--Chapter 81--

Dean was knee deep with the system interface in the last few minutes.

Not allowing himself to miss any opportunity to improve his body and improve the bonds with his summons.

Ding!

[Channeling Skill has reached Level 5]

[You have upgraded Channeling Lv 4→ Channeling Lv 5]

[New Effect Unlocked: Remote Channeling]

[Description: You can now channel abilities from summons without directly manifesting them in the battle area.]

[Channeling slot: 0/3]

[Potency: 100%]

It had cost him about 8000EXP to upgrade the channeling skill. But even he had to admit, it was one of the best decisions he had made all day. Other than jumping into the Flux zone that is.

This was probably the level of Channeling that Leona was using in the battle earlier since she couldn’t summon her dragon directly.

Dean had to admit that it was a major breakthrough for him and the change he felt was proof.

A strange warmth spread through his chest almost instantly.

It was the first time, he had felt anything different when he upgraded channeling,

Hoping he didn’t mess up something, Dean closed his eyes and sensed the connection between him and his summons had become shorter and easier.

It was like the feeling of satisfaction you get when you finally discover your neighbour’s WiFi password.

The fact that he could use Channeling without his summons present meant he was now unpredictable and he could finally use the Earth Elementals powers without fear.

This skill was going to be his third trump card after Ash and Rend obviously. And he was looking forward to it.

’About Ash’ Dean thought as he adjusted slightly on the massive bed. His body sinking into the soft silk.

Ding!

[Your unique skill: Eternal Imprint has evolved]

[Permanent Skill Slots: 2/2]

[Available IMU Skill: Refraction Field]

[Description: It reflects physical and energy attacks at angles.]

’Speak of the devil.’ Dean said inwardly, even as he wiggled his shoulders excitedly.

Only one skill was available and Dean didn’t hesitate.

"Yes."

The moment he accepted it, something sharp passed through his skull. It was not painful exactly, but he couldn’t necessarily describe it.

It felt both wrong and right at the same time and after a few seconds of a slow buzz, it stopped.

Dean raised his hand slowly...

And a thin transparent film flowed around his fingers before fading away.

"...Power.." Dean chorused like a man possessed.

Ash...Even though it had arrived late. Was still stealing the show.

And now one of the Diamond Colossus’s strongest defensive abilities belonged to him. Permanently.

He checked his remaining experience points to see if he could do some more magic but the figure that appeared indicated he needed to grind some more.

[Remaining EXP: 4600]

Dean exhaled deeply. He had moved from Elite tier 6 to Elite tier 8 in one disaster-filled trip.

Burning through about 31,000EXP, he was finally where he wanted to be in terms of ranks.

But his happiness was soon disrupted. As his stomach growled loudly. The hunger hit him so hard his entire body tensed.

"All right... damn," he groaned while holding his stomach. How could he have forgotten?

The adrenaline from ranking up finally faded and his body was getting a reality check.

But right on cue, Leona stepped inside quietly while carrying a tray filled with food.

Moments later after her arrival, Dean’s brain stopped all normal activities and went into auto-pilot for a few seconds.

The beautiful woman wore a loose white night gown that looked soft enough to disappear if someone breathed too hard near it.

The material clung lightly to her body, thin, comfortable and revealing, probably because she simply did not care what anyone thought inside her own quarters.

Unfortunately for Dean, he was still a healthy young man with eyes that wandered and absolutely no survival instincts when it came to her.

"You’re awake," Leona said calmly.

Dean quickly looked away from her glorious chest before his funeral arrangements became necessary.

"Where am I?" he asked, pretending he had not already figured it out ten minutes ago.

Leona walked over and placed the tray beside him.

"My quarters," she answered. "The infirmary is full because of the battle simulation exercises."

Dean nodded slowly, feigning understanding.

"How long was I out?"

"Eight hours. It’s early evening now."

The smell of the food nearly made him emotional. He was barely holding back tears of joy.

Leona noticed and gestured towards the tray.

"Eat," she said while sitting beside the bed. "Your metabolism is still recovering after that battle."

Dean did not need to be told twice. The moment he picked up the fork, his body moved on instinct.

Leona watched him quietly while he practically inhaled the food.

"You fight like someone trying to outrun death itself," she said after a while.

Dean swallowed.

"And yet...I almost died."

Unfortunately, while saying that, his eyes drifted downward for half a second.

That was a mistake. A terrible one at that.

The gown she wore was made from almost the exact same material as the clothes he had woken up wearing earlier.

And because the universe enjoyed humiliating him, his body reacted before his brain could stop it.

Dean froze internally. And Leona definitely noticed.

There was absolutely no way she could’ve missed it.

His trousers were spotting the largest tent known to the waking world.

But somehow she continued speaking normally, as if nothing happened.

"But you didn’t die," she said calmly.

Dean stared at his plate like it had personally betrayed him.

Leona crossed one leg over the other while leaning back slightly.

"The aftereffects from severe time dilation usually last between twenty four to forty eight hours," she explained. "Your body thinks it fought for over twenty hours nonstop. Your muscles and organs would take a while to recover."

Dean slowed down his eating slightly. That actually explained a lot.

The exhaustion in the gate had felt unnatural near the end.

"You did well, in there," Leona added with a tone of approval.

Dean looked at her for a moment before speaking honestly.

"It was only because of you. Thank you."

Leona smiled faintly. "I didn’t do a lot. You closed it."

That sentence alone and the modesty explained why Leona was a terrifying person.

Apparently, to individuals like her, fighting an almost unkillable serpent and impregnable Colossus was just another workday.

Leona eventually stood from the bedside and adjusted the loose sleeve of her gown as Dean gulped.

"Rest for the rest of today," she said. "Tomorrow we handle the paperwork."

Dean nodded.

As she walked toward the door, that same faint scent followed behind her.

Warm, sharp and distracting in ways Dean did not appreciate. But he needed it.

The moment the door closed, he dropped back into the bed and covered his face.

"I need to leave this house soon," he muttered to himself. "Or I’m going to do something incredibly stupid."

He paused. And looked at the active volcano in his pants.

"...Or get myself killed."

A few seconds later, another thought flashed through his mind.

Maybe he should actually man up and do something about Leona. He was now a man after all.

It had to be outside this house of course...

Preferably somewhere people could recover his body if things went badly. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

--End of Chapter--