Waking up in soft Eve's embrace is the best way to regain one's consciousness! While the first phase felt like if I just closed and opened my eyes, judging from the position of the sun on the sky, those two hours that Bonger spoke about actually passed!
"How are you feeling? Are you okay?"
Noticing that I came back to the world of the living, Eve relaxed her hug and asked while massaging her arms. It seems that she was hugging me this entire time. No wonder her arms feel sore… God damn it! How could such a loving woman even exist in this world? Was an earthly society just one big scam for humanity?
"I think I'm good. Sorry for keeping you in this position for so long."
For me, it was just a moment so my request to be hugged didn't make any sense from my point of view. It's a pity I know it only now because even this small thing of making her arms sore is enough to create a stinging feeling of guilt in my heart.
As I try to stand up, I stumble and fall right into Eve's arms.
"What happened?!"
Startled by my lack of coordination, my beloved instantly flares up. For as long as she knew me, this kind of thing never happened! Sure, I had some hiccups while powering up, but they were always a manifestation of me unable to properly control my power, never the other way!
Using her shoulders as support I finally manage to stand up. Contrary to my initial expectations, it's not that I'm unable to stand straight by myself, but rather that I felt the force of gravity for the first time in a long while! Getting too used to the perks of the improved constitution and other stats coming from the system, it feels like I suddenly turned back to a simple mortal!
"Give me a moment, I have a hunch what's going on"
Bonger, did something happen?"
"Blop!"
"During the second stage, the system will be unresponsible to the host for the sake of avoiding any problems with unlocking all the abilities."
Ah, just like I thought. With my mind already used to using my maxed stats, going back to being just a simple mortal felt strange.
"I get it now. For the next two days, I won't be able to exert any strength or use my usual abilities. I guess, we can take it easy for now? Oh, before I forget. When this stage will end, I will need to go into seclusion. Do you know of any place suited for that? I might cause some troubles… or even destruction, during the final awakening of the system."
Standing up by myself now, I start to organise my thoughts. Even if I have two whole days to prepare for the final stage, I don't know how far such a safe place can be. Doing this in the forest would put me at risk of some random beast attacking me and I'm not sure if Eve will be able to use her cultivation either because of our dual spirituality. Ordering Leila to protect me during such a vital time would be plainly stupid and risking being killed by some weak beasts while reaching the level unimaginable for people of the entire sect… That would be outright pitiful!
"While our sect don't have such a thing, we can always Stella to guard you during that time. Even if you are already stronger than her, that doesn't make her weak by any means! Some kind of low levelled areas would be suitable because there is practically no chance of any real enemy or invader appearing!"
While I'm rather reluctant to ask our sect master for such favour right after playing her with the graduation… it seems that I don't really have much choice. All in all, if we manage to join the higher sect, this sect will get a lot of resources, lifting a heavy burden out of Stella's shoulders.
"I guess that's the correct way to go then. Would you mind asking her if she will be able to help us in my stead? I don't really have any other choice than going all the way to her residence to contact her and I guess you have some more efficient meanings of doing so."
It's not that I'm lazy, but with only two days where I can't advance no matter what I will do, there is simply a lot of stuff that I would like to do!
"Sure, I can send her a message, but it will take a while to get any reply."
Looking at me with a puzzled expression, I can see a hint of pity in her eyes. I guess she is thinking that with my now mortal constitution, walking all the way to the centre of core sect might be a hard task!
"Then that means we can finally go on a date!"
With my mouth extending in a wide smile, I pick up her hand and try to pull her towards the exit, only to be stopped right where I'm standing. Being prompt her into movement with just a single tug on her hand, being unable to make her move even an inch is definitely a new feeling for me!
"Oh, dummy! I still need to send the message! But I would love to go with you! Taking care of you while you are so weak… might get addicting!"
Gracing me with a mischevious smile, Eve finally moves. In just a moment, it's my hand that's getting pulled!
I guess it's time to repay her for all the times when I used my superior capabilities to slightly bully her. Well, that's the karma for me. Instead of being scared by it, should I try to discover an inner masochist in me?