Chapter 23 (1/2)

Following that, black light began to bunch up and fall apart, repeating over and over until it formed the appearance of a woman. Purple hair, cold pupils like a snake's, enchanting lips and a majestic figure. I definitely remember having seen this naked woman.

'She didn't just exist in my dreams?'

I had met her dozens of times, or if it were just counting the number of times I had intercoursed with her in my dreams, even more than that. If only that was taken into account, it may seem to be a weird object that kept lonely men company at night, but regardless I never had doubts regarding the lofty 'Prestige' embodied in her appearance. However, she had a.s.similated into reality.

Her beauty was mind-blowing. The feeling I got from seeing her in the dream and in reality was completely different, however, she had an atmosphere about her that didn't allow easy approach. It was like a black hole that you would be forever unable to escape from if you laid a hand on it.

”I have finally become able to take form.”

Jörmungandr laughed leisurely and turned her gaze to me.

Jolt!

In that moment I felt my senses enhanced. I felt my blood roiling and the world heavily shaking. Was this how it felt to witness the creation of a universe? My Magic Power was amplified, going out of control, and it felt like my mind was going to tear to pieces.

”Huhu! The 'blood' I had injected must have begun to awaken. Endure. If you are incapable of even that, you have no right to stand before me.”

Blood?

I involuntarily recalled the day when my bed was drenched with blood. I was unconscious on my way back home. Of course I didn't know who the owner of that 'blood' was, however, if the blood going wild in my body right now belonged to Jörmungandr, then it meant that that blood back then must have been mine.

Jörmungandr came close and stroked my cheek.

”I usually never help anyone. But I am in a very good mood today, for I have waited eons to finally manifest!”

I grit my teeth.

I never expected Jörmungandr to appear but at least it was good news. The gnoll shaman recognized the 'Prestige' she held and was currently unable to make any rash movements. No, it wasn't just the gnoll shaman. Every single creature on the scene appeared to be petrified, unable to move.

”Clearly, however, my body of now is different to that of the past. It is weak, as if it would break at a touch. As such, my help only comes with 'equivalent exchange'.”

Even now I felt like my body was on the verge of falling apart into pieces, but I clenched my jaw and spoke.

”So…you mean to request something of me.”

If I collapsed at this point then Jörmungandr wouldn't hesitate to show her back; I could feel it strongly. She was a snake that existed solely for her own sake, an omnipotent being that had once completely coiled itself around world. It was nonsense to even think that she would come forth on her own to help somebody. It was only because I held that small bit of 'Prestige' that she proffered her hand in humour, as if having come across an amusing toy.

Jörmungandr laughed. Her looks were definitely of an otherworldly beauty, but her laughter was so cold.

”Your capacity. That is what I eat and grow.”

[It is possible to borrow the power of 'Jörmungandr' using 10 potential.]

Potential equaled capacity…the size of my vessel, the size of which would hardly ever change unless I were to consume age-old wondrous elixirs like eating rice, and only then would it increase in small amounts. My potential was 456, however, it wasn't normally worth exchanging any of it in the long run. But Jörmungandr was requesting for it, and If I refused her now then she would turn back into her previous form.

But I had the ultimate weapon in the form of powerful 'information'. If I were to utilize this then it would be easy to restore the lost potential. It was to that point that I only needed to think for a moment and dozens of such methods would flit through my mind.

I nodded my head.

”Alright. Let's trade.”

I couldn't lose my life out of begrudging 10 potential. More than that, I needed a way to break out of this dangerous situation.

Hup!

Jörmungandr laughed and forced her lips onto mine the instant I nodded my head. Her tongue extended like a snakes and stirred the inside of my mouth, feeling as if it would even reach my brain. And then…

['Forced Awakening' has begun due to 'Jörmungandr'.]

All stats become (60+6*Lv=72) upon Forced Awakening.

Stats will slowly decay during the 30 minute duration.

10 potential is permanently lost upon the end of duration, and user will enter a state of 'Forced Sleep'.

The power of 'Cold-blood(Lv1) has been attained due to the Authority of Universal Man.

Power began to overflow from my entire body. I felt the air around me change, and even the way I saw things had become different. I felt a vigor as if I had returned to my prime as all my stats became 72. Of course, it was far from comparable to my last moments in the past, but it was still amazing nonetheless.

'Whew.'

Most importantly, the special function of increasing stat by level multiplied by 6 meant that if Jörmungandr's level were to reach 10, then it would even be possible to raise every stats to 120. This was truly unbelievable, because a total stat of 600 overwhelmed even a Demon Lord! You may well be called a half-G.o.d at that level.

Jörmungandr released my lips and then spoke.

”It will be hard to adjust to the sudden gain of power. If you fail to clean up those ugly things then running would also-.”

Thump!

I kicked off the ground, and rose high above before falling down into the center of the gnolls.

'I have 30 minutes.'

I could do it. A total stat of 350 equaled the strength of a level 7. I outstripped the gnoll shaman in terms of raw numbers, but I was restricted by the 30 minute time limit, moreover, I would grow weaker the more time pa.s.sed. As such, even the time to listen to Jörmungandr's words was precious. Cold-blood(Lv1) made my mind colder than before. The Authority of Universal Man…the ability to take in, and make mine, all kinds of powers!

Thwack!

I chopped down on a gnoll's head. I could even smash rock with 72 Strength; I knew this better than anyone because I had already experienced before. Contrary to Jörmungandr's expectation, I had already finished 'adjusting' regardless of it being borrowed power.

The gnoll's skull was shattered and brain matter splattered everywhere, however, the blood spilled by the gnoll instantly gathered into my hand. This was another usage of Cold-blood; it appeared that it wasn't limited to simply enhancing the mind.

Weak resistance to mind-affecting statuses.

Able to draw blood from corpses and shape it according to the user's will. Its duration and usable amount of blood is proportional to the skill level and user's Intelligence, while the density and destructive power of the shaped blood is proportional to the skill level and user's Magic Power.

'Cold-blood…not bad.'

Actually, this skill wasn't just 'not bad', but simply amazing. It had an infinite potential on the battlefield. I could give a nod to obtaining this skill at the cost of 10 potential. This skill s.h.i.+ned especially in times like now where I had no equipment to use.

I smashed open the heads of several more gnolls. This sensation I hadn't felt in a long time was quite wonderful. The feeling of tearing flesh, destroying bones and innards directly ran up my fist. My body had felt so stuffy like a sponge full of water, but now I could move it as I wished. And so, the first thing I shaped with blood was a pair of gauntlets; my fists were more receptive than swords. After that I made a helmet and armor. Crimson blood rolled like mesh to cover my entire body. I literally became a man of blood(血人). Perhaps this was what it would be like to be a knight armed with blood.

”Arat…Arataum!”

The gnoll shaman waved its wand, and a magic flame gathered from all directions to rush toward me. I created a s.h.i.+eld, and then together with a 'Bang!' sound the s.h.i.+eld made of blood blocked the fireball before dissipating.

It was too far away. The gnoll shaman was under the protection of the other gnolls, numbering nearly a thousand. Going close to deliver a blow within a short period of time wasn't feasible. I could shorten the distance with another leap, but it would be difficult to block every fireball.

'Spear.'

And so I made a spear. A single spear for the sole purpose of piercing. After creating it, I immediately hurled it toward the gnoll shaman; it was a javelin.

Puok!