Cathulhu Online, MUNYA!

"Nice timing, munya! Can you ask him to evolve my maxed skills?"

<Magdalene understands.>

The fairy vanished into smoke. But a few minutes later, she returned, but she was carrying a familiar-looking gypsy orb over her head.

Magdalene put the orb on the boat. She sat on top of it and puffed her chest.

<Magdalene says that she can evolve your skills and spells with the orb now.>

"Great," Xiaomao rejoiced, "Can you evolve my skills, munya?"

<Magdalene says that evolving skills aren't for free.>

DING

<Magdalene has established a skill and spell shop. She can evolve your skills or spells with maxed mastery in exchange for spirit stones.>

"Dammit, munya!"

Xiaomao facepalmed. He knew that evolving skills wouldn't be free, but he didn't expect that Shepherd's wife would be this stinky.

"Can I use PACTs or gold coins instead?"

<Magdalene says she doesn't want useless stuff.>

Xiaomao had a headache. Not only did he need spirit stones to complete Cernun's quest, he needed more of them to evolve new skills. Although he half-expected it as Pangu Church also demanded corrupted spirit stones to evolve a player skill, he was disappointed._.

‘Spirit stones will eventually become the primary currency along with PACTs anyway. It doesn't matter.'

Xiaomao consoled himself. He brought out two corrupted spirit stones and showed them to Magdalene.

"How many skills can I evolve with these stones?"

<Magdalene is disappointed in you.>

<Magdalene shows you the requirement for evolving your skills.>

.

Skill and Spell Evolving Fees

Legendary Grade – 10,000 spirit stones

Ultra-Rare Grade – 5,000 spirit stones

Super Rare Grade – 1,000 spirit stones

Rare Grade – 500 spirit stones

Uncommon Grade – 100 spirit stones

Common Grade – 50 spirit stones

[?????? Instinct], [Foresight]: You have a 100% chance of obtaining a higher rarity skill or spell from this shop. Here is the list of skills that you currently can obtain if you have enough spirit stones.

Protein from Fish (Legendary) > Essence from Life (Legendary+)

Providence Song (Ultra-Rare) > Providence Concert (Ultra-Rare+)

Catnap (Super Rare) > Catopus Meditation (Super Rare+)

Fish Gourmet (Super Rare) > Essence Gourmet (Super Rare+)

Enslavement (Super Rare) > Mass Enslavement (Super Rare+)

Slave Training (Super Rare) > Slave Education (Super Rare+)

Chameleon (Super Rare) > Ninja Chameleon (Super Rare+)

One Man Thousand Arrows (Super Rare) > One Man Bombardment (Super Rare+)

Flying Sword (Super Rare) > Vehicle Sword (Super Rare+)

Lock-On Mark (Super Rare) > Marking Brand (Super Rare+)

Homing Snipe (Super Rare) > Homing Aim-Bot (Super Rare+)

.

Everything was expensive!

Xiaomao had a deep frown on his face as he still remembered the fees that Pangu Church asked the players. It was 50 times cheaper than this as the priests only asked for one spirit stone for a common-grade skill.

However, Magdalene offered a different service from Pangu Church. That place gave a small chance of obtaining a derived skill or spell after the upgrade. If a player was unlucky, they might get the same skill with a [+] suffix.

For example, Xiaomao could potentially get the "Flying Sword+" as a new replacement instead of getting Vehicle Sword, and the effect would have been different.

In short, the expensive fee was the price for the better ability and perks.

After inspecting the list, Xiaomao noticed something odd as some of his skills were not selectable in the shop.

"Where is my question mark instinct, munya? What about my Foresight and Water Bullet, munya?"

<Magdalene says that some skills cannot be evolved normally. The instinct and Foresight require a different method to evolve. As for Water Bullet, your water spirit root is too weak.>

"Oh."

Xiaomao got the gist of it. He stopped pursuing the matter.

"I guess I can't upgrade any skill right now, munya."

<Magdalene understands.>

The fairy closed her shop, but she carried the orb toward Shepherd. They looked at each other, and the supporter repeatedly nodded.

DING

<Shepherd has upgraded his character. Current NFT Rarity: Uncommon.>

<Shepherd's STR, DEX, AGI, and VIT have increased by 30!>

<Shepherd's INT has increased by 100!>

<Shepherd's WIS has increased by 80!>

<All Shepherd's spiritual roots have increased by 50!>

<Shepherd's max HP has increased by 500!>

<Shepherd's max MP has increased by 1,000!>

<Shepherd's skill, Water Bullet (Common), has evolved into Water Shotgun (Uncommon).>

<Shepherd's skill, Water Gathering (Common), has evolved into Water Manipulation (Uncommon).>

<Shepherd's Novice Water Mage Class has been upgraded to Apprentice Water Mage!>

Xiaomao stared at Magdalene and Shepherd. His are-you-serious expression was written on his face.

She charged him, but she upgraded his slave for free?

What was this preferential treatment?

He clicked his tongue and mumbled to himself.

"Idiot couple, munya!"

Lucky overheard Xiaomao's remark. She giggled, "Master. Do you want me to be your girlfriend?"

"No! Girlfriends are for losers, munya!"

Lucky pouted, "Master, you need help."

Magdalene also looked at Xiaomao and giggled. She purposely made a troll face meme.

<Magdalene asks if you're jealous.>

"I'm Giga Chad. I can find a girlfriend anytime I want to, munya!"

<Magdalene is certain that you're jealous.>

"…"

.

The ship sailed westward. As Shepherd had learned new spells, he put one of them to good use. With the water manipulation spell, he controlled the sea current and increased the tree boat's speed.

The speed counter console in front of Shepherd was already broken as the boat's speed already surpassed 20 knots. Strangely, the tree boat didn't suffer any damage from the excessive speed.

Xiaomao glanced at Shepherd and Magdalene. He knew that the couple had been tampering with his ship. However, as Shepherd and Magdalene were working for him, he didn't complain about their meddling.

As Xiaomao witnessed how his supporter was getting smarter and stronger through time, he thought of creating new supporters with his NFTs. He still had a UR character that he could use, and many characters might be useful for other tasks in the future.

‘Supporter or monster slaves… what to do?'

He hesitated if he should create new supporters next or enslave a strong monster in the future.

While the ship was jetting through the high tides, a silhouette of a frigate was on the horizon.

Shepherd and Magdalene stopped flirting and solemnly stared in the northwest direction, where the strange ship was. Xiaomao also narrowed his eyes and peered to the distance.

The battleship's silhouette on the horizon suddenly turned her bow toward them. It released the sailcloth and charged toward Xiaomao's ship at full speed!