Chapter 29: The Seal

Name: Venture

Title: [Gambler of Fate] - You are fate's gambler and making the impossible possible.

Hidden Titles: {Visible}

Health: 100/100%

Physical Fatigue: 0/100% | 1% Reduction per second

Mental Fatigue: 0/100% | 1% Reduction per second

Unique Skill: [Everything Is A Gamble] - The user is able to use anything to gamble with fate. [Price]: The medium used will disappear afterward.

Hidden Unique Skills: {Visible}

Modifier: [Energy Conversion Storage] - Able to absorb and convert one form of energy into another form, then store them away for later usage. [Energy Unit: 158]

Venture look at his status, wonder if he should add another [Unique Skill] or not. But, at the same time, he already got so many already that he should be fine with the ones he already has.

Letting out a sigh, Venture has been thinking about this for a week now since the last day of Burning Life. Where Venture truly sees how dangerous this world is and to think no one would blink an eye upon seeing many people hunting down [Life Seekers] for their own benefits instead of just outright killing them and be done with it. Then again, with this crazy world with supernatural abilities and some game elements feature. Venture should have expected from all the stories he had read in the past.

Truly, Venture can see why some of those foolish characters, who wanted to pretend, believe in illusions that are not real. After all, better to have a false secure lifestyle of free danger than the cruelty of reality that pushes many into the brick of death. In the names of reward, opportunity, etc. All because of everyone's desire to have a better life for themselves or for others. Or else, all they can wish is for a swift merciless and painless death. Hope for their next life to be better than the one they live right now.

After thinking about it for a bit. Venture begins writing down a set of guidelines to prevent himself from becoming a monster or just a cold-hearted killer with no remote of guilt in killing fellow humans. The moment Venture stops feeling guilty of all the deaths he causes. Is the moment he knows, that he became an entirely different person.

1. Never keep the [Title: The Cunning One] in active mode no longer than 24 hours unless forced to.

2. Always use the [Spell: Ally or Foes?] on every once in a while on the same person to prevent paranoia from becoming a problem in life.

3. Prepare for the unexpected and store away in the [Hidden Arsenal] just in case to once again. Prevent paranoia from becoming a problem in life. But, only whenever Venture is free.

4. Enjoy life and forget about the hope of returning back home.

These four should do fine. But, Venture will add more later on if such a thing is needed.

Pausing for a moment, Venture writes down the fifth one as he just thought of it.

5. Do not bite off more than you can chew. As in stop aiming for more [Unique Skills] unless there no other options.

Once Venture finished writing the fifth guideline. He put the notebook away, then pull out his smartphone to check on anything that worth noting or concerning that might threaten Venture's life in some way.

"Venture! I need your help!" Gat burst into Venture's bedroom once again. Evading being shot by Venture too, again.

"What is it this time?" Venture starting to wonder if this is another test Gat is putting him through by checking if he is willing to do the jobs Gat making him do or not.

"I need your help with shopping." Gat grin at Venture, who blankly stare at her in silence.

-LIABG-

"Oh, so this is what you meant by helping your shopping." Venture said in disbelief, where they are in a gun store. Filled with countless of firearms, to the point it could be arm an entire army. If Venture didn't know there is something like the [Territory Control Skill], then the space on the inside of this gun store would have blown his mind away.

"What did you expect me to shop at?" Gat asks Venture with a confused look while holding what looks like a futuristic sniper rifle in the color theme of white and blue lines. "Oh, hey! They got the latest [Finger Gun Series]." Gat put down the sniper and walk over to pick up what look like a pair of gloves with the fingertips having finger size barrels. "These things are great for those with [Fatigue Reduction-Type Skills] or something similar to the [Modifier: Endless Storage]. Literally all the [Finger Gun Series] would use one's physical fatigue and/or mental fatigue as a power source to fire bullets of all kinds of rounds."

Venture didn't really need such a thing; well, if it was before he modified the [Elemental Bolt Spell] and improving his handguns and other firearms in his possession, then he might have the thought of purchasing one of the [Finger Gun Series] if the price wasn't-and Venture changed his mind right away the moment he saw the cheapest one for the [Finger Gun Series] being 36,190 gold coins.

The price alone almost scared Venture to death, but at the same time, Venture wonder what is used to make this firearm and why it's worth so much.

"Well. Well. Well. If it's the famous leader of the [Dark Star Faction]." Someone spoke up, but in a sarcastic tone, that anyone could easily tell that this person is mocking Gat.

"Oh, now if this isn't a treat? I didn't expect someone so important like you, Frisk would appear here." Gat turn around to mock the person that mocked her as well.

Frisk is a tall woman, the same height as Gat, with fair-skinned and has a suspicious feeling about her. Light brown eyes and shoulder-length silky black hair. Decent breast size for her type of body figure, that makes many males dream about her every night. A dress cover just one of her shoulders, leaves the other uncovered, and flows down into a simple jewel neckline. It's a close fit which helps to accentuate her breasts without making it look tacky. Her arms have been covered completely. The sleeves start out loose and tighten towards the bottom where they wrap gracefully around her wrists. The dress' waist is narrow, but it's a comfortable fit. A bow wrapped around her waist and positioned slightly to one side. The dress' length itself is short just above her knees, but one can see her wearing short pants underneath her dress. Preventing some people from trying to look up her skirt.

"Gat, dear. Why must you be mean to me like so?" Frisk smirk at Gat, who just snorted at her.

"Venture. This is Frisk, who is someone you might have become. If you haven't joined the [Dark Star Faction]. A freelancer who doesn't belong to any factions and very powerful without any needs of one. As in she is a courier and among the few ones that can go solo in this dangerous job and come back alive with barely any scratches. Someone many wanted to recruit, but rejected all the time. And to why she so strong? Well, her [Title: Sword Creator] allows her to create swords out of materials around us to wield. Therefore, she will never be defenseless at all times. Furthermore, she is also a [Unique Skill] holder, with the [Unique Skill] being [Paranormal Swordplay], which pretty much give her the same status as people who have mastered their [Sword-Type Skills] and/or those with [Modifiers] meant for using swords as their main weapon." Gat explains exactly who Frisk is and what her [Title] and [Skill] is without giving the latter the chance to do it herself; well, more like Frisk is looking with amusement and not bother to stop Gat from revealing important information.

"You didn't mention how I continue to defeat you in our daily spars." Frisk places her left hand on her hip and lift her chin up as a sign of her looking down at Gat.

"Yeah, when your [Unique Skill] is plain bullshit." Gat growl. "Venture, out of the other [Unique Skill] holders. Frisk is an all-rounder fighter and could even fight an entire faction alone without any help due to her [Title] considers as a major cheat alone and many find it on the same level as a [Unique Skill] too with how Frisk here figure out how to convert monsters into swords as well. Her [Unique Skill] alone is already bullshit even among other [Unique Skills], but it has a price for using it. However, her [Title] has no such thing other than requiring materials, and even then, that was barely worth mention as she can even use the air itself as material to turn into a sword made out of the air to wield." Gat glare at Frisk, who just giggle at her, pissing Gat off. "Overall, compared to my own [Title] she has no worry about using her."

"Is that a big thing?" Venture asks Gat, causing Frisk to laugh even more.

"Why, of course, it's a big thing. Let's older sister here explain to you." Frisk smile at Venture. "Gat here is well known in groups of powerful people. Her [Title: One-Shot Kill] is something no one, and I literally mean no in all history possess such [Title]. In fact, there is evidence of having a [Unique Skill: One-Shot Kill], but the price for using this [Unique Skill] is that it can only be used on a single target and never could be used not the target ever again if one miss. Therefore, many would try to avoid facing Gat. As only a single shot is all she needs to kill you."

"Wait, but I saw her shooting many people and the [Life Seekers] before, but weren't killed off in a single shot." Venture looks at Frisk with a confused look, then look at Gat. After all, she did land a few shots on him before during her own personal test. So, to think that each shot from Gat was a guarantee a death sentence made Venture broke into a cold sweat.

"Oh, that's because there were many who feared Gat would aim for them. And you must know, that the Gat you know now wasn't so nice compared to her past self. Where she would kill you the slight annoyance. Trust me, I have seen Gat here kill many people just for the silliest reason. The only reason why I'm alive is that I can easily block her shots and so on. You could consider me as an honorary member of the [Dark Star Faction] since I'm pretty much the only friend Gat has who knows her past." Frisk smirk, when she noticed how Gat growling at her and must have wanted to keep her past a secret. "Oh, don't look at me like that. I'm sure your new toy here would have found out sooner or later."

"That still didn't answer my question?" Venture looks confused.

Frisk rolls her eyes, "I meant that many who feared Gat would aim for them. There should have hinted you or literally give you enough info, that people have used special [Skills] to seal away Gat's [Title] away, leaving only her [Unique Skill] for her to use only for the time being. It has been years since Gat lost the ability to use her [Title], making only less than dangerous compared to her peak form with her [Title] available for her." Frisk tilts her head to the side, to avoid getting her shot at by Gat, who pulls out her handgun. "There that trigger happy girl I know and love~!"

"Wait! [Title] can be sealed away?!" Venture shouted in shock and a hint of fear, because he didn't realize [Title] can be sealed away and among his many [Titles]. The first one is the main core for everything he has up to now and if that was sealed away. Then, Venture's future would be a lot harder and dangerous, to the point, Venture won't be surprised if he dies a day after his first [Title] was sealed away.

After all, his very existence in this world is literally impossible and Venture guesses that his [Title] is the main anchor for him to stay in this world without much problem. The moment it sealed is the moment Venture's fate would forever change unless he manages to get it unsealed on time.

"Yup, but only a very rare selected people would awaken [Sealing-Type Skills], especially that could seal away other people's [Title] and/or [Skill]. Trust me, many people would gladly kill these people if possible out of fear itself, but at the same time, many would protect them with their life as they are treasures for factions and/or big families against their enemies. What better way to get rid of your enemies without killing them? Seal away their abilities, of course!" Frisk gives Venture a devilish grin, that just sends chills down Venture's entire body.

"Enough." Gat glare at Frisk, releasing a burst of killing intent, that caused Frisk's devilish grin to disappear, and instead, a blank look appears on her face.

"Oh? You must really like this one." Frisk moves her right hand a bit, as a sign for Gat to see that if she wanted a fight, then a fight she will get.

Venture glance at the two, debating if should be concerned or not.

"Speak another word about my past and we will see if I can beat you without the needs of my [Title]." Gat said in a cold tone of voice, that also sends chills down Venture's entire body.

That was enough for Venture to switch his [Title: The Cunning One] in active mode and have [Flowing with Time Spell] at standby to be cast.

No longer afraid and Venture quickly study everything about Frisk, mostly her body movements, then react the best possible ways and having [Flowing with Time] to give Venture the times he needs to make up the plans to deal with Frisk.

Both Gat and Frisk glare at each other before both of them smirk at the same time, then laugh together and hug each other like what happened a second ago didn't happen at all.

Venture blankly stare at this and knew right away, these two go way back and understand each other like one of those childhood friends setting in those stories when the main characters grow up with and reunite later on in the story or go on an adventure together as they watch each other back.

Actually, Venture should have done this in the first place since he made his guidelines. So, casting the [Ally or Foe? Spell] on Frisk, where she turned up as blue. This just made Venture more than ever to follow his guidelines just because of how he almost made a mistake, where he was about to attack Frisk the moment she makes a sword.

"It's so good to see you again, Frisk. How you been, girl?" Gat smile at Frisk, as she places both hands on her hips.

"Eh, nothing much. Just came back from the outside." Frisk shrugs her shoulders as she smiles back. "By the way, you must really like this new guy. Since most of the time, you won't invite your minions with you while shopping." Frisk looks at Venture from top to bottom, trying to see what makes Venture so special in Gat's eyes.

"Oh, that's because he manages to face against nearly equally match as a personal test of mine and he lands a couple of hits on me before I managed to take him down. Not to mention, he also uses firearms just like me compared to the others." Gat explained to Frisk about the time she tested Venture herself, and boy was it a rush for her and if that wasn't enough for Gat. She even told the part, where Venture fought on his own during the protection job and live through with all his limbs intact, even if he was under the effects of the [Booster Fatigue Shot].

Overall, Gat was praising Venture without holding back, making Frisk look at Venture with more interest than before.

If Venture hadn't switched [The Cunning One] to active mode already. He would be blushing with all the praises he getting from the leader of the [Dark Star Faction].

"Oh, yeah. How long are you planning to stay in City N or are you planning to leave soon?" Gat asks Frisk as she put the [Finger Gun Series] back to where it was in the first place.

"Maybe a few months at best? Maybe a week or two before I leave again, to hunt down some challenges." Frisk replied, then look at Gat with an eyebrow raise. "What do you want? You don't usually ask this from me. Well, in person at least."

"I need a favor." Gat didn't bother to look around the place, for anyone eavesdropping. Something that nearly impossible to do as many wouldn't dare thanks to the reputation of Frisk's and Gat herself, but mostly the former due to many knowing her while Gat is nearly forgotten by those that are newcomers while the old ones still remember her past deeds and made sure to inform the newcomers whenever they come across Gat at some point. Therefore, even in this gun store, the owner knows Gat and knew better to eavesdrop in any conversation with Gat in it unless they wanted a bullet to the head.

"Now, this is rare. What you need from me?" Frisk folds her arms against her breasts and lean back a bit and stare at Gat with more interest now, forgetting about Venture for the time being.

"I need you to help me hunt down a certain material. If you get it, then I should be able to finally get rid of the seals placed on me." Gat's smile became cold and filled with rage, that even Venture without his [Title] in active mode could tell easily.

Frisk lost her smile and look at Gat with seriousness. "You've already reached that far? Edify only needs one last thing?" Frisk knew how much Gat hate being sealed since the first day it was forcibly put on her. Even she would be pissed if she was sealed too. Which is why she was the first one to help Gat escape before Gat was fully sealed.