I stepped out of the spatial door, but my gaze was on the message I got from the system.
[Universal fragments can be used to purchase any type of ability, be it blood-related abilities or Limitless talents.]
Currently, I had 8 [Universal Fragments] and 5 [Limitless Fragments]. While I wanted to see Angel and Blade's ability in the system shop, I was more eager to see their corpses.
The moment my foot touched the floor, I realized it was wet. Beneath me was a small puddle of blood that stretched across the entire room, even seeping through the gap below the door.
Littered around the room were organs, limbs, heads, and other body parts. My eyes narrowed in discomfort. I only asked Lord Ravus to kill them—but he went a step further and tore them apart.
"Where is he, anyway?" I muttered, realizing Lord Ravus wasn't here.
Drip!
A drop of blood fell from above, splashing on my face. I was stunned and slowly wiped it off with my hand—only for more drops to fall.
Slowly, I raised my head… only to see Lord Ravus latched onto the ceiling like a lizard, Angel's head dangling from his mouth, while his dark eyes remained pinned on me.
I couldn't sense malice in his gaze. It was a mixture of curiosity and reverence for his new master.
"I see," I muttered and took a step back, wiping the blood off my face.
I then shifted my gaze to the timer at the bottom-left of my sight.
[Lesser Thrall: Lord Ravus]
[Time Left: 2:40]
It took Lord Ravus barely twenty seconds to wipe out a group of ten, even in his weakened state.
"Interesting," I muttered before turning my attention to the list of Limitless abilities I could purchase.
[Gatekeeper Talent Store] Limitless Talents Tier I
[Angel] — Active (All-rounder)
Cost: 7 Limitless Fragments
Description: You can summon angelic wings that are as light as a feather but as sturdy as steel.
[Might of Man] — Passive (All-rounder)
Cost: 10 Limitless Fragments
Description: You are endowed with the might of ten men, granting you superhuman physical prowess.
Permanent Boost: +5 Strength, Speed, Vitality & +50 Health Points.
"Not bad," I muttered genuinely.
Both abilities were truly amazing, so it was hard to pick. After five seconds of deep pondering, I ultimately decided to go with Blade's [Might of Man] talent—for a few reasons.
The first was simple: I believe in the face of absolute strength, all forms of technique are useless. While the ability to fly is cool and all, it won't serve much purpose against a very powerful foe—unless I'm trying to flee.
Unfortunately, as someone tasked with defending a territory, fleeing should be the least of my priorities.
The second reason was that Blade's ability was the only one I could use discreetly in the presence of other Limitless in the human world. Angel was well-known in our class, so popping out the same iconic angelic wings everyone praised her for would lead to another jail time and questioning.
"Purchase Might of Man," I said decisively.
Ding!
[Might of Man purchased successfully.]
[Name:] Adam Black
[Level:] 2
[Race:] Human
[Talent:] Gatekeeper
[Talent Tier:] SSS-Tier
[Stats]
Strength: 8 + 3
Speed: 8 + 3
Vitality: 9 + 3
Intelligence: 10 + 3
[Health Points:] 80/90 + 20
[Energy Points:] 20/20
[Experience Points:] 3050
[Universal Fragments:] 3
[Blood Fragments:] 0
[Limitless Fragments:] 0
[Skill]
Name: Door
Status: Upgradeable
Tier: C
Cost: 1
Proficiency: 15%
Technique: Door Post
Name: Blood Pact
Status: Upgradeable
Tier: A
Cost: 10 HP
Proficiency: 0%
Name: Might of Man
Status: Upgradeable
Tier: C
Cost: Nil
Proficiency: 100%
[Territory]
[Nightfall Dominion] [Tier 1: Lesser Realm]
[Perks: +3 to all stats & +20 Health Points]
In an instant, I felt a surge of strength rush through me, and I clenched my right fist.
I wasn't sure why, but my body felt as light as a feather—yet I felt like an immovable mountain.
Grrrrrr!
Lord Ravus's growl stole my attention, and I looked up again to see his gaze fixed on me intently, as if waiting for an order.
I barely had two minutes left before he returned to being a corpse, so I decided to pay attention to him.
"Come with me," I said, before walking away—not bothering to look back.
I reached the exit and placed my hand on the sturdy wooden door. With a little effort, the door swung open, shoving aside all the furniture used to block it from the outside.
"Impressive," I muttered with an excited grin.
[The ten-point threshold in any stat represents the peak a human can achieve. With your current stats, added to the Territory Lord bonus, you have achieved superhuman capabilities.]
The system explained, and I raised an eyebrow.
This was unexpected—but quite educative. It made me wonder if my ten points in Intelligence were due to the experience gained after living 99 lives.
"Doesn't that make me the smartest human alive?" I muttered, but I quickly shook my head and pushed the thought away.
"Nothing exists in isolation. If I can reach this level, someone else can too," I said. "Deluding myself into thinking I'm special will backfire when I meet a foe of equal standing. I can't lower my guard just because everything is going my way."
Many men have died because they believed they were special. I am no exception, so I will not make the same mistake.
I soon noticed a hulking shadow looming over me, accompanied by a strong stench of blood. Slowly, I looked over my shoulder and saw Lord Ravus standing so close he was only inches from touching me.
"Don't get too close," I ordered, and watched him obediently step back.
With that, we left the room and headed straight to the treasury, which could only be reached through the Great Hall.
Bam!
The doors swung open, and we walked into a massive hall nearly twice the size of the throne room. Stone walls rose high above, wooden beams crisscrossing the ceiling.
A long table ran down the center, packed with plates, goblets, and empty trays. At the far end, raised on a stone platform, sat a tall-backed throne beneath a faded banner.
Crimson flames danced in a wide fireplace, casting flickering shadows across suits of armor lining the walls.
I might have been impressed if not for one section of the wall—solid black steel. Slowly we approached it, my eyes narrowing at the strange carvings and inscriptions that pulsed with crimson light.
At the center of the wall protruded the face of a mutant, bat-like humanoid. Dull crimson eyes, a gaping mouth, and rows of pointed fangs stared back at us. Standing before it, I felt those eyes peering into my soul.
Strangely, I didn't find it uncomfortable.
"Open it," I ordered, stepping aside as Lord Ravus walked toward the bat head.
I watched him casually slide his hand into the statue's mouth, and with a single snap its jaws clamped shut with a heavy thud.
Crunch!
My eyebrows knitted as I heard a gulping sound, as though the statue drank his blood. Its once-dim crimson eyes regained their glow, and slowly every symbol and pattern on the wall lit up with fierce crimson light.
Bang!
Dust drifted from the ceiling while the castle trembled as the wall began to rise. Lord Ravus withdrew his hand and calmly moved back behind me, standing like a silent bodyguard.
Silently, we waited as the wall rose, revealing a secret chamber known to all—but accessible to few.