Abilities and skills, as mentioned in the earlier chapters, are related to a person''s tendencies. The creation and naming of such is instinctual, a name will pop up in the interface the more the user cultivates it or leans on a particular tendency.


    Despite Ethan making up his mind, he can’t shake off the nagging feeling of laying himself bare, showing his skills meant exposing his cards, and he has always had the trouble of trusting others. ‘In the world I came from, I have been betrayed far too many times.’


    “I’ll go first!” Ashley blurts out, noticing Ethan’s hesitation. “I have several skills which, when combined makes me quite formidable!”


    She gives him a knowing look as if to say “It’ll be fine. I got you.”


    “First and foremost, the [Wild Physique], it is an abnormal condition that I turned into a skill.”


    “Is that even possible?” Cassius asked.


    “Well of course! I have a knack for making things possible. Just ask the professor!”


    “That explains why you’re my assistant for three years now,” Ethan remarks.


    “Very well, moving on! Wild Physique triggers when I make casting mistakes, an unintended effect happens like transforming me into a giant, sprouting wings, turning into a different creature, and many more. There was even a time when I get to breathe fire! Hehe.”


    “Sounds like a curse. I wouldn’t want that,” Lorenz said.


    “Understandable. People would think the same, but for a person like me this is more of a blessing than a curse.”


    “Hah! So yoh turn your curse into a blessing? Sounds like a webnovel I used to read,” Ethan sheepishly replied. There’s a curve on his lips, it looked like Ashleys’ confidence is slowly getting him amped to share now.


    “I also have [Wild Manifestations], even when the random effects from Wild Physique has ended, it tends to have some lingering effects even when I returned to my normal form. The effects are less potent but gives me more flexibility since I’m in a humanoid form again.”


    “Doesn’t sound very reassuring..”


    “Indeed, but it always come in handy. In fact, I have been trying to cultivate a skill to tame the chaos, to find a semblance of order in my otherwise unpredictable abilities. Alas, there isn’t one that felt natural, somehow, in someway, I always felt like I never wanted order in my life. Anyway, we’ve sidetracked a bit, let me continue.” Embarrased, Ashley’s cheeks turned a reddish hue as she continued, “I have [Belle of the Brawl] which grants me several stat boosts and invulnerability for a short period in time. Useful for getting me out of too chaotic situations that I fail to use to my advantage. A get out of jail card if you will.”


    “A what? That exists?”


    “Well, it does now. To wrap things up, I have [Stat Adaptability] which grants me the ability to tackle any situation by temporarily redistributing my stat points in any way I like! The effects are temporary of course.”


    “Mo-monster…” Lorenz instinctive stated.


    “Hey! That’s not very nice” Ashley pouts as she crosses her legs and looks the other way. “I’m a woman y’know…”


    “Ehem, I guess it’s my turn now,” Ethan took a moment to reflect on the extraordinary skills and abilities that had become part of his arsenal since stepping into this remarkable world. He recalls the self-discovery, the challenges, and it may be cheesy to say, but the enemies and friends he made along the way. Just a few days ago he used to be a deadbeat professor who lost all interest in life, now he is on his path to be a full-fledged adventurer who would someday (probably) change the fate of this world.


    Each capability like a meticulously crafted tool, enhanced over time, yet still surprising him with each new layer he uncovered.This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    For Ethan, what stood out most prominently in his mind was [Memory Palace]. In the jovial atmosphere of the tavern Cassius and Lorenz stared in awe as Ethan mused about how this memorization method had magnified beyond what he ever dreamed possible. It was as though every piece of information he encountered, whether actively absorbed or passively acknowledged, found its place in his vast mental archive. Like walking through corridors lined with the intricate tapestry of his experiences, he could retrieve memories with precision and clarity whenever the need arose. It was a skill that not only improved his strategic acumen but also gave him confidence in his ever-expanding knowledge base.


    Ethan theorized that this skill paved the way to the creation of his next skill [Perdurable Summons]. He could summon beings and entities that persisted indefinitely unless disrupted by other forces. This set him apart from the usual Beckoners, whose summons were fleeting and ephemeral. With his vast knowledge in ancient text (Literature from Earth), his summons are a force to be reckoned with.


    However, Ethan noted a curious interaction with his other magical abilities; the permanence of these summons seemed to interfere with his capacity to dispel spells. It was a puzzle he was eager to solve, as the correlation of the two may lead to another useful skill.


    He also has [Runechant], a craft akin to that of Lorenz, though admittedly more labor-intensive due to it requiring him to use soul ink. Worse, Ethan''s Runechant isn''t instantaneously applied unlike Lorenz'' superior version.


    “Wait a minute, boss, when you recounted your fight against Professor Ex, you said you runechanted sticks to explode, and even runechanted the adversary’s clothes. Just how much LRP do you have in your soul?” Lorenz inquired.


    “He has over a hundred!” Ashley retorts. “Although I have more than him”.


    “Impossible. Both of you are monsters…”


    Cassius’ interest is now piqued, “How come you have so much soul ink? The average person couldn’t even name ten books!”


    Ethan and Ashley looked at each other, Ethan gave her a knowing look as if to say “You got yourself in this mess blabbing too much, you should get out by yourself.”


    “Well…” Ashley’s head raced with thoughts lf excuses, but alas Occam’s Razor proved to be the easiest escape route, “Well, I guess we’re not average.”


    “That… Doesn’t help. You know most masters would have around 80 LRP for soul ink, and none of you are at master level,” Cassius argued.


    “Well, whaddaya know? We’re both secretly masters!” Ashley replied in jest while Cassius remains unconvinced.


    “Ehem, let’s continue,” Ethan exposes his empty palm in front of them and calls upon [Lexcalibre], a dazzling light shines as a fountain pen conjured out of thin air, spinning, standing, flying around at the flick of Ethans hands. It was a sight to behold. This is Ethan’s unique Soul Weapon imbued with two unique abilities that enriched his repertoire considerably. It should be noted that he could only use these skills with Lexcalibre and soul ink.


    With the ability called [Rewrite], he could momentarily alter an attribute of any target. This technique required precision and timing, as its effects were fleeting yet powerful. Another intriguing feature was ''Pen Pal,'' enabling instant communication with a designated ally, albeit limited to one connection at a time. It provided a tethered lifeline in situations requiring discrete coordination or swift exchanges. Other than these two skills, Lexcalibre can function as a regular pen.


    Lastly, Ethan revealed the Invictus Series—a distinct set of skills that afforded him unparalleled freedom...


    "Wait there''s more?" Cassius interrupted, shocked by the unexpected development.


    Lorenz chimes in "Yeah boss, even genius adventurers only have five skills before reaching silver rank. Wait, did we—did we hit a jackpot? Our boss is amazing!"


    "Not really. I only have three named skills, the other two was from Lexcalibre while the Invictus Series came from the achievement of defeating a registered villain. As far as I know, I’m no different from an ordinary adventurer" Ethan replied.


    "I''m gonna defeat a villain myself! I will show them the almighty power of the Author and rid them off the narrative!"


    "Ooooh wittle Cassius acting all tough," Ashley teased.


    "So boss, what skills did you get from the Invictus series?" Lorenz asked, curious.


    Ethan continued to explain the skills as clearly as possible. The skills'' name already explains what it does, [Grappling Hook] allows him to traverse large distances, albeit at the cost of LRP. It shoots a string made of Quillmancy and pulls him towards the direction of the hook. The farther the distance, the higher the LRP cost. [Vertical Running] and [Double Jump] granted him agility beyond mortal means, scaling surfaces with ease and leaping upward with the creation of an invisible platform. Despite these enhancements, gravity remained an inescapable force, one wrong step and he''d be inflicted with fall damage.


    Ethan and Ashley''s diverse abilities painted a complex portrait of their potential, a mosaic of skills that, when harmonized, made him a formidable presence in this enigmatic world. Like two sides of the same coin, Ethan being the embodiment of permanence while Ashley one of change. As they continuously engage in jovial conversations with their new teammates, visions of future endeavors stirred in his mind—a reminder that his journey was far from over, and each learned gift was a stepping stone toward mastering his destiny.