Looping Error!]
[Reverting]
[Not Enough Authority to Tamper (Unique Gift)]
[Unable to Revert Evanescence to Level]
[Unable to Resynthesize Skills Using Evanescence]
[Fran Asroth ✦]
[Lvl 1]
[Rebirth Complete]
[The Stars Have Shone Upon You, _____ Fran Astroth (____)]