He smiled beneath his helmet.
"I’ve become much stronger than I expected."
He then looked deeper into the forest.
"I wonder what stronger monsters are hiding in there."
He closed his eyes for a moment and focused.
With his improved senses, he could clearly feel several powerful auras coming from the deeper parts of the forest.
Among them, one stood out from the rest.
Its presence was like a bright lantern in the darkness.
"That one..."
"It should be at least a Peak Grey Realm monster."
Ben immediately activated Serene Celestial Steps.
His figure darted through the forest at high speed.
A few minutes later, he arrived at a large clearing.
There, he finally saw the source of the powerful aura.
It was a gigantic goblin.
Nearly three meters tall, its body was covered with thick muscles.
Its green skin was darker than the other goblins, and long scars covered its arms and chest.
In one hand, it held a massive wooden club reinforced with iron bands.
Around it lay the remains of several wolves.
The giant goblin was calmly tearing off chunks of meat and eating them.
Ben stopped on a nearby tree branch and observed it.
"Whoa..."
"What is this?"
"A Goblin King?"
"Or maybe a Goblin Lord?"
He wasn’t sure.
The creature looked far stronger than any goblin he had encountered so far.
The giant goblin suddenly stopped eating.
It slowly lifted its head.
Its sharp yellow eyes locked onto Ben’s position.
The two silently stared at each other.
Ben slowly drew his white longsword.
"I guess now I can finally test the real power of this sword."
He opened the system and focused on the weapon.
A status window appeared before his eyes.
[Knight of Ruination Longsword]
Rank: Epic
Type: Artifact Weapon
Description:
A longsword forged as part of the Knight of Ruination artifact set.
The blade possesses extraordinary durability and naturally conducts celestial energy with almost no loss.
When infused with the user’s innate ability, it greatly enhances the power and stability of all Ruination-based attacks.
The stronger the wielder becomes, the more of the sword’s sealed power will be unlocked.
Passive Effects:
Greatly increases the efficiency of celestial energy flowing through the blade.
Amplifies all White Ruination attacks cast through the sword.
Nearly indestructible against enemies of equal or lower realm.
Skills:
1. Ruination Slash (Lv.1)
Releases a crescent-shaped wave of White Ruination energy with every slash.
The wave travels forward, cutting and eroding everything in its path.
Range and power increase with the user’s cultivation.
2. White Judgment (Sealed)
Condenses massive amounts of White Ruination into the blade before unleashing a devastating strike.
Ignores a portion of the target’s physical and energy defenses.
Currently sealed due to insufficient cultivation.
Ruin Domain (Sealed)
Creates a field centered on the sword where all enemies are continuously affected by White Ruination.
Enemies inside the domain gradually lose vitality, celestial energy, and defensive strength.
The size and duration of the domain depend on the user’s cultivation.
Currently sealed due to insufficient cultivation.
***
Seeing the appraisal result, Ben’s eyes lit up.
"So the artifact set is finally showing its value."
He smiled.
Before awakening, he hadn’t been able to use any of the skills attached to his equipment.
Now that he could control celestial energy, he could finally use the abilities granted by his artifact weapon.
Ben smiled as he looked at the massive goblin charging toward him with its giant club raised high above its head.
"Let’s test its power."
He took a step forward and gripped the longsword with both hands.
Then he swung it toward the approaching goblin.
"Ruination Slash."
The white longsword glowed brightly.
As the blade cut through the air, a massive crescent-shaped wave of White Ruination shot forward.
The slash raced across the ground at incredible speed.
The giant goblin instinctively raised its club to block.
It was useless.
The Ruination Slash sliced through the enormous club as if it didn’t exist.
Without slowing down, it continued through the goblin’s body.
For a brief moment, the giant goblin remained standing.
A thin white line appeared across its chest.
Then...
Its body split cleanly into two halves.
Before either half could fall to the ground, White Ruination spread through the wounds.
Within seconds, both halves crumbled into fine white ashes.
Not even the broken club was spared.
It too was completely eroded into white ash.
A massive amount of celestial energy immediately surged into Ben’s body.
The energy rushed through every part of him, strengthening his physique and expanding his celestial energy reserves.
A familiar notification appeared before his eyes.
[Congratulations!]
[You have broken through to the Eighth Stage of the Grey Realm.]
The surge of celestial energy continued.
A few moments later, another barrier shattered.
[Congratulations!]
[You have broken through to the Ninth Stage of the Grey Realm.]
Ben slowly lowered his sword.
He looked at the place where the giant goblin had been standing just moments ago.
"...That’s much stronger than I expected."
Even he hadn’t anticipated that a single Ruination Slash would completely erase a Peak Grey Realm monster.
He looked around the forest and expanded his senses.
For several minutes, he carefully searched for any powerful aura nearby.
However, he found nothing.
The strongest monster in this part of the forest had already been defeated.
"There are no more powerful monsters here."
Ben sheathed his sword.
"I guess it’s time to return."
There was no point wasting any more time searching through an empty forest.
He had already achieved everything he wanted.
He had awakened.
Learned how to control celestial energy.
Mastered several new skills.
Formed a contract with Lumi.
And advanced all the way to the Ninth Stage of the Grey Realm.
Satisfied with today’s results, Ben turned around and began walking back toward the grasslands where Morbius and Lumi were waiting.
Using Serene Celestial Steps, he quickly crossed the forest.
A few minutes later, he arrived back at the open grassland.
Morbius was lying on the grass with his eyes closed.
Lumi was still happily absorbing the celestial energy stone.
Hearing Ben’s footsteps, Morbius slowly opened one eye.