Reincarnated as a step-dad in a fantasy world

Chapter 75: All kinds of smoke

As he was breathing ruggedly, Alex felt some kind of information making their way in his brain and bringing another dose of pain, but it wasn't as painful as having his soul being torn apart, so he could sit despite the pain.

"Dad, are you okay?" asked Scarlett as she offered her hand in support to help him sit.

Wincing from pain, Alex took her hand and sat down.

After a few seconds, the pain he was feeling disappeared like it was never there in the first place, allowing Alex to concentrate on his surrounding.

"Lilia!"

The first thing he did was rush towards his wife, the moment his pain disappeared, he might have been out of it during the process, however he clearly felt that something was wrong with Lilia the moment the process started.

He could not fully explain it, but it was like in those brief seconds his soul was connected to that of Lilia, allowing him to understand that she endured the same level -if not more - of pain as him.

"Are hurt somewhere ? Anywhere?" Alex asked worriedly as he examined Lilia's entire body to see if she was injured anywhere.

"I'm fine Alex" replied Lilia, standing up.

"Because of me you were hurt, sorry" said Alex remorsefully.

Lilia took his face in her hands and said with a smile, "hey, don't blame yourself, you couldn't know what would happen, plus, I've suffered much more pain than this, I was just caught off guard."

"Not to mention, even if you examine my body you won't see any wound since it was not a physical pain" chuckled Lilia.

"In any case, you don't need to worry about me, if it would help you get stronger, I'm willing to experience this sort of pain no matter how many times it takes" said Lilia with a smile.

Alex gave her a kiss on her forehead while saying, "did I ever tell you that you were the best ?"

"Yes, you did, but continue doing so, it's not like it's false, I'm indeed the best!" replied Lilia with a proud smile.

"You are so modest" said Alex in a sarcastic tone.

Despite his outwardly smiling expression, Alex was actually seething inside.

'Hey, motherf*cker, why did you not warn me that she will also feel pain during the copying process ?' Asked Alex, angrily addressing the system.

[...]

The system didn't answer immediately, but when it did, Alex froze in his place:

[How could I be sure that she truly loves you, besides observing her reaction after the process was done? And I must say, she does love you~]

'Who is this ?' Asked Alex as his back was covered by cold sweat, the voice of the system that always seemed monotonous, now suddenly sounded sweet and even playful, but Alex's instincts were screaming to him that the owner of this voice was dangerous.

[Me? You would find out sooner or later, till then, take care, lover boy~]

After that, there was a slight pause before the system said with Its normal monotonous voice:

[You didn't ask me if it was going to hurt]

"...."

'Motherf*cker' cursed Alex.

'I wonder to whom this voice belonged, the goddess of lust, I don't see anyone beside her, perhaps-'

"Dear, are you all right ?"

"Ah, yes, what were you saying ?"

"I asked if the copy was successful"

"Let me check" 

'Let's forget about it for now, it's not like I can find out who it was by thinking about it'

'status' 

[Name: Alexandre Eswald

Age: 60

Level: 4

Strength: 60

Agility: 60

Stamina: 140

Defense: 60

Mana Points: 55

Harem: Lilia Eswald, Annaline Maxwell, Amelia Eswald;

Abilities: Soul Linkage, smoke manipulation 

Soul Points: 40]

Just seeing "smoke" in his abilities, a big grin appeared on his face as he said to Lilia, "The copy was successful, I now have the smoke ability".

"What is the description ? Is it different from when the ability was with me ?"

"Let's see"

[Smoke: allows the user to manipulate all kinds of smoke.

You are immune to the smoke element]

'Wow, I gained an immunity against the element of smoke, will it be the same if I copy other's element' wondered Alex, already seeing himself becoming immune to every element there is.

"And ?" Asked Lilia as she saw Alex start to daydream.

"Ah, yes, the description indeed changed, here is what the new description says..."

Alex then explained to her what the new description of the ability said, and at the end of his explanation both Lilia at Scarlett next to her seemed shocked.

After a moment, Lilia released a soft laugh.

"I expected it, but I didn't think that the changes would be so exaggerated"

"It's not just exaggerated, it's literally a fraud" supported Scarlett.

Hearing them, Alex scratched his head.

"I know that obtaining an immunity against an element is overpowered, but surely not as much as make it sound"

"Oh, we are not surprised because of the immunity" replied Scarlett

"Then about what ?"

"What does the first line of the description say ?" Asked Lilia.

"It's almost the same description as your smoke ability description, the sole difference is that I can manipulate all kinds of smoke"

Lilia shook her head then said, "you don't know anything about the smoke, huh?"

"Umm no" replied Alex, scratching his head.

"So, let me explain the difference, contrary to the description given to my smoke ability, here it says that you can manipulate all kinds of smoke".