Chapter 187:Rank up.
"There are several possibilities. First... It can be processed into weapon coatings. A single drop on a blade or arrowhead can dramatically increase lethality against beasts."
He raised another finger.
"Second... The toxin can be diluted to create specialized trap poisons; useful for contractors setting ambushes, and third..."
He smiled slightly.
"Researchers pay exceptionally well for rare venoms. They study them to develop antidotes and medicines."
Ravenna looked surprised.
"So the venom can actually save lives too?"
"Precisely."
"The deadliest poisons often produce the strongest antidotes."
Silver nodded thoughtfully.
"I think... I’ll sell part of the venom and keep the rest."
The craftsman approved.
"A wise decision. You never know when a rare toxin might become useful."
Silver completed the necessary paperwork before leaving both the snake hide and venom in the craftsman’s care for processing.
As they stepped back outside, the sun had already begun sinking toward the horizon. The sky glowed orange above the rooftops.
Ravenna glanced at the time.
"...Almost five."
Silver stretched comfortably.
"We’ve earned a quiet evening."
She smiled.
"I couldn’t agree more."
Silver and Ravenna returned to their hotel just as the evening lights began flickering to life outside the windows.
The trip to the craftsman had gone better than either of them had expected.
For now, all they could do was wait. The workshop would notify them once everything was finished.
Back inside their room, the atmosphere immediately relaxed. Silver stretched until several joints popped before flopping backwards onto the bed.
"...I don’t think I’ve appreciated mattresses enough."
Ravenna laughed as she placed her backpack beside the wardrobe.
"I thought contractors were supposed to be tough."
"They are." Silver folded his arms behind his head. "That doesn’t mean we can’t appreciate comfort."
Ravenna shook her head with a smile before opening the container holding the beast cores they had obtained during the expedition.
There were quite a few Rank One cores remaining after the division of spoils. Most contractors would sell them, but Ravenna had no intention of doing so.
"I’ll start now."
Silver looked up from his phone.
"You sure?"
She nodded confidently.
"My synchronization has been stable for a while, and we still have the Soul Harmonization Crystal. If I rank up tonight, I won’t have to worry about rushing later."
Silver smiled.
"Then go for it; you can use mine if yours aren’t enough."
He knew there was little danger. Ravenna’s Soul Capacity was nineteen; she had been on the verge of advancing for quite some time.
The expedition had simply provided the final push. She sat cross-legged on the floor, carefully arranging the Rank One beast cores in front of her.
One after another, she began absorbing them. Warm energy drifted from each crystal before flowing gently into her body. Silver watched for a few moments before deciding there was nothing he needed to worry about. She looked completely comfortable and confident.
He picked up his phone and opened one of the strategy games he occasionally played whenever he had time to relax. It had become something of a habit since arriving in this world. Games allowed him to switch his brain off for a while, and since the game came built-in, it was much better.
Only the occasional glow of crimson light reflected from Ravenna’s direction reminded him she was still cultivating. Time passed peacefully. Nearly forty minutes later, blue light suddenly appeared before Silver’s eyes.
His game froze.
He blinked once before immediately setting his phone aside.
[Quest Completed]
Quest: Gamble Against Fate
Status: Completed
Calculating timeline deviation...
...
Timeline divergence confirmed.
Original Outcome: Ravenna Arkland — Deceased
Current Outcome: Ravenna Arkland — Alive
Significant alteration to predetermined fate confirmed.
Rewards Issued...
• Affection Points +2,000
• Strength +2
• Mental Resistance +2
• Passive Skill Acquired: Mind Fortress Lv1
• Synchronization Skill upgraded: Linked Awareness Lv2
• Intermediate Shop Access Unlocked}
Another notification appeared immediately afterward.
[Achievement Unlocked]
{Fate Breaker I
You have successfully altered a predetermined future.
The flow of fate has begun to diverge.
Future events can no longer be predicted with certainty.}
Silver stared silently at the floating blue windows. Two thousand Affection Points... His current balance had practically exploded overnight. More importantly, the System had confirmed something he had always hoped but never truly known.
He had changed the future. Ravenna had survived, and the story he remembered no longer existed exactly as it once had.
A faint smile slowly spread across his face.
"...We really did it."
The notifications weren’t finished. Another blue window appeared.
[Passive Skill Acquired]
Mind Fortress Lv1
Classification: Passive Mental Skill
Description:
The mind is the foundation upon which all spatial abilities are built.
Mind Fortress continuously strengthens the user’s mental endurance, reducing fatigue caused by prolonged concentration and repeated spatial ability usage.
Effects:
• Moderately reduces mental exhaustion.
• Improves resistance against fear, hallucinations, and soul pressure.
• Accelerates recovery from mental fatigue.
• Growth occurs naturally through continued use of mentally demanding abilities.}
Silver couldn’t help nodding in satisfaction.
"...Perfect."
This was exactly what he needed. Ever since obtaining his spatial abilities, the greatest limitation had never been power; it had been his mind. Whenever he overused them, headaches followed. During longer fights, he had even received warnings from the System itself.
Mind Fortress wouldn’t remove those limitations, but it would push them farther away. Which meant he could fight longer, train harder, and recover faster. That alone made the reward priceless.
The final notification appeared.
[Synchronization Skill upgraded]
Linked Awareness Lv2
Classification: Passive Synchronization Skill
Description:
A bond forged through trust, shared battles, and mutual reliance has begun forming a natural synchronization between linked individuals.
While within a limited range, the user can instinctively perceive subtle changes in the linked target’s emotional state, physical condition, and combat intent.
This skill does not transmit thoughts.
Instead, it enhances instinctive awareness between linked partners.
Skill growth is determined by Relationship Affection and Synchronization.
Target Link: Ravenna Arkland}
Silver read the description twice.
"...That’s..."
This was getting better and better. More and more often, he and Ravenna reacted without speaking. She understood where he wanted to move and he also understood when she intended to attack. Neither consciously planned it; they simply... knew.
Apparently, the System had finally recognized that connection and decided to increase the intensity. He dismissed the notifications one by one.
His smile remained.