[Ability: Cast of Bloodstones
Description: The user materializes fragments of dark red energy from the ether, resembling precious stones bathed in blood. When thrown, these "Bloodstones" stick to enemies, subtly draining their vitality and emitting an ominous glow.
Effect:
- If thrown at the ground or objects, they remain there for a short time, acting as energy sources that can be detonated or used for other purposes (to be developed at higher levels).]
+
[Item: Twin Fists Invocation
Description: The air around the protagonist's hands ripples and solidifies into two spectral gloves charged with raw energy.
Effect:
- When summoned, the Twin Fists greatly increase the physical damage of each punch the user delivers.]
+
[Ability: Primordial Divine Vigor - Level 2
Description: The awakening of divine physiology deepens, further strengthening the protagonist's physical attributes.
Effect:
- All of the protagonist's attributes become more prominent.]
+
[Ability: Blessing of Artemis - Level 1
Description: A small portion of the Goddess of the Hunt's precision and connection to the wild manifests itself.
Effect:
This initial blessing grants enhanced intuition for the trajectory of thrown objects and greater ease in aiming at specific points.]
+
[Ability: Athena's Resilience
Description: In moments of danger, the mind tends to process information faster.
Effect:
- During a fatal attack, a brief sense of mental clarity and intense focus allows the user to anticipate the trajectory of ranged attacks. This heightened perception may manifest as a split-second preview of the attack from the user's point of view, offering a chance to dodge or protect themselves.]
+
[Ability: Summoning of the House of Hades
Description: The user's connection to the River Styx will always be maintained, thus always bringing them back home.
Effect:
- The protagonist can return to the House of Hades.]
Most of these abilities would be really useful to me in different ways. Cast of Bloodstones, Twin Fists, and the new blessings expanded my range of options, both in and out of battle.
If each level gave me skills as useful as these, the Zagreus Template might be among the most powerful Templates I could hope for.
But the surprise of the moment was the last skill I gained... [Summoning of the House of Hades].
Although the name said "Summon," the description indicated teleportation rather than a physical summoning.
Since I was already so eager to bring Zagreus' family into this universe, it was impossible not to get excited about the possibility of actually meeting him.
However, there was a problem with using this skill.
As in probably every universe, there was a god with the same name as my father in the Greek Pantheon of the High School DxD Universe. Here, he was not a robust man with a thick beard and a stressed temperament, but a skeletal figure cloaked in a garment strikingly similar to Ainz Ooal Gown's from Overlord.
Bearing many names, such as Skeleton-God of the Realm of the Dead, God of the Dead, and God of the Netherworld, he would always be known by the shortest name: Hades.
The Hades of this universe was not evil by nature, but he harbored deep hatred for Fallen Angels and devils.
I didn't fit into any of these categories. However, if this ability took me to the home of Hades in this universe, I would be in a situation where I'd need to explain to a god how I had entered his domain.
What would guarantee me a peaceful audience with him?
On the other hand, the mere possibility of being connected to the House of Hades in the game was irresistible. Perhaps it was the blood of Zagreus running through my veins, or just simple human curiosity about what awaited me on the other side.
I took a deep breath. "Whatever the risks, this is worth a try."
Then I closed my eyes and whispered:
"Summon House of Hades."
I opened one eye, expecting a portal to appear in front of me. However, no portal materialized.
I thought maybe it would appear behind me or to my side, but after turning to look around, there was still nothing.
As I began to wonder if the skill had failed, I heard a wet, gurgling sound emanating from beneath my feet.
I looked down, only to see the floor morph into a thick, red liquid.
It wasn't paint, it wasn't water... it was unmistakably blood.
I would have taken a step or a leap backward, but the pool expanded rapidly, engulfing my feet, my legs, and eventually my entire body.
I was pulled down with overwhelming force, and everything around me was enveloped in a deep crimson hue.
It was as if I had been thrown into an ocean of blood.
The density was suffocating, like attempting to swim through honey.
My arms and legs moved, desperately searching for orientation.
There was no gravity, no bottom, and no horizon — just a boundless red abyss in every direction.
Even so, with Herculean effort, I persisted, thrashing my arms and legs in search of escape.
Soon, I saw something above me: a thin layer of light. It had to be the surface.
My hands broke through the layer first, and then my head emerged.
Gasping for air, pulled oxygen into my lungs as if I were being reborn.
With more breath, I looked ahead and saw that there was a small white stone staircase and then a long corridor. I shook the blood from my hair and body as I took the first step forward.
[Ding! The Master entered the House of Hades for the first time. Reward: 10 Fusion Points.]
The architecture gave me chills. The gigantic marble columns, the fiery torches vibrating red like the blood that dripped from my hair and body as I slowly climbed the stairs in front of me.
"So... I'm really here, huh?" I muttered with a smile.
*
[500 PS = Another Bonus Chapter]
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