[Congratulations, Host has gained a total of the following from the Rejuvenating Bath.]
[10 Strength Stat Points, 5 Agility Stat Points, and10 Stat Points in Endurance.]
The system notification flashed before Ryuk's face as he ordered,
"Activate Stats Tab."
[Attribute Points: 10]
"The points gained today were a lot less than yesterday. I have sped up in the tests, hoping to get injured enough to guarantee more stat points from the pool but still…" Ryuk noticed.
The day prior, the stats he had gained from the pool averaged around 15-20 points, yet today it was only around 5-10.
[Host's body will eventually adapt to the strength granted through Source Energy and will thereby earn fewer stat points as the host's body adapts to the energy.]
[Unless the concentration of Source Energy is improved — something highly unlikely — the host's ability to gain stat points from the pool will eventually come to an end. At most, a day or two from now...]
The system's voice explained as Ryuk nodded.
"Still, I'm satisfied. If I had to earn these points by completing quests and using attribute points, it would take me weeks, at least, to reach this level. This Source Energy is truly a blessing from the heavens."
Without wasting any more time, Ryuk dismissed the panel and moved toward a bench by the street, sitting down with furrowed brows.
"Throughout the whole of yesterday, I didn't sleep at all. I cultivated through the night and finally gained my Mana. Yet somehow, I'm not tired at all. Instead, I feel filled with energy…" Ryuk thought to himself as he clenched his fists.
It wasn't just his strength that had improved; Ryuk felt absolutely changed, even in his senses and perception. The sound of the air blowing was not hazy but exceedingly clear, and even at a distance, Ryuk felt his eyes could see farther and clearer.
It was as if he had gained a new ability that allowed him to focus on a distant object and make it appear as if it was right before his gaze. These improvements were substantial, and somehow, even when Ryuk felt he ought to be overwhelmed by the new experiences, he wasn't.
"I have sped up in the tests, hoping to get injured enough to guarantee more stat points from the pool. Somehow, that worked, but now, I'm making the geniuses very suspicious. Still, there is nothing I can do to prevent that if I hope to catch up at all."
Ryuk thought with furrowed brows, placing both hands on his lap and folding them together, thinking deeper.
"There's still much to prepare for... Hey, system, activate my interface."
Ryuk commanded, and immediately it appeared.
[Race: Half-Knull, Half Unknown]
[Cultivation Stage: Core Stage – Origin Plane Cultivation!]
"Just as I guessed, I've broken through to the Core Stage of the Origin Plane Cultivation. No wonder I felt more control over my Frost Veil skill…" Ryuk thought to himself as he dismissed the system interface.
"But now, there are a few problems."
"I can control the Ice Apex Energy, but the only thing I can do is use Frost Veil for longer. I might be oozing with Mana right now, but there still really isn't much I can do."
"My Frost Veil skill isn't an offensive one like Morgaine's skill. At its pinnacle, it's more of an evasive skill. It slows down attacks while also making me less visible. It doesn't directly improve my power or speed, nor my defense. The only reason I managed to battle Morgaine was because of my combat experience..."
Ryuk reflected with furrowed eyes.
Ryuk might have been able to match Morgaine, but he knew well it was because of his combat experience.
He faced his first beasts with Uncle Bob exactly when he was 10. In fact, he had always wanted to fight mutated beasts and had wished for it as his 10th birthday gift.
It was a bloody day for a birthday, but the point was, Ryuk had been battling for nearly six years now!
While most beasts were killed off with his rusty knife, there were countless times when he lost his knife and had no choice but to fight with his bare hands.
This is what allowed him to catch up to Morgaine.
'I can fight, and I can fight really well, at least better than the Fallen Geniuses.' But still, it's clear as day — I need to get an offensive skill.'
'And I've also noticed, while the geniuses were able to cover themselves in their Mana energy, I can't.'
'I can't even call up my Mana unless I want to activate Frost Veil.'
'I thought I would be able to manipulate ice to some degree, but I can't do anything at all.'
'It's like my Mana is only accessible when I activate Frost Veil. Any other attempt, and it stays locked away…' Ryuk thought to himself with furrowed eyebrows. He had seen how the other Fallen could manipulate their Apex Energy, but Ryuk had noticed that he actually couldn't.
Right now, with his hands to his face, he tried to cover his hand in Apex Energy, but Ryuk couldn't feel his Mana stir at all. He only felt it once when he tried activating his skill.
"There's something wrong, system," Ryuk called out, and the reply came promptly.
[The only reason why Host's Mana will do nothing but activate the Frost Veil skill is because Host's Ice Apex Energy isn't truly his. It was obtained not genetically, like the Fallen Geniuses, but as a shared element due to Host's bond with Isha.]
[If Host wants to gain the ability to freely manipulate his Ice Energy like the Fallen Geniuses, Host needs to gain the ability of Ice Manipulation or Frost Manipulation from his contrated beast.]
[Then Host will be able to easily control his Mana to form a myriad of things he wishes.]
[In short, Host needs to gain that ability from Isha, and Isha must first awaken that ability within itself!]
[I'm afraid this is the only way for Host to gain true control of the Ice Apex Energy.]