NOVEL NEXT Chapter 233: Clusters 2
[System: The host has already reached Demon Lord status and has now unlocked 165 clusters out of 199.]
"Is that impressive?" he asked, unaware of the normal standards.
[System: An average Demon Lord who has just broken through typically has 100-110 clusters unlocks.]
"Good," Reign nodded in satisfaction, pleased to hear his progress was exceptional. It would've been embarrassing if it wasn't, considering all the cheats he got from the system.
"Tell me, how can I open these clusters? And why did I turn into an ore to begin with? " He inquired.
If the system had brought him to this mental space, there must be a method to make it easier for him.
So he was certain that real demons had different, more challenging methods of unlocking it.
[System: Normal demons undergo multiple enlightenments and temperings to unlock clusters instinctively. However, with the system aid, you can manually unlock clusters on your own.]
[And because the Overlord Race requires a minimum of 199 clusters, you need to reach that threshold before the entire evolution is completed.]
"Will I become a Demon King after unlocking 199 clusters?"
[System: Negative. Clusters measure potential, not actual fighting power. You will need to undergo another ordeal to reach Demon King status. The gap between Demon King and Demon Lord is like heaven and earth.]
"So, in terms of power right now, how strong am I?" he inquired .
[System: Middle Rank Demon Lord ]
"Got it," Reign nodded .
If it were that easy to reach Demon King, then this world would be filled with them already.
To become a Demon King, one must have the right lineage, potential, resources, luck, and even with all of that, the chances were still low.
Reign had only been able to reach this far because of his system.
"Okay, tell me what I need to do," he asked, ready to follow the system's guidance.
However—
Instead of instructing him, the scene changed abruptly.
When his vision cleared, he found himself in another dark place filled with giant orbs with different sized scattered all around.
Few glowed a deep red, while the majority emitted a pure white light.
Vein-like lines pulsing with red energy connected the already unlocked orbs together.
'These must be the clusters!' he concluded, counting the dark red orbs that totaled 165 , and the 34 white orbs .
"But how can I even unlock one?" he wondered aloud.
He focused intently on a white orb closest to the red one.
As he did so, his vision suddenly zoomed in, and the orb expanded before him.
In an instant, he found himself standing between the two orbs, each towering over him like colossal mountains, sandwiching him in the middle.
Next, the red vein from the red orb extended towards Reign's body and into the white orb.
The vein started thin, but he saw it growing larger and larger until he was sucked up inside.
Slowly, the white orb began to vibrate, its color morphing like clear water tainted with red ink dripping into it, gradually changing .
At the same time, he felt a draining sensation after the white orb started sucking his energy.
'So I need to feed it to unlock it, pretty straightforward, but I feel like I'm wasting too much energy,' he muttered to himself.
His gaze shifted on the interior of the vein, and noticed their instability and imperfections.
It was clear that these flaws were causing the energy flow to be inefficient and wasteful.
Instinctively, he felt that he could control the vein. He began envisioning a much-improved network: straighter, sturdier, and more efficient.
As he focused, the flow of energy became concentrated, and the overall energy consumption decreased noticeably.
After about 30 minutes of intense concentration, the entire white orb transformed into a deep crimson color, and a connection was established.
'That was easier than I expected,' he thought to himself, taking a moment to rest before proceeding to the next orb.
He had become so accustomed to the system's spoon-fed growth method that this relatively easy task, compared to the normal means, felt like a lot of hard work for him.
As he continued unlocking more clusters, he found the process becoming more demanding.
With each cluster he unlocked, the orb got bigger and the energy required intensified.
What had started as a manageable consumption on his reserves now felt like a strong current pulling at his very essence.
He could feel the strain , the weariness settling into his very being as he focused on manipulating the flows of energy.
His energy reserves were down to just 20%.
'I need to take a rest,' he thought to himself. He had already unlocked his 185th cluster, and now it was taking longer—about an hour and thirty minutes—to fill each one.
When his energy reserves were back to 100%, he resumed connecting the clusters.
He persisted until he reached the 198th orb, a monumental achievement that left him with only 1% of his energy remaining.
The sheer size and complexity of the 198th orb had drained him to the limit.
'Finally, after the next one, I can get back to my body,' he chuckled to himself, relieved at the thought.
It looked like a short time had passed, but he had actually spent days here.
Filling up each orb and then replenishing his energy took considerable time, effort, and energy.
However, it didn't bother him much; being trapped this long were rookie numbers compared to what he had experienced before.
His main concern was that someone might discovered his ore-like body and turn it into a weapon.
It would be ironic if he returned to find himself forged into a sword or some other tool.
'Alright, one last orb and I'm done,' he muttered to himself, his focus unwavering as he positioned himself between the two orbs.
The veins connected automatically, and he began feeding energy into the 199th orb.
With the connection forged he could feel losing his energy in a rapid pace.
100%
90%
50%
25%
10%
5%
'My full reserve is not enough to fill it,' he thought to himself, realizing the orb was only 85% filled.
Even if he exhausted all his energy, he could only fill it up to 90%.
He needed to rest a bit before attempting to continue filling it again.
Stopping the energy flow, he anticipated a moment of break.
However—
Unexpectedly, the vein he focused on began to twist and convulse, as if it was collapsing .
Its steady flow of energy turned into erratic pulses, like lightning in a storm.
Reign quickly tried to stabilize it by feeding more energy, but it was too late.
The vein started to break apart, making sharp cracking sounds.
Bright sparks burst from the fractures, lighting up the space momentarily. Each rupture weakened the connection to the orb, its glow fading with the instability.
"You got to be kidding me," he gritted his teeth.
Desperately, he pushed himself harder, trying to restore order. But with no energy left, the vein reached its breaking point.
With a final shudder, it collapsed completely, turning into particles of light that scattered into nothingness.
The orb, so close to completion, reverted to its original white color.