---
Ding
[Body Integration Rate: 55.02%]
Arthur let out a long exhale, and before he could feel any relief, the system returned with its usual mocking tone:
[Wake up, sleeping princess… it's already morning. We'll reach noon while you're still asleep.]
Arthur sighed tiredly, as if he were already used to his system's constant teasing.
"You're truly annoying… can't you say one normal sentence without using that infuriating tone of yours?"
The system chuckled lightly:
[Hehe… it is boring because of your personality, but your facial expressions change sometimes… that's why I keep doing it.]
Arthur didn't respond. He simply stood up weakly, and the moment he began checking his body, he felt something different…
"Advanced Trainee Core."
He had broken through.
He smiled and asked the system:
"When did this happen?"
The system replied with mild sarcasm:
[When you lost consciousness, your core was in critical condition from being drained. You squeezed it dry, so I had to forcefully push it to breakthrough. It consumed a lot of my power… so you better thank me.]
And although the system didn't tell Arthur that the process had cost it far more than that… or that it would be heavily punished later for disobeying its masters…
Arthur was surprised, then gave a genuine warm smile:
"Thank you… I really appreciate it."
The system fell silent for a moment:
[…]
Then Arthur continued:
"Show me my status. How much mana capacity do I have now?"
Ding
---
• Magical Power: 30.19%
• Mana: 30.19%
---
"Good… a big step forward."
"Now… let's continue on our way. We're still very far."
But before he could activate teleportation, one of the corrupted Abyssal beasts leapt at him.
Although the sea was safe, the island wasn't—the monsters were concentrated deep inside.
The beast was very weak, of Dark-White Rank, so Arthur activated one of his skills:
• Corrupted Vines — Max
Description: Allows the host to summon plant-like vines from the ground to attack or restrain enemies. Depends on the host's strength.
[Not Upgradable]
The vines shot forward, pierced the beast, and it collapsed dead.
Arthur turned around… and the real challenge appeared.
A Ghoul-Type monster, also of Dark-White Rank, but this time… five stars.
The system said:
[No need to fight it. We can teleport right away and it won't be able to do anything.]
Arthur smiled:
"Maybe we can play with it a little… see the limits of my body. What do you think?"
The system laughed:
[Hehe… you never change. Fine, do whatever you want.]
Arthur then activated his second skill:
• Corrupted Cluster — Level 1
Description: Covers the host in a strong rocky armor. Due to the corruption power, the armor can absorb attacks and redirect the absorbed energy back to the host to rebound it toward the enemy.
[Upgradable]
His body became coated in a thin, black, stone-like armor, and his fist reshaped into a jagged form for striking.
And because he was still weak, he could not activate more than one skill at a time.
And with that…
the battle began.
---
I hope you enjoyed the previous chapter and this chapter.