NOVEL NEXT Chapter 357 Activated
High up in a dense forest, surrounded by towering trees, Reign sat at the base of one, his back resting against the rough bark.
The thick foliage and leaves above concealed him from view, casting a dim, green light that flickered as the wind rustled the leaves.
He was entirely focused on his system window, the glowing display hovering in the air before him, his eyes scanning the information.
'Activate Seed,' he muttered to himself, his voice low and firm.
From his chest, a small, round seed slowly emerged, pushing through his bones.
The seed began to grow, expanding and stretching upward, much like a tree sprouting from the earth.
But this was no ordinary tree. Instead of leaves and branches, the surface of the seed took on the appearance of smooth, human-like skin.
It was an uncanny transformation, as the seed continued to expand, reshaping itself into a humanoid figure.
The figure that emerged was tall and looked powerful, standing at an imposing 6'5".
Muscles rippled under the flawless skin, perfectly sculpted, with abs that were sharply defined.
The skin itself was smooth, almost too smooth, as if it were a living statue, not quite real.
The face of the figure was really attractive, with sharp, angular features that seemed to be carved with precision.
High cheekbones shaped his strong jawline, and his bright, glowing blue eyes was mesmerizing.
They seemed to shine with an inner light, captivating and intense, framed by long white eyelashes that added to the figure's attractiveness .
The hair was pure white, soft and slightly messy, falling around the face in a way that made it look innocent .
Reign stood back, taking in every detail of his creation. He had spent considerable time customizing this avatar, ensuring that every aspect was closed to his original human body.
"It's finished," he said with a satisfied grin, circling around his avatar to inspect it from every angle.
The avatar looked cool, almost too cool, but its appearance was not the only impressive thing about it.
This figure had more to offer than just looks. It possessed a powerful race, one that he had carefully selected for its potential.
It was based on an angel.
Initially, he had his doubts about using an angelic race. Angels, after all, typically relied on human fate to gain power, a method that was troublesome.
The idea of depending on something as fickle as human fate didn't sit well with him. However, after acquiring the Soul Converter ability, his perspective changed.
He found this race to be much more useful than he had originally thought.
"Good thing I saved some souls," he chuckled to himself, a wicked grin spreading across his face as he began the process of transferring them into the avatar.
As it flowed into the figure, it began to glow with a golden light, a soft radiance that pulsed with divine energy.
Within just a minute, the avatar surpassed the Upper Demon Level, quickly reaching the Beginning Demon Lord level.
Although it was still far from his original power, the rapid growth was impressive, showcasing just how effective souls were in strengthening the angel race.
'No wonder that stuck-up angel likes gaining power this way,' he muttered, a hint of disdain in his voice as he thought of Angela.
'Now, time to test this body out,' he said to himself, his excitement building.
He closed his eyes. When he opened them again, he found himself looking at his original body.
'I look really scary,' he thought, almost amused at how intimidating his skull face was. It was a wonder that humans didn't drop dead from shock just by looking at him.
'This body feels awkward,' he added, flexing his hands. It felt different, more sensitive, as if every nerve ending was more attuned to the world around him.
The breeze felt sharper, the textures of the forest more pronounced. It was refreshingly different from his usual form, and even the colors of the world around him looked more vibrant, more alive.
"System, what's happening? Why do I feel different?" he asked, confusion creeping into his voice.
[System: Host is being affected by Divine Energy. In your original body, you were surrounded by Negative Energy, which strengthened your negative thoughts over time. In this new body, filled with Divine Energy, you experience warm and soothing feelings that change how you perceive the world around you.]
"Wait, will this change my personality?"
[System: Don't worry, host. Your psychopathic and crazy nature is innate, so you won't be that affected.]
'I don't know if I should be happy about that or not,' he sighed, a mixture of relief and discomfort washing over him.
The system's bluntness was always jarring, but at least it was honest.
Reign decided to put this new body to the test, starting with basic movements.
He tried walking first, but it felt strange. His steps were unsteady, awkward, as if he had to relearn how to move.
Each step was clumsy, and he struggled to maintain his balance.
Running was even harder. His legs felt heavy, and he stumbled often, unable to gain the speed he was accustomed to.
It was frustrating, like being trapped in a body that didn't quite fit, and every attempt to move faster only highlighted his lack of control.
When he attempted to jump from one tree to another, it became clear just how difficult this new body was to master.
His jumps didn't carry him as far as he expected, and he found himself crashing into branches, having to grab onto them to avoid falling.
But he was not one to give up easily.
Gradually, with each attempt, he began to adjust. He started to get a feel for this new body, learning how to shift his weight, how to time his movements. His walking grew steadier, his running smoother.
Finally, he decided to try out his wings. He focused, and with a thought, two large, white wings unfurled from his back, shimmering with golden dust.
He tested the wings, flapping them gently at first, then with more force.
To his surprise, flying felt natural, more so than walking or running. The wings responded perfectly to his commands, lifting him off the ground effortlessly.
He adjusted to the feel of the wind, his movements becoming smoother as he soared through the trees.
As he flew, he realized that his view of the forest from above was breathtaking.
The colors were vibrant, the leaves a lush green, the sky a brilliant blue.
Even the air, as he breathed it in, felt rejuvenating.
Everything looked more alive, more intense than he remembered. It was as if he were seeing the world through new eyes.
However, not everything was perfect. Despite learning how to fly quickly, Reign noticed that his speed was slower than he had hoped. Even in his weakened state, his demon form had been faster.
It was a small disappointment, but one that reminded him that this body was still a work in progress. Speed wasn't its strength, at least not yet.
'I can do a lot more with this body,' he thought.
'But...' His mind trailed off as he considered one thing he didn't quite like.