The surge peaked, notifications flooding as the seconds ticked.
[Stamina +1]
[Strength +1]
[Muscle Strength +1]
[Energy +1]
[Mana +1]
[Constitution +1]
[Potential rank: B→A]
Time blurred, but Ronan held on, the points climbing relentlessly—+1 every second across all stats, the ritual fueling an endless loop.
[Stamina +1]
[Strength +1]
[Muscle Strength +1]
[Energy +1]
[Mana +1]
[Constitution +1]
.
..
...
The ritual stretched on for what felt like an eternity, a full six hours of unrelenting absorption where the pool's shimmering liquid yielded its essence to Ronan's unyielding determination. Every single second brought a fresh wave of that searing energy surging into his tiny body, the notifications flashing relentlessly across his blurred vision like stars in a storm.
[Stamina +1]
[Strength +1]
[Muscle Strength +1]
[Energy +1]
[Mana +1]
[Constitution +1]
[Potential Rank: B → A ]
Ronan couldn't focus on anything beyond the burning intensity of it all, but he refused to yield, pushing his infant form to draw in every last drop as if his very soul depended on it. The nobles, huddled in the shadowed corners of the grand hall, exchanged whispers that grew more fervent with each passing minute, their voices kept deliberately low so as not to draw the attention of Duke Harlan or Lady Seraphina up on the dais.
"Ten minutes already, and he's still holding strong—same as young master daniel," a lady murmured behind her fluttering fan, her eyes wide with disbelief.
"Thirty minutes now, and look at the water level—it's actually dipping lower, which is unheard of for a pool this vast; it could sustain an entire ritual for a month without showing signs of depletion," another noble added in a hushed tone, leaning closer to his companion.
As the first hour ticked by, the whispers took on an edge of stunned awe, the group glancing nervously toward the center where Mina still cradled Ronan steadily. "The level's sinking visibly now; he's like a bottomless well, drawing it in without mercy."
Two hours dragged on in agonizing slowness, the pool's ethereal glow beginning to dim as steam rose thicker from the surface, the liquid receding further in a way that left the onlookers exchanging wide-eyed glances.
"Two hours... utterly impossible; the essence is fading like nothing we've seen in generations, and yet the pool remains far from empty—what kind of potential does this child truly hide?"
Ronan wasn't able to hear any of those astonished murmurs at all, for the pain was so overwhelming that it filled his entire world, a relentless fire coursing through every vein and fiber of his being, but he gritted his teeth through the haze of agony and endured it all, refusing to let even a whimper escape as he continued to absorb the energy from the pool with single-minded focus.
[Stamina +1]
[Strength +1]
[...]
The points kept climbing higher and higher, accumulating at a rate of +1 every second across every category, turning the ritual into an endless loop of transformation that forged his foundation deeper with each pulse.
[Accumulated Progress:
Stamina: 10,000/10,000
Strength: 10,000/10,000
Muscle Strength: 10,000/10,000
Energy: 10,000/10,000
Mana: 10,000/10,000
Constitution: 10,000/10,000]
[Achievement completed: Accumulated 10,000 points across all categories]
[Reward: Obtained Biometric Attribute—Use It or Lose It]
Finally, the pain crested to an unbearable peak, crashing over him like a tidal wave before it began to ebb away like a retreating tide, leaving Ronan utterly limp and spent in Mina's steady arms as the pool's glow faded completely to a soft, dying ember.
His vision cleared just enough for him to catch a fleeting glimpse of the new attribute's name hovering in his interface, but the overwhelming exhaustion dragged him under before he could dwell on it, his thoughts dissolving into a weary murmur.
"What's this 'Use It or Lose It' thing anyway? Sounds like something my old gym buddy would say after skipping leg day. I'll figure it out later... right now, I just need to crash."
Up on the raised dais that served as a makeshift throne, Duke Harlan Blackwood observed the entire scene with his characteristic stoic intensity, but a rare flicker of a genuine smile cracked across his stern features for just a moment—like a brief shaft of sunlight piercing through impenetrable storm clouds.
"Finally, a good seedling has taken root," he murmured under his breath, his voice so low that only Seraphina, seated beside him, could catch the quiet satisfaction in it, as he cast a lingering gaze down toward Ronan cradled securely in Mina's arms while Seraphina was already rising from her seat, her face etched with deep maternal worry.
Harlan rose to his full, imposing height then, his presence alone commanding an immediate hush over the entire hall.
"The ritual of Sword Grave Manor has been successfully completed,"
He announced in a voice that boomed with unshakeable power and authority, echoing off the ancient stone walls like a decree from the gods themselves, before he turned on his heel and swept from the chamber without another word or backward glance, his heavy robes billowing behind him like the gathering edge of a fierce gale.
.
..
....
Two days slipped by in a haze of recovery, the manor's nursery bathed in the soft, golden light of an afternoon sun filtering through gauzy curtains, when Seraphina's voice cut through Ronan's lingering grogginess like a gentle, soothing melody that wrapped around him like a warm embrace.
"Baby, you must be absolutely starving after all that rest—here, Mommy will feed you some milk to help you regain your strength."
The next moment, something soft and wonderfully warm pressed against his lips, and Ronan latched on instinctively, suckling with a fierce hunger that was driven by the deep, primal needs of his still-recovering body, the ritual's excess energy still roiling through his veins like untamed stormwinds that left him feeling both invigorated and utterly drained.
[Energy +1]
[Energy +1]
[Energy +1]
[...]
As the rich, nourishing milk continued to flow steadily, a peculiar itch suddenly bloomed deep in his skull, as if his very brain was stretching and expanding with new pathways forming like roots unfurling in fertile, sun-warmed soil, sharpening his thoughts just a fraction more.
His eyelids cracked open slowly, his vision swimming hazily into focus on Seraphina's beautiful face hovering above him—warm and radiant, with faint worry lines softening into an adoring smile as she noticed his gaze, a single tear tracing down her cheek in silent relief.
But the lingering buzz of the ritual's overwhelming energy proved too much for his fragile state, pulling him back under before he could fully rouse; he closed his eyes once more, surrendering to the heavy pull of sleep that claimed him mid-suckle.
"Little guy ate his fill and went straight to sleep without a fuss—truly envy-worthy how you can just drift off like that," Seraphina whispered tenderly, cradling him even closer to her chest with a smile overflowing with fierce, unwavering love.
"Mommy hasn't had much rest at all these past days, staying by your side to watch over you through every moment, but you're worth every single sleepless night, my brave and precious boy."
In what seemed like the blink of an eye, over two months had passed since that fateful ritual, the steady rhythms of the Blackwood manor weaving themselves into the fabric of Ronan's new existence—from Seraphina's soothing lullabies sung in the quiet evenings, to Mina's quiet and efficient care during the days, and even the distant echoes of Harlan's commanding voice barking orders during training sessions in the far-off halls.
Ronan's consciousness had sharpened considerably with each passing dawn, the ritual's stored energy finally settling like glowing embers into a steady fuel that banished the fog from his mind once and for all, leaving him with thoughts that flowed clear and purposeful, no longer fragmented whispers but a full, vibrant stream of awareness.
With his brain now fully functioning at its peak, the very first thing Ronan turned his attention to was dissecting that intriguing new reward the system had dangled before him during the ritual's climax.
"Okay, 0001—enough with the buildup. What's the deal with 'Use It or Lose It'? It reminds me of those motivational posters back home, the ones that guilt you into the gym."
The familiar blue screen materialized instantly in his vision, crisp and unyielding as always, displaying the details in straightforward, glowing text.
[Use It or Lose It: As long as you continue to exercise a specific body part without ever stopping or taking a break, that part can evolve and become stronger indefinitely over time—but it will always remain bound by the natural limits of carbon-based life forms, preventing any truly impossible breakthroughs.]
Ronan's infant eyes widened in genuine surprise, a subtle, knowing smile curving his chubby lips as the implications sank in fully.
"So it's basically endless gains as long as I keep at it—no plateaus, just steady improvement? And even baby stuff counts?"
He lay there in the plush comfort of his crib, the nursery's silk canopy fluttering lazily in a soft breeze drifting in from the open window overlooking the manor's blooming gardens.
"No point waiting for these legs to catch up—let's see if it really works from right here.'
Without hesitation, he began kicking his legs with deliberate rhythm, his tiny feet thumping repeatedly against the soft blanket and the padded edge of the mattress—a motion that would appear utterly innocuous and endearing to any observer, yet resonated as a purposeful endeavor within his reincarnated spirit.
..
...
.....