chap 28 : Authority part 2

Silvan's eyes widened. "To think I would unlock this so fast."

His fists clenched while his gaze sharpened. He had achieved it far quicker than in his past life, all thanks to his unique trait.

Authority. As the word suggested, it determined the influence or effect one could have. The higher the number, the greater the effectiveness. But what exactly did it affect, and what was its usage?

"Gaia, respond to me."

[Gaia, responding to Dungeon Lord, Silvan Owsris]

Yes! It affected the system itself the very thing Z@lther was using.

"Analyze the current data of Dungeon Lords' numbers."

[Error. Low Authority cannot fetch data.]

Silvan nodded. His Authority was too low. As it gradually increased, he would be able to do more things. Yes, this is how Z@lther was using the system! He was a being who had the most Authority over the system, making it do things that were inhumanly impossible like how he established this entire dungeon system.

And Silvan could do the same if he gained more Authority. The one with the highest Authority would become the true owner of the system itself!

Gaining Authority could be done by going against the system, bending its rules, finding loopholes in the established framework, or simply through continuous interaction and power accumulation.

It might sound simple, but it was extremely difficult. One had to first adapt and understand the hidden rules set by the system's original owner. That was why Silvan had never expected to unlock Authority this early. But his Unique Trait achieved it! His first step toward revenge had been set.

"Gaia, analyze my current power rank," Silvan muttered.

[Analyzing Power Level…]

[Error. Not enough Authority]

Silvan nodded. The system was useless right now. But once his Authority increased, he would be able to do so many things for example, fetch another person's data if their Authority level was lower. More importantly, he could perform skill adjustments and access many other hidden functions.

Silvan took a deep breath. Truth be told, this was quite the pressure. He wasn't prepared for this. And worse, this also meant that others could potentially achieve Authority early too.

He wasn't looking down on himself, but he didn't think he was that special, unique, or lucky.

Meaning the chances of others obtaining Authority were high.

Meaning… he wouldn't be the only one using it soon.

He had to gather as much as he could.

Silvan gazed at Karnis. With the replacement of its soul essence with a real soul, its power wouldn't run out ever.

This thing could also obtain Genetic Codes, expanding his golem creation to an unimaginable level.

"Karnis, act on the clauses stored within."

"As you command, Master," Karnis spoke.

YunYun watched it all, getting yet another reminder of what could have happened to him. And also reminding himself not to underestimate this crazy fellow.

"YunYun."

YunYun flinched right away. "Yes! What do you need?"

"Are you strong and useful now? Can you kill monsters at the 6th stage?" Silvan asked.

YunYun stopped for a second before shaking his head. "No, I'm not strong enough yet."

"I see," Silvan muttered, completely removing the idea of giving him a Genetic Code. YunYun would still be useless even if he gained one, considering he was still at just the second stage.

Thus, the best choice?… "Upgrade Infernal Demonic Claw."

[Upgrading 'Infernal Demonic Claw (LV.1)]

The nodes within his hands reacted along with the path waves on his arms. A slow burning sensation appeared before stopping.

[Infernal Demonic Claw (LV.2) ↑ has been achieved]

[1200 Points have been deducted]

[Current Dungeon Points: 480]

[Infernal Demonic Claw (LV.2):

Unleashes enhanced flame-based Qi attacks, striking twice with potent firepower, a considerable amount of range, and sturdiness]

Silvan immediately tested it, attracting YunYun's attention. He was shocked.

Silvan looked at his hands. The flames and claws were darker, the red flames flickering more aggressively, more alive. Silvan focused on expanding them they enlarged much faster than before. Unlike their previous semi-flame state, they had gained more potency and were darker than before.

Silvan nodded in satisfaction. "Nice."

"You're really a damn bastard, stealing my technique and making it better than mine," YunYun grumbled.

"That's unfair! I took two whole years to master that thing!"

For some reason, hearing that made Silvan even happier. But he couldn't just let it be.

"Don't worry. You have more things to see. I told you the whole world will change. I'll make you stronger too."

Moments passed as Silvan reinforced Karnis with the swords belonging to the Ghost Valley disciples. All were low-tier, so nothing was special about them. Silvan broke them down using his claw before adding them to the frame. With this, the ring would hold onto its function a bit longer.

Then he opened his dungeon portal, letting YunYun go, before switching to his main body and heading toward another Qi pool.

---

Meanwhile, somewhere in the forest…

"Is this for real? We can wield the same poison those serpents had! This could melt through defensive talismans like paper!" Jinmu spoke out loud.

Beside him stood his senior, a man with dark scales covering his hands and face.

"My body is stronger and tougher," the senior said.

Beside them was another disciple. His eyes had changed from normal to a piercing red.

"I can feel my senses sharpening too," he muttered.

They were Wind Palace disciples.

"And this Gold-rank technique! It's awesome too!" Jinmu exclaimed, gripping a small scroll.

"But, Senior Brother… how is this possible? It's obvious we gained those snakes' powers!"

The senior brother shook his head. "I have no idea. I was pretty shocked too—seeing the corpses of those serpents… and that bastard's body disappearing after we killed him, replaced by those strange-looking orbs and that scroll."

Jinmu scoffed. "That bastard also had a strange creature. I can only guess it was a dragon. A living one at that!"

"By the way," the other disciple spoke up, "didn't that dragon escape with that portal? Why didn't he escape too?"

Jinmu shook his head before his eyes sparked with interest at the cultivation scroll in his hands… and the aftermath of the potent poison that leaked from his veins.

"Who cares what happened?! We gained strong abilities!"

The others nodded in agreement.

And they continued to cultivate within the Qi pool.

They were right who cares what had happened?

They had become stronger.

And they would become even stronger after absorbing this Qi pool with this new Gold-rank cultivation scroll.

…Unaware that their world had already started to change.

…Unaware that what they obtained was not just power… but Genetic Codes offered by the system.