"You'll keep five percent of your strength sealed at all times, that would be the zeroth stage."
It was a confusing thing to say.
I was going to use zero percent of abilities on default. A true base stage.
"And then, we'll make you progressively unlock more of your strength over ten levels. Get it?"
Ten levels.
At stage one. Only one percent more was unsealed.
With Stage Zero included, I was using 6 percent of my strength.
With Stage 2, it became 8 percent.
11 in stage three. 15 in four.
And as we went on…
"Even with the five percent of stage zero… when I get to stage nine…"
"That's right… this, is your key, Eugene."
***
"Stage. Ten."
A burst of energy took over my body. The two Outer Gods around stopped talking as the sunglasses on my eyes broke into bits.
Stage zero to stage nine… Only opened.
50% of my strength.
And with stage ten—
I unlocked the other half. Cataclysm flowed into every part of my body as an elevating sensation took over me.
