Ignoring Monady who eventually stopped after not receiving a reply one hour later, I continued to focus on absorbing while letting the gathered energy on top of my head continue trickling down on me.
Because of that ray of light composed of pure Energy as the reward for winning, my progress reached 40% at once. And now, after focusing not only on the gathered energy but also on the energy existing around me, in just three hours, it's now approaching 50%. I could certainly feel that I will be leaving this space after reaching the 5th stage of the 4th realm.
Being able to continue absorbing Rank 2 Energy was truly beneficial. No wonder those four Transcendents aside from Nysia at the World of Meta continued trading with them. However, they're probably getting a very limited amount in exchange for a lot of Regenium. That's probably why none of them reached UPL 200 even after 3 years had passed since they started.
Or perhaps, that's just how difficult it was to progress for others who have lower Intelligence stat.
It's making me think that the System bestowed upon me by that 'The World' is even more precious than Yuko's Hero System. It looked weak initially but as I progress through it, it's getting more overpowered that it has long surpassed the benefits being given by her special system.
Well, Support and Hero are different from each other. Her System mostly benefits her alone. The skills which strengthened those close to her are just bonuses while most of my skills generated by the system are all distinctly geared towards supporting someone else.
"Rather than comparing our two different Systems, I'm more concerned about my Adaptability." I shook my head and cleared my thoughts.
Compared to my Mortal Pathway, my Adaptability has slowed down considerably and it was now stuck at 80%. I'm doing everything related to it but there's no progress to show for it.
However, if I consider the other heroes' unique skills that are also stuck after upgrading their skills twice even after three years being active, my Adaptability slowing down in its progress sounds normal.
Three more hours later, I finished my Absorption Session but the Pillar Guardians' rate of dealing with a statue slowed down.
Upon going to their current spot, the three were already battered to the point that cracks covered their whole bodies.
I left them alone for too long. Even if they're strong together, they also have a limit to what they can do by themselves.
After unsummoning them, I took over their spot to finish off the regular-sized statues while leaving behind the giant statues untouched.
I'm going to test the limits of my current strength on them. They're as strong as a Rank 2 Transcendent with 400 UPL or higher. They're an ideal opponent for me.
"Ember, I'm on my way back, where are you? You didn't run away, did you?"
When I was about to start, Irja's voice entered my mind. Judging from the sound of wind whistling around her, she's on the move.
"Yes, I ran away. See you when I see you."
Instead of answering seriously, I pretended by giving an answer opposite to what she hoped.
And like I thought, she took it seriously.
"You! You told me you will not run away. What about your promise of answering me?!"
"I'm kidding. Go west when you reach the place where we parted. You'll find me along the way."
"You're unbelievable. You better not kid this time. I'm going to…"
"What?"
"Nevermind. Wait for me there."
Ending our conversation like that, she somehow reigned in her want to beat me up, eh?
Well, now that she contacted me, I remembered I still haven't contacted Alwyn.
Postponing my match against a giant statue once again, I took out her communication crystal and sent a message.
Thirty seconds later, Alwyn's reply filled with her nagging at me entered my mind.
As it turns out, she's aware that I'm back and she's waiting for my message for almost half a day. Not only that, she's aware of my feats inside that space.
Monady or Grenol probably reported about it. I'm expecting that it would happen so I told her what I experienced and that it was done so that I could stay alive.
Although she understood that, her nagging didn't stop until she started huffing for breath.
There are only two days left so… she told me to stop diving in dangerous places and to behave myself somewhere safe.
She probably couldn't leave the front line yet. I asked her about the current status of it but she vaguely described it as uneventful.
It's just the first week so I guess it's not as intense yet. I won't be here to see the end of it anyway. I'm just trying to fish out news about Remilia. If I contact that woman again, I will probably be in for another cold treatment.
To calm Alwyn down, I simply agreed to everything she's telling me. When the time comes, she will still look for me anyway.
"Well then, let's start."
After putting the crystal back, I stood face to face against a giant statue.
It's weaker than the golden statue but it's still as strong as a Rank 2 Transcendent. Add to that, its sturdy body.
Utilizing my Energy Manipulation, I gathered the surrounding energy and let it circle around me.
Upon sensing it, the previously unmoving statue made cranking noises and turned its focus completely on me.
It then picked up its giant sword sending a swift slashing strike towards me.
I waved hands as I jumped to the side, controlling the circling energy to form some sort of barrier, slowing down its attack.
Although it shattered instantly, I already dodged away.
With its head following my move, the giant statue moved its feet, instantly reducing the distance between us.
I dodged once more before activating a compressed orb.
Equipping the White Knight Powergen, I once again controlled the surrounding energy before turning it into a blast wave to push the giant statue away.
The effect was weak since it was pure untransformed energy. I didn't mold it and just controlled it as is.
Although it didn't have any emotion, the statue appeared to be incensed as it once again took another step and did another slash using its giant sword.
The wind whistled due to its speed and if it were an ordinary Rank 1 Transcendent who would be faced by it, He would surely be overwhelmed by it.
However, if I transformed to Energy Incarnate form, even if I let myself be hit by it squarely, it will not damage me that much.
I guess that's one of these statues' flaws. It's relying purely on physical attacks. The energy contained inside it was all used for it to move like this.
After fighting it for a while, I judged that it will be easy for me to beat a lone statue like this by myself. Perhaps two at once was also viable.
One giant statue alone will not be enough to test my real prowess. Perhaps if it's a golden statue instead, it will be more challenging even if it could only deliver physical attacks as well.
"Did I overestimate it or am I just this overpowered that after closing the gap between our UPL, it's now not a challenge for me?"
My own opinion will surely be biased so I couldn't answer my own question.
"Let's be serious then and see how long it will last."
Upon deciding that, I activated every skill to enhance myself including the Orb of Enhancement.
And without holding anything back, my clones alongside me ganged up on it.
With the Willful Sword excitedly trying to rip open its sturdy clay body, the Energy Explosion Projectiles continued bombarding it.
Instead of the usual strategy of focusing on its legs first, I fought it head to head.
As time passed, the statue became full of holes and cracks but as long as it still hadn't passed the point of it being considered destroyed, it continued on its unrelenting sword strikes.
In the end, I observed its every move to take some inspiration for my future three Sword Skills that I still haven't thought of.
When I judged that it only needed a few strikes left, I closed everything and decided to rely on my Sword Skills enhanced only by the Willful Sword's acquired properties and Swordforce to defeat it.
First using Counter, the giant statue froze in its place. It kept on shuddering that the cracks in its surfaces grew in an attempt to move. In the end, it failed in its endeavor.
Following up with the Flash Draw, its side exploded into pieces.
Before it could turn around, I used Dominating Strike sending it flying towards the wall of one of the dilapidated structures, a part of its body opened up which was evidenced by pieces of clay scattered all around.
And to end it, I leapt high enough before using my newly-created Sword Skill. Heavy Rain.
Raining down Swordforce-conjured Claymores to the giant statue, standing up again became impossible for it.
When the smoke and dust settled down, the previously sturdy giant statue was almost pulverized leaving behind its basketball-sized energy stone.
"Even without the Domain buff, it's still this strong. These Sword Skills, they can be my real trump card if I practice and reduce the unnecessary movements."
As much as I was observing the statue, I was also evaluating myself.
"Is it that fun to bully that statue?"
As I went to pick up the stone, Irja's unimpressed voice entered my ears.
She's finally here.
Let's see. To compensate for answering her questions about my identity, I'm going to take advantage of her…
… strength as a Rank 2 Transcendent.
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