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B-Grade.
The changes Bloed experienced when he reached B-Grade were not many.
Compared to the changes Liu Ying experienced during her breakthrough, Bloed's changes were very little.
In fact, besides his increased psychic energy, and the now stronger [Enhanced Brain Capability], everything else was almost the same.
Even his combat power did not increase by much.
It was understandable, though. In the end, Bloed's current main ESP ability, [Enhance Brain Capacity], was not a combat-type ESP ability.
As for his second ESP ability, [Molecular Disintegration], he needed to wait until S-Grade if he wanted to truly wield it.
Bloed was not disappointed, though. Quite the opposite, he was pretty happy.
After all, although his direct combat strength had not increased by much, the things he could do now were much more than before.
His mind felt much clearer, and his thoughts moved faster. He briefly got the feeling that time was moving slower around him.
Furthermore, his ability to thought-control machines was much greater than before.
Thanks to [Enhanced Brain Capacity], Bloed ability to Thought-control was already much higher than average. At C-Grade, he could thought-control four artifacts; his eyes, hair, Tito, and Leto.
For a normal ESPer, even an S-Grade one, wielding four thought-controlled machines was amazing. In fact, Liu Ying controlled only one, Liu Liu, even although she was at B-Rank.
Bloed, though, was not satisfied with that.
And now, he felt his capacity of thought-control almost doubling.
In other words, he could control three or four artifacts more than before. Perhaps even more if they were not too complex.
And each artifact he could control was an increase to his combat strength.
That was just one of the changes after his breakthrough, though. The second change came from his second ESP ability, [Molecular Disintegration].
Although Bloed could barely use a part of [Molecular Disintegration] with the help of magic runes, after his breakthrough, his calculation zone had grown for a little.
It was not enough to allow him to use [Molecular Disintegration] at will, but it allowed him to release a bit more of its abilities.
Bloed still had to experiment to know what he could do now, but at the very least, he could upgrade Tito and Leto now.
He could make the two mechanical pets much stronger than before.
After Bloed finished checking his changes, he took a deep breath and opened his eyes.
"So it's how B-Grade feels like, huh."
B-Grade. In this world, a B-Grade (B-Rank) could easily live a comfortable life. Although it was not enough to become someone truly important, it was enough to become famous in a small region.
For Bloed, though, B-Grade was just the start.
His goal was the top of this world, and then, the sea of stars.
And today, he had taken another step towards that goal.
After Bloed ended his breakthrough, he looked at the remaining spiritual fruit and decided against eating it now. He planned to study it to see if he could use it to find a way to advance to A-Grade.
A-Grade was going to be the first big hurdle in Bloed's cultivation.
When Bloed left the laboratory, he found Regina and Liu Ying waiting for him.
"Congratulations, master," Regina said with a happy smile. "You are finally a B-Grade ESPer."
At the same time, Liu Ying rushed towards him.
"Well done~"
Liu Ying grinned and hugged his arm as a spoiled girl. Bloed smiled wryly and rubbed her head.
Then, he looked at Regina.
"I'm a bit hungry now."
Regina nodded.
"I already prepared something for you, master."
"Thank you. As expected, you are the best."
Liu Ying pouted. "Hey! I also helped!"
"You only cut some vegetables, demon."
"So? Cutting vegetables is also a part of cooking."
"Yes, yes, well done." Bloed smiled and consoled Liu Ying before following the two girls to the dining room.
After a sumptuous lunch prepared for Regina, Bloed spoke to the girls about his breakthrough and the changes he experienced after that.
"In other words, you need to upgrade your equipment now." Liu Ying said.
Bloed nodded. "Yes. Only when my equipment is upgraded will my breakthrough truly show its effect. Otherwise, my strength will not increase for much."
"Speaking of that, master, the fox brought the things you asked for."
"In good time." Bloed smiled. "Some of the things I asked her will be useful for constructing my new equipment."
"What new toys are you thinking of creating, master?" Regina asked curiously.
"Well… I have a few ideas in my mind, but I'll keep them a secret for now."
"How mysterious." Liu Ying rolled her eyes. "Right, the saintess also told you to remember the thing you promised to her."
"Oh... The fox, huh."
"I suppose so… Bloed, don't you think you are getting a bit too close to her?" Liu Ying suddenly narrowed her eyes.
Regina was the same. She was staring at Bloed with a suspicious expression.
Bloed smiled wryly. Girls, can you stop your baseless jealously.
"Come on, Miss Eve is a very powerful demigod. The only reason she seems interested in me is that I'm helping her with something. I'm sure her interest is not romantic or something like that."
Liu Ying and Regina squinted their eyes. But after thinking for several seconds, they realized Bloed's words were reasonable.
"You are right, there is no way someone like her will fall in love with someone like you." Liu Ying shook her head and sighed in relief.
"Hey!"
Bloed was speechless. Did she truly need to diss him like that?
Seeing Bloed's expression, Regina smiled and grabbed his hand.
"Don't worry, master. It's enough if the two of us know about your good points. As for the other women, the less they understand the better."
"Right, right, we two are enough." Liu Ying nodded in agreement. But then, she seemed to think of something. "By the way… What about that little girl, Gina?"
"… We don't need to worry about someone that is not here."
Bloed twitched his lips. Since when had Regina and Liu Ying become so close?
They were not even lovers yet, but Regina and Liu Ying were already stopping other women from approaching him.
… Well, it was not as though Bloed was complaining. He already had enough headaches with the valkyrie and the demon.
He definitively did not want more women in his life.