Level up is hard? I can Directly Purchase infinite Levels!-Chapter 35: Nine-Star Obsidian Golem Body

Inside the wooden tub, the dark-red bloodcore radiated scorching waves of energy.

Raine clenched his teeth, enduring pain like being burned alive, as he fully circulated the first-star secret art of the Obsidian Golem Codex.

According to the parchment, this supreme art of the gargoyle race was divided into nine stars.

The first three stars were foundational, focusing on the golem skin, corresponding to three qualitative leaps in defense: refined steel, gold-iron, and black rock.

At this stage, specific gargoyle secret techniques were used to guide the origin energy within the bloodcore to reshape the body.

Once successful, a layer of skin with a jade-like sheen would gradually condense over the surface.

It would greatly enhance physical defense and grant a certain resistance to stone-, earth-, and metal-element attacks.

The middle three stars allowed one to initially draw upon elemental power to augment the body, gradually acquiring traits such as damage reflection and magic resistance.

By then, he would need to seek out powerful elemental forces in nature—

raging lightning, tearing gales, bone-chilling frost...

These extreme energies would serve as carving knives, forging the already strengthened body on a deeper level.

The process was extraordinarily dangerous, aiming to fuse elemental properties directly into flesh and bone.

Those who succeeded would have skin imbued with elemental resistance!

Once achieved, even without activating any skills, the physical body would gain a terrifying level of defense far surpassing that of gargoyles of the same rank.

Resistance to both physical and elemental damage would reach astonishing levels, and the body would possess slow limb regeneration.

The final three stars involved the true secrets of the Obsidian Golem Body.

Upon reaching nine-star completion, the body would rival that of a living demonic god—each casual movement carrying the might to move mountains and fill seas.

Raine’s current goal, however, was merely the peak of the first star.

He needed its strength to rival metal tempered through a thousand hammerings, capable of briefly withstanding the sharp edge of a transcendent weapon head-on.

Time passed, bit by bit, amid the agony of transformation.

The bloodcore in the tub visibly dimmed as its contained energy was forcibly extracted and hammered into Raine’s body.

His petrified skin began to undergo subtle changes.

The color shifted from rough gray-white to a deeper, darker gray.

Its texture became denser and more uniform, like ancient bluestone polished by countless years.

One day later—

When the last wisp of bloodcore energy had been drained, leaving behind nothing but worthless residue in the tub, Raine suddenly opened his eyes.

A sharp glint flashed through them!

On closer inspection, his skin now gave off an indistinct but unmistakable sense of extraordinary toughness.

He took a deep breath and extended his right arm, a thought stirring in his mind.

Buzz!

A layer of dark-gray luster, like fine bluestone, instantly spread over his entire forearm.

With his left hand, he picked up the black battle spear seized from Yobir.

This supreme transcendent weapon was incomparably sharp. Earlier, it had effortlessly cleaved through standard Ironstrike blades, and had even wounded his Obsidian Golem Body multiple times.

Raine slammed the outside of his forearm straight against the blade’s edge!

Clang—!

A crisp clash of metal and stone rang out.

Sparks flew!

A numb ache traveled up Raine’s arm. A clear white gash appeared on the stone skin, cutting nearly half a centimeter deep...

The flesh beneath throbbed faintly with pain, yet it had not been broken.

"It worked!"

Joy flashed through Raine’s eyes.

The defensive power at the peak of the first star was indeed astonishing!

He could now directly withstand the cutting edge of a supreme transcendent weapon without being pierced!

Although the consumption was significant—and he would still be injured if struck by heavy blows enhanced by Nex—this was undeniably a qualitative leap in survivability.

"Obsidian Golem Codex... is this the effect of a Legendary-grade art?"

Feeling the solid power coursing through his skin, Raine was filled with anticipation for this gargoyle-origin art.

He flexed his slightly stiff arms and shifted his gaze to the combat techniques Riftpierce Thrust and Windflow Step.

With defense initially established, it was time to turn to the next major focus—

Blood Pact!

...

Iron Dragon Fortress, Council Hall.

Tom strode in briskly.

Garson, the governor of Iron Dragon Fortress, Third Captain Yarna, and a group of officers all turned to look at him.

Seeing the commanders return safely, they had already guessed the outcome.

Roderick, Andrew, Aaron, and the others who entered afterward looked slightly more relaxed.

"Lord Governor, everyone—the battle on the side peak has concluded. The gargoyle remnants have retreated toward Crimson City."

Tom’s report matched their expectations.

"What about casualties?"

Garson asked in a low voice.

"Over a hundred thousand ordinary soldiers were almost completely wiped out. Awakeners suffered nearly fifty percent losses. However, two-thirds of the alien-race army was slain as well, including one Master-level gargoyle and three Expert-level leaders."

A heavy silence fell over the room.

Despite the enemy’s severe losses, the price paid by the Seventh Division, Scarlet Wall Patrol, was equally staggering.

Nearly all ordinary soldiers were dead.

Almost half of the awakeners had fallen!

Yarna spoke up.

"What about those gargoyle noble brats?"

The killing intent in her voice was palpable to everyone present.

They all understood her intent.

Those seven young gargoyle prodigies were the fuse that had ignited this battle!

Garson’s gaze darkened.

In truth, even he wanted to personally slaughter those damned alien scum.

But once he intervened, it would inevitably trigger full-scale conflict between the two sides.

This time, both sides had deployed half their foundations—but overall, they had still exercised restraint!

"All seven beasts were killed."

"By whom?"

The officers turned their heads in unison, surprise written plainly on their faces.

Tom looked toward Aaron, and Garson and the others followed his gaze.

A trace of suppressed excitement appeared on Aaron’s face.

"It was a recruit from the training camp."

"What?!"

Everyone froze.

"A recruit?"

Garson was stunned.

"An eighteen-year-old young man!"

"How is that possible?"

Garson, Yarna, and the others struggled to process it.

How could a mere recruit accomplish something like that?

Roderick nodded beside them and added,

"A little guy at the Formal rank, and newly promoted at that!"

"How could that be—Formal rank?!"

Yarna couldn’t believe it.

Those seven gargoyle prodigies all possessed Elite-level strength and enjoyed the advantage of flight.

Even among peers, they were notoriously difficult opponents.

"Aaron, explain clearly. What exactly happened?"

It wasn’t that they didn’t trust him—this was simply too unbelievable.

Aaron slowly recounted Raine’s performance along the way.

From the initial kill of the Heartwitch Succubus, to the skirmish at Iron Anvil Village, and finally to the battlefield where he slew seven gargoyle prodigies in reverse odds!

By the end, everyone’s expressions had changed.

Even Garson lost his composure.

"From your observations, he awakened multiple abilities?"

"And killed seven prodigies by burning his potential?"

Garson asked.

Aaron nodded.

When he learned that Raine had awakened abilities and broken through in rank, he felt genuine joy.

That alone greatly increased Raine’s chances of survival on the battlefield.

But upon learning that Raine had single-handedly slain seven alien-race prodigies, Aaron felt an overwhelming sense of pride.

This was a seed of the Seventh Division, Scarlet Wall Patrol!

Yet what followed was deep concern—

Concern over Raine burning his potential.