Chapter 72: Knight Lvl 2
William held the Kraken’s heart, feeling its immense weight and the pure vitality vibrating from it. Angel’s words echoed in his mind, promising impressive growth. The sailors’ disbelief at the value of the talisman he’d used, and the fact that the Kraken’s heart—an incalculable treasure—was now in his possession, gave him a strange sense of power and fortune.
He moved away from the bustling sailors butchering the beast, seeking a quieter place to process everything that had happened. The deck was still a mess of splintered wood and blood, but the urgency of battle was over. He found a relatively intact corner near the railing, where moonlight filtered through scattered clouds.
"Angel," William thought, his mental voice filled with anticipation, "are you sure? Is devouring it the only way?"
"According to my analysis, yes," Angel replied, her tone now free from the tension of their severed connection. "It’s the most direct way to assimilate the concentrated vital energy. It will be an intense process, but the benefits will far outweigh any discomfort."
William hesitated for a moment. Devouring the heart of a colossal sea beast wasn’t an everyday occurrence. But the sight of Brannik bleeding out, Eldrin and Roderick’s treacherous attack, and the impending arrival at the academy—where threats would be even greater—spurred him to act. He needed every ounce of power he could get.
He took a deep breath, the salty air filling his lungs. With fierce determination, he brought the Kraken’s heart to his lips. The surface was cold and slightly rubbery, but the moment he touched it, a wave of icy energy coursed through his body. He bit, and the taste of salt and something indescribably ancient filled his mouth. He began to chew, feeling the flesh dissolve on his tongue, releasing an explosion of energy that spread through every fiber of his being.
The process was brutal. His muscles involuntarily contracted, a searing heat spread from his stomach, as if he were burning from within. His veins swelled, and a deafening hum filled his ears. He fell to his knees, clenching his teeth to suppress a scream. It was a different kind of pain than that from ambient mana, deeper, more organic, as if his very body was being rewritten at a cellular level.
"Hold on, William!" Angel’s voice was an anchor in the storm of sensations. "Your body is assimilating a massive amount of vitality. It’s a transformation. Don’t give up!"
William felt a primal urge to vomit, to expel the source of this torment, but he forced himself to resist. He visualized the energy flowing, healing, strengthening. The image of Lia, the promise to protect her, the rage against Eldrin and Roderick—all of it became fuel.
After what seemed like hours, the pain began to subside, leaving a feeling of fullness and power in its wake. He felt... different. Lighter, stronger, as if every cell in his body had been revitalized. He slowly rose, his muscles responding with an agility he had never experienced before.
"Angel," he thought, his mental voice clear and strong, "my stats. What happened? How much time passed?"