"Malsa, can I store the energy using Gluttony?" Robin asked, eyes fixed on the swirling dark mana.
Malsa's voice responded, calm and measured. "Gluttony can only consume energy, not store it. If you wish to absorb it, you'd need to store it directly within your body—but only through the act of consuming it with Gluttony."
Robin's curiosity grew. Skills had always felt distinct from the typical spells or aura techniques he'd encountered, but he'd never understood why. Taking a breath, he asked, "So what makes skills different from spells and aura? I've only used skills so far, and I've never really trained in magic or aura."
Malsa's response was thoughtful. "Skills are intrinsically tied to the soul. They don't require rigorous training to grow in power; instead, they draw strength from corresponding energy sources. For instance, healing magic needs life energy to advance in potency. In contrast, spells and aura techniques require practice and discipline—mana skills are strengthened by forming mana circles within the heart, while aura skills develop through intense physical training to push the human body's limits."
She paused, then added, "In this world, skills are often revered as divine powers, believed to be blessings granted by the higher powers. Unlike spells or aura, which any mage or warrior can master through training, divine skills are rare and uniquely bestowed."
Robin nodded, absorbing the weight of her words. Divine powers… The thought stirred something within him, a deeper understanding of the rare power he wielded. But with Gustavo's energy spreading, he knew he'd have to use Gluttony wisely if he wanted any chance to survive the darkness threatening to consume them all.
Boom!!! It seemed the battle was still raging on and the dark mana become even thick. "Malsa measure how much I can take in?" Robin Requested.
—
PROCESSING RESULT COMPLETED
—
"You can only consume 15% and absorb 5% directly into your body," Malsa replied.
That's way too small... How can I increase it to at least 50%? Robin thought, frustrated.
"How can I increase it to the maximum?" he asked.
Malsa responded, "You can consume the Weak Dragon Bloodline, which will increase your physical abilities to the level of a Silver Knight. This may also accelerate your growth rate."
She paused, then asked, "Do you wish to consume the Weak Dragon Bloodline skill?"
Without hesitation, Robin answered, "Yes!" He sighed inwardly, thinking, So much for my regeneration.
——
[ System Panel ]
Level: 2/12
Energy: 0/20000
Energy Types: Life Energy/ 1 /2000, Dark Energy / 2 / 0
Skills: Healing Magic, Gluttony, Weak Dragon Bloodline [ CONSUMING…. ]
Body Level: Junior Knight [ UPGRADING… ]
Mana Level: Junior Mage, Magical Circle 2
——
"PETER AND LUKE, GET BACK! IT'S TOO DANGEROUS!" Lion shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos.
"This bastard wants to destroy the entire kingdom!" Mary yelled as she continued her relentless assault on Gustavo, who kept growing, his twisted body reforming every time she struck him down.
Back at the edge of the barrier, soldiers had gathered, alarmed by the dark energy spilling out from within the forest. The Duke was at the front, desperately trying to break through the barrier to reach the battlefield.
Inside the fray, the scene was grim. Everyone was battered, bloodied, and exhausted; the fight had escalated far beyond their worst expectations. Gustavo, his body glowing in twisted pulses, began transforming into a growing mass of flesh, swelling and contorting faster with each passing second.
"Everyone, this time I'll absorb it myself," Lion said, his tone heavy with resolve. "We have to survive."
"No, Leon! I can't let you! I have more experience with this kind of magic," Mary shouted, moving closer to his side. But before anyone could act, dark tendrils of energy snaked through the air, converging toward Gustavo's body, feeding the monstrous sphere he was becoming.
At the edge of the battlefield, soldiers looked on, horrified, as the dark sphere expanded. A chill settled over them, and some felt their stomachs churn, a few even collapsing to their knees, overwhelmed by the sheer malevolence emanating from within.
—
CONSUMPTION COMPLETED
—
——
[ System Panel ]
Level: 2/12
Energy: 0/20000
Energy Types: Life Energy/ 1 /2000, Dark Energy / 2 / 0
Skills: Healing Magic, Gluttony
Body Level: Silver Knight
Mana Level: Junior Mage, Magical Circle 2
——
In the midst of Mary and Leon's heated argument, a young man with long hair cascading to his waist appeared seemingly out of nowhere. He looked barely older than a teenager, his clothes ill-fitting and simple. Without a word, he moved closer to Gustavo's grotesque, swelling form, every eye watching in stunned silence.
Leon's eyes widened in horror as he recognized the young man. "ROBIN, STOP! PLEASE STOP!" he shouted, his voice breaking, his face twisted in fear and desperation. Tears welled up, but Robin was already stepping forward, his expression resolute. He had made up his mind; there was no turning back now.
"Malsa, activate Gluttony," Robin commanded, his voice calm and unwavering. He raised his right arm, and from his hand, a massive dark spectral hand emerged, its form writhing and pulsing. With a swift motion, the hand lunged forward, gripping Gustavo's body in a powerful, consuming grasp, devouring the dark energy.
"BRAT! EVEN NOW, IN MY FINAL MOMENTS, YOU STILL SEEK TO DISHONOR ME?" Gustavo spat, his voice weak but filled with spite.
As Gluttony activated, a sudden force pulled Robin into another realm. He found himself standing on a vast expanse of still water that shimmered like glass, reflecting the vibrant colors of the surreal sky above—a tapestry of brilliant hues that blended seamlessly from deep blues to soft pinks and golden yellows. The atmosphere was serene, almost dreamlike, with a gentle breeze carrying the sweet scent of blooming flowers.
In the distance, a young child stood alone, his golden hair catching the light like spun silk. He had a slender face framed by two small horns, and silent tears streamed down his cheeks, contrasting sharply with the beauty of the surroundings.
"Malsa?" Robin called out, his voice echoing in the tranquil space, but there was only silence in response.
Concerned, Robin approached the child and knelt down, his voice softening. "Hey… what's wrong?"
The child looked up, his eyes filled with sorrow. "My family was taken away from me."
"Who took them away?" Robin asked, his heart aching for the boy.
The child pointed to the right, his voice trembling as he exclaimed, "THEM!"
Suddenly, dark strands began to creep into the realm, snaking through the air and swallowing the light. The once-beautiful landscape transformed into a nightmarish scene. The radiant sky darkened ominously, and massive, human-like hands descended from above, crashing down onto the land with a force that shattered the serene surface of the water.
Panic erupted as people began to scream and cry, their voices filled with terror. Among the chaos, a woman stood on a balcony, her face a mirror of the child's, filled with anguish. With tears streaming down her cheeks, she cried out to the sky, "What did we do wrong? We gave offerings every year! We pledged our loyalty to you!" Her desperate pleas resonated through the darkness, a haunting echo of despair as the beautiful realm fell into chaos..
"You won this time, but I won't make it easy for you!" Gustavo shouted defiantly. In that moment, Robin suddenly regained his senses, his vision clearing as he struggled to process everything.
"Master! You have consumed 100% of the energy, but your body can't handle it right now," Malsa informed him urgently. "I've activated the healing skill in the form of self-healing while you were unconscious."
Pain surged through Robin's body, every nerve ending alight with discomfort as he felt the remnants of the dark energy still swirling within him. Meanwhile, outside the dark sphere, Mary, Luke, and Peter held onto King Lion, who was desperate to leap into the fray to save his son.
"Let me go! I have to save him!" Lion shouted, his eyes filled with panic.
"King Lion, no!" Mary insisted, gripping his arm tightly. "If you jump in now, it could make things even worse. We need to wait for the right moment!"
"Malsa, what can we do right now? Aaaagh!" Robin gasped, fighting against the overwhelming pain threatening to drag him under. He struggled to stay conscious, his vision blurring at the edges.
"Master, it appears that around 30% of the energy within you is life energy, mixed with dark energy," Malsa explained urgently. "We can release the life energy as healing magic, but this will be a one-time effort since it won't have lasting effects—"
"Just do it! I can't hold on much longer!" Robin shouted through gritted teeth, desperation fueling his words.
With a surge of determination, Robin released the energy coursing through him. A brilliant burst erupted from his body, an influx of life energy radiating outward. The dark sphere around him transformed into a radiant white sphere, pulsating with healing light.
In an instant, the energy exploded outward, engulfing the battlefield in a warm, restorative glow. The once-barren landscape began to revive; dead trees burst back to life, and the desolate plains flourished with greenery. The darkness that had engulfed the area receded, revealing a stunning forest bathed in sunlight once more.
As the healing wave washed over everyone present, the barrier surrounding the battlefield shattered, leaving the air charged with renewed hope and vitality.
As King Lion, Luke, Peter, and Mary regained their strength, their eyes fell on Robin, who lay unconscious in the middle of the battlefield. Panic surged through Lion as he jumped to Robin's side, cradling him in his arms. "Dad, I'm sorry! I had to do it!" Robin murmured weakly as he slowly began to close his eyes.
"ROBIN!!!" King Lion shouted, his heart racing with fear.
After a moment, Robin let out a loud snore, breaking the tension in the air. Lion, Luke, Mary, and Peter exchanged glances, relief flooding through them. They each placed a hand over their chests, whispering to themselves, He's just sleeping. The thought of losing the young prince was too much to bear.
Lion stood up, lifting his son gently into his arms. Just then, the duke and a group of soldiers emerged from the tree line. The duke rushed forward, immediately removing his cloak and draping it over Robin's still form. "We need to get him to safety," he urged, his voice urgent but steady.
With Robin secured in Lion's embrace, they began to move towards the edge of the forest, where a chariot awaited. The soldiers stood guard, their expressions a mix of concern and confusion of what had happened.