chapter 52

Ben stared at the talent section and was shocked when he saw the words "Body of Steel (Activated)" under his Kryptonian Bloodline. His body seemed to feel different immediately. The skin on his surface was still soft but incredibly tough, even tougher than leather. The muscles inside had become more defined and firm. He had a strong feeling that his bones might be harder than steel bars now…

Ben quickly ran to the bathroom and stood before the mirror. When he saw himself, his surprise grew. His thick eyebrows, big eyes, and well-defined features made him incredibly handsome! Most importantly, his physique had undergone a significant change. Ever since he activated the Kryptonian bloodline, his body had been improving, but today's transformation was the most striking!

The most obvious change was his abdominal muscles. Before, he only had four packs, but now they had become six. His pectoral muscles and biceps had defined contours. He wasn't as exaggerated as the Western bodybuilders, but he looked incredibly fit. Even his height seemed to have increased a little, and Ben estimated that he was already about 1.85 meters tall. To put it bluntly, if Ben participated in a model competition now, he would definitely be a top contender. If he worked as a gigolo in a nightclub, the wealthy women would be lining up to pay attention to him. His body was perfect!

"Perfect!" Ben exclaimed, staring at himself in the mirror. He was beyond satisfied.

"As expected, this is the Superman physique! It's amazing!" Ben couldn't help but imagine what it would be like to activate his super flight ability and soar through the sky in a bodysuit and cape. "I'll try being a 'God of the Human World'!"

He chuckled at the thought, but then his mind drifted to Leo. Originally, the Kryptonian bloodline had belonged to Leo, but Ben had used the Flame-Flame Fruit to exchange for it. If Leo had become Superwoman and put on a bodysuit… Ben could already imagine how fantastic she would look. Maybe he would trick her into trying it out later.

Ben checked the time and realized it was already late. He couldn't afford to be late or absent from class today. The lesson was crucial—Professor Adore was going to discuss the information related to the second layer of the Spirit Realm. So, he hurriedly washed up, put on some casual clothes, and rushed out the door.

On his way downstairs, Ben decided to stop by his usual steamed bun shop.

"Boss lady, give me ten meat buns, take away," he said. With his enhanced strength, his appetite had grown significantly, and he was eating much more these days. Fortunately, he could bask in the sun to replenish his energy.

"Okay!" the boss lady said, eyeing Ben as she packed up the buns. She couldn't help but notice that Ben had become even more handsome, especially today—his figure was particularly impressive! If her husband weren't standing next to her, she might have given Ben a free meal and asked him for his contact information.

"Here you go, your buns!" She handed him the takeout.

Ben scanned the code and paid while walking away, munching on the buns. As he walked, the boss lady continued to stare at his back, her gaze fixed on his well-formed figure.

"Looking good?" her husband's voice interrupted her daydreaming.

Startled, the boss lady snapped back to reality. "You scared me! Are you done with your work? Can't you see we're short on buns? Hurry up and knead the dough!"

Her husband sighed helplessly and went to knead the dough, resigned to his fate.

Along his route to school, Ben noticed that he was drawing a lot of attention. It was as though everyone was staring at him, especially the girls. Some would sneak peeks at him, while others were bold enough to stare directly. A few even whistled at him.

"Boys need to protect themselves when they're out, for sure," Ben thought. He finally understood why Henry Cavill, the famous actor, had so many troubles with his appearance.

When he arrived at school, he was met with more curious glances from his classmates. One of his deskmates asked, "Ben, you haven't been attending training lately. Did you secretly join a gym?"

Another classmate, eager to know, asked, "Ben, how did you get such a body?"

Before Ben could respond, a sarcastic voice chimed in from nearby: "Now I see why Leo insists on taking you to clear the Spirit Realm."

This comment implied that Ben was a gigolo living off women.

Ben gave a faint smile, then retorted, "Not convinced? You can try it too! Oh… but you're too ugly to try."

The remark struck right at the heart of the other student, who immediately became furious. It was no secret that his appearance wasn't great, and Ben's words were like a dagger to his self-esteem.

"Ding Ling Ling—" The class bell rang, cutting the tension short. Professor Aryan entered the classroom, holding a laptop and a projector.

"Is everyone here?" Professor Aryan scanned the room. After confirming no one was absent, he continued, "Let's begin."

"There are only ten days left before you enter the second layer of the Spirit Realm. We don't have many knowledge points to cover, but it's essential that you understand them. The second layer is a world similar to ancient America. It's desolate, with no life—except for monsters!"

As Aryan spoke, he set up the projector and displayed several images on the screen. The images showed towns and villages styled after ancient American architecture.

"The second layer of the Spirit Realm doesn't allow you to carry items, so these images were drawn by some predecessors based on their memories."

"The teleportation location is random. You'll likely end up in a town, and time will be dusk when you arrive. You'll have about half an hour of daylight before darkness sets in."

"And once it's dark, monsters will appear."

"That's why it's essential to find a weapon and a safe place before nightfall. You'll need to arm yourself, and I suggest heading to blacksmith shops or wealthy families' houses to find weapons."

Professor Aryan paused and let the information sink in. "One more thing: be careful of other transcendents—your peers. The second layer is also called the Plunder Spirit Realm, and other transcendents are often more dangerous than monsters."

The lesson ended, and Ben quickly headed to his next class. His mind was occupied with the thought of entering the second layer of the Spirit Realm. It wasn't long before the others started discussing the monsters and transcendents they might encounter. Some were eager, others apprehensive.

Ben couldn't help but feel a little excited about the adventure ahead. With his enhanced physique, he felt ready to face whatever challenges awaited.

PS: Just like in movies, the big Superman starts slowly activating his abilities, such as the ability to fly, which takes time to master. But don't worry—this story won't take as long. So, please stop criticizing me for delaying the protagonist's growth!

For more chapters

patreon.com/Liamlivingstone