CHAPTER 48
'What are the conditions to awaken my other bloodlines?'
[... That I can answer.]
Ray waited, his heart softly beating as he prepared himself to listen to the conditions required to attain power.
He wasn't naive. The short respite humanity enjoyed for five years was shattered just two weeks ago by an Abberant attack.
Though the government hadn't announced it yet, he knew it in his bones—the second war was on the horizon.
And he needed to grow strong, fast.
He wasn't ready to lose anybody he cared about again.
He wasn't going to take sides.
He would create his own side.
The protective side. A side where those he cared about would be forced to stand on.
Whether he was human, monster, or a… Tribrid—it didn't matter.
Anything for power!
[The conditions to awakening the two bloodlines at once is this; Host needs to attain an emotional state of both pure rage and absolute calm at once.
He needs to make these two opposing emotions coalesce together. They should be in sync. That is the only condition to awaken the dormant two bloodlines.]
'Huh?'
Ray was utterly flabbergasted by the strange condition.
It wasn't only difficult—it bordered on impossible.
How was he supposed to make two completely opposite emotions coexist? Rage and calm?
How?
Rage was destruction. Fury. Loss of control.
While calm was serenity, stillness, tranquility, and gentleness.
How was he meant to make these two coerce together? This was going to be hellishly difficult.
'Damn it! Who designed this shitty condition? F*ck you all, mehn!' he screamed inwardly as he clenched his fist tightly.
He shook his head, then took slow, deep breaths, forcing himself to calm down before scratching the side of his head while thinking of what to ask next.
Just a moment ago, he had so many questions swirling in his mind—but when his first question was answered like this, the rest seemed to crumble away.
Because that first answer was tied to all his other questions.
'Well… the system isn't running away. Is it?'
[I'm not.]
Nodding slightly, Ray decided to put a pin in his questions for now.
Whenever more surfaced, he would ask. But for now, he needed to see what the system had prepared for him.
His gift.
The power bestowed upon him by the Tribrid System.
He was ready to take the next step.
"Open." He muttered quietly.
Soon after, the system screen shifted colour—from blue to a radiant silver glow—still hovering in front of him as several messages displayed themselves.
[Your gift has been divided into three categories.]
[First category: Attributes-wise
Second category: Physical-wise
Third category: Skill-wise]
[Which category would you like to check first?]
'Wait! Skill category? Does that mean the skill tab is finally open?'
[Affirmative Host.]
A wide grin crept onto Ray's face as his eyes lit up with excitement.
'Then show me the first category. After that, we move to the third… and finally the second.'
[Noted.]
[As a congratulations for evolving and becoming a full-fledged Tribrid while leaving behind your weak ex-race, the system has decided to bless you with a generous amount of attribute points in order to saturate your body.]
[This is necessary to make it robust enough to hold the power of the Tribrid. Note! You will still need to complete your daily quests, as they remain one of the major factors in further strengthening your body.]
'Yeah, yeah… sure. Just show me my damn attributes already.'
[... Hence, fifteen stat points have been awarded to all your attributes. Note; some attributes may receive higher boosts based on their importance to the Host!]
'Show me my damn attributes already.' Ray chided as he could no longer hold back his excitement.
__
{Attributes:}
[STR: 10>>>25]
[AGI: 9>>>25]
[INT: 9>>>24]
[PER: 4>>>20]
[END (new): 26]
[Stat points: 5]
__
The moment the stats were displayed in front of his face, Ray felt a surge of strength course through his body, almost making him yelp.
His muscles tightened, thighs coiling hard—almost like the onset of a muscle pull.
He could feel his biceps hardening, veins tightening beneath his skin as if they were about to burst out of his body.
But there was something else.
Aside from his physical changes, Ray noticed that his perception of his surroundings had increased drastically.
Before, he couldn't sense more than a few feet around him—but now, he possessed a full 360-degree awareness of his environment spanning roughly four metres.
The distant chatter of soldiers outside, the way they shifted their footing, the subtle clatter of their weapons—he could perceive it all as if he were standing right beside them.
It was a strange new kind of vision.
With this, nobody would be able to sneak up on him.
And if he kept increasing it…
Soon enough, he might be able to sense the entire Corps.
He almost chuckled at the thought, but quickly stiffened as his gaze returned to his newly added attribute.
'Endurance? That one's pretty self-explanatory.'
With a grin still tugging at his lips, the system switched screens and began displaying the third category.
[Skill Tab unlocked]
[Two skills added]
"Let's see…"
[Skill name: Rending (LV 1): This skill has a range of 5 metres. It allows the user to fire a black line of energy from the user's hands. This skill consumes the user's energy, costing -2 energy points per Rending cast.]
'This is oddly useful. I wouldn't have to get close to my opponent to use it. I can just stand five metres away and keep casting until my energy runs out.
Wait… energy?'
He was about to check when the system shifted again to display the second skill.
[Skill name: Purification Pulse (LV 1)]
[Description: This skill allows the user to cleanse minor poisons and heal bruises—both on the user and on others.]
'A healing skill? Hahahaha~'
Ray burst into hysterical laughter inwardly as he unconsciously sat upright, staring at the screen floating before him.
'... So I don't have to visit the Corps' infirmary anymore? I can just heal myself?'
[Affirmative. However, this only applies to bruises and minor injuries—not severe wounds such as a hole through your guts or a split skull.]
'Oh.'
Ray's excitement dimmed slightly, but even then, satisfaction settled deep in his chest.
This was still good.
No—this was lovely.
'Now… shall we see the second category? I'm excited about this one for some reason…'
[Affirmative.]