[ding!! congratulations on awakening superior grade talent 'Beloved of the Universe']
[ding!! congratulations on awakening Primordial Affinity]
Will stared at the two notifications floating calmly in front of him, and for a brief moment, a satisfied smile appeared on his face.
It was not excitement, nor disbelief, but a quiet sense of confirmation. He already knew what these two aspects represented.
They were the very pillars that had made Ethan the unquestionable protagonist of the story.
In the original timeline, Ethan had awakened the talent Heaven's Favored, a legendary-ranked ability so unfair that it bordered on absurd. It was not simply powerful. It was insulting.
A talent that allowed its bearer to walk forward while the world itself cleared obstacles from his path. To fail at something while possessing this talent it required deliberate effort.
Will exhaled slowly and leaned back against the wall of the inn room. The wooden surface was cool against his spine, grounding him.
"First things first," he said calmly, though there was a clear edge of anticipation in his voice. "System, show me the effects of Ethan's talent and affinity. I want a clear comparison."
[understood]
The system responded instantly, and a translucent panel unfolded before him, lines of text forming one after another.
-----------------
Heaven's Favorite (Legendary)
Accelerated Growth
The host's cultivation speed is ten times that of ordinary beings. Energy absorption, refinement, and comprehension are perfectly optimized.
Comprehension of the host is increased by ten times.
Bottleneck Erasure
The host encounters no natural bottlenecks in cultivation. As long as sufficient energy is present, breakthroughs occur smoothly without mental, spiritual, or physical resistance.
Heavenly Regeneration
The host possesses rapid regenerative abilities. Physical wounds heal continuously. Vitality and stamina recover passively.
Soul and spiritual damage repairs over time.
Unmatched Providence
Heaven actively guides the host toward inheritances, treasures, techniques, and mentors. Ancient treasures resonate with the host.
World-Born Suppression
All beings that do not belong to this world suffer suppression when facing the host. Their effective strength is reduced by half. Suppression increases within areas governed by this world's laws.
Heaven-Favored Probability
Chance and probability subtly bend in the host's favor.
Fatal outcomes are frequently averted.
Key moments tilt toward success.
Misfortune rarely occurs without hidden benefit.
Aura of Heavens
The host emanates an aura of providence, making their impression favorable to others. Demons instinctively hate this aura.
Heaven's Reward
All major calamities and trials converge toward the host's destiny. Upon passing a trial, the heavens reward the host suitably.
----------
Will read through the panel slowly, line by line, without skipping a single word. His expression did not change much, but his eyes sharpened with every effect listed.
This was the same talent he remembered, The Talent that shaped the strongest person of the novel.
He nodded faintly.
"I remember," he murmured.
This talent was terrifying not because it made Ethan instantly strong, but because it ensured that strength was inevitable.
Ten times cultivation speed alone would have been enough to create a monster over time.
Combined with the erasure of bottlenecks, it meant Ethan would never truly stagnate. Others would struggle for years at a single rank, trapped by invisible walls, while Ethan would simply… move on.
The effect of unmatched providence was even worse. It turned the world into a conveyor belt of opportunities.
Ruins appeared where he traveled. Masters crossed his path. Techniques resonated with him. Treasures reacted as if recognizing their rightful owner.
It was not just luck. It was systematic favoritism.
With increased comprehension layered on top of all that, Ethan became a walking anomaly.
Multiple weapons, Multiple techniques, Multiple affinities. He could afford to be wasteful and still surpass those who dedicated their entire lives to one discipline.
Will let out a slow breath.
"And the suppression," he added quietly. "That alone makes him a nightmare for outsiders."
Any being not born of this world would be fighting at half strength against Ethan. Demons. Abyssal creatures. Invaders. Combined with his aura, they were essentially doomed the moment they faced him.
It was unreasonable. Completely unreasonable.
Yet it had been written as such.
Will closed the panel with a thought and straightened slightly, his earlier calm giving way to restrained excitement.
"Alright," he said, eyes gleaming faintly. "Now show me what I gained. The effects of 'Beloved of the Universe.' "
There was a brief pause.
[hehe!!! you will be surprised]
The system's tone carried an odd amusement that made Will's brows knit together slightly. Before he could comment, the next panel appeared.
--------
Beloved of the Universe (Supreme)
The universe is your beloved.
It looks over you and embraces you.
You are her lover. You are her lifeline.
Effects:
The universe observes you every second.
The universe is obsessed over you.
The universe says "I love you, darling."
---------------
The room went completely silent.
Will stared at the panel.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
His brain refused to process what his eyes were seeing. There were no numbers, No op effects nothing. Just… statements. foolish statements.
At this point, his mind simply short-circuited.
(＃°Д°)
"…!!!!"
Several seconds passed before he managed to breathe properly again.
At this point, he genuinely did not have words.
The system waited politely, as if anticipating a response.
[host either you have cooked something amazing… or you are yourself cooked]
"System," Will said slowly, his voice eerily calm, "I want a refund."
Will wasn't having any of it.
[but you did not pay for anything in the first place]
That was when a few clear, glistening tears rolled down Will's cheeks.
He did not scream or show anger and just simply stared ahead, eyes unfocused, as the reality of what had just happened sank in. To him, this was not a joke. This was a scam. A massive one.
He had taken Ethan's overpowered, story-defining talent and amplified it a hundred times… only to receive something that read like a deranged love letter from the universe itself.
"How… how did this even happen?" he asked weakly.
[no idea, host. I genuinely have no idea how the 100X rewards system works in cases like this. I also don't know why it decided to prank you so hard]
"Oh god," Will muttered, dragging a hand down his face. "Such a good opportunity. Completely wasted."
[hahahaha!! universe's lover. you might as well birth a few galaxies with her or start a multiverse family]
"You bastard," Will snapped, finally losing his composure. "Who told you to be so brazen after completely screwing up such an important moment?"
The system merely hummed cheerfully.
Meanwhile
At the origin point of the universe, far beyond Aris or the abyss or any known plane or dimension, a vast expanse of nothingness existed. No light, No darkness neither any time nor direction.
At its very center, a pristine cloud of white energy was suspended, dense and fluid, like a condensed form of some vast energy.
Within that cloud, a feminine humanoid form rested, suspended as if asleep. Her body was formed of the same essence as the cloud. Her eyes were closed, her expression unreadable, serene to the point of being unsettling.
Suddenly
Her eyes snapped open.
A subtle tremor rippled outward, propagating through reality in ways no being could perceive.
Infinitely far away, Will felt an inexplicable chill run down his spine.
The universe smiled.
And she whispered, softly, lovingly—
"I found you."