Infinite Cube: Extra's Life in Another World

'Blessing'. One of, if not the most powerful traits in ICUWSA and Matthew's cheat skill.

Unlike other traits that focused on tactical, offensive, or defensive uses of magic, Blessing, much like Kai's Weaver, enabled the user to access multiple abilities, using his system as an anchor.

Just as the name implied, Matthew was a walking gift.

He could communicate with higher beings possibly those beyond even multiversal scale and claim their abilities or weapons as his own, though temporarily.

This granted him an unlimited mana source, since all the mana required for each ability was provided by the original wielder.

Blessing also made Matthew nearly immortal, as any damage he sustained would be transferred to the ability's originator upon cancellation.

This meant every skill was at his disposal, so long as he requested it.

But this also meant that in a confined space, without access to his system or any higher-ranked being, Matthew was powerless.

That was the only reason Arden, the King of Swords, managed to kill him; that was by interfering with his connection with the cube for a split second, giving him just enough time to strike.

But why couldn't higher beings or even those on his level refuse him? Just like the ability stated: he didn't plead for it, he demanded it.

That meant anyone without protection from a higher source like Kai had through his unique system granted by the cube, would ultimately be forced to obey.

"You know about my ability, right, Kaiser?" Matthew said as the gravitational force around Kai intensified threefold.

Spiderwebbed cracks appeared beneath Kai's feet as the air grew thin.

Kai's knees buckled, but through sheer will and his maxed-out strength stats, he slowly rose to his feet.

"I can't believe you're still standing," Matthew muttered, a frown forming. "So, you do know that I can't exert power beyond my body's limits or my understanding of mana and the skill."

Sweat trickled down Kai's face as he summoned Sasauno. "Did the Inner God of Fall grant you that ability?" he asked, voice cracking.

"Oh... so you know about the Outer World too. I knew we'd become best friends."

"Like hell I'd be friends with a psychopath like you," Kai growled through ragged breaths.

"I guess you could call me a psychopath... or a hypocrite." He paused, palm half-covering his face. "But I could say the same about you, couldn't I?"

"Tsk." Kai clicked his tongue.

"I'm right, aren't I? Still... I'm curious, Kaiser. How do you know so much?"

"I just do. It's not that hard," Kai replied, his breath steadying as the sweat slowly dried.

Shaking his head, Matthew responded, "No. If it were just my ability, or just the Outer World, I might have believed you. But even Fall can't peer into your secrets."

"...What's your point, Matthew? You ruin people's lives and come back acting like we're even? What gives you the right?"

With a soft smile, he said, "None at all. I actually felt bad for what I did to you, but I'd still do it again." He dismissed his spear. "I'd do it again, no matter the situation. Better for one person to die than for the world to burn."

"Then why me, of all people?"

"To tell the truth," he said, touching his well-defined jawline, "I originally planned to use that Elizabeth girl, but after I saw you, I changed my mind."

Kai silently waited for him to continue.

"As you know, my ability doesn't just allow me to borrow power, I can also communicate with higher beings. And one, the so-called God of Greed, said you were hiding your strength."

He paused. "And I really wanted to know."

'Damn Inner God of Greed... or should I say, Freya.'

[You know you could be killed just for saying that.]

'Who cares?'

"You've been dancing around the question, Matthew. Why are you here?" Kai asked, his voice sharp and expression cold.

"You're getting all worked up over nothing." Matthew stepped closer. "The examiners noticed something was wrong with the footage, but I helped cover your tracks. The least you could do is thank me."

'Alpha?'

[He seems to be telling the truth, Kai. I also found it strange that no one noticed such a basic hack in a room full of high-rankers. You did too, didn't you?]

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Kai couldn't deny it. Even with his flawless acting, fooling that many high-rankers should've been impossible.

Relaxing slightly, Kai met Matthew's eyes. "So what do you want?"

Matthew turned toward the small flower field beginning to bloom, a creation of Neko-sensei, though he didn't know. He smiled. "I didn't know you were into flowers."

'Not going straight to the point again...'

Kai sighed. "I didn't plant them. Just answer the damn question."

Flashing a wide smile, Matthew replied, "You're always in such a rush. Can't you relax a little?"

Seeing Kai's silence, he went on. "All I want is for you to join me on a dungeon mission this weekend." He caught Kai's puzzled look, as his fingers brushed a rose petal. "It'll just be a three-hour trip. And no, we won't be alone. I like girls too, no matter how pretty you are."

'That's wildly off-topic...'

"Do I have a choice?" Kai asked, rubbing his brow.

Matthew responded only with a wider grin.

"Parties are usually five, right?" Kai said, locking eyes with him. "You can only call one person from the other three."

"Isn't that unfair?"

Kai simply stood and gave him a cold stare. Taking the cue, Matthew rose from his squatting position.

Brushing off his clothes, he headed for the gate. "Nice getting to know you, Kaiser. Can I call you Kai now?"

"No. Don't."

Reaching the exit, he turned one last time. "See you in Miss Leone's class... Kai."

"Bastard."

[At least he didn't attack.]

Kai collapsed to the ground, mentally drained from the conversation.

He wanted to rest, but he knew laziness would get him nowhere.

Summoning the golddigger vesper, he slowly opened its lid.

The box, made of worn wood and reinforced with metal bands, housed a pile of Drifter Cores he'd been using for his Weaving practice.

The Wasp Prince and Mother Wasp cores had long been consumed, along with many others he had experimented on.

'Since Matthew's the one trying to leave the academy, I doubt they'll refuse. That'll give me enough time to sell these cores.'

Kai's face lit up at the thought of more money.

Contrary to popular belief, Drifter Cores weren't all that useful for mages, who gained most of their power-ups from missions.

Still, they weren't useless since they were used to enhance Vespers (weapons), gear, brew potions, generate heat for cooking and even power the domes making cores an everyday necessity.

That also meant they were expensive, even the lowest-grade ones.

'At least the school didn't find out about the other little wasps...'

[I've found a shop where you can sell the cores at a good price and maybe even buy new threads.]

'I almost forgot, I do need more threads.' He paused, remembering the tattered yarn of the Seamstress Vesper. 'I hope it wasn't actually Kaiser's mom who gave him that Vesper... that'd be bad for me.'

[I'd love to see that play out.]

Kai smiled. At least Alpha knew when to be helpful.

He stood up, dusted off his clothes, slung on his bag, and left for school.

As usual, he passed through the Forgotten Skyscraper to cut through the gutter.

He straightened out his clothes and walked forward, one hand in his pocket.

Today, he wanted to look like a proper delinquent. He untucked his shirt and let it hang loose.

With the extra coat over his uniform, he looked like a painting straight out of the Victorian era.

He had three classes today: Mana Training with Mr. Osborne, Theoretical Mana Application and Trait-Element Formulas (which, in his opinion, was a needlessly long title), and finally, Magic History with Neko-sensei, followed by helping her with research.

'Today's going to be hectic.'

[Or you're just lazy.]

'Yep. I hate school. Every bit of it,' he thought, walking into the general building block.

Magnus. The building of magic.