Chapter 123: Celebrating Progress

Adam didn’t waste time.

He focused on the new talent.

Stone Cold E and the panel responded immediately.

[Stone Cold E:

Allows the bearer to trap foes in a modest stone-cold enclosure

while granting the bearer a modest stone-cold defense.]

“…”

Adam stared at the description.

For a moment, he wondered if he’d been too generous thinking he’d gotten used to the panel’s… creative explanations. Every time he thought it couldn’t get worse, it proved him wrong.

He exhaled slowly and shook his head.

Not everything can be perfect.

Still, he understood it.

The panel always understated things. Rapid E had been described as a modest increase in speed, yet it gave him fine control over his movements, balance, and momentum far beyond what “modest” implied.

So he didn’t doubt Stone Cold E either.

Let’s test it.

He couldn’t test the entrapment aspect in his current condition, but the defensive side was fair game.

Adam activated the talent.

In the next moment, his bandaged body shimmered.

His skin turned crystalline, an eerie fusion of ice and stone, translucent yet solid, cold light refracting off his form. Despite the drastic change, he could still move.

Well. As much as my current state allows.

He flexed slightly, examining himself and understanding dawned quickly.

The talent wasn’t just coating him, it was restructuring him. His cells had become extremely compact and dense, far denser than what should be possible for a living being.

Normally, something like this would be fatal. The only reason he could still move was because he had direct control over the transformed cells.

But if I trap someone else in this…

Adam’s eyes narrowed.

They won’t have control.

They’d be immobilized and worse, their body would be subjected to constant internal damage until the enclosure was lifted.

He deactivated the talent, and his body reverted to normal.

A cold smile tugged at his lips.

With this defense… that bastard will find it much harder to put a wound on me.

Adam had no intention of forgetting the profound lord.

When the time comes, I’ll collect my debt.

He leaned back slightly, exhaustion creeping in.

It all started with a single E-rank talent.

Now I have three.

The thought filled him with a quiet, dangerous satisfaction.

Then the fatigue hit him like a hammer.

His vision dimmed.

And Adam fell asleep.

****

Remedy moved through the forest without a care in the world. She wore a black-and-white tracksuit, a black cap pulled low with hands tucked casually into the jacket pockets.

At first glance, she looked like someone out for a late jog. In reality, she was hunting.

I have to make this lunch nothing but special.

Deep roars echoed through the forest, countless of them, layered and distant. That was normal. They were in the wild zones, not the Alliance-controlled area where rifts and incursions were constantly managed.

This was untamed land.

A place where monsters roamed freely.

A place where letting your guard down even once meant death.

Remedy didn’t care.

A sudden roar suddenly erupted much closer and she jumped back as a massive wooden log slammed into the ground where she’d been standing a heartbeat earlier, dirt and splinters exploding outward.

Her hands were still in her pockets as she turned.

An Unranked Level 3 Metal Tail stood there.

Its body was wrapped in thick metal armor plates, and its tail ended in a massive spiked metal ball. A freshly felled tree lay beside it, evidence of its crude but effective ranged attacks. The monster reared back, tail coiling as it prepared to launch another projectile.

Remedy’s eyes sparkled.

Perfect.

“Metal Tail meat,” she murmured happily. “One of the sweetest among level three monsters.”

She pulled her hands from her pockets.

“Adam will definitely love it.”

The Metal Tail roared and whipped its tail again, sending another massive log hurtling toward her.

Remedy dodged effortlessly and closed the distance.

The monster snarled, its tail swelling, metal expanding until it was the size of a boulder, swinging down with the intent to crush her completely.

Remedy didn’t flinch.

“Light Barrage.”

The tail slammed down…

And passed straight through her, as her body dissolved into motes of light.

In the next instant, multiple Remedys appeared around the monster, forming a perfect circle. They moved in absolute sync, hands glowing as spears of condensed light formed.

They struck together, and the metal armor shattered like glass, as the monster died instantly.

Remedy reformed from light, not even breathing hard. She stored the corpse into her storage item, gave the area a brief glance to make sure nothing else was approaching…

Then turned and headed back.

Lunch was secured.

****

Remedy reached the mouth of a cave, where a giant monster slept deep inside, its slow breathing shaking the stone. She passed it without a second glance. It was hibernating, and more importantly, its presence alone was enough to keep lesser monsters far away.

She moved deeper until she reached what looked like a dead end.

Then she stepped forward and the wall rippled. It was an illusion disguising a secret passageway.

The moment she passed through, she was back in their room.

Remedy’s eyes went straight to the bed noticing the still sleeping Adam.

For a moment, a sad look crossed her face.

Then…

Shock, followed by excitement that grew stronger.

She could feel it clearly. The change was unmistakable. Adam’s presence had sharpened and his strength had surged past a threshold.

He surpassed me.

Remedy shook her head and smiled softly.

“I decided to take care of you,” she murmured, “and you used that chance to pass me.”

Her smile widened slightly.

“You’re still the same.”

She wasn’t upset.

If anything, she was pleased.

Adam growing stronger didn’t just mean competition, it meant acceleration. It meant momentum. And at this rate…

We’ll be able to hit the Family much sooner than expected.

Her expression turned solemn for a brief moment as an old memory surfaced.

She shook her head, pushing it away.

He must’ve awakened Fuse this time.

Remedy didn’t linger. Even asleep, Adam could sense when someone watched him too long. She didn’t want to make him uncomfortable.

She headed into the kitchenette.

With a flick of her wrist, she took out the Metal Tail meat. Thanks to her storage item’s disabling and arrangement features, the meat was already cleaned, portioned, and perfectly cut.

All that was left…

Was cooking.

“I’ll have to make it extra delicious,” Remedy said lightly, “since we’re celebrating your progress.”

A smile bloomed on her face as she got to work.

****

A/N: Well, my sister just got discharged today so hopefully I can properly edit future Chapters. Also, there will be a mass release is what I would have said if I didn’t burn through my stock. but a little motivation from you guys can go a long way since the goal is still up for top 60 in golden ticket rankings or 800 powerstones.

Ps Thank you for reading

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