[System: The host has already reached Demon Lord status and has now unlocked 165 clusters out of 199.]
"Is that impressive?" he asked, unaware of the normal standards.
[System: An average Demon Lord who has just broken through typically has 100-110 clusters unlocks.]
"Good," Reign nodded in satisfaction, pleased to hear his progress was exceptional. It would've been embarrassing if it wasn't, considering all the cheats he got from the system.
"Tell me, how can I open these clusters? And why did I turn into an ore to begin with? " He inquired.
If the system had brought him to this mental space, there must be a method to make it easier for him.
So he was certain that real demons had different, more challenging methods of unlocking it.
[System: Normal demons undergo multiple enlightenments and temperings to unlock clusters instinctively. However, with the system aid, you can manually unlock clusters on your own.]
[And because the Overlord Race requires a minimum of 199 clusters, you need to reach that threshold before the entire evolution is completed.]
"Will I become a Demon King after unlocking 199 clusters?"
[System: Negative. Clusters measure potential, not actual fighting power. You will need to undergo another ordeal to reach Demon King status. The gap between Demon King and Demon Lord is like heaven and earth.]
"So, in terms of power right now, how strong am I?" he inquired .
[System: Middle Rank Demon Lord ]
"Got it," Reign nodded .
If it were that easy to reach Demon King, then this world would be filled with them already.
To become a Demon King, one must have the right lineage, potential, resources, luck, and even with all of that, the chances were still low.
Reign had only been able to reach this far because of his system.
"Okay, tell me what I need to do," he asked, ready to follow the system's guidance.
However—
Instead of instructing him, the scene changed abruptly.
When his vision cleared, he found himself in another dark place filled with giant orbs with different sized scattered all around.
Few glowed a deep red, while the majority emitted a pure white light.
Vein-like lines pulsing with red energy connected the already unlocked orbs together.
'These must be the clusters!' he concluded, counting the dark red orbs that totaled 165 , and the 34 white orbs .
"But how can I even unlock one?" he wondered aloud.
He focused intently on a white orb closest to the red one.
However, it didn't bother him much; being trapped this long were rookie numbers compared to what he had experienced before.
His main concern was that someone might discovered his ore-like body and turn it into a weapon.
It would be ironic if he returned to find himself forged into a sword or some other tool.
'Alright, one last orb and I'm done,' he muttered to himself, his focus unwavering as he positioned himself between the two orbs.
The veins connected automatically, and he began feeding energy into the 199th orb.
With the connection forged he could feel losing his energy in a rapid pace.
100%
90%
50%
25%
10%
5%
'My full reserve is not enough to fill it,' he thought to himself, realizing the orb was only 85% filled.
Even if he exhausted all his energy, he could only fill it up to 90%.
He needed to rest a bit before attempting to continue filling it again.
Stopping the energy flow, he anticipated a moment of break.
However—
Unexpectedly, the vein he focused on began to twist and convulse, as if it was collapsing .
Its steady flow of energy turned into erratic pulses, like lightning in a storm.
Reign quickly tried to stabilize it by feeding more energy, but it was too late.
The vein started to break apart, making sharp cracking sounds.
Bright sparks burst from the fractures, lighting up the space momentarily. Each rupture weakened the connection to the orb, its glow fading with the instability.
"You got to be kidding me," he gritted his teeth.
Desperately, he pushed himself harder, trying to restore order. But with no energy left, the vein reached its breaking point.
With a final shudder, it collapsed completely, turning into particles of light that scattered into nothingness.
The orb, so close to completion, reverted to its original white color.