Banished from the herd, I was actually a member of a very rare species. ~With the unique skills that only I can use, I can grow and evolve quickly. I will become an unrivaled monster~ - Episode 134: Epilogue of Chapter 4

Episode 145: Epilogue of Chapter 4 

(Note: Special for this chapter the MC’s dialogue is written in ‘…..’.)

In the largest square of the southwestern city of the Isa Kingdom. People of all ages and genders gathered in the hundreds and thousands.

“Then, let’s celebrate our victory!”

“””Cheerss!!”””

On the luxurious stage in the center, a man with a goatee, who was the mayor, led the cheers. In response to his voice, a thunderous cheer erupted from the crowd. People enjoyed food and drinks bought from stalls, The unique percussion and string instruments of the Isa Kingdom echoed everywhere, with everyone smiling as they walked through the square and the main street.

In a corner of this lively square stood a monument. It was a sphere about the size of an adult, topped with a spatial expansion bag instead of a hat. Decorated by the townspeople with electric artifacts, the lemon-colored surface flashed with colorful lights in red, blue, green, and yellow. 

As usual, it was me. I was asked to stay here so that I wouldn’t cause a panic by moving around freely. Actually, at the beginning of the opening ceremony, people had gathered around me, doing various things. In addition to defeating the Earth God, I had provided more meat from the creatures than I could eat alone. So there was also a sense of gratitude.

The spatial expansion bag was worn to reduce my volume.

“Oh… you are the one who defeated the Earth God…”

‘Yes, that’s me, ma’am.’

Perhaps because I wore a headband that said “Today’s Main Character,” or maybe because my appearance had spread throughout the town, the old woman with a cane approached me without hesitation.

“Ohhh….Thank you, thank you! You avenged my daughter! What can I do to express my gratitude…”

‘No, really, just your feelings are enough.’

Despite my reply, the old woman kept saying thank you over and over, shaking her head up and down each time. After a while, a middle-aged man who seemed to be her family came over, bowed deeply, and took her away.

More people continued to come to express their thanks. Their expressions of gratitude seemed to carry an undercurrent of sorrow. It wasn’t something you could easily dismiss with thoughts like, “It’s for the world.” Hearing that I had defeated the Earth God, they must have felt unable to sit still.

‘(A festival of mourning, huh?)’

Younger people, around middle and high school age, were performing a solemn dance on the stage. I had heard it was a traditional dance offered to those who had passed on. Surely, such acts were necessary for the sake of those left behind.

“Katsu, this one is delicious.”

‘Oh, thanks!’

Just as the visitors began to dwindle, Fisu appeared, weaving through the crowd. She handed me a candy that looked like a caramel-coated apple. When I tasted it, the candy was sweet, while the fruit inside had a strangely pleasant salty flavor. I devoured it in one go.

‘Foods rich in |Mana| have a sort of umami explosion, you know? They taste great as is, but it’s nice to have treats made with special seasonings or cooking methods, too.’

“Yeah, it’s deep in flavor.”

As I shared my thoughts on the candy and the interesting stalls, Fisu suddenly spoke.

“Thank you for defeating the Earth God. I couldn’t do anything.”

‘That’s not true. You were waiting in case the [Area Isolation] was broken, right?’

“But if you had lost, I wouldn’t have been able to do anything. I understand the difference in our abilities.”

She gazed off into the distance as she said this, then added:

“That’s why I’m going on a training journey.”

‘Huh??’

“I wasn’t able to save Krissa or stand by your side, Katsu. I don’t want to feel powerless when it comes to protecting my friends anymore.”

‘So, that’s why you’re going to train.’

“Yes, it’ll be a while before we see each other again.”

The difference in our <Levels> was too great, so it made sense. In this world without phones, I had no idea when we’d reunite. 

…It would be lonely.

“I’ll return the gear I borrowed.”

‘You can keep it. Given my build, I can’t even use human weapons.’

“No, I want to see how far my own strength can take me.”

‘I see… But please take the armor with you. It would be sad if you died.’

“Understood. …Hehe, you’re really kind, Katsu.”

Fisu turned to me, her lips slightly curling into a smile. I realized belatedly that she was smiling.

“Knowing you’re a magical beast, I was scared at first, but you’re still Katsu.”

With that, she blended back into the crowd of the festival.

Next, a pair of guards arrived—Xanthos and Krissa, the father and daughter.

“Are you enjoying the victory festival?”

‘As you can see, I’m having a great time!’

I shook my body, covered in electric lights. Seeing this, Krissa smiled wryly and pulled out a dumpling-like food from her bag.

“Katsu-san, you might not be able to move, so I bought this for you. I owe you more than I can repay.”

‘I’ve said it multiple times after defeating the Earth God; you don’t have to worry about it. I just wanted to fight the Calamity Beast.’

“That’s not acceptable. As a father and a Sentinel, I won’t forget my gratitude to you.”

Xanthos said this in a tone that left no room for argument.

“Well then, excuse us. We need to get back to work. Troubles tend to arise during festivals, so keep your wits about you, Krissa.”

“I know, Dad.”

With that, the two of them left, and some time passed. The performances on the stage had ended. And with it being bedtime for the children, the foot traffic began to decrease. It was about time for me to move freely.

Perhaps I had earned their trust over this past month, or maybe they considered monitoring unnecessary against a Calamity Beast, as there were no escorts in sight.

‘(Time to float,)’ 

Channeling |Mana| into the artifact that constructed my body, I lifted off the ground. I headed toward the center of the city, the Tower of Sages. As I flew over the castle walls, I could see a large research facility brightly lit up. Despite it being festival day, scholars, including Tanasis, were deeply engrossed in experiments with the Earth God and the sealing device. 

Well, I would receive their experimental results later, so I was actually grateful for it. I landed on the balcony of the top floor of the Tower of Sages, knowing the person I sought was there thanks to the effects of the [Update].

‘I’m coming in.’

“Please don’t enter without permission.”

I was reprimanded by the Sage as I entered what seemed to be a research room. I called out to her as she stood by the window, looking down at the festival lights without doing anything.

‘Weren’t you going to join the festival?’

“I have no right to stand there.”

‘Guilt, then?’

“Among the Sovereign Tier pseudo-magical constructs, I was raised to cultivate the most human-like mind.”

I thought she should participate even more, but I kept my mouth shut. There might be bereaved families who would direct their anger at her, and it wasn’t something for an outsider like me to meddle in.

“Since we’re here, let me thank you again. Thank you for saving so many people.”

‘Today seems to be a day for bowing heads.’

I said this jokingly.

“Of course. You are the savior of this nation. I will repay that debt over the coming centuries. When the world faces its impending doom, you would do well to take refuge in this country. If you ask, others will do their best to accept you.”

‘…The world’s doom?’

I caught an unsettling phrase and couldn’t help but ask.

“Yes. It is the prophecy of the Star God. It states that a great calamity approaches, and the world will become a cauldron of chaos.”

‘Not again! All the gods of this country are too ominous! What kind of monster is it this time? I’ll take it down again!’

“No, the Star God is not a personified disaster like the Earth God. It’s a conceptual name for the source of |Mana| that underpins the world and fills the heavens and the earth… Rather than explaining it, I should show you.”

Saying this, she approached an artifact at the back of the room. It resembled a large computer, equipped with a display and operational buttons. It seemed capable of communicating information from afar. 

Just as the Sage was about to touch it, the artifact activated on its own.

“I praise you, being from another world. To reach the Fifth Grade within a year of awakening is extraordinary. You are the unparalleled hope that will save the 〔Star Realm Gaia〕.”

The mechanical voice echoed, and the artifact’s display showed a figure that had been partially devoured.

(Note: Leaving this here for the random guy who buys this all the was through without membership. Thanks for your support!!)

Settings – Introducing the Main Character’s [Skills]

Due to reader requests, I have included a detailed list of the protagonist’s [Skills]. These [Skills] may be further explained in the main story as necessary. So feel free to skip this section if you prefer.  

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• • • • • • • • Cover: Temporarily expands the range of defense.  

 

• • • • • • • • Climbing: Provides a bonus to agility while climbing.  

 

• • • • • • • • Block: Temporarily restricts movement but enhances the strength of both the body and weapons during that time.  

 

• • • • • • • • Escape Instinct: Makes it easier to learn escape-type [Skills]. Constantly boosts the effects of escape-type [Skills].  

 

• • • • • • • • Whip: Enables a powerful whip strike.  

 

• • • • • • • • Compact Whip: Allows for quick whip strikes.  

 

• • • • • • • • Folly: Boosts all stats except |Life| and |Mana| during reckless actions. Constantly improves resistance to disease.  

 

• • • • • • • • Slash: Performs a powerful slashing attack.  

 

• • • • • • • • Compact Slash: Allows for quick slashing attacks.  

 

• • • • • • • • Gesture: Enhances communication through gestures and body language.  

 

• • • • • • • • Weapon Body: Constantly makes it easier to transform the body into a weapon. When using the body as a weapon, it boosts the weapon’s performance.  

 

• • • • • • • • Flee: Boosts speed and stealth abilities when escaping.  

 

• • • • • • • • Instant Shift: Enhances action speed during evasive maneuvers. Constantly boosts dynamic vision.  

 

• • • • • • • • Cross Counter: Increases attack power when counterattacking after an evasion.  

 

• • • • • • • • Challenge: Intensifies hostility toward the [Skill] user from the target. When used on someone stronger than the user, this effect is amplified.  

 

• • • • • • • • Concentration: Enhances concentration when focusing on one task. Constantly boosts resistance to mental interference.  

 

• • • • • • • • Storage: Increases the amount of stored nutrients. Allows |Life| and |Mana| to exceed their maximum limits.  

 

• • • • • • • • Transportation: Reduces the weight load from transported items and lessens damage to the items being transported.  

 

• • • • • • • • Weapon Storage: Completely encloses weapons within the body for storage in a separate dimension.  

 

• • • • • • • • Replicant Form: Allows for the analysis and recording of weapons. Can transform the user’s body into the recorded weapon.  

 

• • • • • • • • Bewitching Gleam: Draws out hostile intent from those watching the [Skill] user. If the [Skill] user is killed, it drastically increases the amount of <Soul Fragments> the killer can obtain.  

 

• • • • • • • • Thrust: Performs a powerful piercing attack.  

 

• • • • • • • • Antibody: Constantly boosts resistance to Status Ailments from food. When affected by an Ailment, boosts resistance to that specific Ailment for a set time.  

 

• • • • • • • • Compact Thrust: Allows for quick piercing attacks.  

 

• • • • • • • • Shoot: Performs a powerful ranged attack.  

 

• • • • • • • • Decomposition Liquid: Allows the user to secrete a liquid capable of dissolving matter. Enhances the potency of the effect.  

 

• • • • • • • • Charge Thrust: Rushes forward at high speed and uses the momentum to perform a powerful thrust.  

 

• • • • • • • • Charge Slash: Rushes forward at high speed and uses the momentum to perform a powerful slash.  

 

• • • • • • • • Compact Shoot: Allows for quick ranged attacks.  

 

• • • • • • • • Concealment: Reduces sounds, smells, and |Mana| presence. Reduces secondary noises that might occur.  

 

• • • • • • • • Mollusk Body: Constantly enhances the flexibility of the body. Constantly boosts resistance to blunt attacks.  

 

• • • • • • • • Powerful Throw Increases arm strength during throws. Consumes stamina to allow for powerful throws.  

 

• • • • • • • • Receiving: Boosts shock absorption when landing. Constantly improves the technique of dispersing impacts.  

 

• • • • • • • • Tear Off: Enhances the sharpness of teeth during bites. Boosts jaw strength when biting.  

 

• • • • • • • • Wave Slash: Sends a slashing attack through |Mana|.  

 

• • • • • • • • Wave Thrust: Sends a piercing attack through |Mana|.  

 

• • • • • • • • Heavy Slash: Performs a powerful slash with full force.  

 

• • • • • • • • Heavy Thrust: Performs a powerful piercing attack with full force.  

 

• • • • • • • • Heavy Shoot: Performs a powerful ranged attack with full force.  

 

• • • • • • • • Precision Shooting: Enhances accuracy during long-range attacks. Improves projectile speed and accuracy during long-range attacks.  

 

• • • • • • • • Poisoned Hands: While in a Poisoned state, can apply the same type of poison to targets during direct attacks.  

 

• • • • • • • • Rapid Regeneration: Constantly heals wounds and regenerates lost parts automatically. Constantly boosts the amount of |Life| recovered.  

 

• • • • • • • • Weapon Creation: Allows the user to create weapons that reflect the properties of materials. Enhances the performance of weapons during crafting.  

 

• • • • • • • • Intensified Warfare: Allows the user to analyze and record weapon crafting properties and information, and modify weapons based on the recorded data.  

 

• • • • • • • • Multi-Sword Style: Enhances weapon handling when using multiple weapons. Boosts information processing ability when wielding multiple weapons.  

 

• • • • • • • • Thousand Blade Genesis: Rapidly transforms targeted material into numerous daggers.  

 

• • • • • • • • Territory: Expands and controls a designated area.  

 

• • • • • • • • Parry: Uses a weapon to deflect impact in any desired direction.  

 

• • • • • • • • Swing: Performs a powerful strike. (*Note: ‘Strike’ in the Swing system excludes punching and kicking.*)  

 

• • • • • • • • Compact Swing: Allows for quick strikes.  

 

• • • • • • • • Heavy Swing: Performs a powerful strike with full force.  

 

• • • • • • • • Charge Swing: Rushes forward at high speed and uses the momentum to perform a powerful strike.  

 

• • • • • • • • Quake Swing: Transmits the shock of a strike through |Mana|.  

 

• • • • • • • • Battle Dance: Enhances agility and precision during dance-like movements. Improves weapon attack speed during dancing.  

 

• • • • • • • • Assassination: Boosts attack power when the opponent is unaware. Ignores a certain percentage of the target’s toughness when attacking unnoticed.  

 

• • • • • • • • Storm Strike: Boosts attack power when striking the same target within a set period. This effect stacks, and the stacking increases the potency of each hit.  

 

• • • • • • • • On the Edge of the Ring: Permanently boosts the ability to remain in place. Once every 24 hours, when |Life| reaches zero, instead, it remains at 1.

 

• • • • • • • • Brilliant Technique of the Storm: Makes it easier to interrupt [Weapon Skills]. When a [Weapon Skill] is activated, balance is enhanced. When multiple [Weapon Skills] are activated simultaneously, control over the body and the agility of the skills are enhanced.

 

• • • • • • • • Diving: Boosts propulsion when swimming. Constantly enhances lung capacity.

 

• • • • • • • • Clairvoyance: Allows the ability to see through darkness. Can see through obstacles up to a certain thickness.

 

• • • • • • • • Countercurrent:  Reduces air and water resistance when moving backward.

 

• • • • • • • • Perforation: Can ignore a certain hardness of the ground. Boosts physical strength when penetrating.

 

• • • • • • • • Strangle: Boosts physical strength when performing strangulation.

 

• • • • • • • • Super Jump: Enhances jumping power when jumping. Can jump while in mid-air. Allows for leaps beyond normal limits.

 

• • • • • • • • Divine Staff: Boosts power when performing a direct attack by using body weight. Can increase falling speed. Transfers impact from a landing to the object hit.

 

• • • • • • • • Explosive Charge: Boosts leg strength during a charge. Boosts the power of the charge. Allows for explosive acceleration.

 

• • • • • • • • Terrain Comprehension: Permanently allows awareness of one’s orientation. Constantly perceives the surrounding terrain.

 

• • • • • • • • Telepathy: Allows thoughts to be sent to others and receive the thoughts of others. The range of this effect can be enhanced.

 

• • • • • • • • Mimicry: Enhances credibility when deceiving others. Can transform or change the color of parts of the body to mimic other substances.

 

• • • • • • • • Projectile Prediction: When performing a long-range attack, can calculate the trajectory of the attack considering environmental conditions. This effect can also be applied to the long-range attacks of others.

 

• • • • • • • • Yin and Yang Wisdom: Permanently boosts the effect of analysis-related [Skills]. When |Life| is below its maximum, boosts thought speed according to the reduction amount. Can store nearby artifacts or Mana Crystals in an alternate space.

 

• • • • • • • • Sparkle Pluto: Grants destructive power to |Mana| and allows it to be shot. Permanently boosts the output of |Mana|. Permanently boosts the performance of |Mana| attacks.

 

• • • • • • • • Lock-On Aim: When performing long-range attacks, can consume |Mana| to grant a homing effect. Can track the position of one’s long-range attacks. Boosts information processing ability during simultaneous long-range attacks.

 

• • • • • • • • Update: Can sense, analyze, and improve nearby Mana Crystals or artifacts. Permanently boosts memory and creativity related to Mana Crystals or artifacts.

 

• • • • • • • • Perfect Sphere: Permanently boosts |Resist| according to basic |Toughness| and vice versa. When not damaged, boosts both |Resist| and |Toughness|. Constantly boosts bodily functions.

 

• • • • • • • • Repair Moonlight: Consumes |Mana| to emit a light that repairs artifacts. Can also emit a light that heals the mind.

 

• • • • • • • • Kin: Consumes |Mana| to create minions that inherit one’s traits. Can give |Mana| to others with their consent to make them one’s minion.

 

• • • • • • • • Cursed Binding: Boosts restraining power during capture. Lowers the target’s |Stats| when captured.

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Thanks to a kind reader for organizing these [Skills] into categories. It’s very well-arranged and easy to understand.

Weapon-related Skills  

[Whip, Compact Whip]  

[Slash, Compact Slash, Charge Slash, Wave Slash, Heavy Slash]  

[Thrust, Compact Thrust, Charge Thrust, Wave Thrust, Heavy Thrust]  

[Shoot, Compact Shoot, Heavy Shoot]  

[Block, Parry]  

[Swing, Compact Swing, Charge Swing, Heavy Swing, Quake Swing]

Active Skills (With Boosts)  

[Climbing, Folly, Gesture, Escape, Cross Counter, Challenge, Decomposition Liquid, Powerful Throw]  

[Tear Off, Precision Shooting, Weapon Creation, Multi-Sword Style, Battle Dance, Assassination, Storm Attack, Brilliant Technique of the Storm, Perforation, Strangle]  

[Super Jump, Divine Staff, Explosive Charge, Telepathy, Mimicry, Lock-On Aim, Cursed Bindings]

Active Skills (Without Boosts)  

[Block, Storage, Transportation, Weapon Storage, Replicant Form, Bewitching Gleam, Concealment, Poisoned Hands]  

[Intensified Warfare, Thousand Blades Genesis, Territory, Clairvoyance, Countercurrent, Projectile Prediction, Repair Moonlight, Kin]

Passive Skills (Some Include Active Effects)  

[Escape Instinct, Weapon Body, Instant Shift, Concentration, Antibody, Mollusk Body, Parry, Rapid Regeneration, On the Edge of the Ring]  

[Diving, Terrain Comprehension, Yin and Yang Wisdom, Sparkle Pluto, Update, Perfect Sphere]