Danmachi: A Despicable Stranger

Chapter 15: Luxurious Initial Ability Panel

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Loki's shrine was a simple yet comfortable room. A bed sat against the wall, accompanied by a chair, a desk, and a small pile of books. The wide window provided a view of Orario's bustling streets, filled with adventurers and merchants going about their day. However, Izzy didn't get to admire the scene for long before Loki strode over and drew the curtains, shutting out the vibrant view.

A man and a woman alone in a room, curtains drawn—it almost seemed as if certain conditions had been met~

But, no. The person in front of him wasn't just any woman; she was a god, and, well… she wasn't exactly what anyone would call curvaceous. Even if Izzy wanted to, he couldn't muster those kinds of thoughts. Besides, right now, he wasn't in any position to entertain such ideas.

"Alright, take off your shirt. Let's get this ceremony started," Loki said, patting the seat near the bed.

"Got it."

Without hesitation, Izzy quickly removed his shirt, revealing a lean but muscular upper body. Despite his slender frame, his physique was well-defined, a textbook example of someone who looked thin when dressed but muscular when undressed.

"Oh? I wasn't expecting that under those clothes. I thought you were just a pretty boy~," Loki murmured, sounding genuinely surprised as she studied him.

"Um… you do know I can hear you, right?"

Izzy, caught off guard by her muttering, couldn't help but respond. Loki probably thought she was speaking quietly enough, but with just the two of them in the small shrine, and her standing so close, it was impossible not to hear her.

"Pfft! My bad, my bad! I guess I let my thoughts slip out. I'll try to keep it to myself next time," Loki said, chuckling.

"Wait… There's going to be a next time!?"

Loki, amused by his reaction, grinned and placed her hands on his shoulders, gently pressing him down to begin the ceremony.

This was an essential step for granting the grace of the gods. Using her divine blood, Loki began inscribing intricate divine patterns onto Izzy's back. These would activate his ability value system, formally marking him as a member of her Familia. Once the ritual was complete, he would officially become a Level 1 adventurer with unique stats and skills.

As she worked, Loki's playful demeanor softened, replaced by a more serious tone.

"Alright, listen up. Once this ceremony is done, you'll officially be one of my children—a part of the Loki Familia. Do you know what that means? No betrayal. Ever. If you so much as think about betraying me, I will kill you. Understood?"

"Isn't the contract unbreakable anyway? Unless there's some divine exception, who can leave their Familia?"

"Even if there was some 'special reason,' I wouldn't allow it," Loki said firmly. "That's not how we operate. My Familia isn't a place for traitors, no matter the circumstances. Do you understand now?"

"Yeah, yeah, I get it," Izzy replied, nodding quickly.

The truth was, Izzy's decision to join Loki's Familia wasn't just about their strength or the allure of its members.

The Loki Familia had a unique charm. Despite its members' quirks and eccentricities, it truly felt like a family. Everyone knew each other's peculiarities and had learned to accept them. There was no space for deceit or ungratefulness, which made it the perfect place for Izzy to grow and develop.

…

Loki completed the ritual with practiced ease, and before long, she began examining Izzy's ability values.

The Falna acted as a catalyst, unlocking the latent potential hidden within mortals. It quantified their abilities, enabling them to grow in ways they never could on their own.

This systematic process produced a set of ability values, broken into categories like basic abilities, development abilities, magic, and skills.

The information about ability values is the culmination of over a thousand years of research and analysis since the descent of the gods. Even so, there remain mysteries about adventurers' potential that even the gods themselves cannot comprehend. It's not unusual for adventurers to awaken unique or unforeseen skills.

Furthermore, a Falna can be locked and hidden. Since an adventurer's ability values are private matters shared only between the individual and their Familia, there is no obligation to disclose them publicly. The Guild only publishes limited details, such as an adventurer's level and dungeon activity records, as a growth model while respecting the confidentiality of the Familia.

"Alright," Loki said, checking the results. "Your level is LV1, and as expected, all five basic ability values are at i0. No development abilities yet. Now, let's see what you've got for magic and skills~."

The systematic framework of a Falna consists of five key components: adventurer level, basic ability values, development abilities, magic, and skills. For new adventurers, the first three are always in their initial states, so the real excitement lies in examining the latter two.

Loki grabbed a glass of water, taking a sip to steady herself.

Tsk tsk, it's been ages since I've analyzed the talents of a newcomer like this. Why am I nervous? she thought to herself.

The situation felt oddly reminiscent of drawing cards in a game. Loki took another sip to calm her nerves, but her composure didn't last long.

After glancing at the divine text inscribed on Izzy's back, she froze.

"PFFFFTT!!!"

Loki spat out her water, spraying droplets all over the nearby sheets.

"This has to be a joke… right?"

She looked as though she'd just seen a ghost, her expression a mix of shock and disbelief. If she were familiar with modern terms, she might've muttered something along the lines of: Hiss! This kid is terrifying!

"Huh? What's wrong?" Izzy asked, noticing the commotion and starting to turn his head.

"No, no, no!" Loki exclaimed, placing a hand on his head to keep him from turning around. "Stay still—I need to double-check this."

Loki wasn't ready for Izzy to see her current, utterly undignified behavior. After all, she was a supreme god; she had an image to maintain.

Taking a deep breath, she examined the text again. This time, she managed to keep her cool, though her lips twitched as if she'd discovered some bizarre new species.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk… Your talent is outrageous," Loki muttered. "I've never seen anything like this in my entire life."

"Can you be more specific?" Izzy asked flatly. He hated people who only shared half the story. "If you're going to be cryptic, why don't you just move to Gotham and join the Riddlers?"

"Don't worry, I'll translate it into the common language for you," Loki replied. "But listen—don't let too many people know about your skills. Protect your back at all costs. This is critical, got it?"

"Understood."

After a moment, Loki handed Izzy a sheet of paper with the translated ability values written out.

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[Adventurer Name]: Izzy Aylward

[Level]: LV1

[Ability Values]: Strength: i0 | Durability: i0 | Dexterity: i0 | Agility: i0 | Magic: i0

[Development Abilities]: None

[Magic]:

1. Silver Star Advent

Additional Magic:

- Light Attribute

- Orionids

2. Star Magic

-Unique Magic System

-Any-Cast Mechanic

-Self-Development

3. Rock Magic

-Unique Magic System

-Any-Cast Mechanic

-Self-Development

[Skills]:

1. Starry Night

-Grants a unique star magic system and additional development capabilities.

-Loved by the stars, enhancing all growth rates and boosting magic effects.

-Spiritual power is doubled and further increases under starry skies.

-Allows independent creation and learning of star magic, unrestricted by the magic bar.

2. Heart of the Earth

-Grants the ability to manipulate earth elements, unlocking a unique rock magic system.

-Physical and mental stamina regenerate when touching the ground.

-Strength and durability increase significantly during combat.

-Allows independent creation and learning of rock magic, unrestricted by the magic bar.