He was faced with one new skill and two old skills as expected. "Tempest and Blood Howl," he read aloud, eyes widening slightly as he reviewed their descriptions. The Blood Howl offered him the potential to enrage enemies, drawing them towards him and making them easier targets for his allies. It was a skill that would certainly have its uses, especially in group combat.

But it was Tempest that truly caught his attention. The ability to use his anger, his innate fierceness, to amplify his speed was a game-changer. Combined with his Frenzy skill, he imagined himself becoming an unstoppable whirlwind on the battlefield.

"Definitely Tempest," Sinclair mused. "But, oh, how I wish I could have both."

"Hey Garret, what happens if I choose a skill that is just a different form of something I already have?" He asked of the book of knowledge that was the city lord sitting next to him. At least asking her didn't cost him 25% of his resources every time.

"If they have enough in common you can combine them in skill fusing. If they are different enough you will just get a new skill and kind of wasted the choice unless the old skill was inferior."

Looking at his Class level 5 skills he had leaned towards Blood Howl. It was extremely similar to his Wild Shout. But this one enraged the targets causing them a loss to armour and attack output. He liked the idea of Fear skill that was available but Blood Howl was a better choice for him. He wanted enemies coming to him not having to chase them away.

"If I choose Blood Howl, and it combines with Wild Shout, the result could be overwhelming for my enemies," he mused aloud, trying to visualize the outcomes of his battles.

Garret, always a voice of reason, added, "Sometimes evolution means letting go of the old and embracing the new. While Fear has its merits, Blood Howl could potentially alter the course of a battle, especially if it merges with your existing skill."

Taking a deep breath, Sinclair made his choice, selecting Blood Howl. He hoped the gamble would pay off, enhancing his capabilities on the battlefield.

He tabbed back over to his notifications and went for his Class Level 10 Available skills: Fear and Rapid Regeneration

Sinclair couldn't help but think about the battles he'd faced and the injuries he'd sustained. He remembered lying on the ground, weakened, praying that his natural regeneration would kick in before an enemy reached him. The skill, Rapid Regeneration, presented a solution to such situations. If paired with his innate healing abilities, he would be an unstoppable force, able to recover swiftly and jump back into the fray almost immediately.

"I think this one's a no-brainer," he murmured, tapping the selection for Rapid Regeneration. It felt right, like a missing piece of the puzzle falling into place. Garret looked over, nodding in agreement. "With the amount of danger you seem to find yourself in, Sinclair, it's probably a wise choice."

Sinclair perused his final skill choices: Primal Senses, which highlighted an enemy's weaknesses when viewed, and Soul Forge Blessing, allowing him to share 50% of a chosen stat with his companions.

Initially, Primal Senses tempted him. The ability to discern and exploit vulnerabilities in foes would be a considerable asset in battle. But then his eyes lingered on Soul Forge Blessing. This skill could almost guarantee Chewy and Leia's survival in every skirmish. By sharing his Constitution stat every morning, both would gain an additional 470 health points. The potential life-saving difference it could make was undeniable.

With a determined tap, Sinclair selected Soul Forge Blessing, thinking of the protection it would provide to his dear companions.

"Makes sense," he mused aloud. "With this, our trio will be an even more formidable force."

Garret nodded, observing his choice. "Your decision speaks volumes about your bond with them. It's a selfless act that showcases the depth of your connection."

Sinclair clicked on the hyperlink, revealing the detailed attributes and enhancements of his evolved E-ranked Human status.

Race: Human (E-Rank)

Evolutionary Momentum: All stats grow at a rate 15% faster than before.

Inherent Proficiency: Increases the body's natural efficiency rate by 25%. All attributes and skills are more effectively employed.

Adaptive Resistance: Gain resistance 10% faster from environmental challenges.

Skill Fusion: Skills now have a 15% chance to combine or evolve when certain conditions are met.

Enhanced Perception: Heightened senses allow for better awareness of the environment, detecting threats or opportunities faster.

Garret glanced at the screen, impressed. "The Skill Fusion and Inherent Proficiency will greatly benefit you in combat and strategy. And that Enhanced Perception could be a game-changer."

Taking a moment to process the new information, Sinclair realized the system had equipped him with substantial advantages for the challenges ahead. "The journey might be treacherous," he thought, "but these enhancements will certainly tilt the odds in my favor."

Garret nodded sympathetically, observing the look of contemplation on Sinclair's face. "Take your time. It's not every day one undergoes such a transformation. The system has its way of pushing our limits, but remember, it's not just about the numbers or abilities. It's about how you utilize them."

Sinclair ran a hand through his hair, exhaling deeply. "I know. It's just... it's a lot. I'm grateful for these enhancements, but it also makes me wonder about the challenges that lie ahead. If I'm being equipped this way, what does the system expect me to face?"

Garret leaned back, her gaze steady. "The system is unpredictable, Sinclair. But one thing's for sure – it never makes things easy. Just know that you're not alone. We're here to support you. And with these enhancements, you have an edge."

Sinclair offered a half-smile, his anxiety slightly eased. "Thanks, Garret. It's good to have allies. Now, let's strategize and see how best I can make use of these new abilities."

As Sinclair uttered those words, a message abruptly flashed across his field of vision: "Cultivation Core Initiated."

His world imploded into searing pain once more, as though a relentless whirlpool had suddenly formed within his stomach. He gasped, clutching his abdomen, and his gaze fell upon the intricate design that had appeared earlier, now radiating with a brilliant, star-like glow.

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

Startled and concerned, Garret swiftly rose from her seat, giving Sinclair some much-needed space. "Sinclair, what's happening?" she inquired, her voice filled with worry.

Unable to respond verbally, Sinclair frantically examined his system notification once more, his body wracked by the relentless waves of agony. He accessed a newly created tab labeled "Core" and found an image resembling himself, but this time with a crystalline structure within his abdominal region, approximately the size of a softball. From this central core, intricate pathways extended outward.

Light gradually traveled along these pathways, converging on small, radiant circles that dotted his body. Some were in his hands, others in his elbows, feet, knees, and several more scattered across his chest. He realized that he couldn't fully discern all of them without assistance.

Sinclair gazed up at Garret, and her expression mirrored the evident distress he felt. However, her concern offered no solace for the bewildering and unsettling experience unfolding within him.

His attention shifted back to the page displaying the new core information, where a progress bar slowly inched its way toward 90%. As he watched, he noticed that tendrils of energy were gradually migrating toward his head.

When these tendrils reached his head, an abrupt and blinding sensation overtook him, causing his vision to fade momentarily. In less than two hours since his previous ordeal, Sinclair found himself succumbing to unconsciousness once again. He couldn't help but think that he needed to stop losing consciousness so frequently.

Fortunately, this time, his unconsciousness was brief. In a matter of seconds, he was not only awake but also standing upright. Astonishingly, the excruciating pain had vanished as if it had never existed.

Garret extended a helping hand as Sinclair sought a chair to sink into. He collapsed into it, his brow damp with sweat, and expressed his fatigue and unease. "I know you said I would like the changes, but I really hope that is the last surprise. I am not sure I can take much more of this today."

Garret appeared flustered and offered an earnest apology. "Sinclair, I swear to you I had no idea this was going to happen. Normally, when someone advances from F to E rank, there's a transformation process like what you just experienced. However, people don't typically allocate 108 points into their base attributes or undergo whatever just occurred to you with the glowing light."

Sinclair acknowledged her concern and requested a moment to examine the new core screen on his interface.

The screen displayed differently from the others. It lacked any interactive elements, and it initially showed 100%. As it faded, it revealed a list of locations on his body to the left, each with its progress bar. The familiar Vitruvian man outline was present again, but this time, the route through his body was highlighted, connecting everything—organs, bones, muscles, and more.

All the progress bars read 0% at the moment. Sinclair shared the screen with Garret, hoping she might have some insight. However, she could only shake her head, confessing her lack of knowledge. "We have no record of anyone ever having a Core. I am sorry, Sinclair, but I do not know what this is."

Sinclair contemplated his options for a moment and then spoke, "I have a skill I can use to find out. It will cost me 25% of my resources, so don't be alarmed if you see my health drop suddenly."

Sinclair activated his Huginn and Muninn skill, sending out a query about the Core system. In return, he received a small notecard that read, "I am coming - Odin."

Realizing that Odin was about to arrive, Sinclair instructed Garret to stay calm and informed her that someone was coming to explain. He barely had time to convey this before the gray-shrouded figure of Odin materialized before them. Odin gestured, summoning a chair next to him, and took a seat to face Sinclair directly. He shook his head in a somewhat disapproving manner.

"You can't stay out of trouble, can you? I just saw you a few minutes ago," Odin remarked. His gaze shifted to the screen displaying the Core system, and his expression hardened.

Garret, sitting there in awe and trepidation, remained as still as a statue, not daring to move or speak loudly in the presence of an actual god.

Odin calmly addressed Sinclair's concerns. "I come in person because I thought you had found a reference to the Core system that had not been removed during the System purges of it. But, I see now that was not the case," he explained, his tone serious.

Sinclair couldn't contain his frustration and ranted, "I didn't do this on purpose! I haven't done anything but try to survive. I can't help it because this System has it out for me somehow."

Odin took a deep breath and continued, "The Core system was a feature the System has been trying to implement for a long time. It works sometimes and others not. It has killed almost everyone it has ever been placed in. The fact you are still alive is beyond measure. You are literally the luckiest person every born in any of the many known worlds."

Sinclair, still skeptical, responded, "I wouldn't call what I have been going through lucky."

Odin assured him, "Trust me, young one. It is lucky, as you should be dead dozens of times over."

"Do you know what it does? How does it work?"

Odin paused, considering his words before speaking. "This system is akin to the stats and skills you've acquired, but it was intended as a reward for those who chose the challenging path. Funnily enough, you went above and beyond that path." A hint of amusement crept into his voice, acknowledging his role in Sinclair's trials. "I believe it was to enhance the odds of your world's survival."

Rubbing his temples, Odin continued, "I need to sift through ancient records to gather more details the system stopped giving this out as it killed more people than it helped due to some issues with compatibilities. But for now, focus on directing mana through the Meridians in your body. Once each node is filled, it will indicate 100%. When all are complete, the system advances. Currently, you're at the 'Stone' stage. There are subsequent levels, and I'll determine their designations."

Sinclair looked thoughtful, absorbing the new information. "So, this is another layer of cultivation, working alongside my existing stats and skills. And 'Stone' is just the starting phase?"

"That's correct. Go ahead and channel some mana down your leg's meridian and direct it toward the Gate in your foot. Once both are fully charged, it should enhance your speed. This system hasn't been used since I was a young god, so we're going to learn together on this one," Odin calmly instructed, his face showing a rare glimpse of joy. It had been so long since he had experienced genuine excitement that he could barely remember the sensation.

Sinclair gazed down at his core, his focus intense. Drawing inspiration from the cultivation stories from his own world, he willed his mana to flow through the meridian toward his foot. He could feel the energy sluggishly making its way down, like a slow-moving river of Icy Hot being drawn down his leg until it reached the Gate.

As Sinclair watched, the Gate absorbed the mana, its purpose shrouded in mystery. He continued to feed it with more and more mana until he had depleted his entire reserve of 1900. Checking his progress, he found himself at only 3%. Frustration welled up within him, and he turned to Odin, his voice laced with fatigue and impatience. "This is going to take forever!"

"Look again. Loop that energy back up to the core and finish the track now. It will make a complete route and will automatically divest some of your mana towards the gate. You can set the rate if I am not mistaken. This whole system depends on willpower to make it work adequately."

Sinclair nodded, absorbing Odin's instructions. He focused on looping the energy back up through the meridian to complete the route, feeling the connection growing stronger. As he followed Odin's guidance, he sensed the mana flowing more smoothly, automatically diverting some toward the Gate.

Calculations swirled in his mind as he realized the magnitude of the task ahead. "A little over 60k mana to fill one gate, and there are 10 gates in total. If I dedicate my entire mana regeneration to one gate, I should be able to open it in 24 hours," Sinclair mused aloud. He performed a quick mental calculation, determining that it would take him ten days to evolve from stone to the next tier if each gate required a similar amount of mana.

"Ten days doesn't seem too long," he tried to reassure himself.

Odin's words of comfort and encouragement put Sinclair at ease. "Thank you, Odin. I appreciate your help and guidance," Sinclair replied gratefully.

"Finish up here and then go and spend some time with your family, Sinclair. They worry about you, and I know you miss them as well. I'll send you whatever assistance I can, when I can," Odin reassured him before vanishing in the blink of an eye, leaving the chair behind.

Sinclair turned to look at Garret ready to tease her only to be worried about her all of a sudden. She sat there with the most god awful look of fear and surprise on her face. He was worried she would burst a blood vessel.

Garret, slowly turned to Sinclair. "That was THE ODIN? And you invited him here with me completely unprepared!!"

Sinclair was initially surprised by Garret's reaction. Her fear and astonishment were evident, and he realized that perhaps inviting Odin without warning had been a bit too casual. Her pointed remark about him inviting "THE ODIN" made him feel somewhat responsible.

He tried to defend his actions, holding his hands up defensively, "Hey, I had no more warning than you did. Odin has only shown up once before when summoned. Typically, he communicates through messages, visions, or simply sends information to my screen. I didn't anticipate that it would be such a significant encounter."

Seeing how frazzled Garret was, Sinclair decided it might be best to give her some space. He watched as she took a long swig from her flask and then another before putting it away in her storage device. It was clear that the unexpected visit had rattled her considerably.

"Alright, while you handle that situation, I'm heading back down the other tunnel. These changes have me brimming with energy, and I want to get home as soon as possible. Don't get me wrong, I like it here, but my people need me," Sinclair declared.

Garret simply waved her arm dismissively, her gaze fixed on the enigmatic chair. She understood the significance of what had just transpired, and her mind was undoubtedly racing with possibilities for their community now that Odin had seemingly bestowed them with a relic.

Shaking off these thoughts, Sinclair set off with Chewy and Leia in tow. He had already distributed his stat points to them using his new skill. As they ventured deeper into the tunnel, Sinclair couldn't help but wonder about the other new abilities he had acquired. According to his map, they still had nearly a mile of tunnel to traverse before encountering any intersections or uncertainties. With Chewy and Leia on alert, he had the freedom to explore these newfound powers along the way.