Chapter 49
Then, Hemer explained the meaning of physiological tolerance and somatic cell activity. To put it simply, the former referred to the body's endurance, while the latter measured how actively somatic cells interacted with Originium material. In essence, the higher the somatic cell activity, the more suited an individual was to learning Originium arts.
As for Originium Arts Adaptability, the data remained inconclusive. That was to be expected—after all, Yoren was still a newcomer to the world of the Infected and had no knowledge of Originium arts.
What truly caught Yoren's attention, however, was the last statistic: the Originium Energy Conversion Rate. He had a gut feeling that everything else was just a prelude. This was the number that determined whether someone was truly powerful.
Pointing at the screen, Yoren asked, "Hemer, what exactly does this last one mean?"
Hemer adjusted his glasses, his voice taking on a more serious tone. "This is an incredibly important metric. Normally, we don't measure individuals with it—this test is meant to evaluate the strength of Originium arts themselves. Each Originium contains a massive amount of energy, especially S-class Originium, which holds enough power to sustain the entire Experimental Base No. 4. The Originium Energy Conversion Rate determines how much of this energy is consumed by Originium arts."
He continued, "Imagine an Originium unit has an energy value of 1,000. A standard Originium art might consume 1 point. Simultaneously, the caster must provide a proportional amount of their own power. This rate essentially determines how quickly an individual can consume Originium energy and, by extension, how much force they can exert."
Yoren recalled a moment from Mandel City. Every time Frost Nova cast an ice spell, she held an Originium in her hand. When she unleashed that immense frost covering an entire street, the Originium crumbled to dust.
This was what it meant to convert Originium energy.
Hemer continued, "One more thing—you should know that in Terra, the ability to use Originium arts isn't exclusive to the Infected. While the Infected have an inherent affinity, ordinary people can still wield Originium arts through training and talent. Take Miss Saria from the Defense Department, for example."
"Oh, I already know that."
"Well, some individuals have such precise control that they can store Originium energy within their bodies instead of using it immediately. But that energy can't stay there for long. For ordinary people, doing so drastically increases the risk of oripathy. Even the Infected must expel stored Originium energy within a certain timeframe, or they risk accelerating their infection."