Tiny particles separated from the flesh mass and floated into the air.
Golden energy wrapped around them.
Slowly.
Carefully.
Piece by piece.
A skeleton began taking shape.
Bones formed one after another.
Each one appeared denser than before.
Stronger and more refined.
Golden patterns flashed across them as they completed their reconstruction.
Then came the organs.
The heart.
The lungs.
The liver.
The countless intricate systems hidden inside the human body.
Each was rebuilt from scratch.
After that came the veins and arteries.
Then nerves.
Then muscles.
Finally, skin stretched across the completed frame.
Everything returned to its proper place.
Yet everything was different.
Better.
It was as if Kael’s entire existence had been dismantled and rebuilt using superior materials.
Aiona watched the entire process with her jaw hanging open.
The more she watched, the less she understood.
She had served as a guide for a very long time.
Long enough to witness countless strange things.
Yet this?
This was something entirely new.
"Amazing..."
The tiny fairy unconsciously whispered.
A few moments later, relief finally appeared on her face.
At least he wasn’t dead.
That was all that mattered.
After watching for a while longer, she let out a small sigh before turning around and flying back toward her miniature house.
Whatever bizarre thing Kael was doing now was clearly beyond her understanding.
It was probably better to let him finish in peace.
Time continued to pass.
Hours slipped by unnoticed.
Eventually, Kael’s consciousness slowly began returning.
His eyelids twitched.
Then opened.
He blinked several times.
Then slowly sat up.
The first thing he did was confirm his location.
The Start Room.
Good.
At least he hadn’t woken up somewhere strange.
The next thing he noticed was his body.
And immediately, he frowned.
It felt weird.
That was the only way he could describe it.
On one hand, he felt incredible.
Powerful.
Refreshed.
As if every cell in his body had been reborn.
On the other hand, he also felt terrible.
His entire body felt sore in a strange way.
Like he had just survived being torn apart and rebuilt.
Which, now that he thought about it...
Probably wasn’t far from the truth.
Before he could think further, a series of notifications appeared before him.
---
[Full Body Reconstruction Complete.]
[Host Body Successfully Enhanced.]
[Physical Capabilities Increased.]
---
Kael snorted.
"No shit."
He didn’t need the system to tell him that.
He could already feel it.
The amount of strength coursing through his body was absurd.
Compared to before, he felt as though he had crossed into an entirely different realm.
Yet before he could open his status screen, another notification appeared.
---
[Residual Energy Detected.]
[Searching For Available Energy Pathway...]
---
Kael blinked.
Residual energy?
Before he could question it, another notification appeared.
---
[Compatible Physique Detected.]
[Would You Like To Use Remaining Energy To Awaken Physique?]
[YES / NO]
---
Kael paused.
Physique?
His mind immediately drifted toward Lyra.
Back when he had inspected her information, he had discovered that she possessed some kind of dormant physique.
The Unified Chaos Body.
At the time, he had wondered whether he possessed something similar.
Apparently he did.
Without hesitation, he selected YES.
The moment he did, warmth spread throughout his body.
Energy surged through every part of him.
Luckily, this wasn’t painful.
It felt warm.
Comfortably warm.
Like soaking in hot water after a long day.
Time passed.
Minutes later, the sensation gradually faded.
A final notification appeared.
---
[Awakening Successful.]
[Physique Awakened.]
[Chimera Body]
---
Kael blinked.
"Chimera?"
That already sounded cool.
Without wasting any time, he focused on the notification.
A new information panel immediately appeared.
---
[PHYSIQUE]
Chimera Body — Devours and integrates genetic traits from other species. Absorbs the pinnacle aspect of each target. Superior genes override inferior ones.
---
Silence filled the room.
Kael stared at the description.
Then—
"Hahahaha!"
A burst of laughter escaped him.
"Amazing!"
"Absolutely amazing!"
He knew it.
Someone as incredible as himself could only awaken an equally incredible physique.
An arrogant grin appeared on his face.
Fortunately, it only lasted a few seconds before he forced himself to calm down and properly analyze the ability.
The more he thought about it, the more absurd it became.
Every race.
Every species.
Every creature.
They all possessed their own unique advantages.
Take monsters, for example.
It was common knowledge that most monsters possessed physical capabilities far beyond ordinary humans.
Some races specialized in strength.
Others possessed overwhelming durability.
Some were blessed with terrifying speed.
Others possessed monstrous vitality.
At the same level, humans were often inferior in raw physical attributes.
Yet despite that fact, humanity still dominated large portions of the world.
Why?
Because physical strength wasn’t everything.
Humans possessed intelligence.
Strategy.
Adaptability.
A weaker opponent could still defeat a stronger one through proper planning.
A slower fighter could defeat a faster one through superior timing.
A fragile individual could overcome a durable enemy through clever tactics.
Intelligence was humanity’s greatest weapon.
Of course, that didn’t mean intelligence solved everything.
Plans failed.
Unexpected variables appeared.
Sometimes overwhelming strength simply crushed every strategy placed before it.
The reverse was equally true.
A powerful monster could still fall victim to a carefully crafted trap.
Every advantage possessed a weakness.
Every strength had limitations.
But the Chimera Body seemed designed to erase those limitations entirely.
If Kael encountered a race renowned for physical strength, he could absorb their superior genes.
If he encountered a species known for speed, he could absorb that as well.
Durability.
Vitality.
Reflexes.
Special biological traits.
All of them could potentially become his.
And the best part?
The system specifically stated that superior genes would override inferior ones.
That meant he would never be locked into a bad choice.
If he absorbed the strength trait of a powerful bull monster today, then discovered an even stronger species in the future, the old trait would simply be replaced.
Again.
And again.
And again.
Allowing him to continuously improve without limit.
The possibilities were endless.
A slow smile spread across Kael’s face.
This physique wasn’t merely powerful.
It was terrifying.
And for someone possessing the Infinite Reward Multiplier...
It might very well become one of the most dangerous abilities imaginable.