Perhaps it was seeing the fusion issues between Xie Antong and Pleasure, or perhaps it was the game's unpredictable nature.
He felt somewhat reluctant to casually use Agony for stat allocation, not really wanting to depend too much on this thing.
The saying "Agony died" had always given Lu Ce a bad premonition - if among the entire "god" faction, only Agony had died.
Then this Chosen of Agony designation on him definitely had major problems.
But now, his overwhelming appetite was about to suppress all his rationality, and he could even feel the mask on his face beginning to stir abnormally again.
Could this Gluttony possibly have a third phase?!
With no time for excessive hesitation, Lu Ce could only make an instant decision - he himself also needed a stronger physique to withstand the Gluttony mask!
In a way, this was choosing between two poisons, but from another perspective, it could also be considered risk hedging!
Since this mask's limits were unknown, and the Chosen of Agony's future possibilities were also unknown, then let these two unknown risks hedge against each other!
He himself wasn't the cautious type anyway.
He had long been in the abyss - regretting now was already far too late!
As the stat interface appeared in his mind, that physique that had already unlocked the second-level Gene Lock once again surfaced in his game interface.
His mind felt slightly dazed - this game-like stat interface seemed like something he hadn't seen for a long time.
【Remaining Agony Value: 163!】
This was the Agony Value he had accumulated across several games by avoiding using it.
With a casual mental glance, he still allocated most of it to strength.
【Strength: 110→150.】
【Speed: 60.】
【Coordination: 40→60.】
【Fortune: 13→20.】
【Spirit: 17.】
Under the infusion of forty strength points, his muscle fibers seemed to emit their own mournful cries, like internal combustion engines roaring within every cell.
At this level, every single point of strength improvement represented massive enhancement for players who didn't practice physical cultivation techniques.
Let alone him directly pouring this level of strength into himself.
Adjusting coordination to match his speed level, notably, he also upgraded his "Fortune" by one level.
Sometimes, accomplishing certain things still depended on luck.
Fortune differed from other stats - not only was the exchange ratio more expensive, but the maximum that could be exchanged was exactly 20!
After this directly surging power poured down, he felt his heart clench tightly.
Yet simultaneously, his consciousness seemed to become slightly clearer.
— A stronger body could already bear greater Gluttony power.
Boom!
After a tremendous roar, a stone pillar slammed heavily onto Lu Ce's back.
But this time, he wasn't directly smashed into the ground!
His hands gripped the ground tightly in a push-up position, using his body to stubbornly withstand this thousand-pound blow.
His hands sank deeply into the ground, the extremely hard gravel crumbling like tofu under his grasp!
"Hehe..."
"Why... does it feel lighter?"
Gluttony's mouth emitted intermittent, sandpaper-like sounds.
Simultaneously, cracking sounds came from the joints in his hands as he desperately pushed his entire body weight upward, his previously slightly bent arms now completely straightened!
The stone pillar above emitted enormous cracking sounds, like mechanisms shattering.
And indeed it was true.
This garlic-pounding torture device, not yet due for retrieval, was lifted by Lu Ce, forcibly breaking its own internal structure.
His hands trembled, but in the eyes of the numerous players, this didn't seem weak at all.
Those whose personal hells hadn't been selected and who still had some reaction ability watched with intense concentration.
Though they didn't know what had happened, this guy who had been directly smashed into the ground before seemed suddenly different.
Clearly in the previous hell punishment, "Sin" had suffered the most severe injuries among everyone, seemingly unable to hold on.
His body was already covered in bloodstains - blunt weapons causing bleeding indicated no ordinary injuries.
But now... was this a final rally or what?
However, the Bearded Divine Messenger, who understood the hell's mechanics, was utterly shocked, even forgetting to continue using his little tricks.
What had he just done?!
Had the pillar's bottom structure been damaged already?
Huh?
This is Mortar and Pestle Hell!
This is a place where crushing serves as execution method! Everything here has the highest durability in hell.
Because there are no magical or psychological attacks - just pure smashing - everything should be utterly unbreakable.
And yet... it got damaged?
Perfect Life's Mountain of Knives might be damaged, Volcano Hell's lava might be immune or even devoured.
But here?
His current shock was beyond words - it's important to know the game's intensity was initially set based on each player's situation.
Such damage was theoretically impossible in itself!
"What exactly are you... with Agony's aura."
"Tsk, but intelligence said you're not Agony's Divine Messenger..."
His doubts found no outlet, but next came an even more shocking scene.
Gluttony's most formidable aspect was still that enormous mouth - that was Gluttony's ultimate manifestation, otherwise wouldn't it be no different from Wrath?
The pillar began rising...
Feeling his own powerful strength growth, Lu Ce didn't rush to chase the gray button this time.
Instead, like an eel, he suddenly flipped over, facing the tungsten alloy pillar covered with tooth marks.
Lu Ce directly took a bite!
Crack.
The sound of shattering echoed from the biting point.