Edward looked at the text displayed on the interface before him, feeling a slight shift in his heart.
Blood Boil, incomplete (Not Yet Learned)
[This is a skill practiced by ancient human warriors.
Once mastered, the body reaches the pinnacle of human strength, allowing even physical confrontations with ordinary demons]
He narrowed his eyes, surprised that a good deed had earned him such a reward.
After some thought, Edward made a decisive choice to spend 20 years of demon life energy to advance the practice of this skill.
In an instant, 20 years of demon life energy flowed into 'Blood Boil'.
As the demon life force was consumed, new information appeared in his mind:
[Year 1: You consume ordinary demon blood daily to nourish your body, feeling the initial changes]
[Year 9: Ordinary demon blood has lost its effectiveness, and your progress has stalled.]
[Year 17: You vaguely sense changes in your bones, your blood filled with heat, but your spine has yet to fully break through]
[Year 20: You enter a period of preparation, ready to break through the limits of your spine and embrace a new transformation]
As Edward felt this surge of energy coursing through his body, he realized he had broken through a bottleneck.
His physical strength had surpassed ordinary human limits, reaching a new level of power.
Compared to this newfound ability, 'Demon-Slaying Swordsmanship' and 'Piercing Iron Palm', although taught by demon hunters, seemed inferior.
Those skills focused on muscle and force technique, making an ordinary person strong like an ox.
But 'Blood Boil' directly altered Edward's flesh and bones, pushing him closer to the strength of ancient warriors.
He clenched his fist, feeling the primal force coursing through him, and his mind cleared.
"This is the true path to power,"he thought, recognizing the potential that this incomplete parchment had revealed—a glimpse into a higher realm.
Edward confidently decided to use more of the demon life energy he had stored, pushing the skill even further.
As the numbers ticked down, more text appeared:
[Year 52: After years of accumulation, your spine finally breaks through, and Blood Boil reaches minor mastery]
As this line of text appeared, Edward took a deep breath, feeling the overwhelming strength within him.
His body had undergone significant transformation.
The once vulnerable flesh now seemed to be forged with unbreakable bones, and his muscles were filled with boundless power.
He could face demons head-on without fear.
A sense of nearing the pinnacle stirred within him—he was no longer relying on brute force but gradually ascending to a higher state of existence.
With renewed determination, Edward poured the remaining demon life energy into 'Blood Boil'.
[Year 89: You have grown accustomed to the state of 'Blood Boil'.
Year after year, your body has adapted to this constant surge of power]
[Year 200: Your control over Blood Boil becomes increasingly refined.
One morning, you notice changes in your skin and feel a deep sense of excitement.
'Blood Boil' has reached its peak]
Edward realized he was nearing the legendary realm, one step away from a complete transformation.
Yet, he felt a stubborn resistance blocking him, an invisible wall that stopped him from breaking through to the final stage.
The reason was simple.
The incomplete parchment only recorded the skill up to this point.
Edward sighed in frustration.
Though he had nearly reached the peak, he was left at a standstill.
[Demon Life Energy: 20 years]
Edward let out a long breath.
The feeling of stopping just before the final step left him uncomfortable, as though he had lost momentum at a crucial moment.
It was akin to the frustration of intimacy interrupted at its peak.
He shook his head, pushing away the unwanted thoughts, and refocused on the changes within his body.
He could clearly feel the heat coursing through his blood, a mixture of warmth and power that made him more confident than ever.
This power felt real, as though each drop of his blood surged with immense energy.
Edward knew that if he were to face the goat demon from yesterday again, he wouldn't need to rely on ambushes or tactics.
He could confront the demon head-on.
His body had surpassed human limits, reaching the heights of an ancient warrior.
...
Standing in front of Caitlin's house, Edward glanced at the still-broken wall.
The large hole hadn't been fixed yet.
He turned his head slowly, his gaze carrying a hint of dissatisfaction.
"Didn't I tell you to fix the hole in the wall yesterday?
Are you too cheap to spend the money?"
Caitlin, facing Edward's question, lowered her head like a child caught doing something wrong.
She didn't argue back.
Her face showed fear, clearly intimidated by Edward.
Edward paused for a moment, contemplating how to make Caitlin take his words seriously.
He then let out a soft chuckle, his tone turning slightly threatening.
"I'll come back in a few days. If you don't fix the wall…"
He deliberately trailed off, thinking of how best to scare her into action.
After a brief pause, he smiled.
"If you don't fix the wall, I'll stay at your house every day."
As soon as the words left his mouth, Caitlin's face turned pale with fear.
She quickly replied.
"I'll call someone to fix it right away—no, I'll get it fixed later today! I promise!"
Caitlin was clearly terrified by Edward's words.
She couldn't imagine the consequences if he really stayed at her house every day.
At that moment, a middle-aged woman from the neighboring house passed by.
She had been planning to greet Caitlin, but upon seeing Edward in his black uniform, she paled and hurried away as though she had seen a demon.
Caitlin stood in place, anxiously thinking about how to get the wall repaired as quickly as possible, not daring to delay.
Satisfied with her reaction, Edward turned and gently took Roy's hand.
Roy looked up at Edward in surprise but didn't resist, obediently following him inside the house.
Caitlin stood at the door for a moment, took a deep breath to collect herself, and then followed them inside.