Spider 42:
Hey, you think we can combine [Telescopic Sight] with [Cursed Evil Eye]?
Karada: Gasp! What are you!? A genius?!
Yep! I'm a genius, alright!
Oh man, so I'm actually a genius?
That means I can get away with just about anything, right?
Karada: Hey!
What is it?
Karada: I was playing with [Telescopic Sight] and found another prey.
Really? It's outside of my [Detection] range so I didn't notice.
Karada: Says the one who is supposed to be using [Telescopic Sight]. Hehe, looks like you're getting obsolete.
Oh please, you cannot provide more information than me even if you have 100 eyes.
Karada: Enjoy it while it lasts, you better watch your back, pal.
I'm not holding my breath on that threat.
Go ahead and try to catch up to me.
Karada: By the way, looks like your genius idea didn't work, so I win, ha!
Nai wa, let's just hunt that Monster already.
Karada: Aye aye, useless commander.
Don't sass me, me.
Divine Voice: "Proficiency has reached the required level.
Skill [Appraisal LV9] has become [Appraisal LV10]."
Oh hey! Appraisal-sama finally reached LV10!
Karada: That's nice. Num num num. Still doesn't mean you're not getting obsolete.
Yeah sure whatever.
But man, Appraisal-sama is the first Skill we ever picked up.
It's been with us since the beginning.
The joy we felt as it got more and more useful.
Despite all our complaints, Appraisal-sama really came through for us.
Unlike a certain someone.
Karada: How humble of you to admit you're useless.
Ignoring the muscle head's misunderstanding, thanks for everything, Appraisal-sama.
Karada: ...Still, no evolution or new Skill?
Come on, it's fine, Appraisal-sama maxing out is a huge deal in of itself.
Though I admit I was expecting some kinda Skill Evolution like [Wisdom] or something.
But we have learnt to be grateful for what we have.
That's one thing being reincarnated has taught us, ain't that right?
Karada: But nothing at all, really? Not even a Title or something? What a letdown. My disappointment is immeasurable and my day is ruined.
Then we hear a bunch of static noises.
It's that noise again.
Karada: That happened when [Detection] maxed out right? Maybe this is just what happens when Skills completely max out without giving anything new?
But why static noises? Pretty weird game design if you ask me.
Besides, that didn't happen when [Skanda] maxed out.
Then a beep sound is heard as the static noises suddenly stop.
Divine Voice: "Upper Administrator D has accepted the request.
Now constructing Skill [Wisdom]."
Me & Karada: Nani the fuck!?
Divine Voice: "Construction completed.
Skill [Appraisal LV10] has been integrated into [Wisdom].
Skill [Detection LV10] has been integrated into [Wisdom].
Proficiency has reached the required level.
Skill [Taboo LV7] has become [Taboo LV8].
Conditions satisfied.
Acquired Title [Ruler of Wisdom].
Acquired Skills [Height of Occultism], [Celestial Power] as a result of Title [Ruler of Wisdom].
Skill [MP Recovery Speed LV4] has been integrated into [Height of Occultism].
Skill [MP Lessen Consumption LV3] has been integrated into [Height of Occultism].
Skill [Magic Mass LV9] has been integrated into [Celestial Power].
Skill [Protection LV4] has been integrated into [Celestial Power]."
What!?
Karada: This isn't normal!
Normal!? None of this is normal from the very beginning!
Karada: I am just gonna go take a deep breath while you sort this out, good luck!
Nai wa, thanks a lot...
Up until now, we've just been picking up Skills without really questioning their existence.
Treating life like a video game even though things like Skills and Stats shouldn't exist in real life to begin with.
So an Upper Administrator heard our complaint and created a Skill just for us?
That means someone has been watching us, and has control over how Skills work.
Doesn't that practically make them a God?
This wouldn't be a world that seems like a game, but an actual game being played by one of these Administrators.
Does...that make us a character in the game?
Is that really the same thing as being alive?
These powers, the source of our security, are given to us and can be taken away at any moment in an instant.
Do we have free will?
Is there an outside world to even escape to?
Is our past life actually real?
Are they laughing at us right now, laughing at us panicking?
Are our struggles just entertainment to them?
Are they going to endlessly throw obstacles at us as we push onward in a vain attempt to get control over our life back?
Is there any hope of ever reaching a happy ending?
Can we ever live the life we want?
Can we ever get the peace we crave?
Can we ever die without regrets?
Does living have any meaning anymore knowing there is no chance of success?
...Not knowing scares me. I want to cry.
I want...someone to comfort me.
To tell me that's everything is going to be okay.
To tell me that I matter, that I can succeed at being better.
To tell me that they will protect me, support me, teach me.
Like how proper parents comfort their children.
But I don't have a loving parent, not in this life or the last.
...Why?...
"Why?! Why must I suffer like this?!
Why can't I just have a normal, happy, fulfilling life?!
Is that too much to ask for?! I hate reality! I fucking hate everything!
For all I care, all of this can go to hell!"
Divine Voice: "Proficiency has reached the required level.
Skill [Anger LV1] has become [Anger LV2]."
...
Karada: "Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!"
Eh!?
Karada: "This is all bullshit! I don't give a rat's ass about some Administrator! Or maybe it's more like knowing about them doesn't help me a damn bit! So I'm just gonna keep doing my thing! Time to live fast and die young! So hot, I'm seriously on fire right now!"
Hot? On fire? Eh!?
Karada! You're burning up!
Karada: "Oh yeah! My whole soul's ablaze!"
No! I mean you're literally on fire!
Karada: "Eh? Eek!? Water! Water! Water! Water! I need water!"
Wait, I know! [Weak Poison]!
Karada: "Good idea! Guh, guh, guh...Numbness."
You forgot to remove the Paralysis!?
Karada: "I know, I am a dumbass!"
That wasn't enough to put out the fire! We will die at this rate!
Karada: "No! I don't wanna die! Nai wa!"
Um, we aren't dying?
Oh right, [Perseverance].
Looks like our MP bar doubles as our secondary HP bar now.
Karada: The numbness is going away.
Good, maximise the volume of [Weak Poison] and make it rain!
Karada: Here goes nothing! Ouch! Guh, guh, guh...I just got crushed by the huge ball of Poison.
And you forgot to remove the Paralysis again.
At least the fire is finally out now. Whew...
Wait, how did that happen in the first place?
Karada: Oh, I might have accidentally 'pooped' myself during your existential crisis and forgot to detach the thread.
Clap clap, real good job there, you are indeed living fast and dying young.
Karada: Hey! It's fine! At least we know how [Perseverance] works now!
Sure, just never mind the fact you almost killed us in a really embarrassing way.
Karada: Don't sass me, me.
Nai wa, anyway, we can't do anything to stand up to Gods.
So it's not like we can do anything different than what we've been doing already.
Let's be optimistic and keep going, so we can at least say we tried.
I better start looking over everything we just got.