[White Ruination of Decay]
Grade: Unknown
Description:
An innate ability that grants its wielder absolute control over the power of white decay.
Unlike ordinary decay, White Ruination does not simply rot living beings. It erodes the very essence of anything it touches, including matter, energy, souls, curses, blessings, barriers, and even certain laws of nature.
The decay produced by this ability is completely under the user’s control. The user may choose what to decay, what to leave untouched, and how quickly the decay spreads.
As the user’s strength increases, the ability itself will continue to evolve, unlocking new forms and applications.
Current restrictions exist due to the user’s low cultivation and limited energy reserves.
Ben read the description twice.
"So... I can decay almost anything?"
He frowned.
"It sounds overpowered."
Morbius had also sensed the fluctuation from Ben’s awakening.
"What innate ability did you awaken?" he asked.
Ben looked at him for a moment before answering.
"It is called White Ruination of Decay."
Morbius frowned.
"I have never heard of such an innate ability."
"Neither have I."
Morbius snorted.
"How can you even say that? You were nothing but a mortal just a few days ago."
Ben shrugged.
Before he could reply, another notification suddenly appeared before his eyes.
[The host has now completed the System Tutorial.]
[Tutorial Mode has been disabled.]
[From now on, the host may only claim a Sign-In reward once every month.]
’What the hell?!’
Ben cursed inwardly.
He immediately tried opening the sign-in menu again.
Just as the notification had said, the daily sign-in had disappeared.
In its place was a monthly countdown.
Ben let out a helpless sigh.
"Well... at least I’ve awakened."
He shook his head and stopped worrying about it.
As he carefully felt the energy flowing through his body, it responded to his thoughts as naturally as breathing.
Ben slowly raised his right hand.
A stream of pure white energy gathered above his palm.
The energy looked like white mist mixed with crackling lightning, giving off an indescribable aura.
"So... this is my power."
Morbius instinctively jumped backward.
"What the hell is that?"
This time, genuine shock appeared on his face.
"What do you mean?" Ben asked.
"That power..."
Morbius stared at the white energy.
"It feels terrifying."
"How can a newly awakened being possess such a frightening power?"
Ben scratched his cheek.
"Beats me."
Inside, however, he was laughing.
Looks like I really am the protagonist.
An overpowered system and now an overpowered innate ability.
That’s basically cheating twice.
His thoughts soon shifted elsewhere.
He opened his system inventory.
There were still countless items stored inside.
Evolution Potions.
Talent Potions.
Vessel Expansion Potions.
Various weapons.
Scrolls.
And many other treasures he had never used.
These should be useful for my new slime.
Ben looked at Morbius.
"Now teach me how to form a contract."
Morbius calmed himself and nodded.
He floated into the air until he was at Ben’s eye level.
Ben blinked.
"You can fly now?"
"Yes."
"Since you’ve reached the First Stage of the Grey Realm, my strength has also been adjusted to that level through our contract."
"I can naturally use celestial energy to fly."
As he spoke, Morbius extended one of his front paws and gently tapped Ben’s forehead.
A large amount of information instantly flowed into Ben’s mind.
A second later, the system confirmed it.
[You have learned the Familiar Contract Spell.]
Ben nodded.
"I’ve learned it."
Morbius pointed toward the surviving slimes in the distance.
"Now choose one."
"They all look the same to me."
Ben smiled.
"I’ll take that white slime."
He had a feeling it would be the most compatible with his newly awakened power.
Morbius looked at the slime carefully before speaking.
"A Null Slime, huh?"
Ben looked at him.
"A Null Slime?"
Morbius nodded.
"It means a slime with no elemental attribute."
"Normally, slimes are born with an affinity for an element such as fire, water, earth, wind, lightning, light, or darkness."
"But on rare occasions, a slime is born without any elemental affinity at all."
"Those are called Null Slimes."
Ben nodded.
Hmm...
White light is made up of seven colors.
Maybe this slime can also develop multiple elemental affinities in the future.
He smiled to himself.
Of course, he had no idea that his random guess was actually correct.
"Okay."
"Then I’ll form a contract with it now."
Morbius simply nodded.
Ben walked toward the little white slime.
The slime noticed him approaching and immediately began hopping away.
"Come here."
Ben quickly caught it with both hands.
The moment he grabbed it, he regretted it.
"Agh!"
His palms burned with intense pain.
The slime’s body was surprisingly acidic.
Ben immediately dropped it onto the ground.
His palms had already turned bright red, and parts of the skin had begun to peel.
Morbius rolled his eyes.
"A slime’s body is highly acidic."
"What exactly were you thinking, grabbing it with your bare hands?"
Ben glared at him.
"Couldn’t you have told me that before I caught one?"
Morbius smiled innocently.
"Oops."
"I forgot."
Ben narrowed his eyes.
"That was obviously revenge."
"Hmm?"
Morbius scoffed.
"Why would a noble being like me care about somthing so childish as revenge?" He said.
However, Morbius’s wagging tail told a completely different story.
Ben decided not to argue.
He opened his system inventory and took out a Healing Potion.
After removing the cork, he poured the liquid over both of his hands.
The wounds healed almost instantly.
The burned skin disappeared, and his palms returned to normal as though they had never been injured.
Morbius glanced at the potion and raised an eyebrow.
"Another treasure from your mysterious collection?"
Ben simply smiled.
"You could say that."
Ben looked at the little slime again.
"How do I catch one?" he asked.
"Wrap your hands in celestial energy," Morbius replied.
Ben looked at him.
"Hmm..."
"I guess we’re staying here for a while."
Morbius waved one of his paws.
A circle of black flames suddenly appeared around the white Null Slime.
The slime immediately tried to hop away, but every time it reached the edge of the circle, it backed away from the terrifying flames.
"There."
"It won’t run away while we practice."