Every remaining skills level up was a resistance, much to Lone's pleasure. He happily took his time savouring each and every level. He didn't know why exactly, but he simply enjoyed getting and improving resistance skills over all other skill types. Perhaps it was because doing so made him less killable.

Regardless, he mentally ordered the skills to, as usual, appear by skill groupings in order of first acquired to last. The initial resistance to level up was, unsurprisingly, Water Magic Resistance.

Congratulations! The host's passive skill [Water Magic Resistance] has levelled up! It is now Intermediate Level 3.

Congratulations! The host's passive skill [Water Magic Resistance] has levelled up! It is now Intermediate Level 4.

Congratulations! The host's passive skill [Water Magic Resistance] has levelled up! It is now Intermediate Level 5.

Congratulations! The host's passive skill [Water Magic Resistance] has levelled up! It is now Intermediate Level 6.

'A respectable amount of levels for 15 minutes of work,' Lone nodded, happy with four level ups.

Of course, next was Drowning Resistance. Lone hoped for intermediate rank and perhaps a special effect from intentionally drowning himself. After all, even if his mind believed himself to be drowning, Basic Regeneration would keep him alive no matter what his lungs were filled with.

Congratulations! The host's passive skill [Drowning Resistance] has levelled up! It is now Beginner Level 2.

Congratulations! The host's passive skill [Drowning Resistance] has levelled up! It is now Beginner Level 3.

Congratulations! The host's passive skill [Drowning Resistance] has levelled up! It is now Beginner Level 4.

Congratulations! The host's passive skill [Drowning Resistance] has levelled up! It is now Beginner Level 5.

Congratulations! The host's passive skill [Drowning Resistance] has levelled up! It is now Beginner Level 6.

Congratulations! The host's passive skill [Drowning Resistance] has levelled up! It is now Beginner Level 7.

Congratulations! The host's passive skill [Drowning Resistance] has levelled up! It is now Beginner Level 8.

He sighed. "Only seven levels? And no new effect outside of a rank up? Fuck me. I don't wanna drown myself again... That fuckin' sucked..."

"Only seven levels? What is he talking about?" the matriarch asked Soph.

Soph shrugged. "He's in his own world right now. Like he said, he'll answer all your questions once he's done. You really are younger than me, huh? I don't get as impatient as you are right now."

"What? You think you're older than me?" Lossa's befuddlement amused Lone but he quickly tuned the two ladies out again.

Congratulations! The host's passive skill [Fear Resistance] has levelled up! It is now Advanced Level 9.

It was only one level but given the self-inflicted fear, the short duration, and the knowledge deep down that he was safe, even one level was a generous offering from the system, so Lone happily accepted it.

His next notification was actually his last, disappointingly enough, but it was for a new skill so he couldn't really get upset at that.

The host has developed the passive skill Identity Disassociation Resistance.

'Wow, that is super specific. What do you do, new friend?' Lone asked in excitement as the skill's information filled his vision. 'Hopefully something beyond the obvious.'

Passive Skill: Identity Dissociation Resistance

This skill is very rare and those who possess it tend to live extreme and extended double-lives. They require this to prevent becoming unable to discern which identity is real, which is false, or if one even happened at all.

Allows the host to resist identity dissociation at varying levels based on mastery.

The host's awareness of their differing identities will be 5% stronger when a dissociation of any kind begins to form.

Cost: N/A Mastery: Beginner Level 1

'I'm well on my way to becoming a top-class sleeper agent, huh? Fuck me if this skill isn't terrifying. The fact it exists means there are some very scary people out there who specialise in using the system to pretend to be who they aren't, likely governmental spies of warring kingdoms and empires,' Lone commented internally. 'Corporate espionage too. The long-haul kind.'

It annoyed him a bit that he very much so was not living such a life. His delirious state induced via drowning was hardly easy to replicate, so this would probably become one of his hardest skills to level. Period.

'Ignoring that this is another skill I need to somehow get to intermediate rank - maybe with mind fuckery from someone I can trust rather than drowning again, I have how much shit to report to the credit slate now?' He pulled the needed information from his Puzzle locked Mind and said aloud, "Eight new skills, one of which that's a subskill, one hundred and two level ups, and, of course, can't forget the nine skill rank ups."

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"What?" Lossa asked, worry in her tone.

It was as if she thought Lone to be mentally impaired somehow. What with how she had found him, his actions thus far, and whatever assumption she had made on her own, he couldn't really blame her.

He slowly stood up and cracked his back. He then approached the matriarch of this clan and hugged her in a friendly manner. "Sorry. It's been a long time since we last met. A lot has changed."

Lone pulled away from her. He remembered she liked hugs even if he wasn't such a person himself. A nod of the head or a shake of the hand would do for him, but he was happy to accommodate Lossa now that she had his attention.

"I'm a skill scholar-"

"Addict," Soph interrupted, a less than serious frown on her face.

Chuckling, Lone continued, "A skill scholar who is deeply invested in the craft. Every time I get new skills, level ups, or status improvements, I try to check them out immediately if my attention can be spared for that. I was in the middle of training some skills when you visited. I'll rip this band aid off immediately since I don't want to deceive you, really. I'm a summoned hero and I can regenerate my flesh, bones, muscles, everything, essentially infinitely, so extreme training to others is just another Tuesda- third sun to me."

Lossa's face went through a range of emotions. First, confusion and happiness at the welcoming warmth of a greeting hug. Second, amazement and shock. Lastly, concern and deep sadness. "That is... a lot to take in. I... I can't see why you would lie to me-"

"Tail Spear," Lone invoked and then cut off his entire right arm. It regrew in mere seconds. He then shoved the severed limb in his Dimensional Storage and smiled. "For credibility."

"... You've been through so much," the matriarch stated with a powerful sense of grief that almost overwhelmed Lone. "Your story makes much more sense now... Of course you don't remember your clan. You were never a part of it. Oh, you poor child. What you had to endure in Milindo... To be able to cut off a limb without so much as blinking in discomfort... I... I can't possibly offer you the pittance I was ordered to. You deserve justice now as you did then."

She wiped some tears from her eyes and smiled as she glanced at Soph. "Those barriers... Is she also...? I knew she wasn't your master, of course, you didn't try to hide that when we first met but your closeness makes much more sense if you share that uniqueness in common."

Soph nodded. "I am. Um, I'm gonna go and train. I think it might be better if I'm not here for this talk. It, uh, doesn't really involve me and it seems personal."

Lone grinned. "Don't train too hard, 'kay?"

She smiled back at him and gave him a quick peck on the cheek. "I won't."

She then left the room. Lossa pulled Lone in for another hug, this one oozing a foreign motherly warmth. She let him go and then said, "We do have a lot to talk about, but if it's too much... I understand. I can't believe what it must feel like to have come from Milindo's abuse, criminal punishment over a nonsense law in the dwarven kingdoms, to only then get violently attacked by an X-ranker who you should be able to trust."

Lone shrugged as he took a seat on one of the room's three loungers. "My unique skill unlocked the ability to heal my mind, including the state of it. The trauma is there, but it's easily remembered, reflected upon, and... not overcome, but... accepted? It doesn't hurt me to talk about what I've been through. Hell, the recent attack pissed me the fuck off, sure, but it's not like I didn't gain from it and won't profit even further."

Lossa's expression cracked as she took a seat across from him and replied, "That's the main reason I was sent here by the clan elders. I am, as the matriarch, to let the 'Void-touched' ninetails know he is to be compensated with a permanent residence - a Spirit Pavilion - and five gold coins per month indefinitely as living expenses."

"I get no say in this?" Lone asked.

Lossa shook her head. "The elders did not think your opinion to matter. It took Gilbert fighting your case and eventually giving up with a warning of your power for them to offer even this much. You are also, of course, expected to never mention the attack to anyone. They didn't specify how I should accomplish that, but I think a magical contract is expected."

"Absolutely not. I couldn't care less about the money," Lone said as a small pile of ruby gold coins appeared in his hand to illustrate his point. "I could buy the entire clan if it was for sale, Lossa. I respect you a lot for being candid with me, but I will be getting my compensation straight from the horse's mouth. That horse being your war leader."

"That is... an absurd amount of money. But I can't change the decision of the elders, Lone. I wish I could, but I can't. They are all X-rankers. Granted, much weaker X-rankers than Clari- did you just lick your lips? Why did you do that?" Lossa pivoted, apparently confused.

Lone smiled awkwardly. "No reason. Look, I don't want you to get in trouble. Tell the elders I accept, but I'm not signing any contract magic. They can trust my word or they can't. I won't go around saying I almost got killed by some random X-ranker. That's hardly healthy for my immortal moniker, but I will be seeking out compensation separately from her. You can tell the elders that's a personal matter and all debts between the clan and I are resolved with the Spirit Pavilion and permanent, unrestricted permission to live in the clan for myself and my companions. I don't need the gold. What's a Spirit Pavilion, by the way?"

The matriarch took a deep breath and decided to answer his question before asking any further ones of her own. "It is a rather lavish collection of pagodas and gardens that host several spirits of various ranks. Spirit Pavilions promote the growth and evolution of spirits which serves as a pleasant living environment, ideal for attempting to achieve peaceful enlightenment, both for ranks and skills. Considering which Spirit Pavilions are not currently lived in, you will only be able to get one with lesser spirits, meaning I to G ranked ones. I'm sorry. We can't really evict the other residents. They're all important members or guests of the clan."

Lone stroked his chin thoughtfully. "That's fine. By the way, if the elders aren't happy with my response, tell them I'll only speak about this further with one or all of them. If you come again, we can chat, but officially, I won't speak on anything the elders want to know."

He sprung up onto his feet and approached Lossa before putting a hand on her shoulder and smiling. "And here, as thanks for being nice, honest, and just a good person to me. Ya didn't have to be. Full Body Diagnostics."

"What are yo-"

Congratulations! The host's world skill [Full Body Diagnostics] has levelled up! It is now Intermediate Level 5.

'The face of someone in their late thirties, but the body of someone in their late sixties. Four scars from pretty bad looking injuries. Stiffening of the finger joints. Neural circuitry is fucked, likely caused by excess and prolonged stress. And... is that the initial stages of breast cancer? Well, let's make this all disappear, shall we?' Lone nodded.

Lossa had stopped herself from talking, having clearly felt a sudden mass of MP flowing into her and rebuilding her body from the ground up. Lone had fixed Gilbert, so why wouldn't he undo the ageing effects and all of the underlying conditions of the matriarch when it cost him only a fraction of his MP and some kindness to do so?

Item does not exist on Altros, however, there are many like it. 50,000 MP has been consumed to compensate for the difference.

The host has a good understanding of the item. 40,000 base MP cost.

90,000 MP has been consumed to create the item: [Perfect Condition Body [Lossa Redtail]].

He pulled back once he felt the magic finish. He saw the matriarch slowly and hesitantly standing up to test her limbs. He cracked a big smile when he saw her shed tears of joy. He looked to her lifespan, hazy as it was, and could tell it has more than tripled in length when compared to how it had looked when she entered the room.

"Well, would ya look at that. You couldn't be a day over 20," Lone remarked.

Lossa grabbed him and hugged him tightly. "I can feel it."

"Feel what? Better not be love. You have grandkids and I'm a committed man," he joked as he hugged her back.

"Haha, no, the barrier to-"

Lone felt it just as she did. Lossa had become an SSS-ranker. That surprised Lone. She had felt generally a bit stronger than Gilbert just judging by aura alone but he had no idea she was at the level cap for SS-rankers.

"-ranking up!"

'Was she stopping herself from ranking up subconsciously, maybe? All the stress? Did she not think it possible or worth it since she was slowly dying? For the laugh lines and few wrinkles she had plus her rank, she must have awakened decades or even a century or two ago. So for me to undo all of that ending up with the mental barrier dropping, allowing the enlightenment... Man, I'm getting good at this. This is the second person I've helped rank up. Wonder if the third'll give me a skill? Maybe a new effect for Teaching Mastery?' Of course, Lone's mind drifted to his favourite past time.

Helping people like this felt good. It was.. fulfilling. Still, he had a powerful X-ranker to visit so now wasn't the time to be getting retrospective. He also had a new home to move into and a farewell to give to the merchant caravan.

Lossa was still weeping as they shared a hug, but Lone's mind was, as always, elsewhere. 'Such a busy day ahead of me...'