Chapter 380 - Breakthrough To The Core Strengthening Stage
Back in the dark forest, Michael was standing in front of a mirror staring at his reflection.
"My lord, you're here" Azazel hovered through the walls to see Michael.
The demon butler frowned, noticing the scars on Ghost's body.
"Something happened, my lord?" Azazel asked,
Ghost was not wearing any face mask to hide his face. Azazel was completely loyal to him. Besides, in the future, Azazel would have to work with both his personas; Ghost and Lucifer. He thought of Azazel as Alfred to his batman,
"Baron Totonk and a bunch of soldiers who were just doing their job were killed," Ghost said, throwing the long coat he was holding in his hand to the bed.
"Who killed them, my lord?"
"Me…" Michael slowly walked towards the mirror. He put his hand on the mirror.
Boom!
Suddenly Michael punched the mirror as the glass mirror shattered into tiny pieces. The broken pieces on the ground reflected Michael's angered face.
"Have you finished with the surveillance room?"
Azazel nodded, "Yes my lord, I can now monitor your Spycams twenty-four seven"
"Good, now go. I need some time alone"
"I will be waiting for your order my lord" Bowing his head, Azazel left the room. After Azazel left the room, Michael sat on the bed. On his face, there was no sign of delight thinking about how he was going to break through to the Core Strengthening stage. Rather, he was more worried about his outburst and the third persona.
"System, what's happening to me?" Michael entered the system interface. Staring at the status window, he asked the system.
[The system's level is too low]
[The next upgrade will cost the host 200,000 badass points. Does the host wish to upgrade the system to 4.0?]
"Do it"
Michael was too focused on what just happened to him. He wasn't in the mood to bitch with the system for its uselessness to this situation.
[The Experience Cap for each level in the Core Strengthening stage will be reduced by 25% after upgrading the system]
[Initial Experience Cap 800,000]
[System 4.0 Experience Cap 600,000]
[System upgrade is in progress…]
"I hope you have an answer to my problem system"
System version 3.0
Host: Michael
Cultivation Level: Core Formation stage, level 10
Experience Points: 400000/400000 (1,800,000 points remaining to be consumed)
Badass Points: 500,000
Skills & Spells:
Wind Blast - LVL 6
Responsive Shield - LVL 8
Environment Scanning - LVL 6
Ignitia - LVL 8
Lightning Dash - LVL 6
Energy Devouver - LVL 2
Death Range - LVL 3
Eyes of Darkness (normal) - Can sense the cultivation level of others
Eyes of Darkness (Lucifer) - Can sense the cultivation level of others, Can see through illusions
Cloud of Darkness (Lucifer) - Weak-willed enemies will lose their courage completely and surrender, Death Range will be 50% more powerful, if activated in darkness, the host's cultivation level will be boosted 4 levels up regardless of the stage barrier.
Wordless Spell Caster(Lucifer) - In full Lucifer form, the host just has to think of the spell to cast it.
Techniques: Swords of Destiny - 95% Mastery
Ring of Fire - 83% Mastery
Serpent-Maga - 96% Mastery
Occupation: Core Disciple of Sunrise Sect
The Guardian of Sunrise Sect
Lord Lucifer of the Abyssal
The Dark Lord
King of Bradford
Status: Healthy
Goals: Control the world
Rebuild the Order of Death
Utility Function:
Banker - LVL 5 (Ratio - 1000 gold coins: 40 badass point(s))
Runic Teleportation
X-Ray Vision (Also integrated with Eyes of Darkness)
Wealth: 5,000,000 Gold
Special Trait: 5-Star Alchemist
3-Star Inventor
Subordinates: Gaya - Warrior (loyalty level 100%)
Raylene - 5-star Chef (loyalty level 99%)
Aria - Assassin (loyalty level 38%)
Heinberg - Warrior (loyalty level 35%)
Maxine - Warrior (loyalty level 98%)
Tiberius - Warrior (loyalty level 45%)
Sadie (loyalty level 30%)
Ricky (loyalty level 95%)
The Silent Reaper Crew - Pirates (loyalty level 80%)
Base of Operation: Sunrise Sect
The Abyssal
The Crypt
Kingdom of Bradford
Familiars: Nightmare (Forest Dragon)
Vedora (Three Headed Hydra)
While the system was upgrading itself, he noticed the 5% loyalty drop in the Silent Reaper crew. It made sense though as they were stuck in the crypt instead of pillaging the ships in the sea. Ever since the Guardians destroyed the Silent Reaper, Michael was keeping the pirate crew in the crypt in Undead Island. He provided enough rations for them to last for three months. Although Maxine was there to oversee the pirates, the crypt was like a cage to the free-spirited pirates.
Michael lost track of time. In a blink of an eye, six hours passed by.
[The system upgrade is completed]
[Current System level 4.0]
[The host has 1,600,000 Experience points left to consume. Does the host wish to consume the points?]
"Before we do that, tell me what happened to me earlier?"
[The system's level is too low]
"What the?" Michael couldn't believe what he just heard. He spent 200,000 badass points to upgrade the system yet he received nothing. On top of being pissed at himself, the system's uselessness kindled the fire of anger inside him.
"Shit, how much for the next upgrade?"
[600,000 badass points]
Michael wanted to punch the system if it had a physical body. However, he quickly controlled his anger before he might lose control again. Instead of getting consumed by anger, Michael calmed himself down. He tried to think instead of letting the anger overtake his brain.
"System, consume the points"
[The breakthrough to the Core Strengthening stage will take four days]
[Warning! The system will be offline for four days]
[Warning! The host will be in an unconscious state for four days]
[The system will notice the host if the host was in danger]
"Do it"
Michael wasn't worried about his safety as he was in the dark forest. Besides, he let the elders handle the meeting with the nobles in Bradford.
His top priority now was to get stronger and find a cure for his new problem of losing control of his mind.
[Congratulations to the host for reaching the next stage, the Core Strengthening stage!]
[Congratulations to the host for leveling up. The current level is Core For Strengthening stage Level 1!]
[Congratulations to the host for leveling up. The current level is Core For Strengthening stage Level 2!]
[Congratulations to the host for leveling up. The current level is Core For Strengthening stage Level 3!]
Unlike before Michael received neither gifts nor special items from the system for upgrading it to the next level or reaching the Core Strengthening stage.
For others, Michael was cultivating in a heaven-defying speed. But for him, he was moving at a snail's pace.
In a blink of an eye, four days had passed. Slowly, Michael felt the control of his body returning to him. His consciousness returned as he slowly opened his eyes.
[In Ghost persona, the host is undefeatable to anyone under Core Strengthening stage level 5]
[In Complete Lucifer persona, the host is undefeatable to anyone under Core Strengthening stage level 7]
When he activates the Cloud of darkness and eyes of darkness, his Lucifer form would be completed. In that complete form, if he activated the death range in the darkness, his power would be boosted four levels higher. Hence he would be undefeatable to anyone at or under Core Strengthening stage level 7.
"I must find an answer to my problem" Michael mumbled to himself.
"Do I suffer from multiple personalities? It can't be…I created Lucifer to dominate the world but people had been expecting me for thousands of years" Michael did not even leave the bed as he began to ponder,
"Only thing that makes me different from the young masters like Noah is my ability to keep myself calm. I cannot lose my reasoning ever again. I need to fix myself but where do I search for answers to my problem?"
He missed Gaya now more than ever.
"I said…no rather he said that death and chaos are so beautiful" Michael remembered what he said during the massacre. If he could find out about the persona's characteristics, he might be able to find some answer, at least he thought.
"What if that's the Dark Lord the Guardians were afraid of? That's who I'm gonna be in the future? No…No one controls my fate except me" Michael took a deep breath. An unwavering resolution emerged in his eyes.
His feet touched the ground as he cracked his neck,
"Who am I kidding? That was me…more powerful" He remembered how powerful he felt when slaughtering the guards. Although he felt pity for them, he had to admit that he was frickin powerful. Even Yenob, a Core Strengthening stage mage, was so powerless against him.
"If I could control myself in that form…" Michael snickered,
"My lord" Michae;'s train of thoughts was interrupted by Azazel's voice. He heard the demon butler's voice coming from the other side of the walls.
"Come on in Azazel" the demon butler floated towards him,
"What is it?" As he asked, Michael took a new set of black long coats and turtlenecks from his space ring. He put them on, adjusting the collars and sleeves before turning his gaze back at Azazel.
"While you were cultivating here, I received a request to meet you from Lady Maxine from the Crypt. Apparently, some pirates have been acting strange"
"Is that so? I think I have to return to the Southern Continent" Michael willed the system to equip Lucifer armor as well as change his face using the face mask.
"My Lord, what should I do while you're gone?" Azazel asked with utmost respect,
"Clean up the throne hall. It's time i gather my minions and start the world domination"
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The Tournament arc has finally come to an end with this chapter. From the next chapter onwards, we will venture into the new arc. Yes, I heard your concerns about the spirit child and Michael losing his mind.
If you're worried about the novel going in a cliche way, it won't. Michael was not perfect, he was far from being perfect. He would have his ups and downs. The next arc will focus on Gaya and Michael's character building as well as some interesting twists.
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