Chapter 202: New Skill

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I manipulated Uroboros entire being with my hands and turned him into a red jewel-shaped mass of energies. Like I used to do with Sepa, I shook him around until he started begging me to stop. But the moment I stopped, he immediately switched back to his cocky attitude again.

“I’m going to kill you, damn brat! I’m going to kill all of you! HISSSSSS!” He was a very angry snake.

“Master Anna, do you want me to teach this insolent snake a lesson?” Asked Fang Shuan, who had just woken up from his sleep. I had already shown him to my brother because there was no way I would be hiding him. He was a bit reluctant about him, but because of his great mannerisms and the respect he treats us with, he was quickly accepted as my “bodyguard” by my brother.

“Who are you calling an insolent snake, you damned action figure!” Roared Uroboros. “Do you want me to eat you whole?! Come at me, all of you! I’ll beat you all, eat you, and regain my former strength, kuhahaha!”

Uroboros was completely delusional about his current situation, but it seemed like he was pretending to be fine. Deep down, through our connection, I could feel he was slowly beginning to despair more and more. And there was nothing getting him out of this situation, either. He’ll be stuck with me as my eternal pet.

“It’s fine, Fang Shuan.” I shrugged. “Uroboros, I order you as your master to behave and answer all my questions.” With a single command, Uroboros suddenly fell paralyzed.

“W-What did you do to me- Ugh!” He groaned in pain, and with eyes wide open, full of disbelief, he nodded and spoke words he didn’t want to speak at all. “Yes, master.”

“Good.” I smiled, caressing his smooth, scaled head. “Tell me everything you know regarding the Realm Beyond, your origins, the other Archdemons, and what they’re planning. Now.”

“Yes... Master...”

He explained a few things; there were many gaps inside of his memories, though—way too many. However, I learned a few very valuable things as he spoke while stuttering, as if trying to delay everything so he could disappear from his summoning time running off.

A few of the things he told me about were already within my knowledge as the reader of the novel. However, he did say that the Archdemons were planning some sort of temporary alliance after seeing how Leviathan was folded back then.

Uroboros didn’t agree to that, though, and went solo, thinking he was enough to deal with us, but failed miserably. Apparently, the Archdemons want to abuse the Second Awakening to create a tremendous cataclysm that might consume half our planet, instantly terraforming it into a Demonic World.

And this, naturally, never happened in the original story.

“A meteor of sorts... S-Some sort of giant... projectile... They will summon it... Using the Second Awakening’s... “Mythic Materialization Authority” that Constellations use to materialize the embodiments of their myths in the form of tombs...”

“Kind of like with Asgard’s Floating Continent.” I nodded.

“H-How do you know of that?!” Uroboros gasped.

“I don’t need to answer that question, my cute little pet.” I smiled, caressing his big snake head. I had to admit that this psychotic snake was very adorable-looking. I’ve always had a soft spot for reptile pets. "So, where are they dropping the bomb?”

“The north pole... Your country and the others nearby will be the most affected...” He muttered. “I... don’t know more than that; I used to know, but the details are out of my head now. Somehow...”

“I see, alright.” I nodded. “I never imagined the Archdemons would all ally temporarily just to deal with us. Well, after your death, I bet they’re even more wary.”

“Without a doubt...” Sepa sighed. “Ugh, this is getting even more complicated, Anna.”

“No, actually... If I just manage to make the timing right, we could kill like a hundred birds with one stone.” I laughed with utmost malice.

“W-Wait, what?” Sepa muttered.

[“I swear, this girl always takes advantage of the most ludicrous of situations!”]

“What is she planning?” Uroboros wondered, afraid of my genius mind.

“Master Anna is very smart; I am sure something is dreadful for your kin, demon.” Fang Shuan smiled.

“Ugh...” Uroboros groaned.

Once his time was off, he disappeared into a cloud of red smoke, and I couldn’t summon him again in five hours. I will probably keep extracting information from him later. The Assimilation Rate also went up a bit after all that talk; he’s reluctantly becoming more attached to me, hehehe.

“Anyways, now that we’re done with this, I should probably copy Fang Shuan’s Skill.” I said.

“Alright.” Fang Shuan nodded.

We both tried to shapeshift. Fang Shuan tried to reduce his size and take my shape until he resembled a doll made of gold. He was unable to change the color of his golden body yet. However, he did an amazingly good job at creating a perfect replica of myself made of gold!

“You did a good job!” I said, as I found myself much taller. “Ah, I think mine is worse, actually.”

I became some sort of monster thing at the end. I tried to look like the handsome, long-haired Chinese Murim man that Fang Shuan was, but ended up doing so miserably. My skin couldn’t copy his color completely, so there were pieces of gold around my body, making me look like some Dalmatian.

However, in terms of arms, legs, and face, it was okay. but my chest remained similar to my original form, so it looks weird and off! I kept shapeshifting around, but that only worsened it. I had to focus a lot—more than I imagined.

“Uuggghh... This is definitely going to take a bit of a while to master.”

I kept practicing for the next hour, gaining enough Skill Experience for the Skill to reach Level 2, that was quite quick! With a Level Up, the Level Bonuses increased, making it a bit easier to change now.

[The [Body Shapeshifting (A): Lv1] Skill has Leveled Up!]

[Level Bonus (2): Increases Shapeshifting Form Accuracy by +40%. Decreases Shapeshifting Ki and Mana Consumption by -20%.]

Yeah, yeah, we’re getting there, one step at a time. In the future, I can already see myself tricking constellations by pretending to be them. Well, it is my plan, but we’ll see if it can actually work once I reach that stage. For now, I need to focus on the present and the near future while slowly planning for the far future.

Knock, knock!

“Anna, are you awake? It’s already eleven in the morning; want to have breakfast?” My brother’s voice echoed outside of the room.

“A-Ah, yeah! Coming!” I said, quickly hurrying outside after washing my face with some cold water. Fang Shuan decided to continue practicing shapeshifting inside the bedroom. My pets were all eating already with Baihe and my brother.

“I’m here! Ah, a lot happened yesterday, huh?” I said, sitting down and eating some cereal with milk.

“Yeah, why didn’t you tell me you were going to a dungeon? I could have come to help you.” My brother seemed slightly angry about that. “Why can’t you rely on your brother a bit?”

“I rely! But I mean, I am fairly strong myself, Jack. Don’t be so cocky.” I told him. “And, well, you got your girlfriend to take care of, right? Henrietta is a very needy girl, I’ve heard, from a certain little bird named Kevin.”

“A-Ah, well... Yeah, she’s certainly—ahem! I mean, that shouldn’t matter. It’s not like I’ll dedicate less time to you because I have Henrietta.” My brother complained.

“Okay, okay, I get it. You want to spend some time with your sister now? But you’re too proud to just admit it.” I smiled. Baihe giggled a bit at that, while my brother felt slightly embarrassed.

“Well, yeah, maybe.” He sighed, crossing his arms. He was such a tsundere out of nowhere. “But if you don’t want to... I guess that’s fine too.”

“Aw, come on. It’s not like that. What do you want to do today, then?” I asked him.

“Hmmm... Activity that siblings can do. I suppose we could always raid another dungeon.” He smiled. “There’s a few portals that haven’t been cleared outside.”

“Ah, okay, I guess.”

Seriously, is that all he can come up with? I hope he hasn’t brought Henrietta inside the dungeons for their dates! Or I’m going to seriously bonk this idiot.

[The Cosmic Historical Figure {King of Rock ’n’ Roll} says that your amazing musical performance yesterday has brought him great inspiration in the creation of new and fantastic songs.]

[He has sponsored the Skill: [Singing and Dancing (C): Lv1] Skill!]

[He says he’s looking forward to your next performance!]

[Several other Constellations agree with the {King of Rock ’n’ Roll} and say that they have become your fervent fans.]

[They have sponsored 10.000 Plot Points, and eagerly wait for your next concert while wagging glowing sticks.]

Huh?

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