Spark entered the main tent.
Lilith, sleek and watchful, was the first to spot him. She instinctively summoned her cursed dagger. Clutching it tightly on her hand. But then relaxed as she recognized him.
Spark scanned everything inside the tent quickly. Inside, the space was cool, clean, and secure. A bubble of civilization in the wilderness.
Ivy, small and meticulous, was concocting a potion. Or poison. Melody and Serenade, elegant despite the harsh environment, were tending to a small, controlled fire. Cooking.
They converged on him. A silent wave of concern and readiness. He had almost completely recovered. But they saw the slight bruise on his face.
"Master, are you alright?" Serenade asked, her tone calm but her eyes sharp with assessment.
"I'm fine." Spark answered simply.
Ivy was already moving towards him. Reaching for a small pouch of salves and ointments. "Let me see."
"Later." Spark said, waving her off gently but firmly. He trusted them, as much as he could trust anyone. They were bonded to him. Loyal, submissive, and useful. They wouldn't betray him.
"Guard the perimeter." He ordered in firm voice. "Absolutely no disturbance. No one comes in. I'm about to do something critical."
"Understood, Master!" Lilith responded instantly. Her posture was straightening, battle-ready. She moved towards the tent's entrance.
"Yes, Master. We will ensure your safety," Serenade added. Her gaze sweeping the interior and exterior with practiced vigilance. She signaled Melody, and they took up positions.
Ivy hovered. Still holding her medical supplies. "Should I prepare healing potions?"
"Not yet." Spark said. His attention already fixed on the object that truly mattered now. The Glory Orb. He pulled it from his Spatial Belt. The smooth, cool orange sphere were pulsing with faint, internal light. "Just... stand guard."
He found a comfortable spot on a reinforced cot. The fatigue from the fight. The sheer physical output. It was immense.
But this had to be done as soon as possible. Now was probably the best chance. While he was here. Safe and secure with his loyal aides guarding him.
He took a deep breath. The metallic tang of the volcanic air was still in his lungs. He held the Glory Orb in both of his massive hands. It felt strangely light. Yet incredibly dense with power.
"This might be unpleasant. But don't interfere with whatever happening to me." He warned the women.
With a will of iron, he initiated the consumption process. He focused his inherent Jackmaster ability. His three types of energy called upon the Orb's latent power. Guiding it into his being.
The immediate sensation was one of intense pressure. Followed by searing pain that lanced through his entire body. Starting from his hands and spreading outwards like wildfire.
It felt like his very essence was being broken down. And re-forged. In agonizingly slow manner.
His muscles tightened into knots. His vision swam. And a low groan escaped his lips despite his efforts to suppress it.
The women tensed. Their eyes were fixed on him. Ready to act if anything went wrong. Though they knew there was little they could do but guard him.
The pain intensified. Peaking in a wave of pure, unadulterated agony. One that threatened to shatter his consciousness.
Images, sensations, and raw power flooded his mind. It felt like ripping apart reality. And stitching it back together inside his skull.
Then, as suddenly as it began, the most intense phase passed. The searing agony subsided. Leaving behind a deep, throbbing ache. And an overwhelming sense of fullness.
Power surged through him. Settling into his core. His muscles. His bones. His mind. His soul.
Spark gasped. Sweat plastering his forehead and his whole body. He felt utterly drained. Yet, simultaneously crackling with potential.
He was still an Enhanced Jackmaster, Tier-2 character. But the qualitative leap was undeniable. He was no longer just a common Tier-2 person. He was at the peak.
Better yet, he was pressing hard against the boundary. The threshold to Tier-3, the Fortified Level, was within reach.
He closed his eyes and took out his Ego Appraisal Grimoire. He checked his status.
=====STATUS PANEL=====
[Name: Spark Nighthawk]
[Class: Jackmaster]
[Level: Enhanced (2nd Tier)]
[Soul Power: Fortified Level (3rd Tier)]
[Mind Power: Fortified Level (3rd Tier)]
[Body Power: Fortified Level (3rd Tier)]
[Talent: Primal Soul]
[Talent: Primal Mind]
[Talent: Primal Physique]
[Talent: Overlord's Favor]
[Soulcraft Fairy: Honey, Holy]
==[Species: Seven Element Fairy (100%), Light Fairy (200%)]
==[Level: Enhanced (2nd Tier)]
==[Growth Item: Maple Syrup, Holy Water]
==[Shared Talent: Instant Casting, Mana Regeneration Boost]
==[Ability: Soulcraft Crest - Elemental Coating, Healing Light]
[Framepath Monsters: Grim Lion (100%), Dragon Ant (100%)]
==[Level: Enhanced (2nd Tier)]
==[Growth Item: Wild Red Meat, Reptile Egg]
==[Acquired Talent: King Disposition, Draconic Bones]
==[Desire Boost: Lust]
==[Ability: Framepath Fusion - Draconic Werelion]
[Technomind Gear: Power Rifle (100%), Spatial Belt (100%)]
==[Types: Gun-Type, Spatial-Bag-Type]
==[Level: Enhanced (2nd Tier)]
==[Growth Item: Copper Coin, Eldritch Steelwood]
==[Shared Talent: Clear Mind, Spatial Sense]
==[Ability: Technomind Form - Sniper Power Rifle, Spatial Belt]
The Glory Orb had done its job. It had maximized the growth of his acquired abilities. Pushing everything to peak readiness.
The specific growth percentages confirmed it. His soulcraft status was...
[Fairy Species: Seven Element Fairy (100%)]
[Fairy Species: Light Fairy (200%)]
His Seven Element Fairy was ready for its next evolution. His Light Fairy, remarkably, had gained enough potential for two consecutive evolutions. Great!
And then...
[Framepath Monsters: Grim Lion (100%)]
[Framepath Monsters: Dragon Ant (100%)
His Framepath development was also great. Both existing monster fusions were at peak growth. He was ready to fuse with another monster gene. Potentially gaining new physical traits. And evolving the fusion form.
As for Technomind...
[Technomind Gear: Power Rifle (100%)]
[Technomind Gear: Spatial Belt (100%)]
Another nice ones. His integrated gears, his Power Rifle and his indispensable Spatial Belt, were ready for significant upgrades. They could be upgraded. Becoming more powerful. More efficient. Possibly gaining new functions.
All of his major power systems were at the threshold. All ready to advance. The painful consumption of the Glory Orb had provided the rapid and necessary push across the board.
He closed the grimoire. And put it back to the Spatial Belt. He looked at the worried faces of his women. He felt the ache in his body. The exhaustion from the fight. But also the potential thrumming beneath his skin.
He stood up, testing the feeling. He was stronger, faster, tougher, even without transforming. His mana reserves felt deeper, his mind sharper.
But as exciting as the potential was, he couldn't act on it yet. Evolutions. Fusion. Upgrades. These weren't simple toggles. They required specific materials. He had prepared for the materials. But, they were stored safely away. In his mansion in Gutlark Town.
Spark sighed. He took the Slave Grimoire from the Spatial Belt. He was planning to modify Princess Kissara here.
But, he first needed to check the other pages. The information of his current women...
=====STATUS PANEL=====
[Name: Lilith Lunaire]
[Gender: Female]
[Age: 27]
[Class: Technomancer]
[Level: Fortified (3rd Tier)]
[Loyalty: 100%]
[Soul Power: Fortified Level (3rd Tier)]
[Mind Power: Fortified Level (3rd Tier)]
[Body Power: Awakened Level (1st Tier)]
[Talent: Shadow Soul]
[Talent: Versatile Mind]
[Personalities: Submissive, Adaptive]
[Personalities: Playful, Organized]
[Modifier Currency: Mystic Silver]
[Minor Paths: -]
[Technomind Gear: Gun Type (82%), Light Armor Type (75%), Blade Type (56%)]
==[Growth Item: Bloody Lead, Chameleon Skin, Trent Root]
==[Shared Talent: Enhanced Agility, Enhanced Charisma, Disease Immunity]
==[Artifact Form: Arcane Handgun, Shadow Armor, Cursed Dagger]
[Soulcraft Fairy: Mist Fairy (97%), Spatial Fairy (81%), Lightning Fairy (67%)]
==[Growth Item: Arcane Crystal, Mystic Rose, White Pearl]
==[Shared Talent: Mana Efficiency, Spatial Sense, Rapid Recovery]
==[Ability: Soulcraft Crest - Mist Form, Spatial Blink, Lightning Speed]
=====STATUS PANEL=====
[Name: Ivy Stellaire]
[Gender: Female]
[Age: 21]
[Class: Battlemage]
[Level: Fortified (3rd Tier)]
[Loyalty: 100%]
[Soul Power: Fortified Level (3rd Tier)]
[Mind Power: Awakened Level (1st Tier)]
[Body Power: Fortified Level (3rd Tier)]
[Talent: Verdant Soul]
[Talent: Moist Physique]
[Personalities: Submissive, Affectionate]
[Personalities: Meticulous, Observant]
[Modifier Currency: Rose Petal]
[Minor Paths: Alchemy, Poison-Potion Study]
[Soulcraft Fairy: Plant Fairy (83%), Flower Fairy (80%), Rain Fairy(67%)]
==[Growth Item: Mystic Water, Earth Quartz, Blue Crystal]
==[Shared Talent: Fast Recovery, Plant Affinity, Water Affinity]
==[Ability: Soulcraft Crest - Plant Appraisal, Rapid Growth, Healing Rain]
[Framepath Monster: Mandrake (78%), Bellgnome (63%), Mystic Trent (42%)]
==[Growth Item: Poisonous Mushroom, Heavy Water, Pure Milk]
==[Shared Talent: Poison Immunity, Disease Immunity, Healing Affinity]
==[Ability: Framepath Fusion - Floral Dryad]
=====STATUS PANEL=====
[Name: Melody Aurora]
[Gender: Female]
[Age: 18]
[Class: Sorceress]
[Level: Enhanced (2nd Tier)]
[Loyalty: 100%]
[Soul Power: Enhanced Level (2nd Tier)]
[Mind Power: Awakened Level (1st Tier)]
[Body Power: Awakened Level (1st Tier)]
[Talent: Melodic Soul]
[Personalities: Submissive, Devoted]
[Personalities: Artful, Graceful]
[Modifier Currency: Clearfire Wine]
[Minor Path: Wishart]
[Soulcraft Fairy: Harp Fairy (24%), Echo Fairy (18%)]
==[Growth Item: Cloud Berry, Mint Leaf]
==[Shared Talent: Resonant Echo, Angelic Aura]
==[Ability: Soulcraft Crest - Enhancement Melody, Recovery Song]
=====STATUS PANEL=====
[Name: Serenade Aurora]
[Gender: Female]
[Age: 36]
[Class: Sorceress]
[Level: Fortified (3rd Tier)]
[Loyalty: 100%]
[Soul Power: Fortified Level (3rd Tier)]
[Mind Power: Awakened Level (1st Tier)]
[Body Power: Awakened Level (1st Tier)]
[Talent: Melodic Soul]
[Personalities: Submissive, Calm]
[Personalities: Prudent, Elegant]
[Modifier Currency: Arcane Quartz]
[Minor Path: Wishart]
[Soulcraft Fairy: Flute Fairy (91%), Harp Fairy (88%), Drum Fairy (82%)]
==[Growth Item: Mint Leaf, Water Berry, Black Orchid]
==[Shared Talent: Lingering Echo, Seductive Aura, Source of Chaos]
==[Ability: Soulcraft Crest - Mystic Lullaby, Weakening Symphony, Oppressing Beat]