Glorious Vanity (SI LitRPG)

The crass speaker was John Doe. That brown-haired psycopath with the axe and inky black mana aura.

Holding the axe over his shoulder, he glared at our group.

With him as the leader, other protests started as well. People asking what was going on, why they were here when they were promised to get out of the Tutorial.

A few of the people who left Freyr behind turned to her, as if expecting her to lead the way.

Of course, when they saw me standing close to her, they flinched and looked away.

Cowards.

[Rather than cowards, I would call them rational. Completely disregarding one's own safety and placing their life on the line is not the mindset of a well-adjusted individual, Vain.]

Alice. If I was well-adjusted, do you think that I would be anywhere near here? Hell, or with a stupid name like Vain Glory?

[...That is a valid point.]

"What a bunch of idiots." A young female voice echoed from behind me. Princess Aqua. She shook her head, causing her light blue bangs to shift and she said, "What's the point in panicking or protesting now?"

Gale, the green-haired knight, laughed. "It can't be helped, Princess." He looked around and said, "After all, it is an unexpected surprise."

"And they should expect the unexpected! What do they think Babel is? A pleasant trip to the countryside?"

"...Need I remind you of what you-"

"I know what I said! And that's because anywhere with you is as safe as traveling to the summer manor."

Gale sighed.

I ignored the two-person comedy happening behind me, as well as the ensuing chaos from the panicked crowd and instead focused on my surroundings.

For a place called Eden, it was surprisingly modern.

The area we ended up in was an open plaza that was similar to a park. The best way I could describe it was kind of like in those movies where people were going around New York City? Something like that, at least.

A paved area with glistening marble bricks that vaguely reflected the soft sunlight and the blue sky above. A fountain in the middle, bubbling with crystal clear water and a ring around it where people could sit down. Not only that, but immediate surroundings looked a bit like a strip mall, with concrete buildings showing flashy signs and glass window displays.

We also weren't the only ones around.

There were a few other people standing on the outskirts. Experienced veterans, judging from the way they carried themselves and the swirl of tightly compressed mana wrapped around their body.

It wasn't on the level of Freyr in terms of quantity. But the control was completely different.

If Freyr's azure mana was like a blue star, then the people I saw in the distance were like a contained nuclear reactor. Similar in nature, but completely controlled by will, knowledge, and technique rather than through instinct.

In particular, I noticed a man with silver hair and a white mask. The drama mask, with one half of the face crying and the other laughing.

He caught my gaze and tilted his head.

I couldn't see his face, but somehow, I had the sense that he seemed curious.

A soft clap echoed.

I shifted my gaze towards the source of the noise.

Lucifer had reappeared, sitting on the edge of the fountain. Now holding a white cane and wearing a fedora on his hat, he grinned and said, "You're pretty lively, huh? Good, good... but I'd caution you to not go too overboard. This place might be under my control, but I'm a fan of handsfree management, you know? The local powers might decide to step in if you step out of line."

John stepped forward and pointed his axe at Lucifer. "Oi! I want answers, you dumbass!"

Lucifer glanced at him and sighed. "Now, now. Let's not be rude." Lucifer's eyes turned crimson and he stared at John. "You got what you wished for, did you not? Exiting the Tutorial and entering Babel. Or are you upset at the compensation of ten levels and a hundred bonus points?"

"Fuck the levels! What's this bullshit about needing to pay a thousand merit points every week? And the penalty of losing a stat point every time we can't?!"

"Oh that?" Lucifer held up his hand and looked at his fingers. "Nothing much. The upkeep for this floor is quite expensive, you know? And since you decided to take responsibility and leave my care, I expect some rent."

"You...!" John scowled and then stepped forward. "Fine. If you're the boss... I just have to beat you, don't I?"

A bold move. With that guy's act, the Chosen that had left the Tutorial stepped forward as well... Except for Akira. That guy was already walking away with his group of beautiful women and heading off into the city.

I moved close to Freyr, raising Avalon just in case.

I doubted Lucy would let something happen to us since he mentioned we were still under his care, but considering that guy's nature... Well, I wouldn't put it past him to let some collateral damage slip through.

Freyr noticed my act and placed her hand on her sword. "Vain..."

I shook my head. "We should be fine, but-"

At that time, a burst of shadows erupted from John. At the same time, he raised his axe with a manic grin on his face. "You're going down, pretty boy!"

"Hm?" An instinctive reaction. I didn't know what the shadows were for, or the nature of that John's powers, but somehow, I understood it. And the reason for that-

[No One's Story resonates with <Record Eater>]

"It's... similar?" I muttered and stared at John.

The person whose abilities that [No One's Story] derived from let him take as well as copy powers as long as he experienced them. [Divine Anathema] did something similar to that, letting me take fragments of Divine Authority as long as I understood them.

The shadows that wrapped around John Doe let him do something similar. An ability similar to my [World Creator (Minor)] that let him steal and replicate stats and skills to the full-extent. Not a skill, but something that was a more fundamental part of that guy's nature.

A flicker of darkness. John charged at Lucifer with his axe. Following him, the other Chosen that had left the Tutorial did as well. When they did, his shadows spread, wrapping around each person and seemingly strengthening their powers. But...

'What a cunning bastard.'

Playing the part of an upset warrior and charging forward with determination and strength. Using that as his cover, he was secretly enhancing his strength by siphoning and copying the powers of his allies.

[By reading the events unfolding before your eyes, your intelligence increases! Well-Read grants you +3 intelligence points.]

I glanced at the system message and shook my head.

It was an obvious ploy. And if so, then the next step...

Well, if that guy was putting on a show, I should do the same, no?

I stepped in front of Freyr and stomped on the ground. At the same time, I envisioned it. A towering silver wall that would completely cut us off from the ensuing battle. One rising from the ground up to block everything.

Silver flowed, stopping the surging shadows heading our way.

At least, it should have.

But that guy's power didn't have a physical form and the shadows pierced through, quickly reaching around to try and grab Freyr and copy her powers.

"What in the Goddess's name-?! A grand alchemist?!"

"Ah. So definitely not an ordinary person."

I heard Aqua and Gale talk behind me, but I didn't have the time to process it.

Instead, I glared at the shadows.

That cheeky bastard... Trying to cheat right in front of my eyes with a power like that?

I smacked the shadowy tendril aside with Avalon, causing it to recoil.

"Vain!" Freyr called out, worry in her voice. I also heard her step forward.

"Stay back. I'm not letting this bastard lay a hand on you."

Copy the stats and record of an overpowered person like Freyr after all the hard work I put in to keep her safe? Letting a guy like that potentially pose a threat to her later?

Like hell.

I didn't know if that thing would work on the conceptual weapons I made for Freyr, but I wasn't about to let some cheating psycopath get his hands on those powers so easily.

I heard the sound of countless spells and abilities being launched from behind my silver barricade. And at the same time, the shadowy tendril I smacked aside shot towards me, apparently deciding to go through me first.

An instantaneous movement. Before I could react, the shadowy tendril had already pierced through me- No, it tried to.

[<Record Eater> attempts to steal your status!]

[Your Trait, Well-Read unravels <Record Eater>!]

[<Record Eater> - A man who could never empathize with another, filled with insatiable hunger. To sate the emptiness, he turned to murder and plundering what he could. Natural aptitude and intuition allowed him to grow in strength at an exponential rate by taking powers from other people in a world where Ability Users reigned.]

[<Record Eater> recoils at being read!]

[The accumulated status within <Record Eater> is shattered!]

[For unraveling the story behind a Chosen's Title, your status is increased! +1 bonus stat point.]

A flurry of system messages.

At the same time, the shadowy tendril dissolved. And the moment they did, Lucifer's voice echoed.

"People with ability stealing powers are always so arrogant."

The sound of someone snapping their fingers.

With that, my silver wall was forcibly dismissed- No, erased. Space itself was rearranged to unmake it.

[Divine Anathema activates!]

OI!

[...Divine Anathema reluctantly deactivates.]

I shifted my gaze away from the system messages to look at the scene.

I was half-expecting everything to be a giant mess. But instead, it was completely clean, as if nothing had happened.

Well, that wasn't completely true.

That Korean spearman, Seol... and I seriously hoped it wasn't Seol Jihu since that would be a mess and a half, had his spear raised, eyes flickering with rainbow light.

Sakura did the same, pink flames surrounding her and her allies.

Meanwhile, John Doe and the Chosen who attacked Lucifer were nowhere to be seen.

Lucifer sighed and said, "My apologies." He glanced at me and said, "And thank you for your assistance, friend. I couldn't have taken care of it without you."

A seemingly sincere praise and compliment.

...Except that the amused glimmer in his blue eyes showed that it was anything but.

Of course, it seemed like I was the only one who realized that.

Immediately after Lucifer said those words, all eyes were on me.

An incredible social pressure.

Yet again, I had to thank [Man of a Thousand Faces] for my poker face.

I ignored the attention and shrugged. "It was the least I could do."

"My, how humble." Lucifer smiled. A graceful expression befitting an angel.

Except that guy sure as hell wasn't one.

Lucifer shifted his gaze to the others and said, "My apologies once again for the trouble. I'm sure that you're all exhausted at the moment, so why don't you all go relax? I'll send a message later on with more information on what remains in this last portion of the 'Tutorial'. But for now, please enjoy the rest of the day getting to know your companions." He looked to me and smirked. "I'm sure you all have quite a lot to discuss."

The familiar light of teleport magic began to swell before anyone could object.

I blinked and then glared at him. "Lucy, you bastard! I'm going to-!"

"Ta-tah Mister Vain." Lucifer tipped his hat and waved with his cane. "Oh, and Mister Smith sends his regards."

"Son of a-!"

The surroundings blurred, space and time shifting with the teleport magic... and then I was standing in the middle of a plush penthouse suite.

Fancy silk carpets, a crystal chandelier, a hot tub in the corner of the room and a single king-sized bed... It was the perfect place to relax by yourself and live it up like a king if you were alone, or the perfect place to cozy up on a honeymoon or something if you weren't.

And I definitely wasn't alone.

Standing not far away from me was a familiar beautiful young woman with flowing silver hair, clear blue eyes, and a face that master artisans would have carved to honor a goddess... only in her case, she was actually one.

Freyr.

She blinked and took a look around the room, her gaze stopping on the bed and the hot tub for a few moments. After that, she turned her attention to me.

Remembering all the flags I raised... and also remembering who she had connections to and all the trouble that would come as a result if I crossed that line, I instinctively took a step back, edging towards the only door out of the bedroom.

But Freyr was a step faster, quickly moving to cut off my escape.

I let out a sheepish smile and rubbed the back of my neck. "Looks like that guy has a sense of humor, huh? Haha... Don't worry. I'll leave you alone to relax and-"

"Vain." Freyr crossed her arms and said, "What did Lord Lucifer mean about a debt? And why does he call you his friend?" She stepped forward. "More importantly..." She placed her hand over her sword, and pursed her lips. Shaking her head, she looked back at me and said, "How... How are you alive?"

"Ah. Right..." I sighed. "Guess there's no escaping that bit... Well." I waved my hand and conjured a pair of chairs. "Might as well sit down, Freyr. It's a bit of a long story."

-V-

[Status Screen]

-Biography-

Name: Vain Glory

Age: 20 (Adjusted)

Race: Human (Heaven Defying)

Class: N/A (Pending proper awakening)

Current Condition: Healthy

-Racial Traits-

Divine Anathema - Those not only forsaken by their gods, but those who have killed their gods and constructed their own. Drastically reduces effectiveness of Divine Attacks. Minor probability of obtaining partial Divine Authority through analysis and perception. Greatly increased hostility by Divine Beings.

-Traits-

Man of a Thousand Faces (Can filter emotions and experience through personas)

Well-Read (Increased intelligence growth)

Self-Determined (Luck is treated as 100 for calculations)

-Titles-

World Creator (Minor) - Allows construction of non-magical items through one's will

Hero Creator - Removes growth limitations on user and their allies. Rapidly accelerates growth of allies.

-Parameters-

Level: 5

Strength: 18

Agility: 20

Vitality: 18

Intelligence: 80

Mana: 70

Luck: 15 [100]

Bonus Stat Points: -76

-Skills-

No One's Story - A gambit that defies the gods through sacrificing one's identity and very memory. All attempts to scry your status are denied. Removes skill requirements. Memory and visualization abilities are enhanced.

A Different Path - Direct interference with a hero's fate, granting him a new path and divergent futures. Allows reproduction of 'conceptual weapons' provided the requisite materials. Allows reproduction of 'sword skills' provided the requisite understanding.

Flames of Muspell (Degraded) - A spark of the flames that will harken the end in Ragnarok. An authentic spark of the world-consuming flames that can burn even the divine. Immune to all but extreme temperature changes. Moderate resistance to Absolute Zero or Absolute Flame. Can summon a handful of Ragnarok's flames.

First Aid - A basic healing spell that stops bleeding and accelerates the body's natural regeneration.

Disengage - A skill that allows the user to immediately retreat from battle as well as return the user's condition to the state prior to engaging in combat. Can be used once per engagement per hostile opponent.

Loki's Blessing (Minor) - A blessing from the Trickster God, Loki. Can change and conceal one's appearance. Due to synergy with No One's Story, it is a flawless disguise, capable of fooling even Loki without intense scrutiny.

Item Box (Minor) - A skill that grants the user a small spatial pocket to store items. Time is slowed within the spatial pocket to 1/10th of the normal flow. Can hold approximately 1 cubic meter of items (around three square feet).

-Inventory-

N/A