The journey back was quiet.
Just as quiet as the journey before, except with no pressure enveloping him and trying to prove to him its domination, something that had happened all through his way here.
The three Fallen Guards occasionally stirred a bit, glancing now and then at Ryuk.
Their previous calm and uncaring aura was gone, replaced by nervousness.
[Perhaps, they think you would get back at them for their previous actions,] the system suggested as Ryuk hummed before clicking his tongue.
'I can't even be bothered by that.'
'Activate System Interface.'
He ordered in his mind, and the panel changed, the set of words quickly appearing before him.
[Race: Half-Knull, Half-Dragon]
[Apex Energy Cultivation:
Frost Energy Cultivation: Initial Plane of Eternity Stage
Void Energy Cultivation: Astra-Crowned Stage
[Total EXP: 7,992,000 / 2,720,000]
"Does Host wish to level up?"
[Congratulations, Host has leveled up to Level 180.]
[+60 Attribute Points obtained.]
[Remaining EXP: 5,992,000 / 3,000,000]
[Congratulations, Host has leveled up to Level 181.]
[+60 Attribute Points obtained.]
[Remaining EXP: 2,992,000 / 3,390,000]
[Level Up Cards Possessed: 5]
"Does Host wish to use Level Up Cards?"
[-1 Level Up Card used.]
[Congratulations, Host has leveled up to Level 182.]
[+60 Attribute Points obtained.]
[Level Up Cards left: 4]
[Level Up Cards left: 1]
[Congratulations, Host has leveled up to Level 186.]
[+60 Attribute Points obtained.]
[Level Up Cards left: 0]
[Host has leveled from 179 to 181 using EXP and obtained 120 Attribute Points.]
[Host has also leveled from 181 to 186 using Level Up Cards and obtained 600 Attribute Points.]
[Total Attribute Points obtained: 720]
[Intelligence: 1,500]
[Total Attribute Points: 3,160 (+720)]
"Does Host wish to use Attribute Points?"
The system asked, but he turned it down.
An instant later, the panel faded off.
'Why is Draconic Overlord so powerful?' He asked—the question that had bothered him ever since his fight with that Archangel.
He could still vividly remember when he had fought Zar'kul.
The Knull Calamity was also at the Apocrypha Stage, just like the Archangel he had fought—yet Ryuk had to activate Draconic Overlord, his Knull Transformation, his Calamitous Frost Dragon, and his Asura Physique, just to be able to fight Zar'kul on equal terms… and even then, he was still pummeled in the battle.
Yet with just Draconic Overlord, he was able to defeat the Archangel easily.
That was more than bewildering.
Besides, his Draconic Overlord, which would have made him grow by over 50 meters, didn't make him grow this time.
And a tail had grown out by him—something that was truly abnormal.
[The only way to best understand this is by this hidden stat.]
[Host Previous Bloodline Purity: 2%]
[Host Current Bloodline Purity: 32%]
The system blinked before him, and Ryuk's eyes gleamed.
[Previously, Host only had 2% of his bloodline.]
[Draconic Overlord's huge size was Host's nanotech body trying to adapt to the power, and to do so, it had to lengthen and grow to better distribute the humongous power the skill contained.]
[And even then, it still failed as it never brought out the true form of Draconic Overlord, which should include a draconic tail.]
[The previous Draconic Overlord skill Host has been using was nothing but a replica—like an object being used without an energy core.]
[But now that Host has 32% of his bloodline—and also has his skeletal system, which is the true basis by which Draconic Overlord can be used—]
[The Draconic Overlord's true power can now be revealed.]
The system explained, realization dawning over Ryuk.
'I was just surprised by the ease. It was just too easy.'
[Host has grown far stronger than he was during his fight with Zar'kul.]
[Host needs to know, the Eternity Power Level compared to Host's stats ranges from 500 to 1,000.]
[The weakest Eternity Grade Expert would have about 500 stats points while the strongest Eternity-Grade expert would be at a maximum level of 1,000.]
[Host had around 1,500 stat points during his battle with Zar'kul, who is at the Apocrypha stage, and worthy of notice is that the power level of those at the Apocrypha Stage starts from 1,000 to 10,000.]
[The Host should have never been able to resist Zar'kul's power with only 1,500 points, but the combination of various transformation abilities and skills caused the Host's power level to soar to about 5,000.]
[Just enough to defeat Zar'kul, who was at the Apocrypha Stage.]
[But the Host right now has 6,500 stat points in his attributes—the higher level of the Mid Apocrypha Stage.]
[If Draconic Overlord is activated, Host's stats get boosted to 9,000, just a foot below 10,000, the stats points of the strongest and most abnormal Apocrypha.]
[Does Host understand?]
The system flashed as Ryuk's eyes dilated a bit.
'I… I never thought of it that way…' He thought silently. Chapters first released on nοvelfire.net
'So, right now… even in my basic form, I should have no problem defeating Zar'kul if we had a rematch?' He mused to himself disbelievingly.
[Yes, you should be able to overwhelm him with just brute strength and speed.] The system replied, but then he had an idea and asked—
'So wait… if I overlap all my transformation abilities—The Knull Transformation, the Frostborne Calamity Dragon Form, and the Draconic Overlord form, and the Incomplete Asura Physique…'
'Just like how I did to fight Zar'kul—then what will happen?'
[Overlapping Transformation Abilities induce very great strain upon the Host, but with the Host having regained his skeletal system, it should be just bearable.]
[And the overlapping will cause the Host's stat points to shoot well above 10,000.]
[If such were to happen, no Apocrypha-Stage being will be able to stop the Host in battle—no matter how powerful or abnormal.]
[Only an Exignis-Stage expert would be able to put the Host down then.]
The system said—and while it seemed like overpraise, the blankness in its words was enough to make Ryuk understand it was just speaking facts.
'I… I didn't know I've grown so strong.'
'And this is all from just getting back my Skeletal System?'
'Then what happens when I gain back the remaining parts of my body?'
'And it mentioned that I gained back my Skeletal System.'
'Just how many systems are still missing?'