“So, that went well for you guys too I hope,” He asked, not that he’d need to. He’d listened in their heads when blessings were handed out and skills acquired, with Will getting levels to all of his blessed skills and more while he already knew Amy had been able to level her weapon skill, with Jake managing to see some growth in his tier-one options.

And as great as that was for them, more important was the fact that Thera had gotten her level to her earth magic, placing her as a contender for it now too, on top of levels in her magic affinity, her life and dark sense, and her dark sight.

In his ideal world, she’d hopefully succeed in awakening her life magic to the third tier and then could work on trying to raise her earth magic to that level as well but he knew he had to keep his expectations in moderation on that front. He already knew well how impossible getting even a single third-tier skill was proving to be, he was probably the only person motivated to try and claim two for himself in such a short time.

Still, he listened as everyone shared what they were willing to, even if all eyes were obviously on him from how it turned out. They may not have been able to tell what levels he’d gotten but it was clear something had happened in there, with one reward feeling more blatant than the rest.

“Dude, I am so incredibly jealous,” Jake said while practically hanging off Ben’s shoulders. “A secret quest? Does it get cooler than that?”

“I think the word impossible is more accurate than secret,” He pointed out.

“But you’re still going to try.”

“Yeah, obvious. Did you hear what I get if I somehow manage it? I pull that off and I’ll be even more blessed than you.”

“Ugh, but I worked so hard to be one of the most blessed guys on the planet. I can’t believe you’re just going to swoop in and take that from me.”

“Point of clarification, no you really didn’t,” Amy cut in. “You worked adequately for it at best and Uliel carried us through the first couple towers we did pretty hard.”

“Hey, we helped! And we did a lot more in some other towers, just look at the ones we took on without them. Come on, be a little jealous with me, it’ll feel good.”

“Why? Even if we were given a quest like that we’d never have a chance. You know there’s no way either of us can make a mythic item, right?”

“Sure, but it sounded like there were a few other extreme quests. Who’s to say there isn’t one that we could pull off?”

“Jake, look me in the eyes and tell me you have the attention span for something like that.”

“Okay, well while they’re doing that, I’ve got a question too,” Will cut in. “What’s modifier compatibility and why’d that god look so surprised when you took it?”

“Ah, that. It’s a long, secretive story but if you can be free in a couple days I’ll let you know.”

“If it’s only for a couple of hours I can make that work, why?”

“Because I want to give the big reveal when everyone’s free. Speaking of, Amy, when’s the soonest you two plus Yuzu can give me an evening? I’ll make some dinner, we’ll have a real celebration for completing the tower.”

“Hmm? We can do it in two days if that works for everyone else. We typically get a little bit of time after finishing a tower so an evening shouldn’t be too much to ask for.”

“Perfect, will that work for you and Steph too?”

“I’ll make it,” Will nodded. “We’re due for a hell of a break.”

“Excellent, then everyone meet me at the magic tower’s adventurers’ guild then and I’ll take you all for a hell of a dinner, just you wait.”

“And then all of your secrets will be revealed?” Jake laughed.

“Eh, some of them at least. It’s kind of hard to keep a secret when I’ve invited someone with no qualms about looking at people’s souls.”

“I feel like I need to point out that you match that statement too,” Amy said to her girlfriend’s defense, getting a shrug in return.

“Sure, but I also have the good manners to not mention the things I see. Anyway, evening two days from now, be there!”

With that said they made their way back through the ruined city to the gate, all of them going separate ways with Ben and Thera passing through Anailia, his girlfriend cozying up to him as she grabbed his arm and walked through the streets.

“So, waiting to hear about why you decided to awaken a skill you’ve never bothered talking about before doesn’t apply to your beloved girlfriend too, does it?”

“Ha, feeling that curious?”

“Obviously. You have so many other skills that would be worthwhile, you could at least give me a hint.”

“Sorry, you’re going to have to wait on that but in its place, I’ll tell you something just as fun.”

“I don’t know, my curiosity’s going to be pretty hard to beat.”

“Even if I were to say that I just awakened five other skills,” He told her, the grin on his face stopping her in her tracks before she shook her head.

“You’re ridiculous.”

“I believe the word you’re looking for is incredible. Maybe handsome too if you’re feeling flirty.”

“No, I know what I meant. How is that even possible? I mean, I know tower blessings are incredible and that you must have at least been close for all of that to happen but still, what were they?”

“Artisan’s touch, extraction enhancement, material sense, defense enhancement, and absorption resistance,” He said, feeling no need to correct her on what had been the driving force behind those awakenings and deeply aware of the changes that had brought.

The most obvious was how deeply he was feeling the materials around him now thanks to his material sense and his extraction enhancement too but that was far from all. Materializing a small ball of mythril in his pocket cost him close to nothing thanks to the mana cost reduction that came from artisan’s touch awakening to artisan’s soul and as for his two defensive skills, he’d need to do some testing but he already felt strangely safer. Taking out his deathstone and moribusial bands, he could feel that the previous effects they’d had on him, sapping his mana and vitality were both essentially gone, meaning he was going to have to find a way of enhancing them when he got the chance to continue to passively train those attributes but all in all he couldn’t have been more thrilled with how things turned out.

Hell, my defense enhancement even got the divine prefix! Looks like getting my heart destroyed continues to pay off for me.

“Still,” He went on. “Since we’re celebrating, what do you say we do it at your family’s place? We can get them involved, ask Fontesh to look after Mora for the evening so we can relax a bit too?”

“Sure that’s fine with me but why are you feeling so festive about this?” She laughed. “Have you ever wanted to celebrate a tower like this before?”

“No, but this is almost certainly, probably, maybe the last tower we’ll ever do! It’s a big one, it deserves some celebration!”

“Ha, true I guess and how can I deny you when you carried me through this one? I’ll mention it to my family when we pass through, I’m sure my mother will love any excuse she can get to try and blow off work.”

“Great, and now, as your cute little worn-out boyfriend, can I ask an itty bitty little favour?”

“What’s up?”

“Well, I can’t help but notice a bench over there and a cute cafe on the other side and I might be a little bit more exhausted from all of that than I’m letting on. Any chance I could talk you into grabbing me a snack and a drink while I have a small sit down?”

“Ha, not often something wears you out like that. Sure, I’ll be right back.”

“I love you so much.”

“You better.”

While she walked off, Ben took his seat, closing his eyes and thinking at the sky above.

Well?

<You did excellent work.> Myriad told him. <I’ll admit, I have my comments. Making your god-killing->

Torturing.

<-Knife was a little much for a reaction.>

It was just a small threat, I feel a little bad about it now given how things turned out. Or at least I would have if making that hadn’t gotten me those levels. Finishing it turned me into a contender for three more skills at once!

<And as for the skill you asked them to awaken…> His god went on after a pause. <Well, I’m not thrilled and it’s brought some curious questions up here to which I’m telling them the same little lie you told Helori but Nare heard what went off in your head. He knows there’s more to it than that. Still, it turned out so well that I can’t exactly fault you for it so I drove him off for now by saying it’s for you to explain when you see him next.>

Cool, and Helori isn’t up there bothering you about it too?

<I’m sure she wants to be but she’s busy dealing with her own work off in her realm so I’ll have a few hours of peace before those questions start.>

Ha, good to know. For now though, I think I really just want to rest my eyes a bit after all of that man. If we could save any more talking for later, I’d appreciate it.

<Of course. You did excellent work today Ben. I’m proud of you.>

Thanks buddy.

He felt his god leave his head and he instantly dropped the mood he was presenting now that he was fully alone and with his eyes still closed, looking asleep to the world, he followed a path, forcing his mind to a higher realm.

But not Myriad’s. No, while it was the same sort of endless space, there were at least decorations of sorts in that one to fill it, the area he was seeing crowded with books and shelves to hold them with one goddess at the heart of it all, too invested in her work to notice his arrival.

“Helori,” He said, watching her jump and speaking up again before she could utter a word, the seriousness in his voice dampening her surprise. “I need a favour.”

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