Attribute Farming System

— In the middle of a wide barren basin stretching in every direction for millions of miles —

"So this is the decision that you all have chosen?"

Knox's deep, resonant voice carried through the stale, arid atmosphere. It reached the ears of the four other most powerful Rulers in the King's Grounds.

Speaking on behalf of everyone surrounding the lone, Immortal-like man, Princess Maya said, "We know we cannot beat you and have thus unanimously decided not to fight you for the position of #1 Nation. The only reason we've gathered here is for the reveal of the rankings."

"But I'm only in the Core Formation Realm!" Knox laughed. "You sure you don't want to gang up on little ol' me~?"

Silence…

"Come on, guys, it was just a joke," Knox said. "Trying to lighten up the mood is making me realize just how much simpler it is to just slaughter everything that even so much as slightly inconveniences me."

Nala tensed up, her fierceness showing through her indifferent facade. She had her hand tightly clasped on her sheathed sword, prepared to unsheath it at a moment's notice.

Knox smirked at this occurrence—an action that surfaced even more anger on Nala's pretty face.

However, before a fight could break out, Cela's rocket-like figure could be seen shooting toward the fox-like man. Her bountiful body smashed against him at several times the speed of light, yet it didn't even faze him.

'Cela…' Knox thought in exasperation. 'How could I forget about her…?'

"Darling~!" she exclaimed, offering a spherical object exuding astronomical levels of Innate Energy. "I came across the abandoned shrine of an Ancient Ruler a while back, and inside it, I found two of these things! Here, you can have both of them!" she added while taking out an object identical to the first one.

[Extremity of Firmament's Demise Shedding Rune] - [Half-Saint]

—[The Unorthodox Devilstar was known for many things in the Azura Empire's Territory. An Alchemist, a Formations Master, a Powerful Cultivator. However, above all else, he was most proficient in his least-known Profession—the art of Runesmithing.]

—[As a unique combination of Runemaking and Blacksmithing, Runesmithing was the act of inscribing Runes onto Items while in the process of forging said Item. Though, with Runesmithing being capable of producing extremely valuable commodities, this also meant it was very, very tough to master. It's to the point that no Runesmithing Master has been spotted in the Azura Empire for tens of thousands of years.]

—[The Unorthodox Devilstar was a one-of-a-kind prodigy. And though he kept his identity as a Runesmithing Master a secret for the majority of his life, he decided right before his advancement to the Void Refining Realm that he'd leave traces of his Profession behind.]

—[The Extremity of Firmament's Demise Shedding Runes were those traces, of which he left behind two in an extremely hard-to-find temple covertly hidden behind countless Disguising Formations. And these Runes—upon absorption of their properties—will propel the user by a single Minor Realm. Only effective up to the Soul Transformation Realm and only works once per person.]

After glossing over the lengthy item description, Knox immediately looked at the goofy, affectionate girl with genuine amazement. He considered himself to be a rather lucky fella, but when compared to the Yandere before him, he fell ten miles short.

Snapping himself out of his stupor, Knox kept one of the Runes and handed the other one back. "Before you say anything, you have to know that only one of these gives anything for a single person. This means that the other is useless and therefore better used by the one who acquired them."

"B-But Darling, I'm sure you can sell the other one—" Cela tried to say but was quickly shut up with a karate chop to the head.

"Hush and do as I say," Knox subtly commanded in a non-negotiable tone. "Oh, and Cela."

"...Yes…?"

"Thanks for the gift," Knox said while scratching his nose, averting his gaze. "Whenever you want something from me, just give the word. As long as it's within my capabilities, I don't mind giving you a hand."

Happiness washed over Cela's cutely contorted face. "Even if I want your hand inside me—"

*Bonk!*

Annoyed, Knox scoffed. "Forget I said anything, you no-good temptress! Trying to stray my Martial Heart away from the One True Path!? You'll need to give me a lot more than a single glowing ball!"

Contrary to the logical direction of things, Cela's eyes lit up even further. "So that means it's a possibility as long as I give you even better things!?"

Knox's expression froze. "Well, I mean, yeah… No, wait, stop with your coercion techniques, she-devil!"

His Unparalleled Martial Heart nearly faltered!

Such skill in the art of seduction—just what sort of mentally unstable Sugar Momma was placed in front of him!?

Was this a test from Heaven!??

As the couple quibbled with one another, an icy-faced beauty quietly observed what appeared to be a 'lovey-dovey' discussion. Her frigid facade cracked a little as what looked to be sadness took its place.

However, upon realizing what she was unconsciously doing, Yennefer lightly slapped her cheeks. "What are you even thinking about?" she murmured to herself. "You don't even like him. He's just someone your father paired you with at birth, and in the Limitless Path of Martial Arts, such an arranged marriage means nothing. He… means nothing."

13th Princess Maya glanced over at the Eldest Young Miss of the Berkshire Count Family, who was clenching her chest. A sigh escaped Maya's lips as she shook her head in resignation over the facts presented before her.

'That makes two important figures of Count Families,' she thought. 'Two heiresses who could very well bring their families to new heights. Both of whom have begun to fall for the same man—a man who's also likely to ascend his Count Family to unbelievable levels. Things have… become troublesome…'

At this point, unless Princess Maya somehow convinced her father to eradicate three of the most powerful Count Families, she had no choice but to ally with Knox Falazar.

For if she didn't, it was almost guaranteed that the reign of her family would come to an abrupt end...