It first began with Ignis.

< LEVEL : 200 >

< The Symbiote >

NAME : Ignis HP : 380,000 ^20/Min

MP : 35,000 ^10/Min

AGI : 65 RESIST : 550 AGE : 0 ATT : 2,700

MAG ATT : 2,400

O : 230 D : 40 ORIGIN : Original ATT DEF : 7,500

MAG DEF : 6,500

S : 40 E : 0

“Ignis’ stats are tremendous. Consider that despite her ODSE exceeding 200, she is capped at level 200, much like the triplets. Perhaps one day there will be a method to go even further beyond these levels. I hope there will be no need for such a thing.”

The only thing lacking was Ignis’ ATT stats, but these could be easily fixed with Corrupted or Atelier Items, as well as skills from Weaponized System.

< PROFESSIONS >

OFFENSIVE

EXTERNAL SYSTEM: 50

WEAPONIZED SYSTEM: 140

DEFENSIVE

SHAPESHIFT: 30

BODYCRAFT: 10

SUPPORT

SYMBIOSIS: 40

ADAPTATION: 0

EXPLORATION

BIOENGINEER: 0

There were two new Professions under Ignis’ belt now. Adaptation, and Bioengineer; an extremely complicated name that no doubt related to her Gene Expression Skill. Detoxification seemed to derive directly from the Adaptation Profession.

< ADAPTATION >

< Survival of the fittest >

“A Profession focused on self-improvement and perseverance against external pressures. There is nothing else that’s notable as Detoxification is her only current skill for it.” Nav mentally spoke.

< BIOENGINEER >

< Manipulation of the organic >

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“This one shows the most promise. To manipulate and create life. Gene Expression allows Ignis to create simple biological organs using accumulated Biomass. Simple organs like bones and tissues are categorized here.”

Doesn’t that mean we can help Carpalis recover her hand?

“With Ignis’ level of competency, Carpalis will be akin to a lab rat. But she is likely to comply.”

I don’t want to hurt Carpalis any more than necessary. If healing magic doesn’t work on Demons, then this is the best alternative, unless she wanted to use prosthetics. I want to try talk to her about it after this.

Frost sincerely wanted to help Carpalis recover her immobilized, left arm. It made the weakest Beholder all that much more vulnerable, and not to mention that her Faustian Bargain was also severely damaged by the ordeal.

Carpalis was the only reasonable Beholder. Losing her would be catastrophic. She could imagine how much worse the Guilds could have been under the rule of a barbaric Beholder.

Also, Carpalis was a close friend of theirs as well.

Nav unraveled more of Ignis’ stats.

< ACTIVE SKILLS >

(O) External System V

< Overcome the biological restraints >

(O) Weaponized System V (*140)

< Wield the internal foundations >

(O) Devouring Slash IV [0/10]

< All is flesh >

(D) Complex Machinations II [0/10]

< Reconstructing at will >

(D) Hardened Shell I [0/10]

< The skin is the first line of defense >

(D) Reinforce! I [0/10]

< Harden the flesh >

(S) Acrid Micro Secretions III [0/10]

< ‘Ttttsssssss’. >

(S) Implausible Sensory Makeup I [0/10]

< To mimic what was is no more >

(S) Adjust Biology [0/10]

< Conflict inspires rapid change >

(E) Gene Expression [0/10]

< Machinery of Life >

Her Offensive levels did not quite match up with the levels in her Active Offensive Skills. The reason was due to her being Realized and carrying over much of the stats from her previously Corrupted self.

This was why Nav left a reminder. It also meant that Ignis’ Weaponized System had long already reached its Mastery. However, the truth was that there was more than what met the eye. Nav could not showcase the hidden subskills within Weaponized System or External System.

They were, in a way, a biological trait rather than a skill, or likely a blend of the two. This made zero sense because Frost’s [Punch] was listed as an Active Skill when anyone in the world could use it.

The truth was, no one knew why, until:

“Corrupted Skills.” Nav investigated further, finding out that many of Ignis’ hidden skills were actually categorized as Corrupted Skills.

This was the first time Nav had seen this, likely thanks to the aid of the Nexus.

< CORRUPTED >

< ACTIVE: Manifest System (Extended) >

< Tear open the cages. Let them see what horrors lay within your imperfect shell >

< COST: Biomass >

< ACTIVE: Manifest System (Weaponized) >

< Assimilate. Lacerate. Annihilate… The flesh must not be underestimated >

< COST: Biomass >

This had two versions, however.

A Stable version, and an unlisted, Unstable one. This spawned immediate confusion, even for Ignis who was not aware of this until now. Apparently, this whole time she had been using the ‘stable’ version of her Corrupted Skills.

This was dictated by two things. One Sanity, and brute forcing the skill without meeting the Biomass requirements.

Judging by what they had witnessed during Ber’s rampage, the Unstable versions of a Corrupted Skill was as powerful, but dangerous as there was likely no way of controlling it. The Corrupted Skills was an eye opener, because this meant that Jury and Snap were also likely to have such powers hiding in plain sight.

There was little else to note for Ignis, aside from one particular Ability.

< ABILITY: Moon Candidate >

< A twinkle of light, wishing to become a moon to stave off the night >

< EFFECT: Appointment to become an Aspiring Moon. Can be confirmed or denied at any time >

This was a choice for Ignis to make.

But there was also the prospect of her becoming a Beholder in the future.

For now, she left her options open.

And one day, she’d find the answer that resonated the strongest with her.

Until then, the Corrupted Skills needed to be unearthed. Snap likely knew about this a long while ago, which may have been why it rejected Nav from snooping into its stats.

Realized people didn’t seem to have emotional states like Ber did. Rather, they could just use those powers at will. This was the biggest difference between them.

“The efforts of returning from Corruption is a reward unlike any other. Frost. Do you think there are others like this?”

“Unlikely. Why?” Frost ended up speaking out loud.

“Wishes have been granted. So many of them. The chance, while improbable, is never zero when it comes to miracles.” Nav ominously warned.