Chapter 279: Before the final ascent (1/2)

With eager, shining eyes, Aiden watched with bated breaths as the last bits of the notifications he skipped over so far has finally opened up. Just as he expected they were all related to his new usage of the [Primal Absorb] ability.

At first, he had some thoughts that the skill might not work, as he wasn't in a Primal form per se. That was why he actually plunged his fist deep into the orc's body, as in the case his skill wouldn't activate, he still wanted to make sure that he would finish him.

Luckily, his current form, which was created by the system using his most dominant essences, was still considered mostly primal, thus allowing the usage of his racial ability.

Luckily with the skill's recent level up, he was now able to activate it from any form. Also, whilst the description did not state it at the time, but the absorption process felt like it sped up by a great deal, devouring the orc in a manner of seconds instead of a span of a few minutes like before.

Aiden's eyes beamed with excitement as he read through the appearing texts.

[Mountain Orc (mutated)  life essence found! The form is already available, merging essences…]

[Multiple mutations found on the form. An analysis is required before it will be available for use.]

[The absorption process resulted in the following updates to Host's Statistics:

Attribute changes: +2 Might, +1 Agility!

Note: The skill [Hunt] has received 100 XP and has leveled up!

[Hunt (lvl 3 - 100 / 100 XP -] Lvl 4 - 0/ 1000 XP)]

Note: The skill [Martial Arts] has received 100 XP and has leveled up!

[Martial Arts (Lvl 3 - 100/100 XP -] Lvl 4 - 0 / 1000 XP)]

Note: New skill, [Axe Mastery (Lvl 1 - 0 / 100 XP)] has been created!

Dark Essence Source has been found and absorbed! Analysis Progress has been updated!]

[Note: Dark Essence found! Progress...  90% … Gathering Complete!... Analyzing… Complete!]

The required amount of essence has been collected. System Analyzation is completed!.

Estimated time before completion: 03 Hours 59 Minutes 47 Seconds]

The strengthening in his muscles, the increased power he felt wasn't just a feeling, he did truly receive instant upgrades from that single orc. Even though his Soul Power was now at 570 Points of the total of 1100, the results he got were more than worth it.

He was already aware of his newfound knowledge of handling Axe-based weapons, as quite a few of the processed and merged memories from the orcs were related to combat training. Although he wasn't a weapon-based fighter and preferred his own 'skillset', Aiden still was quite happy with it.

He also had to admit, that with the many incredible abilities of the system, he was really gifted in learning. The system could analyze real-time, and while it may be a slow process especially for complex skills like the Alchemy and the various magic ones that have been sitting in his Under Analysis section for years now, it was still something he passively gained with just observing others.

Now, for the first time, he also gained multiple increases and an entirely new one as he merged the absorbed orcs memories with his own.

Still, none of these mattered ultimately. The main reward, from all of this ordeal, was the Dark Essence, a new source of energy and probably a type of magic he had gathered and now almost completed. 4 hours from now, probably by the time he would be out of the forest and hopefully reunite with the girls, he would gain this incredibly powerful source and set of skills.

Also, as the time for the 'showdown', the battle for the Town Lord position is only a couple of days away, not to mention he also had to attend the Academy in a few weeks to get accepted and save the prince's second brother, this powerful source of magic will most likely come very handy.

Aiden was very excited about this, this would be his very first truly magic-based ability… He wanted to see how it would work with him, as his main source of power was different than what he has seen on Roas' and the other minions' character sheets. He didn't have any mana, he used [Soul Power].

Finally finished in going over his gains, Aiden closed all the notifications in the system. Before dismissing the floating screen itself, he took a quick look at the timer on the System's Mission that was the main reason for him coming here. The Guild's and the Mistress' assignment didn't really bother him. He wasn't human, and from what he saw from them so far, apart from a very few select beings he wouldn't really care if the city would be flattened by these monsters. No, for that, he wouldn't have come and risked so much.

No, the reason he came was the System's so-called Main Quest, which was basically a sword hanging above his head, ready to strike down and take his life.