The Ashen Dominion
Chapter 39 - Skills and Traits

Chapter 39: 39 - Skills and Traits

Unlike my first time in the prize room...

Nothing really happened this time.

Nobody bothered me, and everyone just did their own thing—no words exchanged, no attention drawn, no trouble.

The only people I actually talked to here were the servant and Viktor.

"Ugh... We’re going back already, huh."

Viktor mumbled, disappointment clear in his voice.

"..."

I ignored him and just kept walking.

Tap- tap- tap—

Our time in the prize room was over, and now we were being escorted by a guard back to the copper place.

We hadn’t stayed in the prize room for a full 24 hours, but it was already getting dark—and there’s no place to sleep there anyway.

’I also wouldn’t sleep in a place where I don’t know anyone and nothing’s protecting me. I’m literally surrounded by people who’ve killed others, that’s just stupid.’

I thought to myself.

Anyway...

Viktor and I made small talk during the walk. We mostly talked about the matches from yesterday’s event.

And not long after...

...

...

Tap—

We finally arrived back at our cell.

*****

"See you, kid. I’m gonna head to my room and rest."

Viktor told me as soon as we got back. He looked and sounded tired.

"Sure, mister."

I simply replied and waved goodbye to him. We went our separate ways after that.

I stayed in my spot while Viktor walked away.

"..."

I watched him go, curious about where his room was.

And for fuck’s sake...

His room is just next to mine!

"The fuck..."

I cursed under my breath.

’How the hell did I not see him?’

I asked myself, completely dumbfounded. Even for me, that’s absurd.

I tend to not care about others as long as I’m not being bothered—but this was too much.

"I should start paying even a bit of attention around me."

I mumbled, though the idea itself already felt exhausting.

Then at that moment—

"Kid!"

"Kaiser."

I heard Brock’s and Khan’s voices.

"Hm?"

I looked in front of me and saw them a few steps away, standing at our usual spot where we eat and talk.

They were waving and signaling me to come over.

"Coming!"

I exclaimed as I started walking toward their direction.

And as I reached them—

"You got back earlier than Jin, huh."

Brock said, patting me on the back.

"How was your time there? Did you get in trouble again?"

Khan followed up, smirking mockingly at me.

"Stop looking at me like that. Nothing happened—it’s not like I go looking for trouble. I just always get entangled with weird-ass things."

I told him, my brows twitching a bit.

"HAHAHAHAHA—!!!"

"That’s true! Your stories still make me laugh every time I remember them."

Brock burst out laughing as he said that.

"..."

I decided to shut up and ignore him.

But then I remembered what Viktor mentioned earlier in the bath—

"Ah..."

I opened my mouth and turned to Khan. And curiously...

"Mister, what are skills and traits?"

I asked him that.

"...?"

Khan gave me a weird look.

"Hm?"

Even Brock stopped laughing and glanced at me with a raised brow.

"What?"

I asked, tilting my head.

Then, with an amused look in his eyes...

"You’re really clueless about the world, huh."

Khan said that.

"I’m a kid from the slums, of course I wouldn’t know much."

I shot back with that, like I always do whenever my lack of knowledge about this world gets pointed out.

"..."

"..."

Khan and Brock exchanged confused glances.

But after a few seconds...

"Meh, whatever."

Khan just got shrugged it off.

"Fine, so..."

Then the two of them started explaining what skills and traits are to me.

*****

Traits—apparently, some races in this world naturally have them. Like some tribes have superhuman hearing, night vision, an insanely good sense of smell, and other abilities like that.

People with traits are fairly common.

Traits develop based on a race’s genetics, environment, traditions, and beliefs.

But not all traits are beneficial—some actually come with weaknesses.

Then, there are Skills—unlike traits, these are exclusive to individuals. But that doesn’t mean every person gets a unique one.

It means that just because your parents have a skill doesn’t mean you’ll have one too.

People say that skills are blessings from the gods.

Skills vary wildly, and not all of them are known. There are skill users who can double their strength in an instant for a short time... some can memorize and understand anything they see within seconds... others can control animals, copy faces, and so on.

It’s too many to list.

And how can someone acquire a skill?

Well...

According to Khan and Brock, there are many ways—and it differs for everyone. Some people train to obtain one. Some awaken theirs during life-threatening situations. Some learn from other skill users. And some are just born with them.

You can also have more than one skill—depending on what your body can handle.

And unlike traits, skill users are crazy rare.

"Skills and traits sound cool, huh."

I muttered after listening to their explanation.

"Yeah. Have one of them and you’ll get special treatment almost everywhere."

Khan said.

"How would someone know if they have a skill or not?"

I asked.

And casually—

"If you have one, you’ll kinda know it instinctively. Like... you just know you can do something, even without having tried it before—if that makes sense."

Brock replied.

"Hmm, I kinda get it."

I nodded my head.

Then I remembered something—

"My last opponent—that fat guy... did he have a trait?"

I asked curiously.

"Yeah, high chance."

And Khan responded.

"Barnus’ skin’s probably resistant to cuts ’cause their tribe grew up in an environment full of sharp rocks or something like that."

Hr explained.

"That’s likely how they developed that trait. You really did well winning that fight against him."

Then he added afterwards.

"Thanks."

I replied.

Still, I was surprised to learn that I already fought someone with a trait.

Moving on, brushing that thought off my head—

"Are there any skill users in this place?"

I fired another question.

"There are quite a lot, surprisingly. Especially in the gold rank. Most of the guards too, that’s why the fighters doesn’t mess with them"

Khan answered quickly.

It was a shock to know that this place is swirling with skill users.

"Do you guys know one of them?"

And just as I asked that—

"Heh."

I suddenly heard a smug chuckle from my left.

"...?"

And turning to the source of it—

"Hehehehe."

I saw Brock grinning like a complete idiot, staring at me.

’No way...’

I thought, slightly shaking my head.

And before I could even speak a word—

"YOU’RE LOOKING AT ONE OF THEM, KID!!!"

Brock suddenly declared that!

"..."

I was stunned.

"What the hell? Is that true?"

I turned to Khan and asked.

Then with a half-defeated look and a forced smile—

"Yeah. Brock’s a skill user."

He mumbled that.

"KAHAHAHAHAHA—!!!"

Brock cackled like a maniac, clearly proud of himself.

"..."

I just stared at him silently, frowning.

I just know he’s so full of himself right now.

Then after a few moments...

"Hah!"

He finally stopped.

"..."

I was still in disbelief of what I learned.

Then I grumbled—

"What’s your skill, anyway?"

I whispered under my breath.

"Hm?"

Brock heard that and turned to me. He was smirking.

"I just call it [Intimidation]."

He replied with a shrug.

"What does it do?"

The name sounded dumb, but I was really curious about skills and stuffs.

"Can you use it?"

I asked. Or more like I requested him to use it.

"Huh?"

Brock looked at me for a moment, eyes slightly widened.

"..."

Then he glanced at Khan. They exchanged looks.

And after Khan nodded for a bit with a shrug...

"I guess I can show it to you."

Brock turned back to me and agreed.

"Nice."

I excitedly muttered.

"It’ll be fast. Get ready, kid."

Brock said casually.

"I’m ready."

I answered fast.

But then—

"Don’t go overboard. He’s still just a kid."

I heard Khan warn him.

"...?"

I tilted my head at that, confused.

And then, out of nowhere—

S W O O O S H—!!!

"?!!"

A crushing pressure suddenly slammed down on my entire body without warning!

"UGH?!"

FWOOOSH—!

I groaned as I was being forced down by some invisible force!

’W-Wait...’

I forcibly raised my head to look at Brock.

But after meeting his eyes—

"...!"

My whole body froze.

I couldn’t breathe.

He suddenly looked huge and terrifying. Like a monster towering over me.

I felt like I was shrinking... like I was about to die.

Drip—

Sweat started falling from my face. My skin turned cold.

’I’m gonna die...’

That thought crossed my mind.

But then—

Fwip—

The pressure vanished in a split second.

"..."

And Brock looked normal again in my eyes.

"Pwaaaaaaah—!"

I gasped for air, nearly collapsing to the ground. My legs were shaking, and when I looked at my hand—

"..."

It was pale as hell.

Then, while I was still chasing my breath—

"That’s my skill. Now you know why I call it [Intimidation]."

I heard Brock’s voice above me.

Fwish—

"..."

I looked up and saw him staring down at me.

"You good, kid?"

He asked.

"..."

I gave a small nod.

Brock and Khan both looked relieved at my response.

"I told you not to go overboard, idiot."

Khan said.

"That’s the weakest output I can give."

Brock shot back.

Then looking at me again—

"Anyway... What do you think of my skill?"

He asked that, grinning.

"..."

I just stared at him, still greedily inhaling air.

I thought back to that moment—the pressure, the fear, the feeling of death looming.

I remembered them all.

I opened my mouth.

Then instinctively—

"I think I can do it too... "

I muttered that.

"Huh?"

"What?"