NOVEL NEXT Chapter 84: Intense heat
The moment he finished confirming it, a strange sensation rushed through him.
Heat surged violently through his veins, spreading from his chest outward until every muscle, every inch of his body trembled faintly under its intensity.
His muscles tightened suddenly, his bones creaking faintly as though being reshaped from within.
The surge was overwhelming, yet familiar.
Damien clenched his teeth, his breath coming out rough.
A sharp shiver ran down his spine as power flowed through every nerve.
His heart pounded, hammering violently in his chest, each beat sending another wave of heat pulsing outward.
It was painful—his body screamed in discomfort as if rejecting the sudden surge of strength—but at the same time, it was intoxicatingly pleasurable.
The pain and pleasure mingled together into something strange, almost addictive.
His skin tingled, his breath hitched, and for a brief second, he felt as though the world around him blurred away entirely, leaving only the rush of energy tearing through his body.
He gritted his teeth and endured it, his muscles flexing unconsciously as veins pulsed across his arms.
The bed beneath him creaked faintly as his grip tightened.
Despite the pain, a low smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.
Since he had increased his stats by so much at once, it was naturally far more overwhelming compared to the last time.
Back then, the changes were subtle—a gentle strengthening that had merely refined what he already possessed.
But now, it felt like his entire body was being reforged, molded from inside out with flames.
Slowly, the heat coursing through him began to settle, spreading gently across his limbs until it finally faded into a calm, pulsing warmth beneath his skin.
Damien exhaled deeply, his chest rising and falling as he tried to steady his breathing.
His entire body was drenched in sweat—thick drops rolling down his temples, tracing paths along his chest before soaking into the sheets beneath him.
His hair clung slightly to his forehead, damp from the intensity of the change he had just endured.
He was panting heavily, like someone who had just finished running a marathon.
Despite all of that, he didn't feel exhausted.
If anything, it was the exact opposite.
His lungs burned slightly from the heavy breathing, but his body was thrumming with newfound energy.
His entire being felt alive, electric, as though the surge of power had infused not just his muscles, but his very soul.
He smirked faintly to himself, clenching and unclenching his fists several times.
His knuckles cracked softly, and he could feel the strength pulsing vividly within his veins.
A part of him even felt that he could destroy anything in front of him with a single punch, but he controlled that thought, knowing it was just an exaggeration.
But then, one couldn't deny that his strength had indeed increased many times compared to before.
His body felt many times lighter than before.
It was as if the restraints that once held him back had been stripped away. Every limb moved smoothly, perfectly balanced, and in complete harmony with his mind's command.
The faint ache he felt before was gone, replaced by a refreshing sense of vitality.
He stood up slowly, letting out another deep breath.
The quiet room felt different now. The air itself seemed sharper, clearer somehow. He could sense his surroundings better than ever before.
The faint creak of the bed as Nora shifted in her sleep, the slow rise and fall of Claire's chest, even the subtle rustling of the curtains as a gentle breeze passed through the window—none of it escaped him.
His perception had grown keener, sharper than it had ever been. He could almost feel the flow of mana in the air itself, moving and pulsing faintly like invisible threads weaving through the space around him.
He chuckled inwardly, feeling pride in his newfound strength.
'With this level of power,' he thought. 'I'm no longer fodder in this world.'
He thought back suddenly to the knight general he had met during the awakening ceremony.
Her presence had been overwhelming at the time—her strength radiating like a blazing inferno, her aura alone enough to make even seasoned hunters wary.
He remembered the way she had carried herself, the quiet authority in her gaze, and the sheer pressure that had filled the room when she revealed her strength.
He wasn't sure if he was stronger than her now.
But he doubted the gap between them was anywhere near as vast as it had been before.
That realization alone made his heart beat a little faster.
The idea that he could stand even somewhat closer to someone of her caliber was thrilling. It meant progress—proof that he was no longer a helpless bystander in this world.
The climb ahead was still long, but for the first time, he could see himself on the same path as those recognised as strong in this world.
He glanced toward his status window again, summoning it with a thought.
He checked the amount of Hunter points he still had remaiming.
[Hunter Points: 97580]
This was how he had allocated his Hunter points across his status window.
Eighty points into Strength, One Hundred into Agility, Eighty into Stamina, Eighty into Endurance, Ninety into Perception, and lastly a hundred points into Charm and Intelligence each.
Apart from those, he had also spent seven thousand Hunter points on his Health and Mana, increasing both by 3500 each.
In total, he spent a whopping seventy thousand Hunter points on all his attributes, which was what brought the remaining to what it was now.
He could decide to use the ninety something thousand remaining to further increase his status, but he knew it was best not to do so.
The remaining points were meant to be spent on skills and items from the system shop.
After all, raw strength alone could only take him so far. If he wanted to survive the journey ahead, he needed the right tools and skills to complement his power.
'System shop,' he thought.