"WTF? There's actually a thing ?!"
Raymond, who had finally found the section about switching to secondary personality states in the 'Beginner's Guide' and forced himself to read through it, suddenly cursed out loud.
Because this was really a trap.
According to the guide, his previous assumptions weren't exactly wrong.
The duration of the secondary personality state is indeed inversely related to physical or energy consumption—the greater the consumption, the shorter the duration.
But that was only one factor, not the whole picture.
In fact, a far more crucial factor was the host's overall value!
So, what is the overall value?
Simply put, it's a final number calculated from the weighted average of the four attributes on Raymond's stats panel: 'Strength,' 'Agility,' 'Constitution,' and 'Mind.'
The guide didn't specify the exact weighting formula, but one thing was certain—the higher the four attributes, the higher the overall value.
In Raymond's understanding, this overall value was somewhat similar to overall combat power.
Those four attributes clearly influence a person's total combat ability, so even if the overall value wasn't exactly the same as combat power, it was at least closely related.
With that in mind, the guide's explanation could be interpreted as: the stronger he is overall, the longer he can maintain a secondary personality.
At the same time, the stronger the secondary personality, the shorter the duration.
With his current overall value, switching to the Kuro personality allows him to maintain high-intensity combat for about ten minutes before the state automatically ends.
If he switches to the Deadshot personality, the duration might be even longer since Deadshot isn't as strong as Kuro.
But the Tao Pai Pai personality is a different story—because it far surpasses both Deadshot and Kuro in power, he can only maintain it for a few minutes even without engaging in combat.
Once he starts fighting, the time will decrease drastically—possibly to just a minute or even a few seconds.
Clearly, for the Tao Pai Pai personality, stamina and energy consumption are no longer the key issues.
Even if he just stood still and breathed, his current overall value would only allow him to maintain the state for a few minutes—ten at most.
If he moves, the duration will plummet.
If he wants to extend the duration of the Tao Pai Pai personality, or even use it for combat, his only option is to increase his overall value.
This is a problem he must solve.
Otherwise, this won't just be an issue with the Tao Pai Pai personality.
If he unlocks another Silver-level personality—or worse, a future Gold-level one—he might not even last a few seconds before collapsing like a dead fish.
What's the point of collecting all those exploration points and character cards if he can't even use them?
"Damn it, this crappy system could've at least given a warning! What kind of ridiculous rule is this…" Raymond cursed under his breath, flipping off the system in his mind.
Still, he knew he couldn't entirely blame the system.
It had already told him that any questions could be answered in the 'Beginner's Guide.'
But ever since he arrived in this world, he hadn't had a moment to relax.
Plus, the guide was ridiculously long and tedious, so he had only skimmed through most of it.
There were even more detailed and ridiculously long explanations hidden within many subcategories, and he simply hadn't had the time to go through them all.
That was why he didn't fully understand the duration mechanics of the secondary personality state.
He was sure the 'Beginner's Guide' still contained plenty of important information he hadn't gotten around to reading—like how to increase his overall value.
While browsing the section on secondary personality duration, he had seen a subcategory about overall value, but he hadn't had the chance to open it yet.
"No, I can't keep going… I'll check it tomorrow."
Raymond originally planned to continue reading, but he quickly realized his eyelids were too heavy to keep open.
A wave of exhaustion hit him hard.
The intense battle at the hospital, the long journey to Washington with Hill and the others, and the massive energy drain from switching to the Tao Pai Pai personality had completely drained him.
In just a few seconds after deciding to sleep, he was out cold.
That showed just how utterly exhausted he was.
After breakfast with Raymond and Hill, May headed back to S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters.
In truth, May had long since stepped away from fieldwork.
Like Black Widow, she was a legendary S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, but the very mission that made her famous had also left her with deep psychological scars—scars she still hadn't overcome.
Now, she was just another one of the many desk-bound staff at S.H.I.E.L.D.
If Hill hadn't personally asked her for help because no one else was available, she would probably be sitting at her desk, typing away at some report.
After May left, Hill personally took Raymond to S.H.I.E.L.D. Academy.
They were greeted by Dr. Anne Weaver, the head of the academy's science division and one of its vice principals, responsible for faculty management.
"Agent Hill, Dr. Raymond, long time no see."
The moment she spotted them from afar, Director Weaver greeted them warmly. It was clear this wasn't their first meeting.
Raymond's mind held memories of her—some from the original body's owner, and others from his past life.
If he remembered correctly, two of the genius scientists in Coulson's soon-to-be-formed special team were actually Weaver's prized students.
As for why the original owner of his body knew her, it was because after being recruited by Fury, he had served as a guest lecturer at S.H.I.E.L.D. Academy a few times.
Back then, it was also Weaver who had welcomed him.
"It really has been a while, Ms. Weaver… Didn't expect you to personally welcome us again." Raymond said with a smile.
"We're troubling you again, Agent Weaver," Hill added politely.
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