Yes, he was going to replicate his third skill.
One he believed—no, knew—would hold infinite potential in his hands.
Simon, had the best offensive skill and life-saving skill he can get his hands on but there was always a big concern in his mind.
His body.
His physical strength was weak making him a mage-like Astral lord who fought from the distance, but was sitting duck in close combat which was really uncomfortable for him.
He needed…
Raw, unrestrained, monstrous physical power that will rival even Body-transformation type Astral lord that fought with their physical body.
And there was only one skill on the list that offered it and he can access too.
Reinforce Muscles.
A deceptively simple name for a terrifying skill.
He had learned about this skill twice, then a third time and each time something in his chest tightened with excitement.
A skill that permanently strengthened the user's muscles…
A skill with no upper limit…
A skill that grew stronger the more it was trained…
A skill that did not decay, weaken or regress…
A skill that could turn him into a living catastrophe…
As long as he was willing to pay the price.
"The ability to amplify muscle strength infinitely…" Simon muttered under his breath, eyes narrowing.
"And the only drawback is energy consumption."
Only.
For anyone else, it would be a death sentence.
To maintain a Reinforce muscle body, one needed energy in quantities that made even 6-Star lord break into cold sweat.
It was a skill that made Instructor Ethan infamous, by making him the strongest 4-Star lord, at the same time the poorest 4-star lord.
Collapsing his family fortunes and bankrupting him.
Even able to kill him from malnutrition if he ever slipped for even a moment of energy intake.
Forcing him to, start living in the company build where canteen had unlimited food with high protein option.
A bottomless pit that demanded offerings without end.
But Simon?
He was different because he had the skill to copy.
One day he could find skill that subsidize infinite energy for reinforce muscle.
With a mind to turn curse into a weapon.
He exhaled slowly, a faint, dangerous smile forming.
"For anyone else, Reinforce Muscle is a burden," he whispered.
"But for me… its evolution."
Tyler and other watched silently from across the room, wait for him, unaware of the storm brewing behind Simon's eyes.
Simon packed his bag and returned home.
Closing the room, he picked up a cloth towel and stuffed his mouth with it.
Install.
His mind screamed.
Then unfamiliar pain assaulted him but this time it was not just his brain his whole body was in pain, wherever even a slightest muscle was present was burning.
His body.
His heart.
His organs.
He felt his body burning inside-out, his ear's ringing, his heart stopping and then beating.
He felt like that if he were to lose conscious, he will be meeting death for real this time.
Five minutes later the installation stopped, with it pain that assaulted him slowly receded from his body.
With some rest Simon sat down on his bed breathing heavily after removing the towel from his mouth.
He felt his mind calm but his body was starving, really badly.
Only after filling his stomach did, he feel relief wash over him.
Flexing his grip Simon felt this unrestrained force run through his body.
Seeing which a smile formed on his face.
Two-months later.
Early in the morning, Simon and other recruits were led to the Lords Association by Instructor Ethan Valor with company Astral lords.
Lords Association was a government agency that oversee all the Astral lord in the world, All Astral lords are to be registered under the Associations.
Many Astral lords and teenagers had gathered in the square in front of the Associations building and they were chatting with their peers from their respective companies.
Among them were some that stood alone not chatting with anyone giving a "don't disturb" vibe.
Among them ever the rejected ones from previous year.
Besides, the media was also present too.
New recruit training and assessment was big event in Riverstone base city every year.
The recruit hopped onto the car, leaving Riverstone Base behind as the wilderness welcomed them.
Simon was entering into wilderness for the first time in this life, even he was curious.
World was reclaimed by nature.
Roads, cars, street light all were covered with greenery and lush forest.
Which made him imagine the day, 30 years ago when Dreadbeast rampaging through the streets while people were fleeing, abandoning their cars, public transport and bicycles in a panic.
In the end, they abandoned their houses.
"it's a desolate world out there!"
"I can't believe that this is how it looks like outside the base city!"
"Is that a lake? It's big. I've never seen a lake as big as that! Also, the endless forest!"
Desolate the wilderness was, there was also something that the base city sorely lacked.
Natural lakes, forest, mountains, large trees, fields and whatnot.
This scene made teenagers, who never left the base city since their birth, gaps in awe.
Simon was comparing mankind in his past life, they ruined the world with population and war that this new world, where rampaged by monster felt brighter than that of world governed by humans.
"A coin always has two side, like that disaster also does, when mankind were forced to its knees, the world fell into self-healing process."
Time passed as the rapidly approached their destination.
An hour later, the convoy arrived at the destination, fallen city of lantern, a city once known for its rich and vibrant colour.
Now fallen under the hand of Dreadbeasts.
Everyone was assembled together.
"Everyone see this abandoned city behind me? This is lantern city, where you are all going to undergo the test.
The city is over run by Dreadbeasts, turning it into haven for them!"
Director Singh of lord's Association spoke through the loudspeaker.
"Riverstone Base city is continuously expanding our base and lantern city is an important target of the expansion because of its resources and its ideal environment!
So, we have been actively getting rid of Dreadbeasts around lantern City over the past few years and killed all the powerful Dreadbeasts.
What left are massive number of level-1s and level-2s Dreadbeasts.
Which is why we have chosen this place as the test venue!
Today all of your mission is simple, enter the city, kill the remaining Dreadbeasts and gouge out their hearts!
Also remember this, safety first and test second.
Avoid going to areas that are above your capability, which can possibly affect your assessment!
Test will last for three days!
Let the examination begin!"