Ryuk and Sarah arrived before the door to the assessment room, a sense of anticipation hanging in the air.
Sarah knocked lightly on the door, and upon receiving a response, she pushed it open. Inside, a man dressed in a crisp white coat stood waiting.
He introduced himself as Edward Jones, his eyes locking onto Ryuk with a mixture of curiosity and respect.
"Greetings, Your Highness," Edward said, dropping to one knee. "My name is Edward Jones, and I will be your guide through the crystal absorption process today."
Ryuk nodded in acknowledgement, his expression neutral.
Edward rose to his feet, gesturing towards a door on the opposite side of the room. "Please, follow me."
Ryuk and Sarah trailed behind him, entering a room that seemed to be a cross between a laboratory and a sacred ritual chamber.
The walls were lined with intricate runes, pulsing with a soft, blue light. Ryuk's eyes narrowed, his mind racing with the possibilities of what these runes might do.
Sarah handed Ryuk a small, black box adorned with intricate symbols. As he took it, the sound of the door opening echoed through the room.
Ryuk's head turned, his eyes widening in surprise as he took in the sight of his father, the Emperor, standing in the doorway.
Alongside him stood Justina, her expression stoic, and a man with striking purple hair, his eyes gleaming with an unnerving intensity.
Ryuk's mind racing, he recognized the purple-haired man as Kluivert Von Strangle, an Operative of the Shadow Guard.
The room fell silent, with everyone, including Ryuk, dropping to one knee. "We greet His Majesty," they chorused in unison.
Ryuk's eyes remained fixed on his father, his mind reeling with questions. Why had his father come in person?
He usually received the results of the assessment in the comfort of his study. Ryuk's gaze flicked to Kluivert, his thoughts racing with memories of the game.
Kluivert had been one of the individuals who rebelled against Ryuk when he became the Emperor.
His loyalty to the current Emperor, Ryuk's father, was unwavering. In fact, Kluivert had been one of the strongest opponents Ryuk had faced during his ascent to the throne.
Ryuk's eyes narrowed, recalling the events of the game. He had killed his father, the Emperor, and ascended to the throne, but Kluivert had refused to acknowledge him as the new ruler, instead choosing to rebel against him.
Ryuk's thoughts were interrupted as his father, the Emperor, began to speak. "Rise, everyone," he commanded, his voice firm but measured.
As they rose to their feet, Ryuk couldn't help but notice the intense gaze of Kluivert, his eyes seeming to bore into Ryuk's very soul.
For now Ryuk decided to push those thoughts aside, focusing on the task ahead- the crystal absorption assessment.
"Alright, Your Highness, please wear this," Edward said, handing Ryuk a small, sleek device that resembled a tiny computer chip.
Ryuk took the chip and attached it to his chest, feeling a slight tingling sensation as it adhered to his skin.
The chip would record the amount of experience points (exp) he received as he absorbed the crystal, providing a precise measurement of his efficiency rate.
Ryuk's mind wandered to the different grades of crystals and their corresponding exp values.
He recalled that the lowest grade, black, yielded a maximum of 50 exp.
The grades ascended in the following order: black (50 exp), red (100 exp), orange (150 exp), yellow (250 exp), silver (400 exp), and white (800 exp).
As a level 0, Ryuk was limited to absorbing black crystals, as the more powerful crystals would overwhelm his system and potentially cause him to implode from the rampant energy.
The amount of exp a system holder could absorb from a crystal depended on their talent, which was measured by their efficiency rate.
This rate was expressed as a percentage, with the highest recorded efficiency rate in the empire being 80%, achieved by the Crown Prince, Rayleigh Vers Heidal.
Ryuk wondered what his own efficiency rate would be, as it was not mentioned in the game. However, his system, Ella, had hinted that it was high, leading Ryuk to estimate that it would be around 75%.
He pushed these thoughts aside, focusing on the task at hand.
With the chip in place, Ryuk felt a sense of readiness wash over him.
With the chip securely in place, Ryuk carefully opened the black box, revealing the black crystal nestled within.
He gently lifted the crystal out of the box, feeling a subtle hum of energy emanating from it.
"Alright, Your Highness," Edward instructed, "slowly focus on the energy contained within the crystal."
As Edward spoke, he began to input a series of commands into the machine connected to the chip.
The device, an ancient relic recovered from the rifts, whirred to life, its soft hum filling the air.
Ryuk watched with interest as Edward worked, his mind wandering to the history of these relics.
They were remnants of a bygone era, a testament to the ingenuity of a long-lost civilization.
Although humanity had made significant strides in reviving this technology, they still had a long way to go.
The constant struggle for power, the wars with the djinn, and the cautious approach of the elves had all hindered their progress.
Ryuk's thoughts were interrupted as he placed his hand on the crystal, feeling a surge of energy emanating from it.
He closed his eyes, focusing on the exp within the crystal. As he reached out with his mind, he began to sense the energy tendrils within the crystal.
They were like delicate, glowing threads, waiting to be woven into his being.
As Ryuk's connection to the crystal deepened, the energy tendrils began to stir, coiling around his hands and feet like ethereal vines.
The air around him seemed to shimmer, as if the very fabric of reality was being manipulated.
Ryuk's expression remained steady, his breathing slow and deliberate, as he carefully guided the energy into his body.
A bead of sweat formed on his brow, a testament to the intense focus required for this process.
He knew that he had to be cautious, especially since this was his first level up and he was still at level 0.
The procedure was slow, deliberate, and unyielding, requiring every ounce of concentration he possessed.
As the energy coursed through Ryuk's veins, he began to acclimate to its presence, his body adapting to the influx of power.
The initial sluggishness gave way to a smoother, more efficient flow, as if his cells were learning to harness the energy with greater precision.
The black crystal, once a deep, rich hue, began to fade, its color dulling as the energy was drained from it.
Ryuk felt a subtle yet palpable shift within himself, as if his very essence was being rewritten.
His senses grew more acute, his muscles more resilient, and his mind more focused. He was reaching the pinnacle of level 0, the threshold beyond which lay a new realm of possibilities.
And then, in an instant, it happened. Ryuk's body released a burst of energy, a palpable shockwave that rippled through the air.
The sound was almost audible, a soft whoosh that seemed to emanate from the very core of his being.
The black crystal, now drained of its energy, lay dull and lifeless in his hand.
Ryuk's eyes snapped open, a sense of exhilaration coursing through his veins. He had done it – he had leveled up.
A wide, triumphant grin spread across his face, reflecting the sense of accomplishment that swelled within him.
He felt stronger, faster, and more alive than ever before, as if the very fabric of his reality had been transformed.
In his excitement, Ryuk thought to himself, 'Ella, show me my status'. An invisible interface materialized before him, displaying a wealth of information about his current state.
________________________________________________________________________________
Name: Ryuk Vers Heidal (James Ford)
Age: 13
Level: 1
MP: 100
Exp: 10/300
STR: 13
AGI: 11
DEF: 11
INT: 13
Skills: Body Strengthening
Flame Manipulation
Ice Manipulation
Space Manipulation
Traits: Soul Absorption (Unique)
Weapon Master (Unique)
Bloodline (locked)
________________________________________________________________________________
Ryuk's eyes widened as he took in the information. 'Wow, I got stronger by quite a lot, huh?' he thought to himself, a grin spreading across his face.
As he raised his head, he noticed the emperor, Justina, Kluivert, Edward, and Sarah staring at the machine in utter shock.
Edward's and Sarah's mouths hung open, their eyes fixed on the machine in a comical expression.
Justina's gaze, on the other hand, was fixed on Ryuk, her eyes narrowed as if she was staring at a monster.
The emperor's face was pale, shock evident in his eyes. Kluivert's voice was barely audible as he muttered, "M... monster." Ryuk's ears picked up the comment, and he raised an eyebrow.
Ryuk decided to ask them what was wrong. "Um, guys, what's the matter? What's my efficiency rate?" he inquired, his curiosity piqued.
From their reactions alone, he could surmise that it was ridiculously high – likely higher than Rayleigh's.
Edward stuttered, "9... 95%." Ryuk's expression changed drastically as he asked, "What?" his voice laced with incredulity.