Chapter 183: First Act 52: Variables

Hot...!

It burns!

Every inch of my body felt like it's been thrown into a pit of flaming hot fires.

The searing pain was almost unbearable, but strangely, with each wave of agony, a growing sense of energy surged within me.

It was an odd sensation, as if my power was increasing by the second, the intensity of the pain acting as a catalyst for something greater.

Amidst the torment, a series of system messages suddenly popped up right in front of my eyes. The transparent blue screen, oddly comforting, helped me adjust to the bright light above.

Ding...!

[Notice!]

[Requirements have been met.]

[Secret Quest: Be Judge by the Sun (completed)]

[Mission: (Restore the Sun) automatically completed, rewards nullified]

[Divine energy has reached maximum capacity, overloading commence]

[Due to excessive amounts of divine energy, restrictions temporarily lifted]

[Authorities boosted to 50%]

[Hero's will temporary access available – 5 minutes]

I couldn't even finish reading all the messages, but I understood their significance, especially the one about the restrictions on my body being temporarily lifted.

The overwhelming divine energy within me, reaching its maximum capacity, triggered a cascade of effects, unleashing the restrictions that prevented me from using it.

Checking my status revealed a cascade of changes in my fundamental attributes, both within the system and in my physical body.

[Name: Adrian Vulter Tellus (Ian Astrea)]

[Lv: 99] [Gender: Male]

[Age: 18 (23)] [Title: The Anomaly] [+2 New]

[Mana: 7600/8000] [Aura: 11000/11000]

[Recovery Speed: S (Temporary)] [Agility: SS (Temporary)]

[Stamina: S (Temporary)] [Strength: SS (Temporary)]

[Intelligence: A] [Willpower: A]

[Authorities:]

{Attribute: Darkness, Fire, Death, Mystic}

[(Temporary Access)]

[Authority: Mother's Embrace: {Active}]

[Authority: Dream of the Night: {Active}]

[Authority: Touch of the Crying Doll: {Active}]

[Authority: Eyes of the Wandering Crow: {Passive}]

[Authority: Domain of the Fiery Scales: {Active}]

{Attribute: Light, Creation, Life}

[(Boosted + 50%)]

[Authority: Sword of Light: {Active}]

[Authority: Lionheart: {Passive}]

The rain it brought was tingly for some reason and sparks of green lighting hovered around it.

A dragon now?

Seriously?

All I wanted right now was to catch a break and get some rest.

My attempt to control the variables had clearly backfired,

....

As the duel between Siena and Elaniel unfolded, the intensity of their confrontation mirrored the escalating destruction surrounding them.

Each swift slash from Siena's sword was met with a retaliatory surge of darkness from Elaniel, the clash of their opposing forces wreaking havoc on everything in their vicinity.

Despite Elaniel's slight advantage with her tentacles attacking from all angles, she couldn't shake the feeling that the tide wasn't entirely in her favor.

There was an eerie confidence in Siena's demeanor, manifesting in a peculiar smile that radiated hunger and unbridled bliss.

It was as if she reveled in the challenge Elaniel presented, finding pure joy in the chaotic dance of blades and shadows that played out between them.

The destructive symphony they orchestrated echoed with every clash and strike, leaving a trail of shattered debris and lingering tension in their wake.

Elaniel marveled at Siena's strength, acknowledging that the woman before her surpassed any beasts or monsters she had consumed and adapted to throughout her entire existence.

This realization fueled Elaniel's desire even more, viewing Siena as the perfect prey that could elevate her adaptation to unprecedented levels.

With each exchange of blows, Elaniel believed that surviving a few more hits from Siena would propel her to the pinnacle of her adaptation, unlocking a power she had never attained before.

"Hahaha~! Give me more, please~~!!!!" Elaniel's laughter echoed maniacally as she reveled in the chaos of their battle, her hunger for power driving her to seek even greater challenges from Siena.

Meanwhile, Siena felt a familiar rhythm in her heartbeat, a sensation she hadn't experienced in a long time.

The smooth flow of battle, the intensity, the risks, and the exhilaration—all of it flooded back to her.

She reveled in the thrill of the fight, embracing the memories and sensations that she had sorely missed.

'Give me more!!!'

With every relentless strike Elaniel aimed at Siena, the skilled warrior retaliated with two of her own, creating a dynamic exchange of blows.

Siena understood the inefficiency of such a tactic, recognizing the energy expenditure, but she wasn't foolish.

Against a formidable opponent like Elaniel, holding back meant courting defeat. Thus, each of Siena's strikes was calculated for absolute lethality.

Despite the necessity for deadly precision, Siena found room for enjoyment in the battle. She skillfully aimed at both lethal and non-lethal points on Elaniel's body, ensuring the fight remained exhilarating. For Siena, the objective was not only to win but to savor the challenge and prolong the engagement.

Twisting her body to the right, Elaniel leaped from a nearby building, seamlessly transforming her black sword back into the spear she had initially wielded.

Knowing that Siena possessed the agility to evade straightforward attacks, Elaniel strategically introduced a clear opening, tempting her opponent to capitalize on the apparent vulnerability.

"Now strike me~!" Elaniel wished, a twisted smile playing on her lips as she anticipated the return of that blinding white light.

However, instead of responding to her provocation, Siena unexpectedly knelt down, coughing up blood.

The kinetic energy she had harnessed propelled her forward uncontrollably, and her body crashed into Siena, the spear piercing Siena's right shoulder.

Elaniel stood in pure disbelief, grappling with the realization that Siena was now coughing up blood.

Puzzled, she knew she hadn't used any poisons, so what could be the cause of Siena's unexpected condition?

Before Elaniel could contemplate further, her own body temperature skyrocketed, the sensation akin to burning in the depths of hell.

....?

"Ahhhh!!!"

Elaniel screamed!

In the midst of her own torment, Elaniel felt a scrutinizing gaze upon her.

Someone, somewhere far away, was observing her every move, passing judgment on the very essence of her being.