Chapter 67: Surge In Power, The End (4)
Cedric’s human form completely vanished. Dense black fur with a hint of grey began forming over his entire body, his structure grew taller and his limbs began to evolve into something that looked more like an animal than a human. His head then fully transformed into that of a wolf with sharp ears and, following that, a thick black horn with grey highlights grew out from his forehead.
"This is my final evolution!" Cedric exclaimed in a completely foreign voice. "You filthy humans! Be grateful that you were able to witness my ascension to a higher being!"
"This transformation, it is indeed more pronounced than the one that burly guy had back when I underwent my metamorphosis a week ago," Grey nodded with a thoughtful expression.
He was not the least bit scared. The guy, even after transforming, was weaker than Zeryth.
Grey could kill him with a thought using his Heaven Seizing Hand.
At the same time, seeing Cedric transform gave Grey some inspiration—an inspiration for his Nexus Overlock.
He had been utilizing Nexus Overlock as a way to temporarily buff his strength. At the same time, following the golden ratio principles of the technique, he realized he could also reverse the technique to buff his own Nexus energy.
Both his physical strength and Psionic energy were already buffed automatically, as Nexus Overlock also affected the mind. But the thing which lacked the most was his energy.
It was still only at the level of the 5th level—of course, weaker than a normal 5th level, as his Death Ascension Art was essentially a way to force someone to become stronger in a short amount of time after one died, and this technique drew upon the Law of Death to make it possible.
And due to that, his foundation was unstable. After this, he would have to take some time to solidify his foundation before breaking through again.
Back to the topic, his energy was still stuck at the 5th level of the 1st rank, and to make it reach the 9th level similar to his Psionic energy and physical strength using Nexus Overlock, he would have to create a reverse-circulation sequence in Nexus Overlock, letting the buffed output fold back into his vortex of energy, gradually compressing and elevating his Nexus energy layer by layer.
[Your Comprehension defies the heaven! You’ve realized the importance of Reverse-Circulation Sequence and perfected ’Nexus Overlock’]
Instantly, a transformation took place within Grey’s vortex of energy. His energy level was climbing up in real time and eventually it reached the level of his physical strength and Psionic power.
But, he didn’t stop there.
This power of his Nexus Overlock was permanent, as long as he activated it, it wouldn’t stop until he deactivated it himself.
But, it also came with the need to maintain it. For example, if he went unconscious, the skill would automatically stop functioning as there was no force to sustain the golden ratio spiral loop.
"But, if I programmed the technique to function by itself then..." Grey’s eyes shone brightly.
[Your Comprehension defies the heaven! You’ve further perfected ’Nexus Overlock’]
The instant that notification rang out, the marks on Grey’s hands and eyes dimmed and disappeared. He reverted back to his normal appearance.
That was because he completely stopped paying attention to Nexus Overlock and the energy circuit manifestation disappeared in the process. That was because Nexus Overlock was running in a passive state and wouldn’t appear unless he was fighting at his full capability or beyond it.
With this, the strength from Nexus Overlock would stay as long as he wasn’t depleted of energy.
He permanently had the strength of a 9th level 1st ranker.
But of course, his life level was still stuck at 5th rank and that’s what mattered the most. Without advancing his life level, he’d never see the steps of 2nd rank.
"It’s perfect." Grey smiled as he casually stared at Cedric who was still undergoing transformation.
His eyes flashed for a moment and within his interface, a notification popped up.
[Power: 1st rank, 8th level]
Grey nodded at this. This was the appraisal skill he comprehended when he tried to ascertain Zeryth’s power level. During the process, he had gained more insight into the information layer. It didn’t just store technological data, it stored all sorts of data, meaning if he could comprehend more insight into the information layer, his appraisal skill could evolve to the point where he could gain information on someone like when and where they peed last time.
And at the same time, he noticed that he could utilize his interface within the corruption field and access the data servers of Blue Star, but Eterna couldn’t. These corruption fields were tailor-made to stop power AIs like Eterna from gaining access.
But he, a normal human, wasn’t taken into that equation as there was no way a human could access the information layer normally. In fact, he doubted the High Order even knew what an information layer was.
Soon, the transformation was over. A dense wave of black energy erupted from Cedric, and he menacingly stared down at Grey with a hint of madness.
If Cedric had even an ounce of rational thought left within his mind that had gone mad, then he would’ve used this time to run away. However, the first thing he did after transforming was rush towards Grey with a feral expression on his face.
"Watch out, Grey!" Lia called out from afar.
Although she couldn’t sense the other party’s strength, she could still feel a big oppressive air. There was no doubt that he had become far stronger than he was before, and he was a 7th level 1st ranker previously.
However, what she expected didn’t happen. Instead, a speechless expression appeared on her face.
Grey waved his hand upward and immediately Cedric froze and rose into the air. Before he could even comprehend what happened, his body compressed inward as sword energy erupted from within him, and immediately Cedric burst into a mist of blood.
Cedric Duskwood was dead.
Grey then went up to Cedric’s corpse and took off the spatial ring on his hand and placed it in his own, and he did the same for Zeryth’s spatial ring.
Grey yawned and turned to Lia and spoke, "Time to leave."
Lia nodded dumbly.
...
During the time Grey was dealing with Zeryth and Cedric, in the Inner District of Sector One, an earth-shattering battle was about to take place.
Bzzzzz! Shiiiiiing!
A black beam of energy shot out towards the Ironfang Family’s headquarters.
But before it could hit the mansion, a powerful barrier of earth formed from below the ground and immediately, from all four directions, the ground shook and an earthly wall formed.
Following that, Toren Ironfang flew into the air with a cold expression on his face.
"How can this humble one help you?" Toren spoke coldly as he eyed the guy who stood not far away, wearing a grey hoodie covering his face and only showing his mouth. "Member of the High Order. I don’t believe we have any past enmities."
"Kuhehehe." The High Order member laughed sinisterly. "We of the High Order don’t need a reason to attack anything, especially a nobody like you. Today, my task is to eliminate and uproot the Ironfang family from Nova City."
"I’m afraid that will be impossible." Toren said with a solemn look. "You will have to go through me first."
As he said that, an oppressive True Energy surged out, spreading out into Sector 1. The aura crossed into Sector 2 and even 3.
Evolvers who were fighting the High Order members near the corruption fields all looked up.
"This aura... A 2nd rank evolver is taking action!"
"Just you?" The High Order member laughed with a snicker. "What can you, an ordinary martial artist, possibly do to me?"
"Friend, if you are done speaking, please make your move. I like to keep my battles quick." Toren said with a calm gaze. "If we take it too far, the sectors around us will be completely destroyed."
"Heh." The High Order member smirked and immediately, dense black energy began to surge out from him.
However, just then, the High Order member froze, and in Toren’s vision, multiple hands made of shadow appeared out of thin air and clutched onto the High Order member’s neck.
"T-This shadow...?" The High Order member’s voice trembled in disbelief. "Is this Ghost Blade Daniel...?"
But before he could utter another word, the hands plunged into all parts of his body and the High Order member fell to the ground, dead.
"This...?" Toren’s eyes widened when he saw this. "Who is there? Please show yourself, friend."
He called out and scanned the area with his heightened perception, yet nothing appeared in his vision.
At the same time, far in the distance, a certain guy with long black hair, an average face, and a t-shirt that wrote: "I Love Nova City" stood with a cigarette in his mouth as he stared at Toren from afar.
It was none other than Daniel Carter.
"To think they would invade Nova City on the same day I was about to go on a date with my wife." Daniel Carter cursed. "I’m retired dammit, why am I even here."
As he said that, his figure flickered and disappeared.
No one knew how he came or where he went.
At the same time, in Sector Six, Liebert and Alaric descended. Alaric’s expression flashed with a sinister light as he flew behind Liebert. Once they entered the corruption field, he would strike.
However, as soon as they inched closer to the corruption field where "Lia" and "Cedric" were held in custody, they both saw that the corruption field suddenly dissolved with a bang and in the center of where there was once a corruption field lay the unconscious body of Lia.
Alaric’s expression immediately darkened when he saw this.
At the same time, a flash of lightning streaked past them and landed at the place where Lia was. It was none other than Albert.