NGJ Chapter 77: True Cursed Eyes

In the ORC clubroom, a sight could be seen of a handsome snow-white-haired teen resting his head on the lap of one Rias Gremory.

Without thinking much about it Rias started stroking Akira's white hair, it felt very soft and fluffy somehow. She couldn't help but look down adorably on his sleeping face.

She liked to think Akira was trusting a lot by allowing himself to drift off on her lap. She had suggested a lap pillow to him shamefully saying she wanted to pay him back for giving her one during the rating game, after they finished their food.

In truth, she just wanted to pamper him a little.

It was hard to find a moment where he looked this peaceful. Something she attributed to the power of lap pillows she learned from Anime. And it was so worth it, he looked so adorable relaxed like this. This was definitely worth skipping class.

'I wonder what he is dreaming about.'

...

---{Akira #2}---

Oh fuck.

Oh fuck indeed. Thank Helix for RCT or else I would be toast right now. Currently, I had retreated to the farthest back of my army while Alpha and Ddraig tacked the several dozen Dread Knights trying to ram through my army.

It was a unique brand of terrifying when in the middle of our battle the weather turned from classy and sexy black impenetrable smog of Necropolis into a fucking meteor shower.

Seeing my infantry get flattened by large flaming meteors tens of meters wide in an area over several hundred meters made me swear to stop talking shit about Earth Magic. Even more of my army would have been lost if Wiz did not cast Cursed Ice Shield in time.

We have been in the Necropolis for more than 24 hours. Have killed over 5 Heroes and have slain over 10,000 undead. My army was over 200 strong, half of it were ranged units, 75 Cursed Snipers and 25 Cursed Mages. Undead Archers and Wizards upgraded with Cursed Spirit Creation.

As long as the enemy did not pull out Power Liches and Dread Knights by the dozens killing armies was as easy as cutting through a knife with hot butter.

 I had also unlocked some tier 4 spells and filled out some gaps on the other tiers.

[Basic - Slayer](Fire)

Increases damage against mythical beings by 25%

[Basic - Meteor Shower](Earth)

Summons meteors on a 100-meter wide area.

[Intermediate - Death Ripple](Necromancy)

Deals direct damage necrotic to every living being within a 500-meter radius.

[Basic - Anti Magic](Earth)

Reduces the effect of magic on selected target.

Quite a good haul if I do say so myself. But I am seriously reaching my limit here, [Intermediate Exhaustion] feels like a bitch. After everyone finished off the stragglers I put everyone in my army back into my shadow as Ddraig came up to me, her outfit was mostly torn, giving her not a shred of decency. I could see from her eyes just how tired she was but the smirk on her lips showed contentment.

"Good work out there Ddraig." And I meant it. She was basically the DPS of the entire army, with her dragon shots and flame breath wiping out several dozens to hundreds of enemies out at a time. I couldn't play DPS because my job was reviving and buffing the army while debuffing the enemy army.

"Indeed, but while I enjoyed getting to stretch my wings I think I am spent for now." Saying that she smiled tiredly, I should reward her sometimes, unlike my undead she needs actual motivation to function. Maybe food, Dragons like food I think.

Anyway, I got both of us back into the mansion, Ddraig immediately went back to her room while I sat on my basement. This body wasn't resting, that was the job of my other body. No, it was time to go over my plethora of upgrades.

First of all, my primary class was at level 88 now. Nearing 100. And a lot of my stats have gotten past the perk thresholds as a result.

First, Vitality reaching 500 gave me:

[Restive]

All Debuffs wear off twice as fast.

Quite good, but not exactly what I want out of a perk since I already avoid getting status inflicts anyway. Next is Endurance reaching 500.

[Restless]

You no longer need to sleep. You cannot be knocked out during combat

This one was good, now I no longer felt the need for sleep but still could, and I like sleeping. Not being able to get knocked out part was the real ringer here. Anyway, now it was time for the real show-stoppers.

The perk I got for my intelligence reaching a whopping 1000 Intelligence.

[Arcane Curse]

+20% Cursed Energy Output.

What is Cursed Energy Output exactly? Well, it's basically a multiplier for every single one of my skills, spells, and anything of the like. Increasing the oomph behind every ability I have. And then there is the 1000 Wisdom perk.

[Impenetrable Mind]

Increases defense against all mental abilities used on the user.

Finally, I got mental defences. Due to the nature of my system, I did not have luxuries such as Gamers Mind, being vulnerable mental abilities is a very real fear I have. Now that was no more.

But I had one last thing other than those Perks. You see, I have 3 main thoughts going on at one time, those can be divided further depending on my needs such as spellcasting. 1 for Akira #1 another for Akira #1 and the last one was for developing this one cursed technique I had been working on since the day I got Parallel Thought processing. With Adept cursed energy control and thanks to a similar ability possessed by my primary cursed technique and some other abilities I had I managed to finally create it. 

[Cursed Technique: Self Convergence]

I managed to crack how to do synthesis on my own. I could finally manage my cluttered traits and skills and give myself a large upgrade. But what to mix? Since this wasn't a direct function of the system I had a fairly large control as to how it mixed. If I manage to link together abilities with the most synergy the result will be greater than the sum of its parts.

After some contemplation, I found 3 that fit together rather neatly.

[Cursed Resevoir]

+10% Maximum CE

+

[Cursed Well]

+20% Cursed Energy Recover speed

+

[Photosynthesis]

Doubles all regeneration under sunlight

=

[Cursed Vessel]

+50% Maximum Cursed Energy 

+50% Cursed Energy Regeneration

While losing the doubling of Photosynthesis was a hit, I instead the far more versatile flat 50% buff to both my Cursed Energy reservoir and recovery. More than worth it.

[Resiliant]

+20% Abnormal Status Resistance

+

[Sturdy]

You take 10% less physical damage

+

[Tough As Nails](100 End perk)

Pain will not affect your combat ability.

+

[Restive]

All Debuffs wear off twice as fast.

=

[Iron Wall]

+20% Physical Damage Reduction

+10% Resistance to all Ailments

I sacrificed the other not-so-useful effects of the other perks that wouldn't benefit me much to absolutely beef up the physical damage reduction aspect. And I am more than satisfied with it. Just until my Death Knights get their hands on this beautiful thing.

And I found one more combination. One that should bump up my spell game to the next level.

[Spellcaster]

+10% damage to all spells.

+

[Precise Casting]

Allows you to adjust the output of spells, letting you use earlier levels of it or cast with reduced power. CE used can't be below the 1st level of the spell.

+

[Sixth Sense] 

You seem to have a unique knack for sensing danger.

...This combination. It could give me a good perk like Spell Master. But, what if I push it further? I know one thing that has been lacking.

My eyes.

My eyes are to put it straight are not that good. It strains my eyes sometimes. They just provide me with a slight perception buff and help increase my ability to sense cursed energy. I am not satisfied with that half-baked shit.

Let's ball.

[Spellcaster]

+10% damage to all spells.

+

[Precise Casting]

Allows you to adjust the output of spells, letting you use earlier levels of it or cast with reduced power. CE used can't be below the 1st level of the spell.

+

[Sixth Sense] 

You seem to have a unique knack for sensing danger.

+

[Boundless Wisdom]

Lessens the restrictions of learning skills and spells. 

+

[Arcane Curse]

+20% Cursed Energy Output.

+

[Cursed Energy Sense Lv. 88/100]

+

[Parallel Thought Processing]

+

[Thought Acceleration]

+

[Cursed Eyes]

=

_____________________________

[True Cursed Eyes]

+50% Cursed Energy Output

-The user can freely adjust the cursed energy output of techniques and spells.

-Allows the user to read the flow of and sense energy. 

-Increases the perception of the user, can be further strengthened by using cursed energy, even allowing them to see through objects.

-Augments the Mental Processing Power of the user.

-Allows the user to accelerate their thoughts using cursed energy.

_____________________________

I felt a searing pain in my eyes, it lasted for a good minute or so as I felt both searing pain in my brain and eyes, as if they were both getting rewired. But before long it had subsided and I was left with this new feeling of awe.

It felt like not knowing that you have been seeing 360p your whole life and then suddenly switching to 4k HD.

Also, my mind felt incredibly clear at this moment. Like I was someone who had a good night's sleep for the first time in their life.

Now, all of the abilities combined into this had been enhanced substantially. Pushing cursed energy into it, it felt like the world around me just... fell apart.

It looked like all the walls around me were knocked down, only leaving white outlines as to where they would be. It was black as far as my eyes could see. In that black, I could see hundreds of spots of blue lights.

Focusing a tad more, those lights turned into humanoid figures, humans going about their day, having conversations, buying groceries.

I could see a pink humanoid with far more intense figure, I assume Mittelt mopping the floors. A red figure lying down, Ddraig.

This time I expanded the range, my eyes were hurting a bit. At this range, without my enhanced mind it would be complete sensory overload.

I could all energy signatures within 5 Kilometers. Even discern them from each other with how familiar I was with them. Speaking of.

Huh, I can see my other body lying on Rias' lap. I can somewhat see outlines around the buildings in school too, magic circles I assume. 

Now, for the flow reading. I pushed on and immediately I noticed a difference. I could clearly discern all the Magic Signatures I had seen before. By looking at any figure around I could tell how their energies were moving.

Also, I could even sense the energy in the air, in the plants, in the water. Even traces of energy left behind by stronger beings. In fact, if I concentrate hard enough I can trace out the route Rias took for school this morning. Likely short-circuiting my brain in the process.

Looking back at the school, I could clearly read the magic circle inscribed on the carped from 1,342 meters away. So clearly that I used another line of thought to analyze it and figured out it was a teleportation inscription.

I could predict people's movements by the movement of their energy. I could probably predict magic and dispel it.

But fuck! My eyes are fucking burning!

Who knew trying to observe every single individual within 5 Kilometers almost at once with their detailed energies would be stupid? I am surprised my brain did not melt.

I need practice and a better blindfold because this high of a perception increase is slightly uncomfortable at the moment. Sending a mental command to my workers I had them start working on it.

Anyway, I guess I should start on upgrading everything else with this body.

A/N: Akira's cursed eyes are finally starting to earn their bread. What did you think about this chapter? Did you like the upgrades given and how they were given? I would love to hear your thoughts about it. I like reading your comments and suggestions, they help motivate me to write more.

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