[System: Activating Safety Protocol]
Reign's consciousness slowly returned, but he had no clue how long he had been out.
What he did know was that, once again, a parasitic creature attempted to seize control of his body.
'Damn it, I really need to get better at defending my mind,' he thought, letting out a frustrated sigh. His mind was his weakest link.
The more he thought about how vulnerable it was, the angrier he became
If there was a silver lining, at least his body had somehow recovered, he was no longer a disabled monster, and could move around abiet still operating at 30% of his usual power.
On top of that, he had racked up a hefty amount of Dark Dust Points. Number 17 had been a treasure trove, and now he had even more to use.
He quickly bought another Seed to grow, realizing how important it was to have extra lives. What he once thought he didn't need now seemed important.
The second Seed could grow into a new body with many useful features if he used it correctly.
In the worst-case scenario, if he were completely obliterated and all his life-saving methods were exhausted, his consciousness would automatically transfer to this new body.
This meant he just needed to ensure that the second body was kept in a secure place.
After buying the Seed, he let out a sigh of relief, knowing he now had another usable life.
"System? Why am I still weakened?" he asked, his voice tinged with confusion as he tried to understand his current body condition.
[System: Host, the parasite you absorbed was a matured corrupted entity, and your body is still adjusting to its effects. You will recover your strength gradually.]
[System: Please be advised that the system has expended a huge amount of processing power to preserve your consciousness. Remember, without the system's extensive assistance, recovery was impossible,]
"I get it, I get it," he replied, a hint of irritation in his voice.
"No need to keep rubbing it in that you helped me a lot. I know."
He felt like the system was getting a bit annoying with all its reminders about the assistance it had provided.
Reign pushed himself up, testing his strength as he stood.
He focused on his ability to materialize his wings. He willed them into existence.
To his relief, they appeared, solid and functional.
He flexed his wings experimentally, feeling the power and stability return.
The speed at which he was flying was slower than usual, but still much faster than a train.
The path was silent, likely because Number 17 had absorbed most of the corrupted creatures along this area.
Regardless, he remained vigilant as he flew, his eyes scanning for any signs of danger. He knew better than to let his guard down again.
'I got lucky last time. Whoever used that attack probably thought I was dead,' he muttered to himself.
'Rosewood should be a safe place for now,' he reasoned. 'I can stay there and figure out my next move. But first, I need to stay out of sight. If they think I'm dead, I need to keep it that way until I figure out who's behind that attack'
As the outline of Rosewood's barrier came into clearer view, he picked up speed.
SWOOOOOSH!
When he passed through the barrier, the view changed dramatically.
Inside, he landed softly on a small hill, a quiet place that gave him a wide view of the surroundings.
The cool morning air felt unexpectedly calming, especially after what he had just been through.
The sunrise painted the sky in shades of orange and pink, creating a gentle light over the land.
'This is what I need right now,' he thought. 'A moment to catch my breath and clear my head. '
He let himself relax for a few minutes, enjoying the serene environment. It was a rare break from the constant vigilance and stress.
'So it's true, once you experience death, you start to appreciate life more,' he muttered to himself.
Something inside him seemed to change, but he quickly remembered how many times he died before.
Too many to count, and none of those experiences had really improved his personality in a positive way.
It was just another moment of him being overly dramatic.
He pushed aside these useless feelings and focused on regaining his old self which took him 3 seconds, and he was back to normal.
"I'll fucking kill the one who put me in that situation," he snarled through gritted teeth.
Summoning Skull Grinder, he began slashing the tress like a crazed maniac.
The peaceful morning quickly turned messy as the loud noises from his weapon scared away the nearby animals.
Next, he decided to fly higher and spotted a small town below. Although he planned to stay low-key for a while, it didn't mean he would stop his habits.
After all, eating humans was his best stress reliever.