Adaptability Level is Insufficient

I recounted everything I have on my possession right now as well as the stored energy I have left. I'm out of World Energy so dodging using Flash Step isn't possible now. If I will take on another enemy, I have to be decisive to finish it quickly before any surprises arise from the opponent.

The remaining Psyche Boost I have left are all reserved for the hero's use. He'll need it more than me.

I will be fighting by only using Brute Energy if ever. It's a good thing that I can use it indefinitely as long as I'm here or else spamming my Augmented Skills will not be viable.

I had witnessed Erin's fight many times and I observed how she restrained herself from using her Augmented Skills if possible, her reserves are low and it needs some time to replenish it.

Five minutes later, the concealment wore off. I'm already a few hundred meters away from that deserted camp, the battle that was still ongoing midair was about to reach its conclusion.

Old Man Reol while riding the Turtle-like Pillar, fused with it. 

Pillars also have that function? Or is that unique to the Old Man?

Green illusory aura covered his body which transformed to something like an armor with turtle-like patterns.

When that happened, every attack launched by his opponent was deflected. It could somehow make a dent but it will just recover after a while.

At that moment, the Corrupted King Realm showed signs of hesitation.

Has he thought of fleeing?

Unlike the Old Man, he's already cut off by the inherent energy of the world. If he depleted his reserves, he won't have any option to flee anymore.

He didn't have any bag in his person which might possibly contain those balls of Brute Energy.

And my guess turned out to be right.

He launched another attack and when he got deflected once again, he willed his Pillar to catch him from midair.

As soon as his body landed on it, the Pillar bolted and carried him away from the Old Man with a speed even faster than he showed earlier.

That guy is decisive, I can't help but be in awe. He's like me when deciding when to flee.

Too bad for him though. It was that Old Man, he's not just an ordinary King Realm like him who gave up and got enticed.

Old Man Reol's turtle pillar separated from his body and replacing it was the eagle pillar.

Illusory Wings was immediately generated, with a single flap, the Old Man's figure vanished from where he was.

I've only seen afterimages as he chased after the Corrupted King Realm.

This is only the 2nd time I've seen that Old Man fight someone and he still made it look so easy for him. Will there be a day where I can see the extent of his strength?

The Principal predicted that it would need three years for the higher existence at the level of that incarnation could pass through their portal, maybe there's hope for this Old Man to pass through the bottleneck he was stuck at for 20 years.

But with me being the variable who could speed up that time frame, I need to grow at least to the level of the current heroes before that happens.

10 minutes had passed before I saw Old Man Reol flying back to the deserted camp with a beaten up Corrupted King Realm behind him, it was being held by his Eagle Pillar at its foot. He probably decided to fish out information from him.

He left me there, will he be able to see me here? Ah, let's go back. With his appearance, those 3 will most likely have run away already or hid themselves. I still wanted to experience the inherent energy of that world to see how it was different than any other form of energy I got accustomed to but that could wait.

Contrary to my expectation, Old Man Reol descended in front of me, he already saw me earlier when the concealment wore off.

He looked so mighty and imposing right now with his Golden Crown glowing brightly atop his head and all his Pillars transformed into beasts.

The Eagle dropped the body of the Corrupted King Realm before Old Man Reol made them disappear into his body again.

"This one is the strongest Barbarian below the Chieftain of the tribe we declared war to."

Dropping that revelation, I couldn't help but get startled. This meant Raiden had underestimated their enemy. Were they corrupted since the start of their war or did it happen during it?

Did he get trapped when he stormed their camp? I barely knew his Generals who joined him in his campaign. Were there any King Realm among them?

This Corrupted King Realm will be the answer to that.

"Do you know any methods to make him talk? I've beaten him like that but he kept his mouth shut."

Shouldn't you just straight-up torture him? What can I do with my barely Peak Augmented Realm?

Estimating the stat points I got every new stage plus the bonuses I got from my system, I'm probably right below Saint Realm in strength. But yeah, Augmented Skills are crucial as well just like how their corruption couldn't bridge the gap between a genuine 5th Stage King Realm and this guy who's only at the 2nd Stage.

"I don't know, torturing him would be better but I got a better idea. There are three Beastmasters in that deserted camp, I fled from them earlier, their strength was only at the Augmented Realm but considering they're not from this world, it's better to take caution."

"What will you make them do?"

"Strengthen his corruption? It probably took them great pain to be corrupted by that kind of violent energy. Look at his body."

This guy's body is slowly shriveling up, it's like something's eating him inside.

Since they're natives of this world, the energy was incompatible with their bodies. That's probably why they needed the Invading World to completely assimilate this world before they could enjoy the real benefits of this higher energy.

I touched his arm to see if my Adaptability could gather something about him.

There's no reaction at first but as soon as the skin on my finger brushed past the black lines that indicated his current corruption a system message rang out.

[Detected a higher form of energy]

[Identifying…]

[Identification Failed.]

[Adaptability Level is insufficient.]

Insufficient. I needed to level up my ability first. Will leveling it up by 1 enough? Maybe. If World Energy and Brute Energy could be labeled as a Level 1 Energy, then is their higher form of energy a Level 2? or 3?

There could be a puzzle about these different types of energy. What about Psyche Energy? Will it be considered as a Level 1 or Level 2 Energy? Considering it opened up a path with the unique abilities that could also be cultivated to a higher level, there's no cultivation path for it that could strengthen our bodies like Physique Cultivation or the Systems granted by The World which both make use of their world's inherent energy.

Ah. I could only guess for now. This is something valuable which I might be able to trade with the Principal for more information that he's withholding.

Discovering I wouldn't be able to adapt to the Invading World's inherent energy, I immediately crossed out the thought of experiencing their attacks that make use of it.

"Stand back then. I'll make him unconscious."

Old Man Reol lifted one of his Pillars, he didn't make it transform into a beast but instead used it as a blunt weapon as he bashed it on the Corrupted King Realm's head.

This Old Man, won't that smash his head into a pulp?

But my worry was cleared when I saw the unconscious state of the Corrupted King Realm when he lifted his Pillar up.

So that works too, eh? That's too handy. No wonder he never even brought out his weapon during a battle. It's not needed and he has four handy weapons he could use if ever.

Upon making sure that the poor barbarian is truly unconscious, Old Man Reol dashed out towards the deserted camp to look for the three I mentioned.