Chapter 275: Need to think
The next morning, everyone woke up early.
Since they had gone to bed soon after nightfall, rising before the sun came naturally. Even the carriage driver looked refreshed, having enjoyed an uninterrupted night’s sleep.
"Were you awake the whole night?" Monica asked, concern filling her voice as she spotted her mate standing beneath a nearby tree.
Luke nodded. "Yeah. But it’s fine. I’ll sleep in the carriage."
"You shouldn’t have sacrificed your sleep, Luke," Roxanne said, unable to hide the worry in her voice. "You could’ve woken one of us instead."
Luke let out a quiet sigh.
How was he supposed to explain that while in his Lunar Warden form, exhaustion barely existed for him? The fatigue from days of traveling had completely disappeared the moment he transformed.
In fact, he had spent the entire night hunting the beasts that wandered too close to their campsite, simply to keep the restless energy surging through his body under control.
Even now, he didn’t feel particularly tired.
Only his eyelids felt slightly heavy.
Perhaps it was because the moon’s blessing had finally faded.
"Should we leave now?" Thea suddenly asked.
Both Monica and Roxanne shot her a glare at the same time, making the woman flinch.
Roxanne let out a helpless sigh. "We’ll pack the shelters first. There’s no need to rush. Just sit down and rest until we’re done here."
Luke smiled faintly and nodded. "Just don’t hurt yourself, okay?"
Before long, Monica and Roxanne busied themselves dismantling the tents, while Laila returned from the nearby stream after washing her face.
Leaning against the tree, Luke called out to the system.
"I hunted quite a few beasts last night. Let’s see if my stats changed."
[Level: 3
Str: 36 -> 38.5
Spd: 30 -> 32
Def: 40 -> 41.5
Int: 25
Gamma: 7900 -> 10000/10000
GP: 1250
Attribute Points: 0
To Level Up: 2000 GP
To Evolve Gamma POD: 11500/10000
Abilities:
1. Echolocation: Level 1 -> 2 | 10/200 EXP
2. Concentrated Burst: Level 2 | 100/200 EXP
3. Enhanced Perception: Level 2 | 70/200 EXP
4. Shadow Walk: Level 2 | 60/200 EXP
5. Death Scare: Level 1 | 40/100 EXP]
[Host, upon reaching Level 3 in any skill, you will unlock a branch ability for that skill while also reducing its usage requirements.]
Luke rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
’I didn’t even notice it... I’ve already met the requirement for my Gamma Pod to evolve, haven’t I?’
Luke recalled the explanation the system had given him before.
A Gamma Pod determined how much magic a person could wield and the extent of their sorcery.
Someone with a first tier Pod could only enhance their body and physical abilities, much like Baldon.
A second tier Pod introduced spells into the equation, unlocking a specific branch of sorcery and allowing its wielder to cast basic magic. The bastard he had killed in the forest possessed mental attacks, which meant he had most likely reached the second tier.
As for the third tier, he either hadn’t asked about it or simply couldn’t remember the explanation. Still, he figured the system would grant him something far beyond what an ordinary second tier magician could ever obtain.
After all, even with a mere first tier Pod, he could already wield multiple branches of magic.
And he did so with frightening efficiency.
[Host, to evolve your Gamma Pod, you must remain in complete isolation for twelve hours under absolute protection. During this period, the host will remain unconscious. Not only will the host’s Gamma Pod evolve, but the system itself will also undergo an upgrade.]
[For now, it is recommended that the host continue accumulating experience with the current abilities and raise their skill levels. If the evolved Pod unlocks a new branch of magic, the host will have sufficient time to adapt while still possessing reliable abilities to depend on should the situation demand it.]
Luke gave a small nod.
That made perfect sense.
Twelve hours of isolation...
That was going to be a problem.
During that entire period, he would be completely defenseless.
Sure, he could set traps around the area beforehand, but what if a magician found him? Or worse, someone stronger than him?
Yes, there were people he trusted.
But asking them to stand guard over his unconscious body for half a day was far too heavy a burden.
He needed a proper plan.
More importantly, he needed the right location.
The evolution would cause fluctuations in his magical aura, and someone as experienced as Terek would immediately notice something unusual if they were nearby.
’I can’t rush this.’
Luke let out a quiet sigh and pushed the thought of evolving his Gamma Pod to the back of his mind.
He would think it through carefully and begin making preparations once he returned home.
For now...
"Are we ready to leave?" he asked as he rose to his feet.
The others had already finished dismantling the camp. Every stake had been pulled from the ground, while the tents and ropes had been neatly folded into large bundles.
The only problem left was where to put them.
"Ah, yes..." Monica scratched the back of her head. "But should we try squeezing them into the basket?"
The carriage was spacious, but not spacious enough to carry all the extra luggage.
Luke simply smiled.
"I’ve got it covered."
The bundled supplies disappeared before their eyes, vanishing into his inventory.
It really was an incredibly convenient ability.
Thea’s eyes widened for a brief moment, but she wisely kept her thoughts to herself.
The more she observed Luke, the more she realized he couldn’t be compared to any magician she had encountered before.
He was simply...
Too extraordinary.
Not long afterward, they climbed back into the carriage. Luke helped each of them inside before stepping in himself.
As soon as he entered, he noticed the seating arrangement.
Thea, Laila, and Roxanne sat together on one side, while Monica occupied the opposite seat alone.
Meeting his gaze, she gently patted her lap with a warm smile.
Luke couldn’t help but smile back.
Without a word, he accepted the invitation and rested his head on her lap.
Her smooth and fluffy thigh was the best pillow he could have asked for. Not to talk about her beautiful face...which was barely visible past the peaks.
Resting her hand on his head she said, "You have worked hard. Now, please take some rest, Luke."
Luke hummed before closing his eyes. "Okay."
~~~~~~
A/N:- I hope you liked the Chapter.
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