Kikakujuo Mary glanced at the still-excited Rin over there, a slight smile curling at the corner of her mouth.
"Since even Rin has that kind of resolve..."
"How can I fall behind?"
"Lord Heimer, I choose to level up too!"
"No problem."
Heimer nodded in approval.
Since the choice was made, there was no need for hesitation.
A drop of blood.
Level up.
A flash of light.
Lv.1 → Lv.2.
Immediately after, the options for Development Abilities appeared.
[Chain Attack] (Increases power of consecutive attacks)
[Swordsman] (General enhancement for sword techniques)
[Abnormal Resistance] (General skill)
"Lord Heimer?"
Perhaps because Rin had set the precedent.
Kikakujuo Mary also turned to ask for advice.
Heimer glanced over the options and gave his suggestion.
"For you, Marie..."
"Among [Chain Attack], [Swordsman], and [Abnormal Resistance]..."
"I recommend choosing [Chain Attack]."
"Your skill, [Noble Judgment], leans towards relentless, continuous suppression."
"[Chain Attack] will allow you to increase the power of your successive strikes."
"Once you seize the opportunity and unleash a combo, the power stacked from your attack speed will grow greater and greater."
"[Chain Attack], huh..."
Kikakujuo Mary pondered briefly, then simulated a combat scenario in her mind.
"Mm!"
"Then I'll do as Lord Heimer says~"
"I choose [Chain Attack]!"
Kikakujuo Mary's face blossomed into a smile.
Level up complete.
——
[Name]: Kikakujuo Mary
[Race]: Human
[Level]: Lv.2
[status]: Strength: I0 Endurance: I0 dexterity: I0 agility: I0 Magic: I0
[Development Ability]: [Chain Attack] I: Increases power of consecutive attacks.
[Magic]: None
[Skills]: [Noble Judgment], [Elegant Footwork]
Skills:
[Noble Judgment]
When using rapier-class weapons, attack speed and accuracy increase.
When performing a second or subsequent attack on a body part already struck, attack speed stacks. The number of stacks depends on the [dexterity] value.
When stabbing a target's nerve cluster, inflicts pain several times greater than a normal attack. Recovers mental strength proportional to the pain inflicted.
[Elegant Footwork]
When maintaining a specific dance-like footwork during combat, evasion rate slightly increases.
Furthermore, after each successful evasion, the accuracy and damage of the next attack are slightly increased.
——
Thus.
As the last glimmer of light faded beneath her skin.
Kikakujuo Mary re-fastened the top button of her shirt.
She stood up, smoothed out the slightly wrinkled hem of her clothes, then turned to Heimer and gave a slight bow.
Next was Tamaba Satori.
"Hii~"
When it was finally her turn.
This green-haired girl, who always wore an innocent look in her big eyes but was truly dark inside, immediately raised her hand.
Tamaba Satori's updated status was similarly astonishing.
Previously, her [agility] was: H145.
This time, her [agility] remained far ahead of the rest.
It directly broke through the SS barrier, reaching an incredible [SS]: 1076.
Her other attributes also reached the S rank.
Therefore.
When Heimer asked Tamaba Satori if she wanted to level up.
She also nodded without hesitation.
"Since everyone else leveled up, little Satori can't be an exception, right~"
"Besides..."
"Little Satori also wants to know how it feels after leveling up."
"Mm."
Heimer nodded.
Since she agreed, they could proceed to the next step.
Level up.
Light flashed.
Her level underwent sublimation.
Lv.1 → Lv.2.
Immediately after, a new choice appeared.
The [Development Ability] options surfaced:
[Stealth]: (Conceals presence, lowers visibility)
[Hunter]: (Increases all status when facing monster types previously slain)
[Abnormal Resistance]: (General survival skill)
"What does Lord Heimer think?"
Tamaba Satori asked Heimer about which Development Ability suited her.
"[Stealth]."
This time, Heimer's answer was very decisive.
"Your skill — [Heartless Blade] — isn't limited to just concealing killing intent in front of monsters. It's very suitable for developing an assassination-oriented path."
"Of course."
"It's just a suggestion."
"Hmm..."
Tamaba Satori seemed to think it over seriously, then let out a light chuckle.
"In that case, little Satori will listen to Lord Heimer~"
"After all, little Satori quite likes playing hide-and-seek."
"Especially when little Satori is 'it'."
Confirm.
Engrave.
Tamaba Satori's level up was complete.
——
[Name]: Tamaba Satori
[Race]: Human
[Level]: Lv.2
[status]: Strength: I0 Endurance: I0 dexterity: I0 agility: I0 Magic: I0
[Development Ability]: [Stealth] I: Conceals presence, lowers visibility.
[Magic]: None
[Skills]: [Heartless Blade]
Skills:
[Heartless Blade]
Attacks launched in a state of no killing intent have their concealment maximized and cannot be detected by ordinary perception skills.
If an attack hits a vital point without being noticed, the damage is doubled.
——
Thus.
As Tamaba Satori, humming an unknown tune and looking quite pleased, finished dressing and stood up.
Among the five swords of the world, four had successfully advanced.
Finally.
It was Hanasaka Warabi's turn.
—— [Strength]: SS1012.
—— [Endurance]: S977.
It had to be said.
Although not as monstrous as Kirukiru Amou.
But to have trained SS-rank Strength and S-rank Endurance...
One could only say.
Hanasaka Warabi is truly a loli with monstrous strength.
Fortunately, she is a genuine loli.
And not one of those muscle-bound "Barbie" types.
Next, there was no suspense.
After seeing her status, Hanasaka Warabi was so happy she revealed a small canine tooth, and without even a moment's hesitation, she waved her hand decisively.
"Since it has come to this."
"No need to ask, my god!"
"I want to level up!"
"I want to become stronger!"
"Hmm."
Heimer nodded.
Level up.
Options appeared.
Hanasaka Warabi inquired.
The whole process followed.
[Monster Strength] (Increases the effect of the Strength attribute)
[Hunter] (Increases all status values when confronting monster species that have been killed before)
[Abnormal Resistance]: (Resistance to poison and status ailments)
The advice Heimer gave was—[Hunter].
After all, if Kyoujin also developed this developmental ability after his level ascended later, Hanasaka Warabi and Kyoujin's skill—[Fanged Linkage]—attacking the same target should have miraculous effects.
[Hunter], which increases all-around capabilities when coordinating against monsters, was much more suitable for her.
Hanasaka Warabi's eyes lit up.
"Alright! Then I will listen to my god!"
[Name]: Hanasaka Warabi.
[Race]: Human.
[Level]: Lv.2.
[status]: Strength: I0, Endurance: I0, dexterity: I0, agility: I0, Magic: I0.
[Developmental Ability]: [Hunter] I: Increases all status values when confronting monster species that have been killed before.
[Magic]: None.
[Skills]: [Fanged Linkage], [Pathfinding Scent]
Skills:
[Fanged Linkage]
When performing coordinated attacks with a tamed beast, both sides gain bonuses to [Strength] and [agility].
If attacking the same target, damage receives an additional bonus.
[Pathfinding Scent]
Borrows the senses of a beast.
Possesses extraordinary intuition regarding traps and hostility.
Greatly modifies perception checks against enemies hidden in the shadows.
Greatly improves pathfinding ability.
Thus.
All members of the five swords of the world have completed their level ascension.
The lingering resonance of the divine power that had been surging finally subsided completely.
The faint sense of pressure in the air dissipated, replaced by a brand-new atmosphere.
Watching the girls complete their transformation, with hints of excitement still on their faces, Heimer let out a long sigh of relief.
Although the process was somewhat tedious.
But it must be said.
Watching one's own children grow step by step was truly incomparable to anything else.
"However..."
Heimer thought thoughtfully, scanning the room.
He felt as if...
-------------------------
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