Ray closed his eyes to check on his core, but to no avail.

’Now how the heck am I supposed to sense the core?’ He pursed his lips and wondered just how those protagonists understood the gist without any instruction manuals.

He knew there was a core within him, but he had no clue how to sense it.

[The host has yet to agree with the prompt...]

’A prompt?’ Ray knitted his brows and realized there was another prompt that required his permission to inject him with the knowledge and usage of the Abyssal Dominion Core.

All he did was inherit the trial version and not the full version.

"Bruh, just give me the full version." Ray rolled his eyes and hissed.

Whoosh!

Finally, Ray received the full inheritance and learned the Abyssal Dominion Core. And unlike before, he could now sense and see the shape of the core.

’Wow, it’s like a shiny bootleg crystal.’ He thought to himself.

"Whatever, let’s test it out." Ray snapped out of his thoughts and turned to Belva. "Belva, come over here and become my opponent."

"Huh?" Belva was startled by the request. But soon, her eyes flickered in delight.

"Does that mean I can pummel you?"

"..."

As expected of someone with a deceptively insidious nature. Ray had to praise the system prompt personality profile description of Belva.

The first chance she could get for revenge, she would take it without hesitation.

Good thing he wasn’t someone to be trifled with either.

He might not have any ability, but as a rogue reader, he sure as heck could determine the person’s type.

And what does that term say?

To win a battle was not through brute force but through brains.

’Eh, whatever. Just credit it to Sun Tzu’s strategy as everyone does.’ Ray cleared his throat and clarified his meaning.

"By opponent, I mean you just let me defeat you thoroughly. You can fake a fight back, but you absolutely can not harm me."

"How is that even an opponent? It’s more like a training puppet." She complained.

"Of course, not!" Ray instantly rebuked her complaint.

"A training dummy is motionless and emotionless. But you will feel emotion and be somewhat in motion. So please... do not insult a training dummy. You are not qualified as one."

At this moment, Belva was debating whether to strangle him on the spot.

His tongue was so venomous!!!

"Alright, enough said! The battle starts now!" Ray suddenly declared and rushed toward her.

"Heh, a surprise attack is the best offense!" He continued.

Alas, the speech and tactic might seem impressive on the surface. But the reality was really disappointing.

Belva stared at Ray’s slow movement in disbelief.

’Even an old granny ran faster than him...’ The distance between them still had a large gap, and the nerve of him to shout a surprise attack as if it was something amazing was laughable.

A few seconds later, Belva yawned and asked, "Is the surprise attack meant to be a clown show?"

"S-Shut up!" Ray’s face burned slightly red from embarrassment. Due to the fact that he told Belva to protect the surroundings, she was actually quite far from him.

Moreover, because of his injured legs, he hadn’t run for god knows how long. It was already a miracle that he didn’t trip or run out of stamina from trying to reach her.

As he gnashed his teeth and continued to dash toward her with a serious look, the latter actually took a seat.

No, she actually lay down on the ground and closed her eyes.

"Let me know when you reach me." She said lazily.

’Fuck, she’s definitely getting revenge!’ Ray cursed silently. He was certain that this was payback for his previous mental torture.

He felt annoyed and received a burst of energy.

Of course, it was just a feeling, and his speed barely increased.

Soon, he caught up to her. And with her lying down defensively on the ground, he sneered coldly.

"Hmph, haven’t you heard of the rabbit and turtle race?" Ray snickered. The rabbit lost the race despite being the fastest because of its conceited and arrogant self.

He raised his right leg and angled it backward. Then, his eyes narrowed as he swung his leg forward with might in an attempt to kick her abdomen.

THUD!

"YEOOOOOOOOOOW!"

Ray screamed in agony when his kick landed on some invisible barrier. He quickly clutched his right foot while hopping up and down with his left leg.

"What the fuck was that?" He shouted in fury.

"Magic barrier," Belva responded with a calm tone.

"Why would you have something like that up?"

"Why wouldn’t I have it up when someone specifically told me to protect the surroundings?"

"..."

Ray was rendered speechless because she did have a point. He couldn’t possibly tell her to defend without anything active, right?

That was no different than telling a tank to grab aggro without any defensive stats.

"Well, cast some healing spell on my poor right foot." He clicked his tongue and ordered. "Also, put away all your defensive spells and whatnot."

"If you want to kill me, then just say so?" Belva rolled her eyes.

Nevertheless, she still conjured some mana and cast some healing particles on his right foot.

Soon, the injured right foot began to heal, astonishing Ray slightly with real magic. It was not some illusion or trickery magic you see from those magician shows, but actual magic that utilized mana.

"Fine, I’ll just give you a light tap on the shoulder, and you are to admit defeat wholeheartedly." Ray realized kicking her was indeed a bit too much. He shall save it for a real enemy.

Belva pondered briefly and nodded in agreement.

’Hmph, how dare you try to kick me on the stomach?’ She sneered inwardly. The magic barrier consumed mana, and she definitely did not have the luxury to maintain it for a long time.

She had only cast it as soon as Ray’s kick was about to land on her.