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Chapter 5 - Physique Strengthening Fruit!

Across the cosmic backdrop of the lottery, the three words burned with a golden intensity that made Dravin's breath catch in his throat.

[Physique Strengthening Fruit]

For a moment, his mind went completely blank, unable to process the sheer, astronomical luck he had just experienced.

His predecessor's memories, combined with the knowledge he'd absorbed from Earth's novels, created a perfect storm of understanding.

These fruits were not native to this world. They were dimensional treasures, grown only in the chaotic, energy-rich environments of the other dimension.

Each one was a miracle of nature, and the trees that bore them were invariably guarded by terrifying, powerful dimensional monsters.

To acquire even one was incredibly difficult and even then, success was far from guaranteed.

Its primary effect was astounding as it could permanently increase a person's physique, strengthening their bones, muscles, and cellular structure with absolutely no negative side effects or hidden drawbacks.

In a world where every shortcut came with a price, this alone made it priceless.

If Dravin were to walk outside and announce he possessed such a fruit, it wouldn't just attract thieves; it would incite a war. Powerful clans and ancient organizations would mobilize their forces, and the fruit would be snatched away by a powerhouse so far beyond his comprehension that he wouldn't even see them move.

He would be lucky to be left crippled in a ditch; a quiet, anonymous death was the more likely scenario.

But that wasn't the true, world-breaking secret of the Physique Strengthening Fruit. Its real value, the reason powerhouses on the verge of death would risk everything for it, lay in two other heaven-defying properties.

First, it could nourish the very core of one's being, raising the grade of their Astra Soul by a single level.

And second, for a few days after consumption, it would dramatically increase the user's cultivation speed.

The implications were terrifying. An A-rank genius could become an S-rank monster. A dying master, stuck at a bottleneck for centuries, could use it to achieve that final, life-extending breakthrough. If word of this fruit ever got out, Dravin Borne wouldn't even know how he died.

His heart hammered against his ribs, and his breath came in ragged pants of pure, unadulterated excitement. This wasn't just a prize; it was a ticket to the top. There was no thought of selling it, no hesitation.

With a trembling hand, he manifested the prize from the system. A small, berry-like fruit, glowing with a soft, internal light, appeared in his palm. Without a second thought, he popped it into his mouth.

It didn't have a taste so much as a sensation. The moment it touched his tongue, the fruit dissolved into a cool, gaseous energy that bypassed his digestive system entirely, surging directly into every cell in his body. Immediately, he felt his pores open wide as his very being greedily absorbed the wave of pure vitality.

A series of notifications flashed in his mind.

[Physique +1]

[Physique +1]

[Physique +1]

The alerts sounded one after another, announcing his progress. He felt his muscles tremble, then seize violently as his meridians were forcibly expanded and reinforced.

The texture of his body was changing on a fundamental level. His bones gained a new, resilient density. His muscle fibers knitted together, becoming tougher and more powerful. His skin took on a faint, healthy luster.

[Physique +1]

[Physique +1]

The process continued relentlessly until a full ten notifications had chimed through his mind. His total physique had increased by ten whole points.

The exhaustion from hours of cleaver practice, the deep ache in his muscles, the mental fatigue, it was all scoured away by the rejuvenating energy. He felt more than rested; he felt reborn, stronger and more vibrant than ever before.

He pulled up his full status panel, his eyes wide with amazement.

┌──────[ Profile ]──────┐

│ [Name]: Dravin Borne

│ [Quest]: NILL

│ [Astra Soul]: Water *[E-rank]* (Level 1) <0.01%>

│ [Lifeform Level]: Rank 2 Super Soldier <0.00%>

├──────[ Attributes ]───┤

│ [Strength]: 8

│ [Speed]: 8

│ [Physique]: 17

│ [Energy]: 120

├──────[ Techniques ]───┤

│ [Meditation]: Astra Breath Absorption [Level 1] <3.50%>

│ [Combat Technique]: Basic Cleaver Technique [Level 5] <12.00%>

│ [Beast Companion]: NILL

└─────────────────────────┘

His Astra Soul had gone from F-rank to E-rank! It was still considered low-grade, but it was a monumental leap.

And his physique… it was now his highest attribute by a massive margin. He clenched his fist, feeling a new, deeper well of explosive power coiled within his muscles.

It took several long minutes for the overwhelming excitement to fade into a manageable buzz.

Once his mind was clear, a new thought took hold. The fruit's effects were temporary. This was the golden hour for cultivation.

Without hesitation, he sat cross-legged on his slightly grimy air bed, clearing his mind of all distractions. He focused on the rhythm of his breathing, activating the `Astra Breath Absorption Technique`.

Almost instantly, the dimensional energy in the air responded. It was like a magnetic pull, far stronger than before. Wisps of invisible energy, previously hesitant to approach, now gathered around him in a visible vortex, eagerly pouring into his newly opened pores.

He cultivated for the entire night, losing all track of time, completely immersed in the sensation of growing stronger.

As the first rays of dawn pierced the small window of his shed, he finally stopped, opening his eyes. A bitter smile touched his lips. He had cultivated for nearly eight hours straight under the effects of a legendary treasure. The result?

Despite consuming the Physique Strengthening Fruit, the amount of dimensional energy he had absorbed had only increased by about fifty percent compared to his base rate.

It was a significant boost, to be sure, but it was a pitiful compared to what it could have been.

'This is the disadvantage of a low-grade Astra Soul,' he thought, the reality of his situation tempering his earlier excitement. 'If this fruit was given to Klein, or that girl with the C-rank FrostHawk, their cultivation speed would have increased by at least three times, maybe more.'

His E-rank soul was like a narrow pipe. Even though the fruit had widened it from an F-rank straw, it could still only channel a small fraction of the torrential energy available to him. He had a divine engine, but it was attached to a shoddy chassis.

This was the brutal reality of talent.

Just as a sliver of disappointment began to creep into his heart, the familiar, mechanical sound echoed in his mind, bringing a new, unknown variable into the equation.

[Ding!]

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