Chapter 35: Strength in Preparation

The cave was bathed in the flickering glow of the small fire Noah had lit, the shadows dancing across the walls as he prepared for the next step in his journey. He had delayed this moment long enough, and the pile of cores he had collected over the past days seemed to shimmer with quiet potential.

Noah opened the grindstone interface, his eyes scanning the inventory. The mid-level mutant core pulsed with raw power at the top of the list, while the numerous low-level aberration cores filled the rest of the screen.

"This should be enough to push me over the edge," he muttered to himself, flexing his hands. He had been holding off on consuming them, knowing the energy rush would be overwhelming. But now, he was ready.

Taking a deep breath, Noah selected one of the low-level cores and held it in his hand. The faintly glowing sphere felt warm against his palm, its energy humming softly.

"Low-level Aberration Core detected. Consume? Y/N."

Noah selected Yes, and the core dissolved in a burst of light, the energy flooding into his body. It was a familiar sensation now—the warmth spreading through his muscles, the faint tingle that hinted at newfound strength.

"Core consumed. Minor stat increase applied. Strength +1. Stamina +1. Agility +1."

He repeated the process, consuming core after core, feeling the effects stack with each one. His body grew stronger, his stamina more enduring, his movements sharper.

"Low-level Aberration Core consumed. Strength +1. Stamina +1. Agility +1."

"Low-level Aberration Core consumed. Strength +1. Stamina +1. Agility +1."

"Low-level Aberration Core consumed. Strength +1. Stamina +1. Agility +1."

By the time he had consumed the last of the low-level cores, he could feel the transformation in every fiber of his being. His muscles felt denser, his reflexes quicker, his breathing more controlled.

And then, there was the mid-level mutant core. It sat in the grindstone's interface like a coiled spring, its energy barely contained. Noah hesitated for a moment, knowing the rush from this core would be far more intense.

"This one's going to be rough," he said under his breath, steeling himself.

He selected the core and held it to his chest.

"Mid-level Mutant Aberration Core detected. Consume? Y/N."

"Yes," he said aloud, bracing himself.

The core dissolved into a surge of power, and Noah's vision blurred as the energy tore through him. It wasn't just a flood—it was an eruption. His body trembled violently, his nerves ablaze as the core's energy rewrote him on a fundamental level.

For a moment, he thought he might pass out, but he gritted his teeth and held on. When the rush finally subsided, he collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath.

"Core consumed. Significant stat increase applied. Strength +15. Stamina +13. Agility +12. Intelligence +3."

Noah groaned, wiping sweat from his forehead as the grindstone displayed his new status.

[Noah Greene – Level 20]

Strength: 101 (+37)

Stamina: 88 (+28)

Agility: 81 (+27)

Intelligence: 14 (+3)

Skills:

Beginner Combat Proficiency (Lv. 6)

Basic Evasion (Lv. 5)

Energy Surge (Active)

Energy Missile (Active)

Aberration Slayer (Passive)

Noah stared at the numbers, his chest rising and falling as he caught his breath. Breaking the 100-mark in strength felt surreal. His body was on another level now, a far cry from the man who had struggled to survive against even the weakest aberrations.

He clenched his fists, feeling the raw power coursing through him. Every movement felt sharper, more precise. His senses were heightened, his body responding to his commands with startling efficiency.

Still, his mind drifted to the artifact he had left behind in the grove. It was clear that it was the key to something far greater, but he couldn't afford to focus on it now.

Instead, his thoughts turned to Valerie. She was the only one who might have answers—answers about the artifact, this world, and, most importantly, how to get home.

Noah's jaw tightened as he thought about the destroyed research facility. The absence of blood or bodies had given him hope. Valerie and her team must have fled before the facility was attacked.

"I'll find her," Noah said to himself, his voice firm. "Whatever it takes."

The plan was clear: Tomorrow, he would return to the research facility. He had searched it once, but with his heightened senses and increased strength, he might notice something he had missed.

For now, though, he needed rest. The rush from the cores had left him drained, his body demanding time to adjust to the newfound power.

As the fire crackled softly in the quiet cave, Noah allowed himself to relax. The road ahead was uncertain, but he was stronger now—strong enough to face whatever challenges lay ahead.

End of Chapter 35.