MIDNIGHT PRINCE: Empire of Sin-Chapter 42 CH 40: THE WORLD

Adam knew enough about games to comprehend what the stats he was seeing represented. Those stats were rather standard as far as RPG-esque games went.

But there was something that confused him about these stats. The underlying meaning behind them…

What did those stats reflect exactly?

Did it reflect the maximum potential he could reach in each department as he was now? The minimum? Or was it perhaps an average estimate of his abilities?

He was right in thinking about that. As, all things considered, humans were not really machines, nor were they pixels in a game. The stats could never be a constant of his abilities as they were usually represented in games or anything of the like.

His speed was currently at D+ rank. However, it goes without saying that Adam could not run at full speed without stopping. Nor could he reach the maximum velocity and just then stop on spot like nothing. The laws of physics wouldn't allow for that to happen.

[Those stats are a reflection of your maximum potential. The limit of what you can do with your body. From rank C and everything after, you surpass the limits of what is deemed to be humanly possible and enter the superhuman threshold. Your willpower and charm being at C are an example of that phenomenon.]

"What about the EX rank then?"

[The EX rank basically represents something that cannot be exactly quantified into a category as there are too many variables available for it to be properly analyzed. For instance, your skill Eyes of Truth can assimilate all types of sensory skills without any limits. But as it is now currently, it's quite weak. At the end of the day, we can observe that…the rank only shows the maximum potential something or someone can reach.]

"So stats are not everything."

Adam nodded his head, having uttered the words that first came to mind after listening to Genesis' response. It was exactly like how being able to lift heavier objects or having a faster running speed didn't necessarily mean that they would let you win a fight like it was nothing.

There were many invisible factors always at play that decided the ultimate victor.

'So my luck is potentially limitless then?'

[I would not be so happy if I was you.]

Genesis's steely and emotionless voice made Adam frown in annoyance. He prepared himself to hear another set of bad news from the synthetic spirit's robotic voice.

[The luck stat would be more aptly described as Fate or Destiny. Or simply Karma? You could also say that. What this means is that… Your very existence will bring events toward you. Events that you hold no control over. Whether you like it or not, you will be facing more and more supernatural or simply normal events. Of course, those events might be beneficial or they might be not. Whether you are able to benefit from them or would they lead to your doom, the answer to that question remains on your ability to grasp the situation in the way you desire it to go.]

"I understand."

Luck favored only those who worked hard and those who were daring enough to bet it all on this abstract concept. No matter how lucky you were, if you could not grasp an opportunity when it literally came flying at your doorstep, then all the luck in the world would effectively be useless for the ones concerned.

This was the simple reality of this world.

"Now, why is my charm suddenly at the supernatural level?"

[The most dangerous things in the world are always the most beautiful. As an apex predator, your body is simply evolving towards the most optimal way to not scare your prey, deceiving them to enter your grasp. All Earthly Supernatural creatures are extremely beautiful without exception. The best example is the Vampires.]

Adam took a deep breath and observed his naked body more attentively. He knew objectively that he had always been quite the handsome lad but as he looked at himself in the mirror, he could see that his body seemed to have no blemish now. All his proportions seemed perfect and eye-catching.

The golden ratio so to speak. The perfection incarnate.

This body would be useful in his new line of work so he was quite happy with the changes. But at the same time, he felt quite uncomfortable inside.

There were just so many things he had no clue about. He felt like an elementary school student who had to learn everything from scratch and just the thought itself was quite tiring to him.

Ignorance was a form of bliss. Such words were often spoken by many people. But Adam did not share the same feeling as those whimsical people. At least that was not the case when it practically encompassed his entire life.

He wanted no… He needed things to change.

[Analysis completed.]

[Name: (Yet to be determined)

Description: Create a zone of absolute control where the user can manipulate all forces

Rank: Tentatively judged to be at the S rank. Possible reevaluation to EX rank depending on further observation.]

[Would you like to name the skill?]

Adam looked at this skill. The moment he saw this description, he began to have an inkling about what this skill was actually capable of, And if he were to be right… Just that thought was enough to excite him to no end. He needed to confirm his suspicions.

He closed his eyes. Focusing inwardly, searching deeper and deeper inside himself till he was able to find his origin.

Slowly, very slowly, he felt like he was able to 'see' everything in his close vicinity.

'5 meters? 10 meters?'

In a perfectly spherical zone of around 10 meters or perhaps more, his senses spread completely outwards. He was now able to perceive everything and anything that transpired in that spherical area.

"Haha. What the fuck?"

Adam could only laugh dumbfoundedly after having cast this ability of his. Many things had happened to him in the short span of 48 to 72 hours but this… For the first time, after all this supernatural shit started, he truly felt that he was leaving the realm of humanity and finally becoming a part of the supernatural.

Opening his eyes, he looked at his toothbrush and focused once again. At first, not much of anything happened and everything seemed still.

He even thought he might have been wrong in his hunch and that his skill could only help him feel his surroundings at best. At least at his current level of proficiency.

But he did not stop and kept on trying.

Finally… After a few seconds of intense staring that had almost felt like an eternity…

*Shake*

The toothbrush slowly shook and began to float a few centimeters up before abruptly falling down on the sink. At the same time, the feeling he got after casting his new skill…where he could basically observe and feel everything inside a spherical zone…simply vanished like it never even existed in the first place.

It was abrupt, shocking, and…painful…

"*Ugh* My head."

His head hurt like hell. He felt like this was probably the greatest headache he had ever been inflicted with in his life. From the mirror, he could even see droplets of blood dripping down from his nose and into the sink.

But even so….

"Hahaha…"

Even though it hurt so much that he felt like he was about to die once again.

Even though he had only been able to barely lift a toothbrush for the merest of moments.

Even then…. Adam had never felt so exhilarated in all of his life.

This was his first true superpower. Not just something that could be used to observe people nor something vague and limited like his immortality.

But a true and real superpower that had so many possibilities that it was almost mind-numbing.

For the first time ever since he awakened, Adam felt like less of a punching bag. Now, he at least had some legitimate means to defend himself against the supernatural side of the world— well, barely the start of a means to be exact. As it was now, the skill wasn't even worth a dog's fart. However, the thing to note was that…even the greatest castles had to start with a single brick.

[Would you like to name the skill?]

"Should I call it Zone?"

It was an apt and simple name. A zone born from his own understanding of the Truth. But at the same time, he felt like it wasn't really enough.

This was his first skill created from his effort and understanding after being nearly assimilated by the Buddha.

Adam began to remember the epiphany he had,

"The word 'I' does not exist. As such, 'I' do not exist either. If there is nothing to compare against, then how can a being that cannot be defined exist?

"From one perspective, this world and the universe were created with our birth and would perish with our death."

"I do not exist. I am simply… The World." 𝒇𝙧𝚎𝐞𝙬𝒆𝑏𝑛𝑜v𝚎𝒍.c𝑜m

He smiled. Since this skill gave him power and control in a given zone, could he not say that he was a god in that zone?

He also remembered the woman in the Library. The one who called herself The Fool.

In Tarot Cards, the Number 0, The Fool, represented the First of the Major Arcana. It represented the start of a journey. The last of the Major Arcana, Number 21, The World, represented the end of that journey.

It just so happened that he was 21 years old currently.

"Well… Should I say that it's fate?"

So many small coincidences all coming together for that one single moment of magic— the miracle. Adam laughed, feeling himself to be in a great mood, so he promptly decided on the name of this skill.

"Let's call it— The World."

(AN: So, I think I have many experienced readers in my reader base so I don't need to explain what the potential of Adam's new skill is. My boy won't be lifting buildings or rendering the earth apart anytime soon but it's coming in the end. Man, it feels great when all the plot points come together like this. Don't you think so?)