Chapter 23: Changes

As Max commanded, "System, merge it with my body now," a series of events was set into motion.

[Confirm]

The System responded with a confirmation sound, and a countdown began, [Countdown in 3, 2, 1...]

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH..."

At the final count, an excruciating pain engulfed Max. It felt as if his entire being was torn apart, disassembled at the molecular level, and then reconstructed anew. Every cell, every organ, every fiber of his being was deconstructed and rebuilt, both internally and externally. 

The pain defied description; it was a relentless, searing agony that seemed to stretch into infinity. Max's body convulsed uncontrollably, yet he couldn't vocalize his suffering.

The intensity of the torment left him temporarily paralyzed, his screams stifled by the overwhelming anguish. It was as though a multitude of razor-sharp blades simultaneously sliced through his flesh, while his bones shattered and reformed in an agonizing symphony. Throughout this torturous process, Max's consciousness remained intact, trapped in a nightmarish dreamscape of pain and disintegration.

Max clenched his teeth, his entire being consumed by excruciating agony. His vision blurred, and waves of nausea threatened to overwhelm him.

The relentless pain threatened to drag him into unconsciousness, and Max knew that losing consciousness in this state would be fatal. Summoning every ounce of willpower, Max fought to maintain his consciousness. He forced his eyes to focus, and through the haze of torment, he began to take in his surroundings. The room seemed to shift and warp, its dimensions fluctuating in a disorienting manner.

He could feel every moment of his body's reconstruction, every nerve ending firing with unbearable pain. After what seemed like an eternity, the tormenting pain finally began to ebb away.

Max's vision gradually returned, and he found himself prone on the ground, struggling for each labored breath. Yet, despite the lingering discomfort, he couldn't deny that something profound had changed within him.

His body felt fundamentally different, as though it had undergone a complete overhaul, becoming more robust and finely tuned.

With every fiber of his being, Max sensed an inexplicable energy surging through him—an energy that defied all prior experiences. Summoning every ounce of determination, Max managed to raise himself into a sitting position.

Remaining prone was not an option; he needed to unravel the mysteries of what had transpired. As he made this effort, he was astounded to discover that his body responded to his commands with an unprecedented level of precision and control.

Drenched in sweat, his heart relentlessly pounding in his chest, and his mind in a state of disarray from the traumatic ordeal, Max had just undergone a transformation beyond his wildest imagination.

The process of merging with the Perfect Divine Physique had been a harrowing experience, one that he swore never to experience again.

Max's attempt to examine the changes in his body was abruptly disrupted by an unpleasant odor that invaded his senses.

"Ehhhhh!" he exclaimed, feeling an intense wave of nausea. The poorly lit room concealed the source of the foul smell, leaving Max in a state of confusion.

Determined to regain his composure, he quickly stood up and shuffled towards the wooden window on the wall. He tightly covered his nose with his hand and cautiously opened the window, hoping to dispel the noxious stench.

As a brilliant beam of white light flooded the room, revealing it in its entirety, Max's jaw dropped in sheer disbelief.

Before him, an extraordinary and bewildering sight unfolded: a thick, tar-like substance was oozing from every pore of his body, as if he had been submerged in a vat of the viscous material.

Overwhelmed by a sense of dread, Max surveyed his surroundings. To his horror, he discovered that the same black inky substance had completely enveloped his bedsheet, forming a grotesque and massive mound of the gooey matter.

In a state of panic, Max grabbed the soiled bedsheet and hurriedly made his way to the door. However, in his haste, he underestimated his newfound strength, and with a loud crack, the wooden doorknob broke off in his hand.

'You dumb moron!' Cursing his own recklessness, Max gingerly opened the door, fearing that it might collapse entirely.

He entered the inn's communal bathroom, a simple facility shared by the occupants of the first floor. This time, Max was determined to control his enhanced strength. With deliberate care, he attempted to clean the bedsheet, but after several futile minutes of effort, he tossed it aside in frustration.

Max turned his attention to himself, filling a small wooden bucket from a larger tank of water.

He poured the water over his body repeatedly, using the nearby shampoo to scrub vigorously. After a strenuous 15 minutes of scrubbing and rinsing, Max finally let out a sigh of relief as the foul odor dissipated.

Feeling somewhat cleaner and more composed, Max couldn't help but reflect on the absurdity of the situation.

The bathroom was small and dimly lit, with the only source of light coming from a small, barred window near the ceiling. Max's reflection in the cracked mirror on the wall looked back at him with a mixture of disbelief and resignation.

He looked at his reflection once more, this time with a sense of accomplishment. While the ordeal had been bizarre and uncomfortable, it had also showcased the changes his body had undergone after merging with the Perfect Divine Physique.

Before him stood an unbelievable sight: a tall, imposing figure that easily reached 6 feet, a significant upgrade from his previous 5.8. Max's new physique was a marvel to behold, characterized by well-defined muscles, a lean frame adorned with an impressive six-pack, and a jawline so sharp it could cut glass. He marveled at the handsome face staring back at him in the mirror.

Max struggled to come to terms with the astounding transformation he had undergone. Gone were the pimples and black spots that had previously marred his complexion, replaced by a flawless, pale-white canvas. His skin was smooth and almost otherworldly in its perfection, accentuated by his silvery hair that gleamed like polished silverware.

If Max were to compare himself to any Hollywood celebrity from his previous life, they would pale in comparison to his current appearance. He couldn't help but be in awe of the striking figure that now greeted him in the mirror, a testament to the incredible power of the Perfect Divine Physique and its merger with his body.

It seemed that every aspect of his life, from his newfound abilities to his bizarre encounter with the Perfect Divine Physique, was destined to be anything but ordinary. With a wry smile, he realized that his journey as a mana chef in the world of Aiden was going to be filled with unexpected twists and turns.