"What was your aim, provoking Dax?" Dalia's voice cut through the air, sharp and laced with anger, her eyes blazing like twin flames.
Mel froze, her breath hitching in her throat. The weight of Dalia's gaze pressed down on her, and she fell into an awkward silence, her mind racing for an explanation.
"You used your eyes again, didn't you?" Dalia's tone was cautioning, edged with frustration. "I told you to keep them secret."
But then, as if a storm had passed, a beautiful, conniving smile broke across Dalia's face. Her curiosity had overtaken her anger.
"Really, Mel," she said, leaning closer, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "What did you see? How strange were his stats? What kind of power is he hiding? Did you catch even a glimpse of that strange ability?"
Dalia's curiosity burned brightly, her mind racing with possibilities. She was desperate to uncover what made Dax so different from other humans.
Mel hesitated, her voice trembling as she spoke. "Madam, that man, Dax… he's a Level 15 human. But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't see through his stats. His affinity… it was completely blurred out. I've never seen anything like it."
Dalia's brow furrowed, her mind spinning. "So, there's someone even the Eye of Appraisal can't see through? Or is there some sort of artifact blocking him?"
"No, Master," Mel replied quickly. "He possesses no such thing."
Slaves were stripped of all possessions before being assigned to their masters. It was impossible for Dax to have anything that could block her vision.
Mel's eyes—once owned by the God of Fortune—were a rare and coveted treasure. They granted her the ability to see the stats of anything, a power that many would kill to possess.
"Mela," Dalia said, her voice low and dangerous. "Don't lie to me. You're better than this."
The use of her full name sent a chill down Mel's spine. She knew Dalia only called her that when she was deadly serious.
"Master!" Mel dropped to her knees, her voice breaking. "Please, Master, I would never lie to you!" She crawled toward Dalia, clutching the hem of her robe. "Please, don't leave me. I beg you!"
Tears streamed down Mel's face, her body trembling with the weight of a traumatic past. The fear of abandonment was etched into her very soul.
Dalia's expression softened. She knelt and gently lifted Mel to her feet, her hands firm but kind. "What makes you think I would ever abandon you?" she said, her voice warm. "You're my friend—someone I would trust with my life."
Mel's tears slowed as Dalia's words sank in. The bond between them, forged through trust and shared secrets, was unbreakable.
---
**Dax's P.O.V:**
Dax sat in his room, deep in thought. His new goal was clear: escape bondage. "I need strength," he muttered to himself.
*Master, that will not be a problem for you. I will assist you in any way possible,* Inerous interrupted, her voice echoing in Dax's mind.
"That reminds me, Inerous. Dissect the Gagarion's body, but do not separate its limbs," Dax ordered.
He had a plan in mind. Rising from his seat, Dax strode to Dalia's office with purpose. He knocked gently on the door.
"Come in," a gentle voice echoed through the hallway.
Stepping inside, Dax saw Dalia sitting behind her desk, her expression calm but guarded.
"Greetings, Madam," Dax said, his face betraying no emotion. "I need a piece of clothing or jewelry and four monster cores—one of the poison element."
Dalia's eyes narrowed. "And what do you mean by this request?" she asked, her voice calm but laced with warning, like the stillness before a storm.
"Madam, it's not what you think. I want to make special upgrades for you—but under one condition," Dax replied, his tone steady and emotionless.
Dalia hesitated for a moment before reaching into her space ring. She withdrew a beautiful spring robe, a Fangrot's core, two Bloodworm cores, and an Ironclad Wolf's core.
Dax's eyes flickered with surprise at the sight of the space ring. *Yes, Master, that is a space ring,* Inerous confirmed.
Dax took the clothing and cores from her. "Madam, it will be ready tomorrow. I will inform you when it's ready," he said, his voice devoid of emotion.
Mel huffed lightly, but Dax ignored her, turning to leave.
"Please, wait," Dalia called, her voice soft but commanding.
Dax paused, his back still turned. "Madam, how may I serve you?" he asked, his tone laced with sarcasm.
"I apologize deeply, again, for my companion's rudeness," Dalia said, her voice sincere. Mel bowed her head in shame.
"Madam, I'm simply a slave. It is my job to obey my enslaver," Dax replied coldly. The damage had been done. He didn't want a connection with them. All he wanted was to leave this place and explore this new world unrestrained.
Dax returned to his room. "Inerous, please compile the best techniques from the Lin Empire and assimilate them into my Dark Gathering Technique," he ordered.
*Void Spirit Meditation: Achieve a state of absolute emptiness, allowing the practitioner to sense the natural flow of energy in the world.*
*Dragon Vein Resonance: Synchronize with the ley lines of the earth to draw endless Qi.*
*Nine Sun Soul Refinement: Absorb the essence of sunlight to temper the soul and body.*
*Thousand Echoes Mind Palace: Train the mind by creating a mental battlefield where echoes of past battles replay endlessly.*
*Moonlit Shadow Absorption: Absorb the essence of the moon to refine Yin energy and enhance abilities.*
*Synchronizing with Dark Gathering Art… Synchronization complete: Eternal Heart Sutra.*
*Eternal Heart, Eternal Mind Sutra: This technique possesses the abilities of all six techniques. It focuses on perfecting the body, soul, and mind. This technique has ten layers, with each layer granting a 50% increase in power.*
"Wonderful, Inerous. Assimilate this technique into my brain," Dax commanded.
Dax sat on his bed, memories of darkness flooding his mind. A hand stretched out into the emptiness, pouring energy into it. *Boom!* Suddenly, a loud explosion occurred, followed by silence. In that silence, Dax saw a spiral, and in that moment, a galaxy began to form.
*First layer learned. +20 to all stats on cultivation.*
*Note: Master, cultivate morning and night for best results.*
"This is crazy. I'm really a step closer to my goal," Dax muttered.
Sitting cross-legged, Dax closed his eyes. In that moment, his mind was welcomed into a dark space—the first step to cultivating this technique.
Stretching out his hand, Dax felt a strange force trying to harness the energy in his body. *Master, free yourself,* Inerous urged.
Letting go, energy leaked from Dax, just like in the vision he had seen. Unbeknownst to him, his mouth was wide open, swallowing mana and the laws of this world as he began to float.
The air around him became oppressive as mana surrounded his core like a tide. The emptiness began to light up, but Dax's energy dried up in return.
*-5 Origin.*
*-5 Origin.*
*-5 Origin.*
*-5 Origin.*
*-5 Origin.*
*Boom!*
In that moment, a galaxy began to take shape in his body, completing its form instantly. There was stillness as it returned energy back to its creator.
Dax received system notifications:
*200% increase to all stats.*
*+200 Origin.*
Dax stood from his bed, his bones cracking as he felt like a newborn. His heart and mind were clearer than ever.
"Inerous, what are my stats?"