Elias spat the pill from before and quickly returned to his room, shut the door behind him, and leaned against it for a moment as he tried to make sense of what had just happened.
The strange orange screen was still floating before his eyes.
He cautiously raised a hand and reached toward it, expecting to touch it, but his finger simply passed through it.
"What is this thing?" He asked himself.
The instant the words left his mouth, the orange screen brightened, and a mechanical voice echoed inside his mind.
[Elias Crimson has been chosen as the host.]
The screen shifted, and several lines of glowing text appeared before him.
[Each and every investment and goodwill shown toward your three wives—Natasha Sephila, Monica Ragnar, and Stella Crimson—will generate rewards based on their average affection toward the host.]
[0.1 Affection Rate = 10X Returns.]
[1.0 Affection Rate = 100X Returns.]
[10 Affection Rate = 1,000X Returns.]
[100 Affection Rate = 10,000X Returns.]
Elias stared at the numbers.
"Affection rate? Returns?"
He scratched his head, his confusion deepening as he studied the translucent screen.
"What is this strange thing? It looks like the image projections used by mages."
The screen remained suspended in front of him.
Then another line appeared.
[Use the keyword "Status" to inspect your personal information.]
Elias’s brows furrowed.
"Status?"
The moment he spoke the word, the orange screen changed.
A new panel materialized.
[Status]
[Name: Elias Crimson]
[Rank: Warrior]
[Affection Rate: 0.2]
[Talent: Unbreakable Will (A)]
[Physical Constitution: Three-Star Harmonic Dragon Physique (Sealed)]
[Weapon: Sword]
[Weapon Mastery: Sword — Intermediate I]
[Weapon Aura: Unobtained]
[Mana Aptitude: D]
[Mana Affinity: Wind (D), Earth (D)]
[Mana Circle: None]
[Spiritual Aptitude: None]
[Spiritual Affinity: None]
[Spiritual Stars: None]
[Stats]
[Strength/Constitution: 12]
[Speed/Agility: 9]
[Stamina/Endurance: 16]
[Perception/Comprehension: 7]
[Mana/Spirit: 3]
[Stat Points: 0]
[Skills]
[Slash (F)]
[Stab (F)]
[Swing (F)]
[Parry (F)]
[Mana Body Enhancement (E)]
Elias read through the information several times, his expression becoming increasingly bewildered.
"These are mine?"
His gaze moved down the screen again until he reached the word that caught his attention.
[Talent: Unbreakable Will (A)]
A smile slowly appeared on his face.
"I have talent?"
For twenty years, Elias had been told that he was talentless.
His physical aptitude was mediocre, his mana aptitude was poor, and his swordsmanship had remained pathetic despite countless hours of training.
Yet this strange system was telling him that he possessed an A-grade talent.
Elias’s excitement lasted only a few seconds before he opened the description.
[Unbreakable Will]
[Grade: A]
[You possess a will stronger than most.]
Elias stared at the explanation.
"...That’s all?" His shoulders drooped. "That’s incredibly vague."
Still, the word talent remained enough to make him smile.
He continued reading until his eyes landed on another unfamiliar entry.
[Physical Constitution: Three-Star Harmonic Dragon Physique (Sealed)]
Elias’s expression immediately changed.
"Three-Star Harmonic Dragon Physique?"
He leaned closer to the screen.
"What is that, and why does it say sealed?"
The system responded.
[Three-Star Harmonic Dragon Physique]
[The blood of the Harmonic Dragon flows through your veins. The host is capable of wielding all three forces—the World, the Self, and the Spirit.]
[However, a seal has been placed upon the host, preventing the physique from awakening.]
Elias’s eyes widened.
For the first time since the system appeared, genuine excitement filled his expression.
"The blood of a Harmonic Dragon..." he whispered. He had never heard of such a physique.
More importantly, the description claimed that he could wield mana, aura, and spiritual power.
Those were the three fundamental forces of the world.
Yet his excitement quickly faded when he reached the final sentence.
"A seal?" He mumbled, and his brows drew together.
"How is that possible? I’ve lived in the Ducal Estate my entire life."
Elias stared at the screen for several seconds before shaking his head.
There was no point trying to solve a mystery he couldn’t possibly understand yet.
He continued examining his status.
The corners of his mouth twitched, and he gave a bitter laugh.
"Three mana... Talk about being pathetic."
Even with the strange physique and mysterious talent, his current stats were still embarrassing.
His attention shifted to the screen once more.
The system suddenly changed.
[Evaluating the host’s actions.]
Elias blinked, and a series of lines appeared.
[Goodwill and care demonstrated toward the targets have been calculated.]
[Communication with Natasha Sephila through written language.]
[Comforting and reassuring Stella Crimson.]
[Encouraging Stella Crimson to eat vegetables.]
[Enduring the poison and feeding Monica Ragnar.]
[Protecting Monica Ragnar during her seizure.]
[The host’s current Affection Rate has reached 0.2.]
[20X Returns have been applied.]
Before he could process the meaning, the system continued.
[Ding!]
[Rewards have been issued.]
[Reward 1: Mana Aptitude increased from D to B.]
[Reward 2: Sword Weapon Mastery increased from Intermediate I to Adept V.]
[Reward 3: Skill acquired — Shadow Ghost Poison Resistance (A).]
[Reward 4: Skill acquired — Mental Whisper (C).]
[Reward 5: 20 Stat Points acquired.]
"What?"
Elias barely finished speaking before his entire body suddenly convulsed.
An immense force exploded inside him.
His knees buckled, and he crashed onto the floor.
"Argh!"
Mana began pouring into his body.
It wasn’t the weak, scattered mana he had struggled to manipulate throughout his life. This was a torrent, an overwhelming river of energy that surged through his mana pathways and violently expanded them.
Elias gritted his teeth as his entire body trembled.
His pores seemed to open all at once, allowing the enormous amount of mana to spread throughout his flesh, muscles, bones, and organs.
Pain and relief intertwined.
The mana tore through impurities hidden within his body, cleansing him from the inside out. His muscles loosened, his breathing became deeper, and the constant heaviness he had carried for twenty years seemed to disappear piece by piece.
Steam began rising from his skin.
Elias could barely see anything anymore.
The amount of steam filling the room increased until the entire chamber became shrouded in a thick white mist.
Several minutes passed before the torrent finally subsided.
Elias remained on the floor, breathing heavily.
The system screen appeared again.
[The host has been rewarded.]
Elias slowly opened his eyes.
Something felt different.
His black eyes seemed deeper and more vigorous than before, while his skin had become smoother and healthier. Even his muscles looked more refined, as though his body had been carefully forged and polished.
He planted his palms against the floor and pushed himself upright.
He flexed his fingers and his arms.
He clenched his fists and felt the strength flowing through them.
"I feel stronger..."
He stood and looked down at his body.
"Better, too."
A grin slowly spread across his face.
For twenty years, training had always felt like trying to climb a mountain while carrying an enormous weight on his back. Now that weight was gone.
The thought of his sword suddenly surfaced in his mind.
"I have to swing the sword."
Elias turned toward the door.
He was already imagining himself returning to the training grounds and testing his new strength when he suddenly stopped.
A strange smell entered his nose, and he slowly looked down at himself.
The impurities expelled from his body had left his clothes — and practically his entire body — in a disgusting state.
Elias pinched his nose and mumbled, "...I should take a bath first."
With that, the world’s future strongest warrior reluctantly abandoned his grand plans and headed for the bathroom.