CHAPTER 69: GIVE ME THAT SKILL STONE!

The skill stone for [Arcane Blood Art] was indeed the correct one.

As expected, at Mimi’s current level, the base success rate of learning it was only 1.3%. And with the Sixfold Sacred Suppression curse piled on top, that chance plummeted all the way down to 0.013%!

It was nearly as impossible as learning [Divine Curse Reversal] itself.

But now—now she had Divine Curse Reversal ready at her disposal, and everything had changed. With it, Mimi could flip the SSS curse effect from:

"Success rate when learning skills using skill stones is reduced by 100-fold"

to—

"Success rate when learning skills using skill stones is increased by 100-fold!"

That meant a guaranteed 100% success rate. Absolute certainty!

Mwahahaha!

Who could have imagined that a curse as deadly as Sixfold Sacred Suppression could be turned on its head, becoming her greatest weapon and the key to making her utterly broken?

Mimi laughed inwardly, her tail flicking in delight.

This is perfect!

Overcome with excitement, she leapt from Emilia’s arms and scampered to the edge of the platform, meowing urgently toward the pedestal where the epic skill stone rested.

"Meow! Meow!" she yowled, claws tapping on the floor. Quick, Master! Let’s go, let’s go!

"Alright, Mimi, calm down!" Emilia chuckled, steering the platform closer.

The moment they reached it, Mimi bounded forward, landing before the pedestal. She rose onto her hind legs, tiny paws pressing against its base as she stretched upward, the pedestal wobbling slightly under her eager weight.

"Meow! Meow!" she cried insistently. Hurry, Master! Get it down for me!

Or... actually...

Mimi twisted her head back toward Emilia, eyes shining.

Hold me up instead!

"Alright!" Emilia said as she bent down and scooped Mimi into her arms, lifting her up toward the pedestal.

Now, Mimi was so close to the shimmering skill stone that she could literally see her tiny reflection gleaming on its glassy surface.

Oooooh!

Beautiful!!!

Both the skill stone and her are beautiful!

Her eyes sparkled, and she eagerly stretched out a paw, ready to touch it—

But then—

"Oh, shoot! Wait a moment!" Emilia gasped, pulling Mimi back at the last second before her paw could make contact.

"MREOW?!"

Mimi blinked in confusion, tail puffing up as she let out a loud, demanding cry. She turned her head toward Emilia and unleashed another long meow, full of protest.

Why? Why are you stopping me now?!

"Well... don’t you still have that Sixfold Sacred Suppression curse?" Emilia asked seriously, brows furrowed in worry. "How can you learn Arcane Blood Art like this? Isn’t it... impossible?"

URGGHHHH!

Mimi’s fur bristled in frustration, her whiskers twitching. Of course Emilia would think that! The Divine Curse Reversal skill was hidden from her master’s eyes. There was no way Emilia could know that Mimi already had the means to flip that horrible curse upside down!

But then... how could she explain it? How could she possibly make Emilia trust her without being able to speak?

"NYYEOWWWW!!!!!"

Mimi let out a pitiful wail, batting her paws in protest. Her heart thumped with desperation.

Come on! Just put me down already! I’ll do it myself!

***

However, Emilia held Mimi so tightly in her arms that there was no wiggle room left to escape, no chance to stretch out and touch the skill stone. Defeated, Mimi slumped back against her master’s embrace, her face scrunching into the very picture of a pouty, sulking cat.

Meanwhile, Emilia continued speaking, her voice thoughtful as if weighing other options on Mimi’s behalf.

"You know," she said to Mimi, "I saw a pretty necklace for pets called Starlume Guardian Charm. It doesn’t require any level, so you could wear it right away!"

Yeah, yeah...

Mimi gave a small meow in response, her ears flicking. Of course she already knew about that one!

It was actually a very handy necklace—one capable of storing magical energy within its gem. When danger struck, the charm would automatically release that power, casting a protective barrier around its wearer strong enough to shield against even advanced spells.

True, Mimi herself wouldn’t be able to charge it with mana. But Emilia could. That way, at least Mimi would always have a safeguard, even if something happened when Emilia wasn’t fast enough to react.

After all, it was a master’s duty to protect their companion.

And more than that—Mimi wasn’t just any ordinary magical beast companion. She was linked to Emilia through The Fated One skill. If something were to happen to Mimi, then Emilia herself would be in grave danger too!

However...

Staying alive... what good was that on its own?

That necklace was only for protection. It offered safety, yes—but no growth, no power, no chance to rise beyond weakness. If Mimi settled for that trinket, she would never be able to become stronger.

"Mreow!" Mimi meowed sharply, shaking her head so hard her ears flopped.

"Ahhh... are you sure?" Emilia asked, tilting her head with concern. "It’s a really good option! My mother actually recommended it!"

"Mrrreow!" Mimi cried again, louder this time, even letting out a soft hiss to voice her disapproval. Her tail lashed like a whip, leaving no doubt what she thought of that idea.

"Ahh... alright then..." Emilia sighed, her shoulders slumping in mild disappointment.

But she wasn’t ready to give up. "Then... how about this one?" she tried again, pulling up another option from memory.

And just like that, Emilia spent more and more time suggesting alternatives—protective trinkets, another Radiant Elysian Starfruit, even an Epic Evolution Fruit that could grant Mimi fifty evolution points the moment she consumed it. They were all tempting, glittering treasures, each one with its own undeniable value.

But of course, the little noctifelis’ choice was unshakable.

Her amethyst eyes burned with fierce resolve.

She wanted the Arcane Blood Art skill stone.

And the Arcane Blood Art skill stone she would claim no matter what!

****

Eventually, Emilia sighed and gave in.

"Well... I guess... if you really want it that badly..." she murmured.

"Meow..." Mimi narrowed her eyes and gently placed a paw on Emilia’s arm, as if telling her, It’s alright. Please trust me.

"Mmmm... now that I think about it, if Lord Siamelumis guided you toward this skill stone, then she must be certain you can learn it!" Emilia reasoned aloud.

Oh yeah!

Duh!

"Meow!" Mimi cried proudly, her whiskers twitching with confidence.

"Ahaha, silly me!" Emilia chuckled, shaking her head. "Sorry, Mimi, I was too short-sighted."

No problem, Master! Mimi thought with a pleased flick of her tail, answering with another cheerful meow.

And so, Emilia lifted Mimi once more and stepped closer to the pedestal where the skill stone was.

This time, nothing would stop her!

Mimi stretched her paw out again, the surface of the stone radiating violet light like a captured star just within reach.

Soon... soon that power would be hers.

Come to me... Arcane Blood Art!

...

...

However...

"Huh? What’s wrong?" Emilia muttered, tilting her head.

Because Mimi... for some reason... had frozen.

Her paw hovered just millimeters away from the skill stone, yet she stopped mid-reach, not moving any closer.

Her eyes widened, her fur bristled, and her tail puffed up like a plume.

Because suddenly, Mimi felt it.

A force, immense and overwhelming, pressed down upon her senses, so heavy it nearly stole her breath.

And it wasn’t the skill stone before her. No... it was something else. Something deeper. Something hidden within the Sanctuary itself.

A pull.

A call.

It surged straight into her chest, threading through her veins, searing into her very soul—a connection so powerful, so absolute, that she simply could not ignore it.