Chapter 179: Weak Constitution
The fact that Ash was carrying a Rune fragment surprised him, but it didn’t stop his progress at all. It was unexpected, yes, but not something that slowed him down in any way.
Aside from learning from the World Tree, he also needed to raise his stats and prepare for the next rank. So, he brought it up with her. But when he told her that his potential felt low, she gave him a strange look, as if he had said something incredibly foolish without even realizing it.
Without saying much, she took out a potential-checking artifact and used it on him. The moment she saw the result, her calm expression shifted into one of genuine surprise. His potential was clearly marked as A-Rank.
She explained that potential was the limit of how much the human body could grow, both in strength and energy.
It mainly depended on genetics. Sometimes it stayed low because of weak genes, while in very rare cases, it became too high, to the point that it caused instability within the body. But that sort of thing only happened in non-human species.
Since Ash was human, her guess was simple. His genetics must be weak.
"But I don’t understand," she said, her brows slightly furrowed. "You’ve absorbed the Rune of Life. That alone should have rewritten your body’s structure. At that point, your genetics shouldn’t matter anymore. So why is your potential still reading as low? And from the way you fought earlier, the way you moved... you’re already at the level of an Expert Rank, aren’t you?"
She paused there, lost in her thoughts, clearly searching for answers. Ash, however, simply stared at her as if she was missing something obvious.
I’m only at Apprentice Rank, though... but it does make sense. My stats, combined with the perfect foundation I have, make me just as strong as someone at Expert Rank. Maybe even stronger than that if I use overload state
But I know my skills are weak. I don’t have proper control or technique. I’m just relying on raw strength for now...
Still, there’s another factor I haven’t told her. I have three bloodlines inside my body. One of them is a dragon bloodline, but the other two... I don’t even know what they are.
Could that be the reason why my potential looks low? Should I tell her?
He looked at her again. She was silent, still thinking, her face calm but focused. Despite her ancient presence, the way she treated him felt surprisingly warm and sincere.
I think... I can trust her. At least a little.
"The thing is," Ash said after a moment of hesitation, "I have three bloodlines inside my body."
He explained everything. The dragon bloodline he was aware of, and the two unknown ones he hadn’t yet identified. After hearing his explanation, she didn’t look surprised at all.
"You’re not shocked?" Ash asked, unsure what to make of her reaction.
She smiled gently, as if this was something she had already expected.
"Why would I be surprised?" she said softly. "You’re someone who has absorbed a Rune that no one has been able to awaken in ages. You’re carrying a fragmented Rune, and on top of that, you have an ominous eye with you, which even I don’t know the source of. Do you really think I can still be surprised after all that?"
Ash scratched his head, giving her a small, helpless smile.
"Well... when you put it like that, yeah. That makes sense."
After that, she took a sample of his blood to examine the bloodlines directly. But no matter what method she used, nothing worked. The Rune of Concealment blocked every attempt.
Ash even tried to suppress the Rune’s effect with his mental power, but it didn’t respond. It was as if the Rune itself had decided not to allow it.
I actually feel bad for her now... she’s really trying.
Hours passed like this. She tried again and again, but her efforts were in vain. Finally, she turned toward him with a clearly annoyed expression on her face.
It was strange and oddly funny to see someone this ancient and wise look genuinely irritated.
"Are you even human?" she asked with a half-frustrated sigh. "You say you have three bloodlines, but I can’t find any trace of them. All I see is your human side. The rest... it’s like they’re completely gone."
"Does that make any sense?" she added, staring at him like he was some walking contradiction.
Ash didn’t reply. He just looked at her silently, unable to explain it himself.
She let out a tired breath and sat back slightly.
"If your bloodlines really are dormant, then there are only two possibilities. Either they need some kind of trigger to awaken... or your constitution is simply too weak to handle them right now."
"If your body isn’t strong enough to contain all that power, then the bloodlines may be staying inactive on purpose. Otherwise, your body could break down trying to contain something beyond its limits. And even though you’ve fused with Rune of Life, you can’t change your constitution unless you gain full control over it."
"And... at your current level, that’s impossible."
The space between them went quiet again. A soft breeze moved through the air, and sunlight passed through the glowing branches above, casting warm patterns across the wooden table where they sat. Even though they were deep within the heart of the World Tree, the space around them felt grounded and real, almost like a different world altogether.
After a few moments of thinking, Ash finally spoke.
"So... do you have anything that can help increase my stats more quickly?"
***
[Top of the World Tree – Castle of the Queen]
Ash was leaning on the fence. The castle was situated at such a ridiculous height that even the tallest skyscrapers back on Earth would have felt like toys built by children.
I feel like I am going through one thing after another... limitations, bloodlines... what a complete mess of nonsense.
He glanced down at the red potion in his hand. He had received it from the World Tree. It was a drug known for its powerful effects, but also for its terrifying side effects—mainly causing internal damage and destroying everything inside the body when consumed recklessly.
But despite the risks, it was also a drug that could forcefully draw out the hidden potential within the body. Although the World Tree had strongly advised him not to use it, Ash simply did not care anymore.
My potential is already low, so what difference does it make if I bring it out by force? In the end, I am going to push my body until every drop of potential has been used up anyway.
Besides, the injuries will heal eventually. It’s not something I need to worry about.
With his mask and hood removed, the soft wind brushed across his face. It was a quiet sensation, and he found the calmness it brought surprisingly comforting.
"Tomorrow, huh..."
The next day was important. He would be bringing Elysia from the academy to this place for her treatment. But today, he would drink this potion and advance to the next rank. He wanted to unlock the chance to create a new skill, just in case something unexpected happened.
If the World Tree succeeded in healing Elysia fully, then there would be no need for him to create anything. It was simply a backup plan, a just-in-case. Ash had always been someone who prepared for the worst, even if he never said it aloud.
As he stood there in quiet thought, a familiar voice broke the silence.
"What are you doing here alone?"
He didn’t need to turn around to recognize her voice. It was Serena.
She walked toward him, wearing her formal royal garments that shimmered faintly in the light. The floating crown above her head gave her an ethereal presence, like she belonged to another world. And maybe she did.
Ash made no move to put on his mask. She already knew his face, and more importantly, he didn’t want to block the breeze. The wind was the only thing that made him feel calm right now, and he didn’t want to let it go.
Without turning, he replied softly, "Just thinking."
Serena stepped up beside him and leaned on the railing as well. Her eyes followed the horizon. There was nothing but forest as far as they could see. The continent beneath them was impossibly vast. It stretched beyond the clouds and past the edges of what the eye could grasp.
"I heard from the Great Mother that you came here because someone important to you was harmed by those demons," she said gently, placing both hands over her chest.
"Something like that," Ash replied, his voice quiet and distant.
"I’m glad," she said after a pause, "that you had a reason for helping me. A hidden reason, yes, but at least now I know you’re not a bad person. And... and to go through all of this for someone else... she must be really precious to you, right?"
She turned her head slightly, looking at him as she asked, but Ash didn’t meet her eyes. His gaze remained fixed on the horizon, cold and still. His long hair, now grown to shoulder length, flowed gently in the wind. His expression showed no emotion, but somehow that made it feel heavier—like the silence was speaking for him.
It was the kind of moment that would leave a lasting impression in someone’s heart.
"Yeah, she is. I’ll be bringing her here tomorrow. You can meet her after she gets healed."
Serena lowered her gaze. Her voice came softer than before. "Alright..."
But then a sudden thought crossed her mind, and her eyes widened slightly.
Wait... could she be—
"Is she your sister?"
-BOINK!!
"What the hell are you blabbering about?"
Ash asked while gently knocking his knuckle against her forehead. He looked at her like she had just said the dumbest thing possible.
"Ouch... I just thought maybe she was..." Serena muttered, pouting slightly as she rubbed her head with both hands.
"Then maybe... your mother?" she asked again, blinking innocently.
"You..."
"Alright, alright! I’m going," Serena said quickly, laughing as she turned around and began running away.
Ash watched her retreat with an exhausted look and then let out a small sigh. He raised his hand and brushed his fingers along his cheek, letting the wind flow past him again.
Sometimes... I feel like having a handsome face isn’t such a good thing after all. There are going to be too many hearts broken along the way...
***