'I guess that is how their abilities work.' Alexander thought before getting back to work.
He decided to skip the Talent upgrade card for now and use the Ruler Ability Card first.
[Do you wish to use Ruler Ability Card?]
[Yes] [No]
He affirmed his choice.
[Yes]
[You have used Ruler Ability Card]
[You have received Poison Resistance(B)]
[Poison Resistance(C): Reduces the effectiveness of poisons and toxins below grade 4. While higher grade poisons act slower and deal reduced harm. Does not grant immunity.]
Alexander nodded in appreciation… while it wasn't a supreme ability or anything, it was on of the best he could have given his circumstances.
'You wouldn't believe just how many times those pests tried to poison me.' Alexander fondly remembered some of the people that thought themselves to be his rivals.
'Now for the last ability.'
[Deserved Pride(A): A ruler's pride forged from genuine achievement and authority.]
[Derived Passive:
Unyielding Will: Host's mind cannot be shaken by fear, intimidation, killing intent or pressure from lower equal or one major rank higher.
Imperial Bearing: Host presence alone exerts pressure.
Unyielding Identity: Host sense of self cannot be overwritten.
(Locked)
(Locked)]
[Derived Active: (Locked)]
'What the fuck…?' Alexander thought surprised.
This was the only ability he had seen that gave multiple passives and actives… even thought they were mostly locked they were obviously overpowered.
He went through each derived abilities one by one before finally moving to the last thing on his menu.
[Do you wish to use Talent Upgrade (One Time use Card)]
[Yes] [No]
[Warning… Process is extremely painful and filthy!!!]
'Filthy?... Nope not my beautiful room.' Alexander got up and made his way to his personal bathroom.
As for the pain.
He didn't even consider it… there was no way in hell he would accept been a regular joe or simply one of the geniuses.
He wanted to be in a league of his own… a freak of nature if you will. Just like he was on earth.
And if pain is what it took, so be it.
Once he was undressed and settled into his massive bathtub in a comfortable enough position he answered.
[Yes]
A simple barrier appeared around him sealing him into the bathtub.
A warm sensation erupted from his chest and spread out followed by a tingly feeling.
He waited for the pain but after a few minutes when it didn't come, "It not even tha… Arrrrrrrrrrrghhhhhhh!!!"
His happy words turned into a harrowing scream instantly.
His spine arched unnaturally against the ground as he kept screaming until his voice slowly got hoarse.
As he screamed, his neck tilted backwards and the first thing that fell off was his hair.
The pain didn't reduce instead it got worse causing him to thrash around violently.
The pain coursed through every inch of his body. It felt heavy, like his bones were melting and turning into thick liquid.
He suddenly lost control of his body no longer able to move.
He tried to thrash around more in a desperate move to distract himself from the pain, but his arms wouldn't respond… his fingers twitched a few times before going completely dead.
His entire skeleton melted but didn't stay melted for too long before been reforged… Stronger and better than before.
This process repeated a few times till his bone was several times denser than it previously was before the pain finally stopped.
"This is so undignified of me." Alexander thought as he slowly wiped the spit around his face, "And where the fuck are those so-called Imperial guards."
Then his eyes moved to the barrier that was around him… at first, he thought it just gathered more mana to help with the process since he could feel the high saturation of mana in here but now, he was sure that it also had a noise cancellation.
Just as he was getting comfortable, thinking the process has finally ended… The pain struck again.
"Oh, fuck me… Arrrrrrrrrrrghhhhhh."
His muscles and organs were next and that was when he understood what the filthy warning was all about… nasty goo poured out of every pore and orifice he had.
Yes… including his eyelids, ears, mouth, urethra and anus. Imagine bleeding black goo from your eyes.
Thankfully, he was completely out of it from the pain.
However, that wasn't the most painful process, that title should be left for his mana core shattering, reconstituting and shattering again.
This process repeated several times, and he was so out of it he couldn't even count.
Finally, layers of his skin fell of one after the other and when the pain was finally gone and Alexander finally came through the horrendous smell was the first thing that greeted him.
Without thinking he reached out and activated the warm water runes and rigorously scrubbed off his body… trying to get the smell off himself.
Thankfully it came off easily and Alexander finally collapsed into a sitting position and fell asleep completely exhausted.
The next time he was barely conscious was when Rose rushing in to check on him… He felt her clean his body and take him back to his bed before he fell back unconscious.
The next time he was briefly conscious was when Doctor Marla was checking him with Victor, The Captain of the Imperial Valekar Guards and Rose, His personal maid, standing to the side looking worried,
"… don't know but there is nothing wro…" That was the last thing he heard before fading out again.