"What do you think we should do, Cellaeth?" Shinari asked.
"Fools! Are you children? Ask him yourself."
They glanced at each other.
"Right, we should ask him directly." Cleome nodded.
Soon after, Cleome made a call to Aldred. Shockingly, Aldred appeared as a projection a second later.
"That was fast. Aren't you busy?" Cleome asked.
"I just destroyed a planet. Anyway, what you guys need?"
The crew looked at each other again and nodded.
Then, Cleome explained the problem to him, explaining in detail how they want to help him more in this battle.
Aldred simply smiled after he listened to their explanation. "Actually what you guys are doing right now is more than I can ask. However, I can understand. All of you want to help me, right?"
They all nodded.
"I guess I can't help it. I will bestow you all a powerful blessing. A blessing that can help you all breakthrough any bottleneck and wall."
"What kind of blessing is that?" Salamander stood up.
"Calm down. I want you all to close your eyes."
With Aldred's request, the crew closed their eyes, a mix of curiosity and anticipation coloring their expressions. The room fell into a momentary silence, interrupted only by the subtle hum of the ship's technology.
After a few minutes that felt longer than they actually were, Aldred's voice echoed through the chamber. "You can open your eyes now."
As the crew members slowly opened their eyes, they were greeted by a surreal sight. In front of each of them floated a holographic display, showcasing intricate details of their status and levels. The holograms shimmered with ethereal light, revealing a wealth of information previously unknown to them.
Salamander, Cleome, Shinari, Shuzib, Cellaeth, and Elralya gazed in awe at the holographic projections, their eyes tracing the lines of data that outlined their strengths, skills, and potential.
Aldred's voice resonated once again, breaking the silence. "I've bestowed upon you a powerful blessing. These holographic panels represent your status and levels. You now have the ability to increase your level, enhance your skills, and unlock greater potential limitlessly."
The crew exchanged astonished glances, the implications of Aldred's gift sinking in. Cleome, always the analytical one, spoke up first. "What does this mean, Aldred? How does it work?"
Aldred, still appearing as a holographic projection, explained, "You can increase your level by actively engaging in various activities. Whether it's learning, working out, practicing your skills, defeating monsters, or completing tasks, each endeavor contributes to your growth. The more you immerse yourself in these activities, the more your level will increase."
Salamander, known for his love of experimentation and innovation, couldn't contain his excitement. "So, it's like a game where we level up by doing things? That's incredible!"
Aldred chuckled. "In a way, yes. Consider it a tool to help you break through the barriers you feel in your respective fields. This blessing is meant to empower you further and overcome the challenges you face."
Shinari, always pragmatic, raised an important question. "Are there any limits to this? Can we become infinitely powerful?"
Aldred nodded. "While the potential for growth is vast, there are practical limits to ensure balance. Your progress will be significant, but it won't render challenges obsolete. The journey of improvement remains an ongoing pursuit."
With newfound determination, the crew delved into their holographic panels, exploring the wealth of information before them. Each panel displayed attributes, skills, and a progress bar indicating their current level. It was a personalized interface tailored to their unique strengths and abilities.
The crew, inspired by this extraordinary gift, began to discuss how they could leverage their newfound abilities. Ideas flowed freely, each member envisioning the breakthroughs they could achieve in their respective fields.
Cleome, with her strategic mind, suggested, "We can use this to our advantage in diplomatic missions as well. Increasing our charisma and communication skills might help us convince more planets to join the cause."
Salamander, always looking for practical applications, added, "I can improve my engineering skills, creating more advanced weaponry and technology to aid us in the upcoming battles."
Shinari, concerned about the internal cohesion of the crew, spoke, "We should also focus on personal growth. Strengthening our bonds and understanding each other's strengths will make us a more formidable team."
The crew discussed about the possibilities with their new ability.
Aldred was glad about that. At first, he wanted to withold his 'party' power before because had had yet trusted them, however, they had been with him for more than 4 years now and went through many battles where they risked their life.
He could trust them with their life, so a simple 'party' was more than fine.
In Aldred's private chamber, where the holographic conversation had taken place, an ethereal presence lingered. Unbeknownst to Aldred and his crew, a powerful yet playful god entity named Eclipsea, the god of secrets and darkness, observed their every move with great interest.
Cloaked in shadows, Eclipsea's form remained elusive, only revealing glimpses of a dark silhouette adorned with celestial patterns. She had been drawn to the conversation about the bestowed blessing and the newly acquired status panels. Intrigued by the potential these mortals now possessed, Eclipsea decided to spy on Aldred and his crew, eager to understand the depths of their newfound abilities.
"Hehe, following them out of the Veil wasn't a waste. Now I know something I haven't seen before. System, status panel, increasing level… quite the mystery."
As she observed the holographic projections floating in front of each crew member, Eclipsea's eyes sparkled with amusement. The intricate details of their status and levels, the progress bars indicating growth, and the potential for limitless enhancement fascinated the god. Her playful demeanor resonated with the pulsating shadows that surrounded her form.
"Ah, mortals and their insatiable desire for power," Eclipsea whispered to herself, her voice a velvety murmur that echoed through the chamber. "Such a delightful spectacle to witness."
"With this power, could they even surpass a god like myself? That would be interesting."
