〖Attribute〗, 〖Race〗, 【Unique Skill】.
The Star God called these three unique abilities collectively as Tier Abilities.
This is because they are all powers extracted from the 〔Soul (Arche)〕.
Although their manifestation formats differ, giving each unique characteristics, their roots are the same.
Because of this, they are also compatible.
Specifically, techniques that enhance magic can be repurposed to enhance 【Unique Skills】.
“(Cannon Kettle, maximum output!)”
A thousand years ago, the Great Sage, the founder of Artifacts, developed an Artifact that stimulated the 〔Soul (Arche)〕 and exceeded its output limit in order to seal a powerful Demon Beast.
It granted power enough to seal even 〖Calamity Beasts〗, but it was a double-edged sword that disregarded the user’s safety.
What Thanasis and the other scholars developed was its successor.
They omitted the extra functions, such as reinforcing magical effects by burning the Shrine Maiden’s 〔Soul (Arche)〕.
They compensated for the reduced output, in exchange for reduced load, by improving the quality of the Mana Crystal, adding mechanisms, and consolidating functions.
“(I didn’t think we’d make it in time, though.)”
The project had started the moment it was determined that the only decisive blow was the 【Unique Skill】.
They took the data of the 【Unique Skill】 at the time, and after the battle with the “Polar King,” they gathered information in parallel with the verification of 【Thunderous Cycle of Rise and Fall】.
“(It eats up a lot of 〖Mana〗, but the output is on a different level.)”
Also, thanks to the “Demon Lord’s” assistance, there is more than enough 〖Mana〗.
I pour the excess 〖Mana〗 into the Cannon Kettle, and then unleash the 【Unique Skill】.
“(Shape Definition!)”
Ten streaks of lightning writhe, licking the ground.
The wriggling plants solidified and stopped moving. The range of solidification is unprecedented, clearly showing the improvement in performance.
“(〖Compact Slash〗! Let’s go, go, go!)”
I swing the Ancient Spear around, mowing them down.
The efficiency has increased with the enhancement of the 【Unique Skill】. Perhaps threatened by that momentum, Chaos slows its advance and begins to concentrate its attacks on me.
“(It’s like shooting fish in a barrel!)”
However, since neither branches nor roots are effective, it was like the prey was coming to me.
I rampage around, retaliating against the branches and roots that are sent my way.
And as black fragments scatter, I unleashed another instant-death lightning strike.
“(Instant death is impossible even in this state… but!)”
I unleash lightning imbued with Shape Definition and instant death countless times.
Piercing through Chaos’s body and the 〔Soul (Arche)〕 within.
The solidification is going well… but it seems impossible to kill it instantly after all.
With each repetition, the sensation of piercing the 〔Soul (Arche)〕… the feeling of hitting the core becomes clearer, but the conviction that instant death is impossible also becomes stronger.
Even so, I continued to strike with lightning mindlessly, honing my skill.
Under the tranquil concentration brought by 〖Clear Mirror Still Water〗, I became engrossed, forgetting the time… but eventually, the limit arrived.
“(–This is about the time to call it quits.)”
A pain like something creaking inside my body.
It’s a sign that the limit of my 〔Soul (Arche)〕 is near, which I had been told about beforehand.
Even though I suppressed the enhancement rate and reduced the load, it’s not completely zero.
If I use it in rapid succession in a short period of time, the damage will accumulate.
That’s why, the moment this was completed, I had abandoned the plan to cut it down with Shape Definition.
If I reduce the frequency of use, it’s not impossible, but that would just take too much time in the end.
『Paula, I’m going to use the “trump card” now. Get everyone to retreat.』
『Understood, 〖Area Hole〗… Be careful, okay?』
Along with the “Demon Lord” and Fiss, Paula’s figure disappears into the hole.
Since we don’t know what will happen, I had them retreat to the human continent.
With the impediment gone, the subordinates rush out excitedly, but my “trump card” will be over before they reach the sea.
“(The test run was sufficient. First, Electrification.)”
I buffed myself with the 【Unique Skill】 once more. The performance of the buff has also been increased by the Cannon Kettle.
Then, relying on the lightning that flowed through my entire body, I reached for the 〔Soul (Arche)〕 residing within me.
Just like when I 〖Evolved〗 into a 〖King Beast〗 before, I perceive my 〔Soul (Arche)〕.
“(This should do it. Now, all that’s left is to pray to the gods for success.)”
The god once said. If I had been born in this world, I could have overcome the wall to godhood with the 〖Soul Shard (Experience)〗 of a 〖King Beast〗.
The reason I couldn’t was because my 【Unique Skill】 didn’t have the function to devour the 〔Soul (Arche)〕 of the opponent I killed… but conversely, if I could take in the 〔Soul (Arche)〕 of a 〖King Beast〗, even with my 【Unique Skill】 I could reach the same realm as the Star God—the Seventh Tier.
“(I don’t have a way to devour the 〔Soul (Arche)〕 of others… but there is only one exception. I’ve secured the output to achieve it with the Cannon Kettle. Let’s go, 【Thunderous Cycle of Rise and Fall】!)”
As Chaos’s attacks rush towards me, who has stopped moving, I slam an instant-death lightning strike. Onto myself (・・・・).
More precisely, onto the 〔Soul (Arche)〕 as a slime that was granted to me during reincarnation.
That 〔Soul (Arche)〕, given to apply systems such as 〖Level〗 and 〖Skill〗, boasts a density comparable to that of other 〖King Beasts〗.
No, considering the 〖Experience Increase Skill〗 as a bonus monster, it might be even more than that.
I burn and consume all of that supreme 〔Soul (Arche)〕.
Just as the flesh of a dead beast returns to the earth and becomes the foundation for the next life. To become the support for new abundance.
That is the true purpose of 【Thunderous Cycle of Rise and Fall】.
“(Guh, aaaaaaah…!)”
My consciousness blurs with the intense pain, as if half of my body was being torn off. I desperately try to maintain control of the rampaging 【Unique Skill】.
The leaking 〖Mana〗 is converted into lightning, ravaging all directions.
The lightning increases in thickness, intensifies in brilliance, and prevents Chaos’s attacks from approaching.
The rampaging lightning gradually begins to have directionality and begins to bundle together.
The moment it became a single pillar of light piercing the heavens and the earth, the lightning suddenly ceased—the transformation into a god was complete.
~ Unidentified Information Recording Area ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
White tuft appears, translucent amber (?), Fue Toukouya has died.
The instantaneous inflow of energy of Fue ■ Kouya (null) has exceeded the mortal critical point.
Tier Ability has reached the Pillar Core.
〔Deification〕 has occurred.
■ Fue ■■ Kouya (null) is transmuting.
〔Soul (Arche)〕 has been purified.
Unification with the body has been observed.
Outpouring of 〔Inelgia〕 has been observed.
Manifestation of 〔Alitia〕 has been observed.
■■■■■ (Analysis Impossible) has been completed as a 〔God (Astron)〕.
Increased analysis load is predicted. Observation and analysis will be terminated.
…
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Ah—it’s so cramped.”