Chapter 466 - 466 (1/2)

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Wiggle, wiggle...

The crimson current wrapped around Su-hyeun's body and gradually got absorbed into him.

At first, he got flustered and even felt some repulsion, but that state didn't last for long.

Su-hyeun confirmed that this crimson energy current wasn't trying to harm him. Even the system said so, and the sense of fullness welling up from deep inside his body gave him the confidence to believe it as well.

”It said, I'm now acquiring it, didn't it?”

The system would never lie. This fact was something Su-hyeun had continuously confirmed starting from his past life to this one.

And the message from the system said that he didn't ”acquire” it, but he was now acquiring it. The difference there was subtle; it meant that he hadn't yet acquired this ability, whatever it was.

Fwhoooosh—!

When his sense of repulsion was gone, the crimson energy current seeped into him at an even faster rate. His heart was pounding heavily, and it felt like his blood flow was going backward. Even then, he didn't reject it.

Su-hyeun had definitely witnessed something quite similar to this. ”Fafnir also did something similar with the heart of that black dragon, didn't he?”

Bradley, the original name of Fafnir, was an emperor who ruled over the world. To satisfy his desire for absolute dominion, he craved even greater power. In the end, he sacrificed countless knights to lure a dragon from another dimension. He then dug out that black dragon's heart to bathe himself in the draconic blood.

What was happening right now seemed to be the same process as that one. However, Su-hyeun had nothing to be afraid of if he wanted even greater power himself.

Shu-wuwuwu—

The crimson energy current clearly visible to him gradually grew thinner. Since the current circling him had vanished, it could only mean that most of the energy had been absorbed into his body now.

Sure enough...

[You have acquired Dragon Blood.]

[All stats have risen by two points.]

[Magical Energy has risen by two points.]

[You have acquired Demonic Aura.]

[Your Demonic Aura has risen by 50 points.]

Those messages sure perked him up.

While basking in the sense of fullness within his body, Su-hyeun spent some time familiarizing himself with his new power level by doing things like clenching and unfurling his fists.

His body, which previously felt heavy like a lump of lead, was now as light as a single feather. As a matter of fact, he even felt refreshed, as if he had shed a thick layer of extra skin.

”Demonic Aura, hmm?”

Besides the upgrades to his regular stats, he also acquired something new.

Since its name ended with ”aura,” it seemed to be some type of special energy, just like Death Aura or even prana.

This must have been the weird and disparate energy emitted by Fafnir that Su-hyeun had sensed.

[Name: Kim Su-hyeun]

[Magic Count: 119(+5)]

[Magic Level: 11]

[Strength: 109(+5)]

[Agility: 108(+5)]

[Stamina: 107(+5)]

[Reflex: 107(+5)]

[Death Aura: 107(+5)]

[Demonic Aura: 55(+5)]

....

[Fatigue: 0]

[God Titles: Hero, Combat]

[Titles: Hero, Taoist God]

A new stat boasting a starting value of 55 had been generated.

Compared to all the other stats, this one's numerical value was nothing to write home about. Also, compared to the Pacific Ocean–like depths and scale of his magical energy reserve or even Death Aura, this new energy reserve was like a tiny stream in a small valley.

It didn't seem that useful just yet. However, this stat should also experience a rapid improvement as he climbed the Tower even further.

”Right, the real issue isn't this one.”

First, the ”Dragon Blood” and, then, ”Predation”—these two new ”skills” he had acquired were far more important to him.

[Dragon Blood]

* It is the blood of a dragon that has devoured countless monsters. Many types of blood have been mixed in it, refining it and strengthening it even further.

* All Stats +2 points

* Magical Energy +2 points

* Possible to acquire Demonic Aura

* Grants the skill, ”Predation”

* All physical, magical damage halved

[Predation]

* It is the ability to devour the powers and souls of the victims you've killed. It cannot be used if the Predation target is of a higher status than you when still alive. Proficiency determines the power you will potentially absorb.

* Proficiency: 0.00%

After confirming the effects of the latter skill, Su-hyeun ended up chuckling hollowly for a little while. He wouldn't have been this surprised by some regular abilities. Despite being surprised, it also helped him to understand something else.

”This Predation skill, it's way too OP.”

Fafnir became strong really quickly after his regression, so quickly that it even seemed unnatural, too.

Sure, Su-hyeun also had gotten strong incredibly quickly. Still, even by his own admission, his case was a special one. Not only was the system there to help him out, but he was also fortunate enough to experience several fortuitous encounters.

What about Fafnir, then?

As far as Su-hyeun knew, the system did not exist for the Predators. The only way for them to get stronger was to destroy many worlds and absorb the energy of the dying worlds.

However, relying only on something like that would not make you strong as rapidly as Fafnir's case. However, with this Predation skill, it made a lot more sense.

”Unlike Gluttony that simply devours the physical body, absorbing the entirety of a being must be far more efficient.”

Fafnir was far stronger than even Su-hyeun had imagined—so strong, in fact, it would have been impossible for him to win without summoning the Path to Hell.

Squeeze—

But from this moment on...

”This is my power now.”

Su-hyeun clenched his fist tightly, then raised his head up. Only then did he notice the wrecked state of the Moon.

It seemed that from here on out, Earth would be deprived of the sight of the beautiful full Moon.

”Mm...” In an instant, he started feeling a bit embarrassed about all of his previous grim determination. ”What should I do about this now?”

Su-hyeun mulled over his options for a moment, but nothing immediately came to his mind. While roughly scratching his head full of complicatedly tangled thoughts, he groaned at length.

He then shifted his attention over to Miru, who was totally innocent in this case, ”It can't be helped, right? Don't you agree?”

Grrr—?

Miru tilted its head this way and that in evident confusion.

Su-hyeun shrugged his shoulders and then looked up, ”What a view that is, don't you think?”

There it was, the beautiful blue planet in the distance.

He was not conscious of it while trudging around on that planet's surface, but now that he got to see it like this, he couldn't help but realize how beautiful the world he called his home was.

Su-hyeun began walking forward again, and just like that—

Whoosh—

His figure vanished from the spot.

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Spiiiin—

Pow, bang, popopopow—