Chapter 145: The Price of Power

Chapter 145: Chapter 145: The Price of Power

After Selvara escaped, Ronan didn’t immediately pursue her.

He had already learned that she possessed numerous treasures capable of saving her life, and chasing her while she was seriously injured might seem like a good idea, but he wasn’t foolish enough to venture deeper into the Abyss without understanding the dangers.

Besides, there was something more important he needed to do.

Get stronger.

Ronan stood on a rocky hill overlooking the vast wilderness. Beneath the crimson sky, countless creatures wandered through the forests and plains, their auras spreading across the land like countless flickering flames.

He could sense ghouls, demons, vampires, and other creatures whose appearances he had never encountered before.

Previously, he had focused almost entirely on vampires because he needed their blood to evolve Blood Sucking. Now that the trait had undergone its First Evolution, he could finally direct his attention toward his other traits.

Ronan opened his status and studied the familiar list.

He possessed several powerful traits, but there were still countless possibilities he hadn’t explored. The Abyss was filled with different races, and each race had its own unique characteristics.

If he could obtain even a fraction of those traits, his strength would increase considerably.

"Let’s see what this place has to offer."

With that thought, Ronan disappeared from the hill.

---

His first targets were the weaker creatures wandering across the wilderness.

They were easy to find and even easier to kill.

Ronan slaughtered several groups of demons, absorbing whatever useful resources their bodies contained. He also hunted ghouls and other creatures, hoping to obtain traits that might complement his existing abilities.

However, the results were disappointing.

[Ding!]

[The host has killed a creature.]

[No suitable trait detected.]

Ronan stared at the notification.

"...Again?"

He had killed several creatures already, yet the system continued returning the same result.

He frowned and opened the system interface, examining the information more carefully.

After several moments, he finally understood the problem.

His current realm had changed.

When he was weaker, even relatively ordinary creatures could provide traits worth acquiring. Now that he had reached the King Realm, the requirements had increased considerably.

The system wasn’t simply interested in the number of creatures he killed.

Their strength mattered.

More specifically, the creatures needed to possess traits powerful enough to be useful to him.

Killing hundreds of weak ghouls wouldn’t necessarily provide anything worthwhile, even if their numbers were enormous. Their bodies and abilities were simply too inferior to his current level.

Ronan rubbed his chin.

"So, I need stronger prey."

He wasn’t particularly surprised.

It made sense that the traits available to him would change as he grew stronger. If he could continue obtaining powerful abilities from creatures far beneath his realm, his growth would become ridiculous.

Although, considering his existing abilities, perhaps it was already ridiculous.

Regardless, he now had a better understanding of what he needed to do.

He had to target creatures at the Five-Star King Realm and above.

And even then, obtaining a suitable trait wasn’t guaranteed. He might have to kill dozens of powerful creatures before finding one whose characteristics the system could recognize as a useful trait.

Ronan smiled.

"Well, that’s going to be interesting."

---

The next several hours passed in a blur of bloodshed.

Ronan ventured farther across the borderlands, hunting creatures that met his new requirements. He avoided groups that were too large and focused on isolated targets, allowing him to fight without attracting unnecessary attention.

His first few opponents were Five-Star King Realm creatures.

They were considerably stronger than the weaker demons he had encountered earlier, but they weren’t particularly difficult for him to handle.

His hybrid physique gave him a considerable advantage in close combat, while his existing traits allowed him to overwhelm opponents who relied primarily on physical strength.

After killing several creatures, he finally received a notification worth his attention.

[Ding!]

[Suitable trait detected.]

[Would the host like to acquire the trait?]

Ronan immediately examined the information.

The trait belonged to a beast with an unusual ability to regulate its body’s temperature. It could survive in extremely hot or cold environments, and the energy surrounding its body subtly influenced the temperature of its immediate surroundings.

It wasn’t an overwhelmingly powerful ability, but it possessed considerable potential.

Ronan accepted it.

[Ding!]

[New Trait Acquired: Thermal Influence Lv.11.]

Ronan’s eyes lit up.

"Level 11?"

He quickly checked the trait’s information.

Unlike the traits he had acquired when he was weaker, this one had started at Level 11, already beyond the threshold at which ordinary traits entered their First Evolution.

The reason was simple.

The creature he had killed possessed a trait whose inherent strength was sufficient to support that level from the beginning.

Ronan could obtain stronger traits from stronger creatures without having to start every ability from its lowest level.

That was excellent news.

He examined Thermal Influence more closely.

The trait allowed him to alter the temperature around his body, providing resistance to extreme heat and cold. With sufficient control, he could also influence the surrounding environment on a small scale.

It wasn’t direct control over fire or ice, but it could potentially develop into something much more useful.

Ronan raised his hand.

The air around his fingers gradually warmed.

A moment later, he reversed the effect, causing the temperature to drop until a thin layer of frost formed across the stone beneath his palm.

His smile widened.

"Not bad."

It was a versatile ability, and versatility was something he valued.

After all, not every trait needed to increase his destructive power. Sometimes, the most useful abilities were those that provided advantages in unexpected situations.

He continued hunting.

By the time he acquired his next trait, the sun had begun to descend toward the horizon.

[Ding!]

[New Trait Acquired: Wind Affinity Lv.11.]

Ronan paused.

This time, the trait came from a powerful flying demon whose body had been naturally attuned to the wind.

He tested it immediately.

A gentle breeze gathered around him, lifting the dust from the ground. When he concentrated, the wind grew stronger, circling his body before sweeping outward.

He could influence the air around him.

The ability wasn’t powerful enough to produce devastating storms, but it could be useful for movement, controlling his surroundings, and interfering with weaker enemies.

More importantly, it worked well with Windrunner and Wind Step.

Ronan could already imagine several ways to combine them.

His hunt continued, and by the time he stopped to examine his gains, he had acquired several additional traits from the powerful creatures he had killed.

Not every creature provided something useful, but the results were far better than when he had targeted weaker prey.

His new traits began at Level 11, and their abilities were considerably more developed than those he might have acquired from weaker creatures.

Ronan was satisfied.

However, he had made one mistake.

He had become so focused on finding stronger creatures that he had started underestimating the difference between their star levels.

And the Abyss was about to remind him of that mistake.

---

The sky had darkened when Ronan encountered the demon.

It stood in the middle of a vast ravine, its enormous body covered in dark scales and jagged protrusions. Its arms were long enough to reach the ground, and a pair of curved horns extended from its skull.

Its aura was powerful.

Eight-Star King Realm.

Ronan stopped at the edge of the ravine.

He studied the creature for several seconds before a smile appeared on his face.

An excellent target.

The demon possessed a powerful physique, and its body seemed to contain an unusual concentration of energy. If Ronan could kill it, there was a good chance that he would obtain another useful trait.

He descended into the ravine.

The demon immediately turned toward him.

Its yellow eyes narrowed.

Then it roared.

The sound shook the surrounding cliffs, sending stones tumbling into the ravine.

Ronan’s expression remained calm.

"Come on, then."

The demon charged.

Its enormous fist descended toward him with enough force to flatten a small hill.

Ronan activated Wind Step and moved aside.

BOOM!

The fist struck the ground, creating a massive crater.

Ronan appeared beside the demon’s arm and punched it.

The impact was tremendous.

Yet instead of breaking the creature’s bones, his fist merely forced it to stagger slightly.

Ronan’s eyes narrowed.

’Its defenses are impressive.’

Before he could attack again, the demon swung its other arm.

Ronan raised both arms to block.

BOOM!

His body was sent crashing into the ravine wall.

The impact shattered the rocks behind him, and he felt a sharp pain spread through his arms.

He quickly recovered, but his expression had become serious.

That attack had hurt.

An Eight-Star King Realm demon was only one star above him, yet the difference in physical strength was greater than he had expected.

Ronan had numerous powerful traits, and his recent breakthrough had strengthened him considerably. Nevertheless, those advantages didn’t mean every creature at a higher star level would be easy to defeat.

Especially not a demon whose natural physique was this powerful.

The creature roared and charged again.

Ronan responded with Impact Force, striking its chest with a concentrated burst of power.

The demon staggered backward.

For a moment, Ronan thought he had found an opening.

Then the creature slammed its fist into his abdomen.

His body folded around the impact before he was hurled across the ravine.

Blood escaped his mouth.

Ronan landed on one knee, his breathing momentarily unsteady.

"...Damn."

He wiped the blood from his lips.

This was troublesome.

He could continue fighting, but the demon’s defenses were absurd, and every mistake came with a painful price.

He activated Thermal Influence, causing the air around his body to heat rapidly. At the same time, he summoned a powerful gust of wind, directing it toward the demon’s face.

The creature roared as the combined effects disturbed its senses.

Ronan seized the opportunity.

His figure blurred as he activated Wind Step, closing the distance before unleashing a series of attacks.

His fists struck the demon’s chest, abdomen, and throat in rapid succession.

The ground trembled beneath the force of the blows.

For the first time, the demon showed signs of injury.

But it wasn’t enough.

The creature grabbed Ronan’s arm and hurled him into the opposite wall.

CRASH!

Ronan fell to the ground, several bones cracked and blood staining his clothes.

His regeneration began repairing the damage, but he could feel his Essence being consumed.

He clicked his tongue.

He had gained several powerful traits today, but none had been enough to overcome the difference between them.

And the worst part was that this was only an Eight-Star King Realm demon.

It wasn’t a Supreme Realm creature.

It wasn’t even a Legend Realm monster.

It was merely a demon one star above him.

Ronan stared at the enormous creature as it advanced toward him.

His expression gradually became cold.

’The Abyss really is full of monsters.’

He forced himself to stand.

He wasn’t going to give up easily, but he had finally understood that possessing numerous traits didn’t mean he could ignore every difference in strength.

Sometimes, survival required knowing when to retreat.

The battle continued until the night grew deep.

By the time Ronan finally escaped the ravine, his body was covered in injuries, his clothes were torn, and his Essence had fallen considerably.

He found shelter among the rocks and sat down to recover.

Despite his injuries, he opened his status and examined his newly acquired traits.

A faint smile appeared on his face.

The day hadn’t been a complete loss.

He had gained several powerful traits, including Thermal Influence and Wind Affinity, both of which possessed considerable potential.

Still, he couldn’t help glancing toward the distant ravine.

An Eight-Star King Realm demon had pushed him to this extent.

Ronan clenched his fist.

Under the crimson moon, the injured Ghoul Lord closed his eyes and began recovering.

Tomorrow, his hunt would continue.