Chapter 149

Distortion...? (2)

My stats had shot up to an almost unbelievable degree.

"It seems to be because of the ogre's abilities..."

It seemed to be the result of the three abilities I had acquired by using Predation[S+] on the ogre. I brought up 「Owned Skills」 and examined their effects in detail.

First, Hyperdense Myofibrils[A+]. This ability allowed my muscles to produce overwhelming power without increasing in size.

"My Strength is about 4.5 times what it was."

Next, Enhanced Sensorimotor Control[A-]. An auxiliary nervous system had formed, allowing parallel nerve conduction and more precise control over my movements.

"And my Agility is about 1.7 times higher."

Finally, Ultra-Reinforced Skeletal Structure[A]. The tremendous increase in my skeleton's strength and elasticity prevented physical fatigue from accumulating and enhanced my ability to recover.

"So my Stamina has increased to about 3.3 times what it was."

Lastly, the stats that had previously been displayed with decimal places were now rounded up to whole numbers. The ogre's genetic abilities had forcibly pushed those awkward values higher, leaving my once-messy stats looking much neater.

The total increase across those three stats was roughly +690. In other words, it was as though I had gained 690 levels...

"... Holy shit."

The words slipped out of their own accord.

To be honest... I had been a little disappointed. I hadn't managed to use Predation[S+] on all five skills that made up the ogre's hybrid skill, Impregnable[S-].

Organ Replication System[A], which could duplicate vital organs.

And...

◆Enhanced Immune System[B-]

: Upon acquiring this skill, the player's [Cell Count] for [Neutrophils and Macrophages] increases by [+15,550%]. As a result, immediately upon the onset of [Infection Symptoms], the player's [Immune Cells] activate and [Completely Decompose] the [Pathogens] at the infection site.

This grants the player powerful resistance to all forms of [Viruses, Bacteria, and Toxins].

Enhanced Immune System[B-], which resisted every kind of virus, bacterium, and toxin. Those were the two abilities I hadn't acquired.

Missing out on Enhanced Immune System[B-] was merely disappointing. But I had really wanted Organ Replication System[A].

As my fight with the Memorier had shown, once my heart was destroyed, I could no longer use Regeneration[B+]. But what if I had Organ Replication System[A]?

I could replace the destroyed heart with a spare. It would be like gaining an extra life. That was why I had wanted Organ Replication System[A] so badly...

"These stats are just..."

All that disappointment vanished. Rather than regretting that I hadn't used Predation[S+] on two of its abilities, I should simply be grateful that I had managed to use it on three.

And that wasn't all. There was the Primordial Evolution I had achieved as a reward for the Evolution Quest.

The situation had been so frantic that my memories were hazy. But thinking back...

◆Some functions of the 'Primordial Genome' imprinted within the player will be activated.

... That was what it had said.

And as for the Primordial Genome—

◆Primordial Genome

: The original genome, containing the ancestral traits of all life. By activating the functions of the Primordial Genome, the player can evolve the fundamental characteristics of life.

The original genome. In other words, "primordial" referred to the beginning.

Thus, my biological classification, Protohuman, could be defined as a "Primogenian"—a being of the origin.

"This isn't Ian's ability."

The Primordial Genome was my ability. Some ancestral trait connected to Predation[S+]. It also seemed related to my inability to use mana.

The Primordial Evolution built upon that Protohuman Bloodline offered three specializations.

①Anti-Mana Specialization

②Pure Physical Specialization

③Environmental Adaptation Specialization

I hadn't been able to read the descriptions properly at the time. The Arcanoheart's runaway energy had made the situation far too urgent. But looking at them now...

"Hmm."

... They were all absurdly overpowered.

I almost felt grateful that I had been in such a desperate situation. Being told to choose just one of those would have been torture.

As for the specialization I had chosen—

◆You have selected Anti-Mana Specialization (Anti-Mana Evolution).

I calmly read through the description of Anti-Mana Specialization while giving my body and mind a chance to settle.

"... This seems pretty good."

Not bad for a choice made in a panic. No, even if I'd had time to think, I probably would have chosen Anti-Mana Specialization.

After all, the abilities of the other two specializations could be replaced to some extent.

First, Pure Physical Specialization. It made one unaffected by aging, cellular damage, disease, and poison, reaching the realm of Theoretical Immortality.

"For starters, Regeneration already takes care of cellular damage."

Immunity to disease and poison could be replaced with the ogre's Enhanced Immune System[B-]. Unfortunately, I hadn't acquired it through Predation[S+]. Given how few ogres there were, I had to consider that ability out of reach now.

But at this point, before the Emperor had begun to act, there were plenty of monsters on the continent with better immune systems than an ogre's.

The same went for aging. Using Predation[S+] on jellyfish or crayfish-type monsters could provide a substitute of sorts.

Then there was the second option, Environmental Adaptation Specialization. It allowed the creation or removal of additional organs and bodily structures, such as growing gills.

"Hyper Regeneration can replace that."

Granted, it had the drawback of requiring Berserk[A]. Still, there was a way to replace it.

Of course, those were only replacements "to some extent" and "of sorts."

Pure Physical Specialization's Biological Predation. Environmental Adaptation Specialization's Adaptive Predation. I had no way to replace those abilities.

But the rest could be substituted.

Anti-Mana Specialization, however? There was absolutely nothing that could replace it.

◆Anti-Mana Specialization (Anti-Mana Evolution)

: An evolutionary form that excludes mana to an extreme degree, based on pure Life Energy. The player no longer [Interacts] with [Mana] under any circumstances, and mana that comes into contact with the player triggers [Anti-Mana Resonance].

At this time, the player's Predation[S+] activates as [Mana Predation], [Completely Nullifying] [Mana-Based Energy].

As far as I could tell, it meant I would reject mana completely. Simply put, it was an ability to "devour" mana.

Now that I thought about it...

"The Arcanoheart's runaway energy disappeared when it touched me."

That power called Mana Predation—or was it a principle?—seemed to explain it. Perhaps that was why there had been such a distinct change in my stats.

Mana:-13.2(x-1.2)

My Mana was negative. In other words, it had been inverted. Because of that, my MP, which had never budged from zero, had changed as well.

[MP] = -1,320

It seemed to mean I could devour roughly -1,320 worth of mana.

"But how much is that, exactly?"

I'd never used mana before. I literally didn't have the faintest idea.

I would need to test the details, but one thing was certain: I could nullify mana. In exchange, I was now completely incapable of either using or accepting it...

"But I've always been like that."

It was nothing new. Being unable to use mana was more than familiar to me—it was a given. Now, though, I could turn that into a weapon.

Taking a closer look at how Anti-Mana Specialization worked...

"It seems similar to Ian's ability, too."

Ian's Mana Manipulation. Through delicate mana control, he could govern or constrain the flow of an opponent's mana.

The instant their swords met, he would manipulate that flow to neutralize their aura. Against a mage, he would release a shock wave as they chanted, forcibly breaking their spells and shields.

What if I could use Mana Predation the way Ian used his ability?

"I could do it too."

The crippling handicap of being unable to use mana had become my greatest weapon, incomparable to anything else.

With it, I could neutralize every power derived from mana.

Magical defenses and barriers of aura. The mysteries of sorcery and divine protection. I could neutralize them all.

Ultimately, they were nothing more than available energy—forms of the primordial energy known as mana, converted into something usable.

And if I added Monomolecular Blade[S] to that? Even physical defenses would be completely neutralized.

"Nothing can stop my attacks."

Literally nothing in this world.

Combined with the ogre's abilities, I could truly say that I had achieved an Evolutionary Perfect Form.

And on top of that...

◆Some functions of the Primordial Genome imprinted within the player will be activated.

Only "some" of the Primordial Genome's functions were active at present. In other words, another Evolution Quest might let me undergo Primordial Evolution again.

Pure Physical Specialization's Biological Predation. Environmental Adaptation Specialization's Adaptive Predation.

If I could make those two irreplaceable specialized abilities mine as well—

"I can reach it."

The pinnacle of all living beings. The Ultimate Lifeform.

The day I would stand at the endpoint of evolution was no longer merely a dream. And now that I had achieved an Evolutionary Perfect Form—

"Time to start making my move."

It seemed the time had come. Time to enter the empire—that vast and dangerous place.

As I was now, I could escape under my own power even if unforeseen problems or variables arose within the empire.

I would enter imperial territory and investigate the situation. Find Ian, meet with him, and discuss our plans going forward.

This was another reason why I absolutely had to mine the runesteel.

Runesteel was a rare resource that even the empire regulated as a strategic material. And at a purity of 18.1%? Even the empire would go wild over it.

If I mined the runesteel and put a substantial quantity on the market, the empire would undoubtedly approach me.

And if possible, I would have liked to get into the imperial palace as well...

"That won't be easy."

Danger aside, simply gaining entry to the palace was close to impossible.

But it wasn't entirely without a solution. There was precisely one way.

A trading company.

The imperial palace was tightly closed off, but not completely cut off from the outside world. The Emperor's secret research was being conducted beneath the palace, and trading companies supplied the materials it required.

As for the companies that supplied goods to the palace, only certain ones were permitted inside.

If the Crow Dung Pot Trading Company could just catch the Emperor's eye... that would be the moment I held the empire in the palm of my hand.

"It's been a while. Let's see that face of yours."

It was time to reel in the colossal whale known as the Emperor.

* * *

Runesteel was my bait for entering the empire—and ultimately, the enormous bait with which I would hook the colossal whale known as the Emperor.

He probably wouldn't bite for any ordinary quantity. That made the Arcanoheart essential. Fortunately, I had managed to keep it safe.

I didn't know how many days had passed since I lost consciousness... but they might already have begun mining by now.

With that thought, I stepped out of my room—

"... What?"

What was I looking at? The view through Whitewolf Castle's windows was decidedly strange. As though something had been distorted.

The familiar county scenery was nowhere to be found.

The old buildings lining the square had disappeared. In their place stood orderly rows of newly built stone buildings with metal ornamentation.

The roads were smooth and level. The uneven dirt tracks were gone, replaced by straight paths of smoothly dressed stone.

The villagers' workshops in particular looked completely different. Until recently, they had been ramshackle structures cobbled together from wooden planks and canvas. There had been no skilled builders in the county, and recruiting any from elsewhere had proved difficult.

Now, though, they had become fine buildings of stone and metal.

It felt as though I had arrived in a different fief. No, a different world.

"... What?"

Seriously, what was going on? Was this really Whitewolf county?

As I stood there staring blankly outside—

"Oh?!"

"Lord Adrian!"

"You're awake!"

Maids cried out in surprise from the end of the castle corridor.

They were carrying a large basin and damp towels. Apparently, they had been coming to tend to me. Which meant this was definitely Whitewolf county.

"Are you feeling all right?"

"Shouldn't you rest a little longer?"

The maids spoke cautiously as they looked me over.

"I'm fine. More importantly..."

I indicated the view of the county outside the window with a glance.

"What is all that?"

The maids naturally followed my gaze through the window.

"Oh, the dwarves did that."

"The dwarves?"

"Yes. When they saw the county, they got so angry! They said, 'Why are you living in houses this awful?!'"

"And then, what was it they said? They couldn't stand for it in their brother's name—"

"No, Lena. They said their brother's 'honor' was at stake."

"Oh, right. That was it."

The maids looked at each other and nodded in agreement.

"At first, I think they only meant to repair them. But after a few tries, they said, 'Bah, buildings like these aren't even worth repairing!' And they got so, so angry again!"

"Then they smashed everything down."

"But you know, it was really incredible!"

"Without any special equipment, just their fists and forearms! Like this! And this!"

The maid named Lena explained excitedly, swinging her arms. Her face was flushed, her gestures exaggerated.

"They just punched the walls, and the buildings shattered on the spot!"

"Then they started putting everything together in no time—"

"It was like they were building houses with magic!!"

I turned my gaze back to the window. The view of the county was truly magnificent.

"And that's how it ended up like this?"

As I spoke, the water spraying from the enormous fountain in the center of the square caught the sunlight, sparkling in seven colors.

"Yes!!"

The maids answered in chorus, their eyes shining like rainbows.