When Zeke opened his eyes and finally awakened from his premature slumber, he felt an uncomfortable numbness in his left arm. He let out a soft groan as he immediately remembered what happened.

He had used ‘Over-drive’ to retaliate against William Lorson, but his body couldn’t cope with prior over-exertion along with the almost fatal injury inflicted by the frightening black flames.

‘This is Erys’ infirmary. I survived… that’s a good thing.’

The young man slowly sat up while chuckling in a self-mocking manner. His whole left arm was wrapped in tight bandages, but even without getting a good look, he knew it was irreparably damaged.

Still, there was no need to regret or worry about this consequence. Doctor Xavier was nowhere to be seen, so Zeke turned his attention to the accessible System Logs.

********

[User: Zeke Orland]

[Race: Human]

[Level 7 (16/105 EXP)]

[Strength: 99]

[Agility: 84]

[Aether: 91]

[Fortitude: 25]

[Paths: Martial Arts (1/12) inactive | Voltage Body(1/44) | Groundbreaker (1/32) inactive- Sreyzhan Rune (1/9) | Inexhaustible (10/10) | Pain-junkie (1/9)]

[Skills: Fists of Fury(Proficiency 100%) - Aether Control(Proficiency 100%) - Voltage Zap(Proficiency 100%) - Spark (Proficiency 51%) - One-star Side-kick(Proficiency 100%) - Life Motus(Proficiency 100%) - Rune of Life (Proficiency 87%) - Voltage Arrow (Proficiency 100%)- Rune of Death(29%) - Sreyzhanian Arts(23%) - Drain Aether(0%) - Overdrive(10%) - Surge of Pain (23%) - Body Damage(15%) - Self-Injection(0%)]

[Survival Skills: ‘Voltage Rune’ - Voltage Conduit(Proficiency 100%) - Fatigue Abstence (40%) - Call of Honor(0%)]

[Available PE: 32]

Undoubtedly, the completion of the Conduit Implementation had raised Zeke’s stats by a decent amount. The addition of new and strong skills notwithstanding, Zeke had learned a new and surprising fact about the System, or more specifically, the paths.

Seeing how the Aether Voltage Main path was upgraded, it was within reason for other paths to be able to ‘level up’ too. However, there were unspecified and hidden requirements that needed to be met.

For instance, the Rune of Life was what allowed Aether Voltage to upgrade to Voltage Body. Furthermore, the process seemed to be automatic as long as Zeke completed the secret ‘conditions’.

He didn’t expect to be able to upgrade all paths, but this revelation was a pleasant one nonetheless. A trigger or a catalyst was needed, and Zeke was planning to pay close attention to the seemingly ambiguous skills as they might be the key to this untold secret.

[Voltage Conduit(SS): Achieved only through the automated System procedure known as ‘Conduit Implementation’. It renders the user permanently impervious to Voltage or any lightning-aspected magic. The user’s body will become a functional circuit that can harness, use, and absorb any type of Voltage at a rapid rate and without suffering any backlashes. Additionally, the circuit installed within the user’s body will periodically absorb minimal quantities of ambient Aether, which would assist the user in recovering from fatal or near-fatal damage.]

[Over-drive: Depends on the proficiency of the skill, the user will turn either his whole body or a specific part into voltage. The transformed part will pierce through any Aetheric defenses protecting the target. While this skill is active, the ‘Agility’ stats will be doubled and there will be no cost for using any skills of the Voltage Body Main Path.

The skill will take effect for 2 seconds, after which the user’s stats will decrease by 50% for 4 seconds.]

To sum it up, Voltage Conduit was just a better version of Voltage Manipulation. However, Over-drive was a double-edged skill, extremely useful but it was not to be used regularly.

‘The decrease in stats, coupled with my condition was the main factor that made me lose consciousness. Still, maybe that was for the better as I had been determined to sever my arm.’

Zeke was slightly relieved to see that his left arm was still attached to his body. Despite its miserable condition, he was able to move it and the Rune of Death was totally unscathed.

The next ‘main’ point was the Pain-Junkie Path, one which he had not been fond of.

Unexpectedly, his rash decision was correct as the obtained skills did get rid of the pain, albeit temporarily.

[Self-Injection: The adrenal glands will increase their secretion of Epinephrine(Adrenaline), thus heightening the user’s senses and increasing their physical capabilities.

This skill can only be used once a day to ensure the safety of the user.

This skill’s effect will last for 5 minutes.]

[Body Damage: This skill will be activated if one of the five vital organs of the user’s body are damaged. In exchange for nullifying the pain and healing the sustained damage, the user will be unable to move his body for a period of 60 minutes.

The user can designate a specific time for the side-effect of this skill. (Designated time cannot exceed 24 hours after the activation.)

If the user doesn’t designate a time, the side-effect will begin 12 hours after the activation of the skill.]

[Surge of Pain: The pain or noxious stimulus in contact with the sensory nerves ‘nociceptors’ will be temporarily halted, allowing the user to trade any sensation of pain with numbness. This skill can be activated when the user suffers an intense injury that causes discomfort or pain.

Once the user has experienced enough sensation of pain, he can activate this skill to get rid of it and increase his stats for 5 minutes.

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

The maximum amount of Stats Boost: +100

To ensure safety, if the user’s mental fortitude, which is in charge of resisting pain, is surpassed, the skill will be activated automatically.]

Each of the three new skills had quite a lengthy explanation, but it was better than a lacking one, thought Zeke as he softly smiled. Indeed, his choice was suitable, especially considering his desperate situation back then.

Self-injection would empower him, Body Damage ensured his survival in life-threatening battles, and Surge of Pain was a defensive skill that would let him fight for a little bit longer even after sustaining horrible and incapacitating wounds.

Overall, for the meager cost of 3PE, the Pain-junkie path was definitely worth it. At first, Zeke thought about pouring 9PE to complete it but decided against it after deliberating for a while.

For now, after the acquisition of all these new skills, what he needed to do was train and hone himself. There was no need for a lot of skills as he wouldn’t be able to use them all simultaneously. He should focus on his current ones and slowly get better, that was the main objective.

He would continue saving PE, his eyes dead-set on the Death Walker Main Path. Its unusually high cost made it enticing, moreso when he was getting close to the required amount.

“Oh! You’re awake, at last.”

The grumpy Xavier returned to the Infirmary and immediately noticed the youth sitting on the bed, seemingly in a daze.

“Are you in any pain?”

Zeke shook his head once as he moved his arms, displaying how healthy he was.

“How long have I been unconscious?”

“Two days and a couple of hours.”

‘So it should be Sunday evening. I missed the Daily Tasks… what a waste.’ He kept his thoughts to himself and sighed.

Meanwhile, Xavier sat next to him and carefully checked his pulse then examined his body. It was a boring and fruitless process, at the end of which the doctor grabbed his left arm and removed the useless bandages.

“It’s still this bad. Tsk tsk.” He clicked his tongue and attempted to apply his Healing ability but there was no change whatsoever.

“It’s fine.”

Zeke clenched his left hand and despite the horrible appearance of the blackened and disgusting half-melt skin, it was still functional, fortunately.

“You seem unperturbed by this, so I will refrain from asking. You’ll rest for a couple more days, understood?”

“Sir… the practical exams begin tomorrow.”

Upon hearing the youth’s protest, Xavier angrily snorted and authoritatively retorted,

“Do you I look like a give two shits about the exams? You’re my patient and you’ll leave when I allow you to leave.”

“...”

With a deadpan expression, Zeke looked back at the annoyed doctor but didn’t object, knowing that he wouldn’t be able to give a convincing argument.

After that, Xavier walked back to his desk and busied himself with a bunch of documents, paying no heed to the inquisitive youth quietly sitting there, motionless like a statue.

He only snapped out of it when his cell phone, which was to the side, vibrated twice.

He saw the dozens of messages left by Sulong, either asking about his wellbeing and inquiring about what happened or informing him of new discoveries.

Zeke’s expression drastically changed as he read his new associate’s messages. He frowned and immediately sent a response, but just as he finished, the phone was snatched by Xavier.

“You need to rest.”

“I am.”

“...”

“It’s not like tapping on a phone requires excessive movement.”

In the end, Zeke wasn’t given back his phone, but he had already sent a reply so it didn’t matter that much.

…

“Hey Sulong… you sure you’re good? M-Maybe we should go to the hospital before doing th-”

Poor Jack was smacked in the head by the impatient Sulong.

“Stop worrying, I’m completely fine! Continue burning all those papers.”

“Sure… but why? These are just rumors and old documents.”

“It doesn’t matter. This is only a brief reprieve for us. We need to be ready.”

Jack rolled his eyes after hearing this for the tenth time. Ever since Sulong received a response from Zeke, he immediately sprung into action, burning every document and piece of paper in the office.

He became more nervous when Jack accidentally spotted a suspicious black car parked by the side of the road from dawn to dusk. It had become clear that they were being watched, but they didn’t know by whom.

To not worry his friend, Sulong refrained from saying any unnecessary things. However, he was almost certain that those watching him were either the people from the Blood Dusk Society, aiming to take back Albert, or the Department of Defense, which might have caught wind of what happened that day when he had carried Zeke and Azmer out of the meteor crash site.

While he kept his new ability hidden from the public, Sulong remembered the fleeting presence he felt a couple of times in his workplace. It didn’t matter if they were after Zeke or him, he knew what needed to be done.

He had promised Zeke that he would be loyal and would pay him back, and that was exactly what he was going to do, even if it means resorting to extreme measures such as ruining his workplace.

It took the duo, with a bit of help from the non-talkative Albert, a whole day to slowly burn every document and turn the small office empty and clean.

“How much money have we saved so far?”

“Huh? I think it’s about 18000 Alc, give or take.”

Sulong fished out his old credit card and threw it to his friend. “Go buy a car, preferably a big one. I don’t care if it’s old or used.”

“E-ehm… but those were supposed to be for our ‘grand project’!”

“Consider it an investment…” With a serious expression, Sulong tapped his friend’s shoulders and leaned closer, “Please… listen to me and be quick.”

Jack kept his mouth shut and solemnly nodded, storming out of the office seconds later.

While letting out a heavy sigh, the muscular and bald man laid on the couch, his body slumping down in exhaustion, mental and physical.

He remembered his private conversation with Zeke a while ago…

“The Ascetic Blasphemers? You mean those lunatics?”

“Precisely.” Responded Zeke nonchalantly.

“Why are you looking for them? D-don’t tell me you were part of them or something.”

“Stop with the nonsense. Once the time is right, I’ll tell you. I want you to look everywhere, not just in the Nezulian Replublic, okay?”

After a bit of hesitation, Sulong nodded. However, after a brief bout of silence, he asked,

“Let’s suppose I find something somewhat relevant, what are you going to do then?”

“...”

“Knowing you, it has to be something crazy and probably suicidal. Are you seeking revenge?”

“Why do you want to know? Don’t worry, I won’t ask you to tag along this time.”

“Actually, I want to go with you.” Sulong let out an embarrassed cough before continuing,

“I might’ve been a con artist, but I’m no fool, Zeke. I don’t know how you gave me power, but I know that following you is the right decision. I don’t want to watch a friend… nay, a family member die in front of my eyes. Jack is all I have left and I would stop at nothing to achieve both his dream and mine.”

“I understand your determination, I do. But keep in mind that what we’ll see… what we’ll face, would be no different from what we had witnessed in the sewers. For me, Erys is but the first step and monetary gains are not my primary objective. Before you really delve into this path, do give it more thought.”

Seeing the youth’s rare yet sincere smile, Sulong sighed and reluctantly nodded.