24 3rd Stage Mortal Realm

[Ding! Pre-Mortal Realm reached 100%]

[Advanced to 1st Stage Mortal Realm ]

[Gained 1 Strength, 0.5 Endurance]

Within 5 minutes I filled up the necessary Brute Energy to nourish my body reaching the 1st Stage Mortal Realm.

Because of my system, I also gained insight into how much stats does advancing a stage give. Just by reaching the Mortal Realm, it doubles a person's strength.

Because of my Adaptability, controlling the inherent energy is easy but yeah, controlling it and actually using it to nourish your body isn't the same thing.

I soaked myself in a blob of Brute Energy to fill it within 5 minutes.

Next will be to temper my skin using it. The barbarians have no way of doing what I just did, they rely on their body to sense the Brute Energy and guide it to nourish themselves. It sounds easy for me but for them, it takes effort and everyone has different talent at sensing it.

Raiden probably has some cheat being blessed by this World hence the reason for his fast growth.

I condensed another blob of Brute Energy and spread it all over me to strengthen my skin.

I can feel my whole body itch but I resisted the urge to scratch it. This is because the itch comes from how the Brute Energy is strengthening my skin.

Slowly, the percentage is rising up. 30 minutes later another system message rang out in my mind.

[Advanced to 2nd Stage Mortal Realm]

[Gained 2 Strength, 1 Endurance]

Then another 3 hours passed before I advanced to the next stage.

[Advanced to 3rd Stage Mortal Realm]

[Gained 2 Strength, 1 Endurance]

Another 3 hours passed and the percentage for the next stage is still at 17%.

It appears that I'm wrong about doing this easily overnight. Even if I can control the Brute Energy freely, cultivating the body isn't that easy and the higher the stage, the longer time it needs.

Skin is external so it's fairly easy to strengthen it. The deeper it is, the longer the time needed to strengthen it.

It's almost dawn and I haven't slept yet. Adaptability gave me the cheat to control this world's inherent energy but that doesn't mean I won't get tired after hours of concentrating on it.

I shouldn't forget that I'm different from the Heroes. They're specifically summoned by their Otherworlds whereas I'm relying on my Adaptability to tag along with them.

They were given benefits by the world while I have to work hard exploiting the inherent energy for my benefit.

Just like in Yuko's world, I'm already lucky to be given a Unique System. If not for that, I might've gone down either a Knight or Wizard route.

Even back at the Pocket Dimension, I often rested after hours of training. At least in that field, we're all almost at the same pace. But since there's a 3-year gap, they already managed to upgrade their ability once or twice. My Adaptability still sat at 25% even after a week of training and it's getting slower the bigger the container gets.

I should be happy that in less than 7 hours here, I reached the 3rd Stage Mortal Realm. In total, I gained 5 Strength and 2.5 Endurance.

Well, that's not bad considering I only aimed for 15 strength. I already achieved 1/3 of my original objective.

Now, it's time to rest and I'll continue tomorrow. I don't know how long we will stay here. It always varies according to them but the longest someone stayed in an otherworld was recorded as 3 months.

[Physique Cultivation: 3rd Stage Mortal Realm (17%)

Strength: 6.4(11.7)(0.3)

Endurance: 4.2(8.2)(0.2)

Intelligence: 3.1(3.2)]

Staring at my changed stats, I smiled at my progress. This Physique Cultivation is my own strength that I gained, not just some bonus from the Supported Individuals' average stats or given by the world.

The number indicated at the second parenthesis corresponds to my current progress in 3rd Stage. Only when I reach the 4th stage will it merge to my fixed stats.

I drifted to sleep soon enough and when I woke up another meal was prepared for me. The slave woman was already standing on her corner. When she saw me waking up, she moved closer with a towel made from some kind of fur to wipe me.

I stopped her and told her to relax. I took the towel from her and dip it in the basin.

Bath is a luxury here and water is scarce so wiping one's body is the way they clean themselves.

After eating the meal, I went out. I can't talk to the slave woman at all but at least she's listening to me now. Do I confront Raiden about it?

No. Without strength it's useless. It might even put that woman in danger. I'm still not a Messiah but I'm not some cruel guy as well. 

Ah. Wrong, I can be cruel as well especially when my dark thoughts surfaced. Luckily it hasn't surfaced again. Or yet.

I met Erin outside my tent, she's still wearing the same outfit but currently, she's looking at me like there's something weird on me.

"What?"

"You. What the hell happened? You look different."

"Huh?"

"No. You look stronger than how you were yesterday."

Only now did I check my body.

My muscles swelled a bit, I don't look as skinny now but it's still thin. This is probably the effect of passing the 2nd Stage Mortal Realm.

"I started cultivating. Maybe that's why."

"Wait. Which stage are you in now?"

"You won't tell anyone?"

"Idiot, what for? It will be noticed by Saint Realm experts and above anyway."

I see. Those monsters already have a keen eye to gauge the strength of those weaker than them.

"Alright. 3rd Stage Mortal Realm."

"What the?! And you told me you're different from the Chieftain!"

"Err. I still am different"

"Don't talk to me, you monster."

Erin stomped off in frustration.

I can understand why she's like that. Since I can't hide this progress, maybe I can use it as protection. I just don't know how Raiden will react to it.

After a while, Erin stopped and looked back at me before shouting.

"Hey, what are you waiting for? Let's go!"

"What? Where?"

Ah. I don't coincidentally meet her. She's waiting for me outside.

"To the Old Man. He told me to bring you to him."

I wonder what's her relationship with him? Father? Grandfather? They don't look alike, a student of his?

I followed Erin and we arrived at a slightly larger tent than mine, she announced our arrival and it was responded by the old man's voice.

Erin chose to stay outside and she immediately vanished from my sight. She used her Augmented Skill again. That girl, she's best suited as an assassin. Maybe she's already one.

I noticed the activity around the tribe, they're all busy preparing for the upcoming war. Maybe she will also join it which explains why she keeps training her skill.

I entered the tent and was greeted by Old Man Reol staring at me. It's the same. He really noticed the change in me.

"3rd Stage Mortal Realm in just one night? That's unprecedented."

He started.

There are beast skins scrolls in front of him. Intelligence reports? 

"Is it?"

"Yes. When you told us you're different from him, is this how you are different? Tomorrow, will you reach the Augmented Realm?"

I wish it was that easy. But maybe in 3 or 4 days?

"No. That's impossible. If I can explain this, this is just a small boost for me?"

"That's somewhat unbelievable. The Chieftain doesn't seem to think highly of you but he considers you as a friend."

Friend? Well, maybe it's because we're both from Earth.

"Like I first told you, I'm just a support. I have a skill that he needed and that's the only thing he saw as useful in me."

"Right. We will be marching to war in 2 days. He doesn't require your presence yet. He told me to let you do what you want. Tell me, what do you want to do?"

I see. Even with the impending war, he doesn't need my support. Is he confident without my help? Now I don't know if he's an idiot or just really confident with his ability.

"I'm here to support him but his focus is elsewhere. Our real objective for coming here is to repel the Invading World or what you call the foreign invaders."

"I see. Are they that dangerous?"

"They are and they're here to destroy this world of yours, I'm amazed that you could still fight among yourselves with that danger lurking around."

"We already encountered them before and they're not much of a threat."

They developed a misconception because of how weak their earlier waves were.

This is bad, right? But yeah, what can a 3rd Stage Mortal Realm do? Their Chieftain declared war, the whole tribe will follow.

"Among your subordinate tribes, are there any sightings of the foreign invaders?"

"Is that what you want to do?"

He doesn't need my support. This is the time for me to lay my foundation and at the same time, I want to know the invading forces from a higher world. Are they the same world as the Dark Soldiers from the World of Systems?

The Principal told me that they all look different from each other but there's a possibility that they came from the same world.

"Yes. I need to know and see them."

"Here."

He handed me one of the scrolls on his table.

I opened it. It's a message from a small tribe requesting help. They are being attacked by foreign invaders.

"Is this?"

"All of these are letters sent from our subordinate tribes, that's the only one talking about the foreign invaders."

"I see. Since you're all busy for that war, you don't have the time to save a small tribe, right?"

"You want to see them, no? You can go there. I'll send Erin with you."

This old man…

Thinking about it, this is currently the best course of action.

I won't be able to influence a war of that scale but a small tribe? I may be.

I can use this time as well to grow stronger.

Since that is a subordinate tribe, helping them will be considered as supporting him. My system will level up along with my Physique Cultivation during my time there.

"Alright."

"You're right. You are different from the Chieftain."

Old Man Reol released a sigh after saying that.

Why did he sigh?

"Huh? I told you I am different."

"No. I meant that look in your eyes. It is different from him. He's strong but his head is always held high but you, you're staring straight at us. You're not even terrified of me."

Terrified of him? Why would I?

Ah. Now that he mentioned it, it became colder in here.

He's releasing his pressure, isn't he?

He's not as strong as that incarnation that's why my Adaptability kicked in. It's not enough to let me fear him.

"You're an ally, why will I be terrified?"

"I see. You're right. You can go now and prepare. Erin will pick you up when everything's ready."

Somehow I can't grasp the true intent of this Old Man. Is he favoring the way Raiden runs his tribe or is it all about strength?

Anyway. For the time that I am not needed, I'll take a look at that small tribe and see the real enemy of this world.

I have the Orb of Concealment if ever things go south. Maybe I can take Erin and escape but she has almost the same ability. If we can save the tribe then good but if not there's nothing I can do. This is just the 2nd World, what more will I encounter in the remaining worlds?