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Chapter 797 - Empathy

🕑 Added 2026-02-16 09:33:42 +0000 UTC

Comments

dwrex smile

I have to say, empathy isn't really enough to control people. Knowing how they feel is one thing. But moving our talking in a way to provoke a desired reaction would be difficult. She's had plenty of practice though. I'm decent at poker. I can read people and know their cards. But knowing their cards is not enough. I have crap luck and can't control my opponents reaction. Like how do I make them fold when we both have a crap hand so they don't pick up anything. Or how to get them to put more money in when I do have something.

Kevin

We do know your physique affects the way the system upgrades and changes you. I love the idea of his heterochromia affecting his traits, but I do find it hard to believe that something as small and inconsequential as eye color will have any significant impact on his traits.

Ivan Jelenić

Chickenpox

Ivan Jelenić

He's probably comparing killing his father with killing others. There must be some emotional interplay there.

Lizy Flore

I think he was lying

im_among_you

Hey, is there any chance that Nat's heterochromia affects his trait in the future? I think it would be nice to see how conditions like that affect growth and abilities.

Kirin

Thank you for the chappie!

Gwiddion

same thought it would also be achieved at 400 but i misremembered. perhaps u gain it by completing a huge achievement as a quest reward. so no set level point. Its just sth u gain by completing a very difficult objective. similar to the three and possible 4 passive combination tokens.

Arme nd

I imagine them like a ring that spikes out like mountains, kinda asymmetrical that keep switching.

zoarian

This is one of the stronger chapters you've written. The central theme of empathy to achieve the heist, empathy as a skill and Nat's musings on his own character are tightly woven together. I particularly like the way they play "roles" for the heist and how that mirrors how we all project our own character into profiles/work/home life. Especially as I think Nat's actually just lying to himself. He would feel bad for killing a city, he already does feel a lot of empathy. Could he do it? Absolutely. However, I think it would hurt him emotionally. He's just denying it cause he's plays the role of strength within his group, and that's based on Victoria. I'm glad he's departing from that archetype and not murder-hoboing his way through problems.

Matthew Statz

One thing I've been wondering about, especially after his recent third trait, is when people get the second stage of their characteristic advancement , or whatever it's called. His Vast Mana- even Lissandra was only at the second stage, I think? Might be misremembering that. I'm just curious at what level that happens for people .

Gwiddion

he got 1 extra possible improvement in all other traits got 9 skill levels. and that is nothing to u?

TYRELL GRAY

Nat trait is amazing and all , and it does synchronize with his other traits, it also will help with his empyrean lance and it creates that field that block influence. But right now it’s a bit of let down. Like we don’t get to see any major boost or new abilities. Not that I’m complaining. Is just that I was so hyped for a whole month and then I get this. And honestly I think it’s Cerim playing us

Jimbo

Izzy should be around level 320 not close to 300 based on the end of the last floor. She should have gotten XP from a bunch of kills way above her level

Jimbo

Izzy never manipulates you much. Just the tiny amount necessary. That's why she's scary

tishane Imperial MageKiller

Is there a picture of Nat with his new eyes im trying to imagine them but I think getting it wrong 😔

Kevin

I absolutely loved seeing that Nat, Izzy, and Sophie Scene. Seeing the tutorial attendees messing with the natives is awesome.

Manaless

At least Nat knows he has wives 😂. I think Isabela didn't manipulate him much, since, as Fraudian said, he has many conflicting thoughts at the same time, he would know.

Kevin

Of all the mental skills to possess, I think Empathy is probably the most socially acceptable and innocent one there is. If someone finds Sophie out they might just try to kill her on the spot, but why would they object to a teenager being good at knowing what someone feels. It’s not like Empathy is a dangerous mental skills.

John Smith

Does this novel use LLMs..? I don’t think it does, and that’s not a great thing to say without proof…

jobe matula

Izzy hands down...

RJ Barnes

The way we don’t really know what is going on between the the group and their internal thoughts except for small blips gives the story an amazing form of suspense but also discovery. WELL FRIGGEN DONE

1133557799

Roblox

DasThammo

He has. But I think Nat suspects that he started with Empathy which evolved into Mirror.

Andrew

Thank you!

Adrian Rake

Well, who is stronger Nat or Izzy? 🤔

hhOzo

I thought Adrian had Reflection and not true Empathy

John

Yeah, in these Teenage age, people often are overly "rational" without beeing reasonable. (speaking from experience)

ChildConsumerServices

Was a very tasty chapter then Fruadrian was mentioned and the flavour was ruined 😔

Aaron Mcconnell

Very nice end of chapter thought.

Megabeast_pro01

Awsome!

BlackRazaras

Thanks for the chapter

Lance Beam

TFTC. I worry for Izzie. [Empathy] may be one of the hardest skills to detect but if detected by the wrong person, it will go very badly for her and Group 4.

Terri Harris

I miss the Izzy that casually burned bad people up. I know she'd been mind blended, but I still think a little more ruthlessness would totally fit with her being a 13yr old girl. I keep hoping she'll snap and give Nat the go ahead with operation kill everyone and steal the egg. Fingers crossed! Tftc!

Nemesis

Why not both, Nat?

Konrad Pagacz

I love the inner dialogue at the end. The self reflection that actually questions the motives, is not just answers given on the platter, but leaves the reader with more unknowns, more uncertainty. Lets us have our own takes on what's happening, our own judgement. It's giving power to the readers - we can at least for a while determine what's going on with the characters and it's super engaging. Nicely done. I am becoming more and more surprised by how you have grown as a writer. I don't know how much of that is conscious and intentional (and how much it's LLMs xd), but it's getting really good. Broaching onto some moral discussions about power, responsibility, ethics, etc. It's really good.