BXBX NOVEL Chapter 157: [Bonus Chapter] Powerful Steps
When the coast was clear, Reign unsummoned the two and walked towards the nest, which surprisingly remained intact despite the chaos.
He noticed how the rats were careful not to disturb this area, showing just how important this particular spot to them.
Using his power, he incinerated the nest, revealing a hidden item beneath it.
There, lying in the ashes, was a small, glowing dark-red crystal.
It pulsed with a dark and red energy that resonated with his own powers.
'This thing is made of negative energy,' he pondered to himself, realizing that the crystal was infused with the same energy that he has.
Picking it up, he felt a surge of power flow through him.
This was no ordinary crystal; it was a powerful artifact, likely the reason for the abnormal size and aggression of the rats.
[Ding!]
[System: Detected Natural Crystallize Negative Energy. Would you like to absorbed it?]
"Natural Crystallized Negative Energy?" Reign inquired, unfamiliar with the term, (Natural Crystallized)
[System: Natural Crystalized Negative Energy is a different type of Condensed Negative Energy. It possesses the ability to mutate weaker and small creatures through prolonged exposure]
[But after the mutation, it reabsorbed back their negative energy to feed itself, making the mutated creatures unfit for farming EXP points ]
'So, this is like a different version of that thing,' he muttered.
He remembered the benefits he gained from absorbing Condensed Negative Energy back at the mental hospital.
But unlike the previous one, this one was encased within a crystal, explaining why he hadn't detected anything until now.
'Absorbed,' Reign commanded.
The crystal gradually dimmed, its energy flowing into Reign's body.
However, rather than going directly toward his core, it dispersed elsewhere.
He speculated that the System might have absorbed it directly.
[Level up+1]
[Level up+1]
[Congratulations, Host, for Absorbing Natural Crystallize Negative. You are rewarded with 100 attribute points.]
'Nice, ' Reign was satisfied with this haul.
Leveling up twice was a big boost, especially given the vast number of Corrupted he had to consume just to level up once.
And the 100 attribute points were a great bonus.
If he managed to save more, he could upgrade his energy from SS- to SS.
At that point, he would undergo another transformation, possibly reaching the level of Demon Lord.
'I knew it, I'm glad I decided to explore this place,' Reign grinned from ear to ear, pleasantly surprised by the rewards he reaped. It exceeded his expectations by far.
This mission was merely a side quest for him, but it yielded a substantial payoff. It showed the notion that those willing to take risks often stand the chance of hitting the jackpot.
'Maybe there are still some good stuff here ?'
Reign's greed for more power drove him to scour and scout the area in search of more benefits.
With a quick feet, he dashed through the tunnels, akin to a treasure hunter scouring a trove for valuable loot.
However, his exploration yielded no further discoveries.
Disappointed but not bothered, he realized that the paths only led in circles. Running around more would only be a futile waste of time and effort.
With that in mind, he retraced his steps and made his way back to the train station tunnel to continue his travel .
***
His Undead Eyes pierced through the darkness, revealing the path hidden within the depths of the underground train tunnel.
'How long is this thing ?' he pondered the length of the tunnel, noticing that just walking was taking much of his time.
He had been conserving his energy, wary of potential threats a head.
But as time dragged on, impatience gnawed at him, urging him to pick up the pace.
And so, as his second core reached full capacity, Reign wasted no time.
Bending his knees and adopting a running position to enhance his aerodynamics, he dashed forward at an extreme speed. The red lightning converging at his feet as zoomed forward, his body turning into a blur .
Only the sound of his movements lingered in the spot where he had been just moments ago, showing just how fast he was moving.
The electric sparks crackling from his body resembled the sound of thousands of birds chirping, echoing through the tunnel.
With each powerful steps, Reign's speed increased exponentially, propelling him forward with a velocity that was even faster than the fastest bullet train.
However, as his constant use of power continued, he realized that the amount of energy being burned was increasing just by stabilizing his speed.
The reason for this was simple: the faster he moved, the more energy his body required to maintain that speed.
The intense friction and air resistance created by his fast movement demanded exponentially more power, straining his energy reserves.
Additionally, the lightning coursing through him had to work harder to keep up with his accelerating speed, further depleting his already limited second core energy.
Though he depleted one of his core pretty quickly, he retained his first core as a safety net, ensuring he wasn't left defenseless in case of an unexpected encounter.
Unfortunately, there was one problem aside from his core and energy: his stamina.
The reason was that he had pushed himself to stay awake for days on end while fighting almost all the time.
Now, mentally and physically exhausted, he wanted to just sleep. It was like his brain or his soul was yearning for it.
He leaned against the tunnel cold wall, allowing himself a moment to recover.
Unlike his energy reserves, his stamina don't regenerate when he was moving, so he needed to sleep from time to time.
What about his energy ?
His negative energy acted as an enhancer, but not a complete replacement for his stamina.
It was more like a drug, extending his stamina capacity beyond his limits, but still subject to eventual depletion.
No matter how much energy he could channel to supplement his stamina, his physical body still required rest to recover fully. .
With this knowledge in mind, he decided to find a safe spot and rest to recharge his stamina first.
After finding the perfect spot, he shrouded himself in negative energy, blending seamlessly into the darkness.
It served a dual purpose: hiding him from potential threats and keeping him alert in case of sudden attacks.
In this environment teeming with unknown creatures, caution was his best ally.
He slept soundly, unbothered by the surroundings, his trust in his abilities was just too high.
It was almost amusing how he remained unfazed in a place that others considered a nightmarish realm.
But for a monster like him though, this place wasn't so bad at all.
It was quiet, the air crisp and cold, and there was plenty of space for him to move around freely.
***
After three hours, he finally woke up from his deep sleep.
He felt refreshed and invigorated, his stamina fully restored.
Now, he could move his body for days without needing to rest again.
'It's time ' With renewed energy, he stood up and stretched his legs, ready to continue .
The brief break had done wonders for him, and he was now ready to continue his travel.