My SSS-Rank Innate skill: Infinite Adaptation core

After a moment, they understood that there had to be a special reason behind it. After all, Asia was the first female heir the Frost Family had produced in generations, and perhaps that alone had made her different from everyone who came before her.

Nova activated his appraisal skill once more to check Asia’s current status.

+++

Name: Asia Frost

Race: Human

Rank: S

Level: 350

Affinity: Ice

Stats:

Strength: 499

Agility: 502

Endurance: 498

Intelligence: 510

+++

Over the past three years, Asia had grown tremendously. Thanks to her S-Rank potential and Nova’s careful guidance, her progress had far surpassed that of ordinary geniuses.

To accelerate her growth, Nova had taken her deep into dangerous A-ranked dungeons filled with powerful demonic beasts. However, he never recklessly allowed her to fight enemies beyond her limits.

Instead, he would first weaken the beasts until they were on the brink of death before letting Asia deliver the finishing blow, allowing her to gain experience while minimizing the risk.

He had followed the exact same method with Rieka.

+++

Name: Rieka Vargirth

Race: Wolfkin / Kitsune

Rank: A

Level: 360

Bloodline: Tamamo-no-Mae [Divine]

Affinity: Spirit

Stats:

Strength: 513

Agility: 517

Endurance: 512

Intelligence: 520

+++

The two of them were incomparably stronger than they had been three years ago.

In truth, Nova could have pushed them to the Grandmaster Realm already. However, rapidly increasing their levels without allowing enough time for their bodies and mana to fully adapt would have weakened their foundations, something he absolutely refused to risk.

A solid foundation was worth far more than temporary strength.

Besides, once they reached the Capital, advancing them would become much easier. The forests surrounding the Capital were home to countless powerful demonic beasts, providing the perfect environment for all three of them to continue growing stronger.

Even so, as Nova looked at Asia’s status again, the worry in his heart refused to fade.

Her strength had increased beyond his expectations, and her Ice Affinity had indeed reached the Advanced Stage, satisfying the minimum requirement.

Yet... that requirement was only the bare minimum. The blood essence before him belonged to a Divine existence. The power of a divine being was something no mortal could truly measure or comprehend.

Even with all of his confidence, Nova couldn’t be certain whether Asia would be able to withstand such an overwhelming power.

Nova’s expression turned serious as he looked at Asia.

”Honey, do you know how this blood essence came into your family’s possession?”

Asia nodded. ”To be honest, even Father doesn’t know the full story. After my grandfather disappeared many years ago, all the detailed records were lost with him.

Everyone believes he passed away, and he was the last person who truly understood the history behind it, since the blood essence had originally been entrusted to his own grandfather.”

She paused before continuing.

”The only thing Father knows is that our ancestor once did a great favor for the Divine Ice Phoenix. In return, she bestowed this blood essence upon our family and left behind a single command...”

Asia’s voice became more solemn.

”If a female heir is ever born into the Frost Family, have her consume this blood essence on her eighteenth birthday.”

”I searched through countless books and old records in our family library, but I couldn’t find anything else about it.

Even Father was hesitant to let me consume it. However, he’s equally afraid of what might happen if we disobey the will of a Divine being.”

”Hmm...”Nova fell into deep thought before turning toward Rieka.

”My love, your bloodline is Divine as well. Do you know anything that might help? Did your grandfather ever tell you more?”

Rieka gently shook her head.

”No, darling. I’ve already told you everything Grandfather knew. He believed my father was most likely a Divine Nine-Tailed Fox, which is why I inherited the bloodline from birth, even though it remained dormant. You already know the rest.”

Nova sighed helplessly. Just then, Liya’s voice echoed in his mind.

{You could simply buy a treasure that increases Asia’s resistance. With enough resistance, she should be able to withstand the blood essence without dying.}

Nova’s eyes instantly lit up.

”Then why didn’t you tell me sooner?” he complained inwardly. ”I’ve been worrying myself sick this whole time.”

Liya snorted.

{Because you never thought to ask. Besides, I always have to remind you about what my abilities can do, and it’s honestly becoming annoying.}

Nova could already imagine the pout on her face.

He smiled helplessly. ”Alright, alright. My fault...I’m sorry, darling.” After a brief pause, he asked, ”now then... show me something that can solve this problem.”

A few seconds passed before Liya’s voice echoed through Nova’s mind once again.

{Found one.}

”Alright, show me.”

+++

[Genesis Heart Lotus]

[Divine Grade]

[A legendary heavenly treasure capable of protecting and reconstructing the consumer’s body during a bloodline evolution. When consumed before a Divine-grade Blood Essence, it continuously repairs shattered meridians, stabilizes the soul, and replenishes the user’s life force, allowing them to survive even the most violent bloodline awakenings. While it does not increase the power of the bloodline itself, it dramatically improves the chances of a successful awakening.]

[Price: 25,000,000,000 EP]

+++

[Would you like to purchase it?]

[YES] [NO]

Nova carefully read the description, and a smile immediately spread across his face.

This is exactly what I need. Seeing his expression brighten, Asia and Rieka guessed that Liya had found a solution.

However, the very next moment, Nova nearly coughed up blood when his eyes fell upon the price.

His smile froze, then it twitched. Finally, his face turned so ugly that Asia and Rieka couldn’t help exchanging puzzled glances as they watched their husband expression change from excitement to complete despair.

Are you fucking kidding me...?Nova complained inwardly. Twenty-five billion EP?!

Liya replied without the slightest sympathy.

{...What exactly were you expecting? That’s a Divine-grade treasure. Do you have any idea how priceless something like that is? It can let someone safely consume a Divine-grade Blood Essence without suffering a fatal backlash. Of course it’s going to cost billions of Evolution Points.}

Nova instinctively wanted to argue. But after thinking about it for a moment, he fell silent. She wasn’t wrong.

They were talking about a Divine-grade heavenly treasure, not an ordinary item. Something capable of protecting a person through the awakening of a Divine bloodline was bound to have an astronomical price.

{There is only one option left now.}

You mean... using my SFP Coupon to buy it? Nova asked inwardly.

The SFP ( System Free Purchase) Coupon was an unimaginably precious reward he had obtained from his last gacha. It allowed its owner to purchase any item from the System Store completely free of charge, regardless of its price.

In other words, the coupon itself was a treasure worthy of being called Divine Grade.

Liya hesitated.

{But weren’t you saving it to purchase a powerful bloodline after completing your second evolution and after my second upgrade? Are you really going to use it here?}

Nova remained silent. His gaze slowly shifted toward Asia and Rieka. Seeing the two women he loved, the answer in his heart became clearer than ever.

Long ago, he had made a promise to himself that he would never allow those precious to him to come to harm. Although the soul-shattering vow he had once made was for Rieka, Asia was no different. They were both his his precious womens.

If he couldn’t even protect the people he loved....then everything he had achieved would be meaningless.

Besides, there was another reason.

He still didn’t understand why the Divine Ice Phoenix had specifically ordered the Frost Family to have a female heir consume the blood essence on her eighteenth birthday. Such a precise condition couldn’t have been left behind without a purpose.

Nova had no intention of gambling with Asia’s life. His eyes became resolute.

”Yes,” he said without a trace of hesitation.

”Use it.”

----------

[A/N]

If some of you are wondering why Rieka’s bloodline is visible on her status while Asia’s and the others’ are not, it’s because Rieka has possessed her bloodline since birth.

For everyone else, a blood

line only appears after they awaken or inherit a special bloodline. If it’s the natural bloodline of their own race, it won’t be displayed by default. Nova, however, is an exception.

**

Thanks for reading....