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HELHEIM SCANS
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Chapter 144: The First SSS-Rank Skill (2)
Three Heads and Six Arms? Asura’s Path?
I couldn't quite grasp what kind of skill it was just from the name.
I immediately checked the skill description.
[Three Heads and Six Arms – Asura’s Path]
[SSS-Rank Skill]
[The fundamental skill that embodies the essence of Asura.
You can completely transform the form of your soul body.
Through the ceaseless battles in Asura’s Path, your soul’s growth potential will expand.
You can dispatch a portion of your soul body to Asura’s Path, where it will engage in endless combat, enhancing the power of your original soul.
If you reach the 44th rank in Asura’s Path, you will be able to manifest the Asura’s signature form: Three Heads and Six Arms.
While transformed into the Three Heads and Six Arms form, you can summon a fragment of Asura’s Path into the present world.]
Hmm...
A soul development skill?
I couldn't quite get a clear sense of it yet.
“What kind of skill is this?”
“It is a skill that allows you to evolve and transform your fundamental soul form.”
“My fundamental soul form, you say...?”
“You are in a human form, are you not?”
That’s right.
My original appearance was simply my human self.
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“True gods, who are worshipped through faith, possess fundamental soul forms that reflect the image of their worship. Archangels, for example, have wings, and I, as you can see, have three heads and six arms. This is the form people believe in, and thus it grants us the greatest power.”
“Ah...”
So, divine beings are most efficient when they remain in the form people imagine them to be.
“You are different, though. You didn’t ascend through faith but rather through the system. Thus, your most optimal soul form is simply your original human self.”
“That makes sense.”
“This skill allows you to develop and transform that fundamental soul form.”
“What changes will that bring?”
“For one, you will be able to fully utilize your power even when transforming into forms other than your human shape.”
Previously, I could only unleash my full power when I maintained my human form.
Now, I could take on different shapes without being restricted.
“Additionally, you can enhance your fundamental soul form. Compared to your current human shape, it can be amplified up to three times.”
"Three times stronger…"
That sounded impressive, but I still couldn't fully grasp the benefits of strengthening my fundamental soul form.
It was an SSS-rank skill, so it was bound to be incredible, but…
For now, I moved on.
“What does the soul dispatch ability do?”
“Are you familiar with Asura’s Path?”
“Hmm... Isn’t it something like hell?”
“Hell is a separate realm called Hell realm.”
Asura squatted on the ground and drew something into the dirt.
The word Six Paths was deeply carved into the earth.
“Do you know what the Six Paths are?”
“I’m not very familiar with them.”
Hearing my response, Asura smiled knowingly and began to explain.
“The Six Paths refer to the six realms where those who have not attained enlightenment are reincarnated. The three lower realms consist of Hell, the Hungry Ghosts, and the Animals, known as the Three Evil Paths. The three higher realms are Asura’s Path, the Human Realm, and the Heavenly Realm, forming the Three Good Paths.”
“Asura’s Path is considered part of the good realms?”
“In comparison to Hell, Hungry Ghosts, and Animals, yes. It is a realm for those whose morality is ambiguous, those drawn to combat. I oversee Asura’s Path, but I do not interfere. The beings there prove their worth through endless battle.”
So basically, it was a realm of eternal combat.
It sounded slightly better than the truly hellish realms, but still didn’t seem like a pleasant place to live.
“It is not an ideal realm for seeking enlightenment. However, for warriors, it is the ultimate battlefield. Those who fight endlessly, until they lose their will to battle, will eventually reincarnate into one of the other paths.”
“I see. So, this skill sends my soul into that battlefield?”
“Exactly. You lack true combat experience, don’t you?”
While I had more experience than most humans, I was still far from the level of the gods or the ancient divine beings.
I had simply relied on efficient skill usage rather than genuine fighting prowess.
“I have more experience than most humans, but not enough to compare to gods.”
“The endless battles in Asura’s Path will fill that gap. Moreover, you will be able to complete the Three Heads and Six Arms form.”
“Wait. That part bothers me a little... Won’t I end up looking like you if I take on that form?”
Currently, Asura was missing one arm, but still, three heads and six arms was... a bit much.
I couldn't hide my unease, which made Asura tilt his heads.
“You don’t know how advantageous it is, do you? With three heads, your field of vision expands, and your situational awareness sharpens. With six arms, you can wield six weapons at once and attack in unpredictable patterns. Do you have any idea how envious beings from other divine realms are of this form?”
“Ah... Well, I guess that makes sense...”
“Tsk, tsk. You’re still being spoiled.”
Asura shook his three heads in disappointment.
Then, red light radiated from his body as his form gradually shrank.
When the light subsided, he appeared as a strikingly handsome man with long, crimson hair and tanned skin—resembling someone of Indian descent.
“Whoa... That’s insane.”
“Are all gods this good-looking?”
“Quick, take a picture!”
Even the people who had fled in fear returned.
They eagerly pulled out their phones and began snapping photos.
Ugh… This superficial, appearance-obsessed society…
“See? I can transform my appearance at will.”
“I see.”
“But once you fight in the Three Heads and Six Arms form, you’ll understand. It will open your eyes to a whole new world.”
“Got it. But... if I need to reach the 44th rank, won’t that take a while?”
“No. Judging by the strength of your soul, you’ll rise through the ranks quickly.”
Asura then offered me a word of advice.
“Don’t send too large a portion of your soul at once. Only send what you can control.”
“It could become uncontrollable?”
“If you dispatch too much of your soul, the separated part may develop its own will. It might even try to take over your true self. The dispatched soul fragments will not harbor fond feelings for the original that abandoned them. Sending just 1% should be plenty.”
Hmm...
I had considered sending a large portion to accelerate my rank-up, but…
Since it was Asura’s realm, I decided to heed his warning.
“I look forward to seeing your growth.”
Asura then reverted to his original form.
It seemed that his humanoid appearance was actually uncomfortable for him.
His body gradually faded until he completely disappeared.
“Ah! Wait a moment. What about the Asura’s Path summoning ability?”
“It is exactly as it sounds. You’ll understand once you reach the 44th rank. For now, just watch your soul body thrive.”
Hey!
That sounded important!
How could he just leave without properly explaining it?
Asura gave me a mischievous grin before vanishing.
Then, just as he was about to fully disappear, he suddenly paused with a sheepish expression.
“Ah! Soul God, I nearly forgot to mention.”
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HELHEIM SCANS
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Oho.
Was he finally going to explain the skill?
“What is it?”
“Could you, um... do a bit more soul mediation for me?”
“...Sure. Just go on. I’ll take care of it.”
“Much obliged.”
The same Asura who had just exuded such grandeur now looked as pitiful as when he was pleading for his life.
Since he had three faces, I guess he was hard to read.
After all, I did receive something from him, so I simply agreed and sent him off.
“Ah……”
“He’s gone.”
“I’ll never forget what he looked like earlier.”
As Asura vanished, people expressed their disappointment.
At first, they were terrified of him, but after he transformed once, their attitude completely changed.
Now that the overwhelming presence he exuded was gone, the crowd's attention shifted to me.
“Who is that guy?”
“Huh? I think I’ve seen him on YouTube before.”
“Me too.”
“Wait, isn’t he the one who erased Zeus’s lightning?”
At least some people recognized me.
“Heimdall’s Return.”
As people started to focus on me, I simply used the skill to return home.
Hmm.
Today’s events might end up on the news.
Once home, I activated the Three-Headed Six-Armed – Asura Path skill.
[No soul body has been dispatched to Asura Path. Transformation is not possible.]
[Would you like to dispatch a soul body to Asura Path?]
I pressed Yes, and a prompt asked how much of my soul body I wanted to send.
Recalling Asura’s advice, I set it to 1%.
[1% of your soul body has been dispatched to Asura Path. The dispatched soul will engage in eternal combat.]
[The experience of the dispatched soul will be shared with the main body during sleep.]
With that message, the skill activation concluded.
…Is that it?
For an SSS-rank skill, it felt underwhelming—like I had just sacrificed 1% of my soul body.
At that moment, I received an Apostle message from Kang Shia.
[Jiho-nim, there are eyewitness reports claiming they saw Asura and you at Bongeunsa Temple. Did you go there?]
The rumors were already spreading.
[Yeah. I met Asura at Bongeunsa to receive a skill from him.]
[The conversation between you two was completely incomprehensible in the footage. It sounded like a language no one could understand.]
[Really? I didn’t restrict the audio or anything. Maybe it’s because it was an SSS-rank skill transmission?]
[SSS… rank?]
She was briefly speechless.
Considering how absurdly rare SSS-rank skills were, her reaction was understandable.
But for me, the whole thing felt a bit off.
I had been expecting a combat skill, but instead, I got this…
Combat sense enhancement, soul body evolution, and the ability to summon parts of the Asura Path.
Not bad, but still, was it truly worthy of an SSS-rank label?
After a brief pause, Kang Shia continued.
[However, the footage clearly captured Asura tearing off his arm and giving it to you. It also showed the two of you interacting in a friendly manner. This has increased public interest in you.]
[Public interest, huh.]
[Yes. Since it’s confirmed that it was indeed you, we’ll leverage this for promotional purposes.]
[Sure. Just don’t overdo it—our real push will begin after Asgard’s announcement.]
[Understood.]
She suggested using my meeting with Asura for promotional gain, and I agreed.
Afterward, I recalled the condition of the skill:
The dispatched soul’s experience would be shared during sleep.
“Alright, let’s sleep.”
It hadn’t been long since I dispatched the soul, so I didn’t expect to gain much experience just yet.
Still, I was curious to get a glimpse of Asura Path.
Though sleeping had become more of a formality since I attained divine status, I still enjoyed it occasionally, savoring the familiar human sensation.
And then, I dreamt.
“Ugh, fuck.”
My separated soul body immediately started cursing.
The soul was swearing at my main body, wishing for its death.
Deep gashes marred its entire form—wounds so severe they could no longer regenerate.
“How many of these bastards are coming at me…? Gah!”
Stab.
A black sword pierced through its chest, and its entire body melted away.
Even though it was a dream, the pain was real.
So real, in fact, that I jolted awake.
“Urgh!”
I clutched my chest the moment I woke up.
My body was unharmed.
[The soul body in Asura Path has been sealed. Would you like to spend SP to lift the seal?]
…What?
It costs SP?
I pressed Yes, and 100,000 SP vanished.
For that price, it seemed worth it, so I went back to sleep.
Once again, it started in a forest.
My soul kept cursing about the seal before being ambushed once more.
“Damn, you sneaky bastards… Gah!”
It died again.
The pain was unbearable.
I woke up once more, gasping for breath.
Again, the system asked if I wanted to spend SP to unseal the soul.
It reminded me of an arcade game.
The kind where you insert coins to continue after dying.
…Damn it.
I had plenty of SP, but this was ridiculous.
Fine.
I’ll invest 10 million SP.
It was an SSS-rank skill, after all.
If I wanted to fully master it, I’d have to be willing to spend.
And so, over the course of a single night, I burned through 10 million SP.
And then…
[You have reached Rank 1974 in Asura Path.]
[You can now add partial soul body enhancements. A third arm can be formed.]
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Night]
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