Chapter 411: Its A Damn Zoo In My Head
While the three of them were still in the middle of their transformations, I turned my attention to the glowing stream of system messages appearing in front of me.
[Rank Up Complete]
[Master → Grandmaster]
A small smile tugged at my lips. Grandmaster. The leap in rank wasn’t just a title, it was a statement. My body and mind had already been sharp before, but this felt like a door had opened to a level of control I hadn’t touched yet.
[Class Updates:]
[Stat Gains per Level: Strength +7, Constitution +5, Dexterity +5, Psynapse +13] →
[Stat Gains per Level: Strength +10, Constitution +8, Dexterity +7, Psynapse +15]
That was a huge jump. The stat gains alone meant every future level would push me further ahead of most fighters. Overall there was an increase of 10 stats for each level up.
[New Right Unlocked]
[Right to Isolate (Active)]:
Within the Absolute Domain, sever the target from its connections—be they Essence flows, elemental bonds, laws, domains, or even the will of its wielder. Once isolated, the target exists in a sealed state where no external force can aid, alter, or reinforce it. Scales with Psynapse and Essence control.
My eyes lingered on that one. Right to Insight let me see the truth, how something functioned at its core. But this... this was different. It was like taking a blade and cutting that truth out of the world, stripping it of all its lifelines. With this, I could shut down an enemy’s weapon, slice them away from their own power, or even cage a law effect until it collapsed on itself. Pure, silent execution.
[Runic Ascent Level 4 → Level 5 (Max)]
So it had finally reached the peak. That meant my runes had probably hit their most efficient form, both in energy flow and strength.
[Node 1 Activation]:
All stats increased by 5%.
Activation cost: negligible Essence drain and physical strain.
[Node 2 Activation]:
All stats increased by 10%.
Activation cost: moderate Essence consumption and mild muscle strain.
Can be sustained for several minutes before strain accumulates.
[Node 3 Activation]:
All stats increased by 20%.
Activation cost: extreme Essence consumption and severe physical strain.
Activation time limited to minutes before risking injury and Essence backlash.
The Node system was something I’d relied on before, but now I could see its limits more clearly.
Node 1 was harmless and easy to keep active. Node 2 would make a difference in prolonged fights, though I’d have to watch my reserves. Node 3... that was still a dangerous trump card.
The kind of thing you only flip on when you’re sure the next few minutes decide everything. But, I had a feeling that it will change again in future. Maybe it will upgrade itself on the next rank up.
[Skill Level Up!]
[Essence Engine (Innate) Level 7 → Level 8]
[Absolute Domain Level 4 → Level 5]
[Revert Level 4 → Level 5]
[Lotus of Annihilation Level 1 → Level 4]
[Collapsing Heaven Level 2 → Level 4]
[Lightning Rend Level 2 → Level 4]
It wasn’t just my body evolving, my techniques were sharpening too. Lotus of Annihilation jumping to Level 4 was especially dangerous; it had been devastating even at its weakest form.
And these level ups made sense considering the upgraded laws and the restructuring with the laws themselves.
[Level Up!]
[Level 199 → 201]
[Strength +120]
[Constitution +116]
[Dexterity +114]
[Psynapse +130]
The raw numbers made me pause. Each stat jump here was enough to shift the balance in a fight on its own. Combined? It was a complete overhaul. The boost to Psynapse meant my control over Essence would be even smoother.
The rush of Essence into my body stopped, and I felt lighter, like invisible chains holding me back had finally snapped.
I turned my eyes toward the three of them.
Lyrate was still floating in the air, her hair glowing faintly. Her beauty had always been striking, but now it felt sharper, almost too perfect to be real.
There was an air of power around her, not just strength but grace, like she belonged on a throne. The black cape behind her fluttered without wind.
When her lips moved, I almost thought I imagined it.
"That hurt a little." she said, her voice smooth and calm. "Finally....some power."
My eyes widened. "You... can talk?"
Her brows furrowed as she brought her floating body down on the ground.
"What do you mean? I could always talk."
Now that made me even more confused.
Before I could respond, Knight stepped forward. His dark fur looked sleeker now, the runes along his limbs brighter, sharper. His frame had grown a little, his shadow stretching unnaturally behind him.
He stopped right in front of me, silent for a moment. Then, in a low, serious tone, he said, ’Billion.’
I blinked, surprised by hearing the panther’s voice directly in my head.
’Why,’ he continued, ’did the lightning bolt break up with the cloud?’
I stared at him. "...What?"
He tilted his head, completely deadpan. ’Because it found someone more striking.’
I blinked, my jaw dropping.
"The first time you can speak... and you start with a dad joke?"
He gave a low growl, then muttered, ’Hmmm.’
I did not imagine them being able to speak. Curious, I turned my head toward Silver.
Silver’s body was visibly bigger now, his wings spread wide with a metallic shimmer running along the feathers. His eyes were bright and almost glowing with excitement.
’Finally!’ he shouted, grinning from ear to ear. ’Do you know how boring it is to fight and not yell cool stuff while doing it?’
I nodded. "I can imagine."
’No, you can’t!’ Silver shot back, laughing. ’But now I can talk and when we fight next, you’re going to hear me shouting the names of my moves so loud the enemy will run before I even hit them.’
I groaned and said.
"You know that other people will only hear you screech because you are speaking in my head."
Silver shook his large head and responded.
’Doesn’t matter, you three will hear me, that’s enough.’
Knight chimed in.
’I like silence. Please do not shout.’
Lyrate suddenly spoke up.
"Yes. Shouting is for uncouth, unrefined people. But considering you are a beast, I cannot expect much."
I moved my head between each of them. There were two voices in my mind from Knight and Silver, my own voice echoing, and then Lyrate’s calm, regal tones.
Silver laughed softly.
’C’mon, Knight, lighten up! You can’t be serious all the time.’
Knight’s growl rumbled in my head.
’I am never serious.’
Lyrate rolled her eyes.
"I suppose the two of you will need constant supervision if you are to behave like civilized beings."
I chuckled, shaking my head.
"Great. Now I have four voices arguing in my head. This is going to be fun."
Silver’s voice perked up.
’Fun? Finally! I like the sound of that!’
Knight muttered, ’Silence is good.’