Body Reinforcement

"Absorb?" Kaede cocked his head at the unexpected notification.

Then the system brought up another window, seemingly taking Kaede's confusion as a legitimate query.

<System Notification: Absorbing dense mana will temporarily boost the player's stats depending on the mana purity.

Caution: This will result in thinner atmospheric mana.>

Mikael took a moment to analyze the nuances of the notification.

He had long known that the System was strict with its words hence, finding loopholes in the system's established laws always helped Mikael take advantage of it in unexpected ways. Just like he did with teleporting people and objects.

'So, basically, mana absorption is like a buff state similar to an adrenaline rush?'

'But doing so will probably affect the Almagi in our group since they also rely on the atmospheric mana for their attacks…'

'That means I can't absorb everything.'

The Host's heterochromic eyes swept the battlefield.

It hasn't even been a few minutes since they entered the queen's chamber, yet they were already surrounded by two thousand soldier ants.

All of the monsters exuded an aura of death and malice.

Meanwhile, his group of humans slumped pathetically on the ground, unable to overcome the weight of mana.

'Yeah… It's better to just do it and leave enough for others.'

Kaede looked at the shining blue panel and quietly said, "Yes."

Immediately after receiving his response, another translucent pop-up appeared.

<System notification: 'Mana Absorption' is initializing…>

<System is purifying the corrupted mana… 86%... 91%...97%...100%>

<System Notification: Corrupted Mana is successfully purified.>

<Beginning the absorption process…>

Then, small purple lights rushed to his body like metals to a magnet.

Kaede's skin soaked in the dragon's mana like a sponge, and he soon felt the effect of mana absorption.

Ping!

<System Notification: Due to the extremely high purity of mana, the Host's body is greatly reinforced!>

<System Notification: All stats are temporarily multiplied by a factor of 3.>

<See Players' status window for updated stats.>

Kaede's heart pounded painfully against his chest. Each heavy pump rocked his whole being as if he was on steroids.

"Guh!!" he clutched his chest, eyes wide and face beaded with cold sweat.

Veiled in a purple haze, Kaede's body grew while his muscles expanded.

Hunched, Kaede nearly blacked out as his heart rate picked up to an unimaginable speed and his whole body screamed from the accelerated growth pains**.

The black iron armor that constantly slipped off his skinny shoulders just a few seconds ago, now fit him to a tee, and what felt like an eternity of suffering quickly faded as the pain dulled to a throb.

"Hah! Hah!.." Kaede panted, sweat dripping down his chin.

Ping!

<System Notification: Body reinforcement is now complete. The System will continuously absorb high purity mana to sustain the reinforcement.

Estimated duration based on available mana: 2 hours>

Kaede eyed the new panel, 'That means I only have 2 hours before reverting to my skinny weak body…'

He then turned his gaze at the two-battalion monster army.

'Can we finish this in two hours?'

Fortunately, his members had started to recover as Kaede absorbed the dragon's mana.

They did not know what exactly happened when the prince visibly expressed his agony, but from their perspective, it looked like the prince sacrificed his body for them, using whatever blessed ability to lift the heavy atmospheric mana.

Misunderstanding Kaede's selfish mana absorption as a heroic act unintentionally renewed the member's respect for their third prince.

'His highness is a true hero!'

'He willingly shouldered the burden by himself…'

'I am ashamed to have thought so lowly of his highness.'

Unaware of his soaring reputation, Kaede immediately activated his skills. As He could no longer afford to hide his abilities in such a dangerous situation, Kaede only hoped for the members to keep their mouths shut.

<Skill: Bluff Lvl. 1 is activated.>

'This is a race against time! I can't dawdle!'

Exuding a thick crimson aura that frightened both his enemies and allies, Kaede tightened his grip on his spear's shaft.

"Sir Finn, I'm going ahead," Kaede told the still wheezing Almagi.

Being the intelligent person that he was, Finn readily understood the underlying meaning of that sentence.

'I'm going ahead so I'll leave the second group's members for you to lead.'

Finn weakly nodded.

Satisfied with his response, Kaede turned to face the enemy's battalion.

Despite the numerous humans crouching behind him, all the soldier ants' glowing compound eyes seemed to focus on Kaede.

For now, it was a one-against-two thousand.

<Skill: Teleportation lvl 1 is activated.>

<Skill: Teleportation lvl 1 is activated.>

<Skill: Teleportation lvl 1 is activated.>

Kaede, with a grim expression, teleported in the middle of the advance ant troops.

"BRING IT ON, F*CKEEERS!!" Kaede taunted the ants as he brandished his spear.

'In..truder!! mu..st…elim…inate...intr…uder!!'

'Prote..ct…the…Qu..een!!!'

The soldier ants' eyes glowed like headlights as their thoughts screamed at Kaede with thick murderous intent.

The ants rushed at him like a horde of angry zombies!

Bam!

Kaede firmly planted his feet as he stepped into a battle stance, knuckles white from the tight grip on his spear.

He waved.

He slashed.

He stabbed.

The effect of mana absorption made Kaede feel unstoppable!

Standing in the middle of the monster horde, Kaede danced a dangerous dance with their sharp jaws!

Kaede's spear collided with a soldier's iron-hard carapace, but with his thrice multiplied stats, the spear sliced the insect armor like it was made of tofu!

Spraying fresh green blood on Kaede's armor, the soldier ant helplessly fell on the dirt floor.

Kaede felt exhilarated!

'THIS! This is power!'

Kaede continued to slay monsters, left and right.

Beneath his iron helmet was an ominous smile that spelled the death of his enemies.

With his reinforced body, Kaede received only knicks and minor wounds even as the soldier ants tore his armor apart.

Still, he could not possibly take those injuries sitting down!

For every wound he received, Kaede returned three, and soon, his surroundings were littered with piles of dead ants.

--Chapter end--

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**Growing pain: the throbbing pain that one feels when their body grows