Chapter 29

Russell stared at the strange green motes of light floating before him, feeling a pang of familiarity.

Why does this look like the spirit Khonsu summoned earlier?

Before he could analyze further, the little wolf girl's voice pulled him from his thoughts.

"Aren't we leaving, Russell?"

"Huh?" Russell turned to her, puzzled. "Can't you see it?"

"See what?" She tilted her head, confused.

Russell's brow furrowed. "The green light… the same as the pyramid earlier. It's everywhere."

Laura squinted, scanning the area carefully, but her expression remained blank.

"I don't see anything. Are you sure? Maybe it's… an illusion?"

She grew cautious, her instincts kicking in as she surveyed their surroundings for hidden threats.

Russell frowned, unsettled. Is it an illusion? Or is it something only I can see?

Testing a theory, he reached out to touch one of the glowing green specks.

The moment his fingers brushed the light, it sank into his skin.

A sudden wave of sensation surged through Russell, indescribable yet undeniably profound.

At the same time, a system notification echoed in his mind:

[Warning: Subject has absorbed a spiritual essence.]

[No impurities detected. Fusion successful.]

[Warning canceled.]

Russell blinked. Spiritual essence?

He recalled the pyramid and Khonsu's transactions earlier. Was this what Khonsu had been after? Had he somehow absorbed it instead?

Yet, why was he the only one who could see it? Did this have something to do with the failed exchange earlier?

Regardless, it didn't seem dangerous—at least, not according to the system.

Then Russell noticed something incredible: the glowing green motes stretched across the landscape, as countless as the stars in the sky.

His heart raced with anticipation.

From his studies of Baron Mordo's knowledge entries, he knew the immense benefits of strengthening the soul:

Mental Resilience

A stronger soul enhanced the mind, making it more resistant to intrusion. With enough strength, he could even trap intruders within his own psyche.

Improved Magic Control

A fortified soul allowed for better mastery over complex magic and secret arts.

Extended Astral Projection

With a stronger soul, he could remain in the astral plane far longer, greatly enhancing his learning speed.

Living as a Soul

When powerful enough, the soul could abandon the body altogether, existing as a pure spirit. While magic in this form was exponentially stronger, Russell wasn't keen on abandoning his body unless absolutely necessary.

But the most exciting possibility lay beyond these advantages.

According to Mordo's notes, a strong soul could act as a vessel for divine power.

Russell's pulse quickened at the thought.

The gods of Asgard weren't mere aliens—they were actual deities. Their divine power originated from the ancient god Gaia, with ties to the World Tree itself.

While Russell's system could extract divine power, it couldn't always use it perfectly. Certain entries, like the soul-extraction spell, had been unusable even after acquisition.

To bridge this gap, he needed to strengthen himself. The system alone wasn't enough—his own capabilities had to complement it.

Now, as he gazed at the sea of spiritual motes, his determination solidified.

Khonsu had planned for years to amass this power, yet here it was, free for the taking.

Even though this was only a fragment of the pyramid's energy, it was still a staggering amount.

And while there might be risks, the system had already deemed it safe. If he hesitated and someone else discovered it, the loss would be immeasurable.

"Laura, stay on watch," Russell said firmly, sitting down cross-legged.

"What? What are you—"

"No time to explain," he cut her off, his focus unyielding.

Laura hesitated but nodded, keeping her guard up as Russell began meditating.

The moment he initiated the process, the spiritual motes reacted as though drawn to a magnet.

Like a celestial phenomenon, the green light coalesced, swirling toward Russell in streams.

If anyone were observing from the astral plane, they would have witnessed an awe-inspiring sight—a vast galaxy of spiritual energy descending upon him, forming a massive, rotating vortex that lit up the Void.

Hours passed. As dawn broke, Russell opened his eyes, a brilliant light flashing within them.

He felt immense, as if his soul had expanded to a colossal scale, brimming with raw power. With a single thought, he felt capable of monumental feats.

But he knew better.

This overwhelming sensation was a temporary effect of the soul's rapid growth. Soon, his soul and body would harmonize, and the feeling would subside.

Then, the system chimed again:

[Ability awakening detected. Transforming entries…]

[Transformation complete.]

[Spirit Hall (Purple-Gold)]

Your spiritual world becomes a fortified sanctuary.While defending against intrusion, you can trap invaders within the Spirit Hall.Inside, your spiritual power is amplified while intruders are weakened.Weakness Erasure: When engaging in mental battles, your physical body will act instinctively, avoiding paralysis or stiffness.

[Soul-Carrying (Gold)]

Your soul can now carry immense power, including divine power, dimensional energy, or the Spirit of Vengeance.Weakness Erasure: Neutralizes all hostile will within the power.

Russell's excitement reached a fever pitch.

The benefits exceeded even his wildest expectations.

Not only had his soul strengthened, but it now offered unparalleled advantages for both combat and survival. Even more importantly, he could now act as a vessel for divine power—one step closer to his ultimate goal.

Looking at the faint spiritual motes that still lingered in the air, Russell smiled.

"Khonsu," he murmured to himself, "looks like I owe you for this… free gift."

-------------

To read chapters in Advance go to patreon.com/kibishi718

Read up to 70+ CHapters

Added 'All the Powers Russell has Till Ch 45' Auxiliary chapter do check it out.