SSS-Class Overlord: My Harem Rules the Realms (18+)
Chapter 32: New Skills?

Chapter 32: New Skills?

Ethan pushed open the heavy door of the inn, moving like a half-dead man. His bones felt like they would crush any moment, his breath shaking. The innkeeper—a balding guy with a mustache—looked at him over the counter, blinking in surprise.

"Room for one, right?" the man asked in a calm tone.

"Yeah, room for one," Ethan whispered to him. "The quietest one of them all."

He dropped a silver coin on the counter. The man picked up the coin, wide-eyed at the grime and blood lining Ethan’s cloak.

"Er... you can go to the second floor. The last door on the left is the most suitable room for you."

Ethan climbed the narrow stairs, which groaned under his weight. He staggered into a small room that had a single bed and a washbasin next to the main door. Ethan slammed the door closed behind him and jumped on the bed—letting himself collapse onto the mattress.

For a moment, he lay on the bed, panting like crazy. His muscles twitched in small traces of leftover adrenaline. His fingers still felt like they were holding his sword’s hilt.

But no matter how exhausted he felt, he couldn’t resist the pull of the glowing blue screen flickering in his vision.

[SYSTEM NOTICE]

[Achievement Unlocked: Pioneer of Dual Paths!]

[First Player to merge Dark Mage and Knight Classes.]

[Reward: +10 Agility, +10 Intellect]

Ethan stared at the notification and let out a low, exhausted laugh. "Finally... something is finally going right now."

He confirmed the stat boost and felt a slight rush of warmth slide through his tired veins as his stats went upward.

He opened his inventory screen, scanning the list of items he’d looted from the dungeon of the Lich.

"Okay... let’s cash this junk in and get something good in return."

One by one, monster cores, bone fragments, dark crystals, and several rare minerals vanished into the system’s auto-sell function.

[Items Sold!]

[Gold Gained: 2000]

[EXP Gained: Enough to Level Up x5]

[Current Level: 50]

[Available Stat Points: 20]

A grin started to form on Ethan’s face.

Ethan grinned, teeth white against his dirt-smeared face. "Not bad... Level fifty, huh? That’s a nice start. Also, the leveling up is easy after getting the Overlord class."

He pulled up his stat screen again. His eyes roved over the numbers.

[Name: Ethan Graves]

[Race: Human]

[Class: Overlord (Hybrid: Dominion Warlord)]

[Level: 50]

[Health: 380/380]

[Mana: 480/480]

[Strength: B]

[Agility: B+]

[Endurance: B]

[Intellect: B+]

[Charisma: B]

[Luck: B-]

[Dominion Points: 0]

[Potential Rating: SSS]

[Harem Slots: 0/10]

[Stat Points: 20]

Ethan thought, Let’s push the agility and intellect stats. I’ll need some speed and casting power for that damn meeting.

He dumped all those 20 stat points—ten each—into agility and intellect.

[Agility: A-]

[Intellect: A-]

He could feel the surge of force entering his body—like invisible threads winding tighter and tighter inside of him.

"Holy shit... that’s some nice feeling."

Ethan shifted to the system shop, fingers skimming over the flickering icons. He scrolled past random equipment and consumables until he reached the Skill Book section.

He started going through the skills to find the best and most suitable for him. Three titles caught his eye:

[Shadowstep (B-rank): Instantly teleport a short distance through darkness. Cooldown: 10 seconds.]

[Nightmare Veil (C+-rank): Cloak yourself in dark energy, lowering enemy perception and chance to hit.]

[Abyss Rend (A-rank): Unleash a slashing wave of shadow-infused sword aura. Deals high physical + dark magic damage in an arc.]

Ethan’s grin widened a bit more. "Bingo! I got what I desired."

He purchased all three of them. His gold balance went to zero, but it was all worth it. As the virtual books dissolved into notes of light, new knowledge flowed into his mind like liquid fire.

His temples started to ache because of the sudden rush of information.

"Gah—shit—it feels like I’m getting punched in the brain," Ethan said, grabbing his head hard with both hands.

Finally, the headache faded. Ethan leaned back against the bed frame, sweat forming on his brow.

"Alright... I’ve got my toolkit for whatever the hell the Empire holds for me next."

He exhaled long and slow. His entire body felt lighter, like every limb had been tuned sharper.

[New Skills Acquired!]

[Shadowstep – B]

[Nightmare Veil – C+]

[Abyss Rend – A]

He nodded in deep satisfaction, eyes half-closed. "I’m slacked now... Tomorrow’s gonna be hell, but at least I’ll go prepared this time."

Ethan finally slid down onto the bed, deciding whether he was done with the day or not.

Sleep, Ethan, sleep. For the love of God... just sleep.

He drifted off, the faint glow of his system screen still flickering in the darkness.

The next morning arrived as a thin glow seeping through the dusty inn curtains. Ethan rubbed his face, eyes burning from lack of sleep.

"Okay... today is a big day," he whispered under his breath.

He washed up and got ready quickly, gathered all of his gear, and left the inn. The streets of Graveshallow buzzed with the usual chatter of merchants, mercenaries, and suspicious people wrapped in dark cloaks.

By the time he reached the Dark Mage Tower again, the sun had started to climb even higher in the sky, glinting off black spires that stabbed into the heavens.

The huge iron gates parted as he approached. Inside, the tower buzzed with activity. Dark-robed mages swept past him, grimoires floating beside them, or familiars perched on their shoulders.

He spotted the Tower Master waiting in the central atrium—Velexaria Nightweave, the 7th-circle sorceress. She wore long black robes rimmed in violet runes. Her hair spilled down her back like liquid ink, eyes cold as starlight.

Beside her stood two other mages—both emitting dangerous power.

One was a woman with bronze skin and a long red sash wrapped around her waist, her gaze as sharp as daggers.

The other was a man with silver hair and eyes like molten gold, his cloak adorned with countless talismans.

Ethan cleared his throat and stepped forward. "Tower Master."

Velexaria turned, lips quirking into the faintest smile. "Ethan Graves. You rested well? I hope so."

"Well... define ’rested’," Ethan said in a calm tone.

She let out a quiet laugh. "Good. You’ll need that kind of humor. Let me introduce our companions for this journey of ours. This is Lysena Veilthorn, 6th-circle necromancer. And this is Kaeron Duskwright, he’s also a 6th-circle warlock."

Lysena gave Ethan a curt nod, eyes glimmering with cautious curiosity. Kaeron, meanwhile, studied Ethan as though he were an unusual specimen under glass.

"So... this is our new mage?" Kaeron muttered, voice a bit dry. "I’ve heard some nice rumors about this boy."

Ethan gave him a sly smirk. "You’ll continue to hear some more—and witness some too."

Several passing mages shot dark looks his way, muttering among themselves.

"See how cocky he is..."

"He won’t even last a week in the Empire. He’s just a rookie, and he’ll ruin our image even more..."

Ethan ignored them, folding his arms. "Let ’em talk. I’ll show them with my actions."

Velexaria raised her voice, commanding the entire hall’s attention. "We depart now. Our carriage awaits. Let the Empire see the Dark Tower’s future."

Ethan caught the Tower Master’s eye and bowed low. "It’ll be an honor to represent our tower."

[SYSTEM NOTICE]

[Main Scenario Quest Started!]

[Attend the Empire’s Magic Tower Assembly.]

[Objective: Prove supremacy among all new-generation mages.]

He smirked as the notice faded.

"Let’s go raise some hell."