Chapter 279: Before the final ascent

With eager, shining eyes, Aiden watched with bated breaths as the last bits of the notifications he skipped over so far has finally opened up. Just as he expected they were all related to his new usage of the [Primal Absorb] ability. 

At first, he had some thoughts that the skill might not work, as he wasn't in a Primal form per se. That was why he actually plunged his fist deep into the orc's body, as in the case his skill wouldn't activate, he still wanted to make sure that he would finish him.

Luckily, his current form, which was created by the system using his most dominant essences, was still considered mostly primal, thus allowing the usage of his racial ability.

Luckily with the skill's recent level up, he was now able to activate it from any form. Also, whilst the description did not state it at the time, but the absorption process felt like it sped up by a great deal, devouring the orc in a manner of seconds instead of a span of a few minutes like before.

Aiden's eyes beamed with excitement as he read through the appearing texts.

[Mountain Orc (mutated)  life essence found! The form is already available, merging essences…]

[Multiple mutations found on the form. An analysis is required before it will be available for use.]

[The absorption process resulted in the following updates to Host's Statistics:

Attribute changes: +2 Might, +1 Agility!

Note: The skill [Hunt] has received 100 XP and has leveled up!

[Hunt (lvl 3 - 100 / 100 XP -] Lvl 4 - 0/ 1000 XP)]

Note: The skill [Martial Arts] has received 100 XP and has leveled up! 

[Martial Arts (Lvl 3 - 100/100 XP -] Lvl 4 - 0 / 1000 XP)]

Note: New skill, [Axe Mastery (Lvl 1 - 0 / 100 XP)] has been created!

Dark Essence Source has been found and absorbed! Analysis Progress has been updated!]

[Note: Dark Essence found! Progress...  90% … Gathering Complete!... Analyzing… Complete!]

The required amount of essence has been collected. System Analyzation is completed!.

Estimated time before completion: 03 Hours 59 Minutes 47 Seconds]

The strengthening in his muscles, the increased power he felt wasn't just a feeling, he did truly receive instant upgrades from that single orc. Even though his Soul Power was now at 570 Points of the total of 1100, the results he got were more than worth it.

He was already aware of his newfound knowledge of handling Axe-based weapons, as quite a few of the processed and merged memories from the orcs were related to combat training. Although he wasn't a weapon-based fighter and preferred his own 'skillset', Aiden still was quite happy with it. 

He also had to admit, that with the many incredible abilities of the system, he was really gifted in learning. The system could analyze real-time, and while it may be a slow process especially for complex skills like the Alchemy and the various magic ones that have been sitting in his Under Analysis section for years now, it was still something he passively gained with just observing others.

Now, for the first time, he also gained multiple increases and an entirely new one as he merged the absorbed orcs memories with his own.

Still, none of these mattered ultimately. The main reward, from all of this ordeal, was the Dark Essence, a new source of energy and probably a type of magic he had gathered and now almost completed. 4 hours from now, probably by the time he would be out of the forest and hopefully reunite with the girls, he would gain this incredibly powerful source and set of skills.

Also, as the time for the 'showdown', the battle for the Town Lord position is only a couple of days away, not to mention he also had to attend the Academy in a few weeks to get accepted and save the prince's second brother, this powerful source of magic will most likely come very handy.

Aiden was very excited about this, this would be his very first truly magic-based ability… He wanted to see how it would work with him, as his main source of power was different than what he has seen on Roas' and the other minions' character sheets. He didn't have any mana, he used [Soul Power].

Finally finished in going over his gains, Aiden closed all the notifications in the system. Before dismissing the floating screen itself, he took a quick look at the timer on the System's Mission that was the main reason for him coming here. The Guild's and the Mistress' assignment didn't really bother him. He wasn't human, and from what he saw from them so far, apart from a very few select beings he wouldn't really care if the city would be flattened by these monsters. No, for that, he wouldn't have come and risked so much. 

No, the reason he came was the System's so-called Main Quest, which was basically a sword hanging above his head, ready to strike down and take his life.

[New Main Quest: The Secrets of the Demon Grotto

Difficulty: A-S+

Remaining Time: 39 days 21 hours 23 minutes 15 seconds

Objective: -Find and Explore the Demon Grotto

-Uncover its secret

-Earn its owners' acceptance

Optional: ????

Reward: ????

Failure Condition: -Banished from the Demon Grotto 

-Failure to complete the quest in time

Penalty: Expulsion and Forceful Return to the Wheel of Life and Death]

Quite a lot of time had passed, and while he still had more than a full month to get it done, he had a distinct feeling that he would need quite a lot of time, to complete the objectives and that finding the place would be the easiest part of the quest itself. 

Finishing up everything, he closed down the system and looked towards the far side of the demolished hallway where instead of the expected stairways usually stood, there was only a single white, wooden door. It was inconspicuous, there were no lavish designs, great symbols, or any emblems on it. He couldn't feel any source of energy either, so most likely it wasn't even warded. 

When he tried sending energy pulses to map out what would be behind it, he felt no resistance, his energy could easily pass through, but strangely, he only felt more of the same hallway… What was even more puzzling that he could only scan for only a brief distance, after that he felt a layer of energy, some sort of barrier, shielding the way forward. 

Even if it was a trap, or just some last-minute defenses set up, he was determined to push through and get to the top and get the answers so many were waiting for. He would not falter, nothing could stop him.

Taking a breath, he slowly exhaled to collect himself, and clear his mind. He looked at the lying body of the prince on the ground, a sigh escaped his lips.

"[Orc] Roas, pick up the prince, but don't bother sending him back to sleep when he awakens next. It's time he walked on his own, we could use his skills at the top." He spoke, trying to mask his annoyance with this human baggage they had been carrying. 

Although the prince, or 'Drake the adventurer' as he liked to refer to himself was his first human friend, so far, he wasn't any help. They had to protect him, carry him, causing unnecessary complications to the battles. While it wasn't a big problem so far, the next set of enemies would be the true leaders of this huge tribe, the best of their races. 

Even if he wasn't really worried about the orcs warlords themselves, there was someone that could control several of the elite warriors with such proficiency. A skilled expert such as this one could turn out to be quite a challenge. If that would turn out to be the case, then neither Aiden nor any of his minions would be able to waste time in protecting this sleeping beauty, he would have to take care of himself.

"[Orc] Yes, master. Don't worry. Just like before, I will keep the human safe until he is ready to walk on his own again."

Roas' gruff voice pulled Aiden back from his thoughts. He nodded at his servant's words with a small smile, taking one last look at the pile of blood, gore, and rubble laid out in front of him. 

Giving the scene one last, appreciative scan, he turned towards the door at the far end of the hall and slowly began making his way towards it.

Thinking back to the Primal Absorb, he couldn't help but wonder, what would happen when he would absorb one or maybe even more of the orc leaders? Would he gain more skills? Maybe even some form of control over the thousands of these savage warriors? If so, what would he do with such a huge army that even the humans feared?

He didn't know, but he would soon find it out…

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