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.

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After the massacre I unfolded over the malicious Mold that tried to consume Benladann's mind, I went back to my body.

But this time it feels weird, for a moment, before I could completely adjust to my body, it felt as if I were wearing some kind of suit… I guess this is what it feels like to possess your body again?

But after it stabilized, I only felt a lot of fatigue after spending so much Mana, but that fatigue also quickly flew away as my Mana regenerated at an outstanding pace.

Ding!

<You learned the [Phantom Body: Level 1] Skill!>

<The Levels of Several Skills have increased!>

Ah, a new Skill!

Ugh…

Suddenly, I feel terrible pain.

It came from the deeps of my body. No… it wasn't my body, it was even deeper than that.

My soul.

It was a pain I had never felt before, but it sure was horrible.

In simple terms, it was as if someone was putting a hundred little needles over your eye, but all over the place.

The pain was so much I was about to pass out.

It felt as if my soul was breaking apart, it had an enormous wound.

Is this because… I forcefully used my Mana and soul to help Benladann?

It… surely was a good price to pay for.

Unngh… I have resisted even the worst types of pain before, but… this was ridiculous.

However, as my Mana regenerated back, I suddenly felt like my soul was also regenerating…

It felt like I had a giant hole in my stomach, and someone was pouring a large quantity of cold water over it to fill the hole… it was strange, but it somehow worked.

As my soul fragmentation stopped, it slowly began to regenerate back alongside my mana regeneration.

I guess I didn't pass out at the end, but that was… a frightening experience.

I have to train this Phantom Body Skill now before I even use my soul for anything else, I don't want to suffer such a big wound ever again.

Ding!

<Due to the intense strain you've put your soul into, your soul has begun to evolve!>

What? Evolve? So by putting my soul into a terrible pain and then regenerating it back, my soul evolves? That's… well, I guess it makes sense if you make the soul be something like a muscle to an extent. But even then, it is rather the terrible way of doing it.

Ding!

<Soul Density has been strengthened and augmented>

Uh… My soul is indeed… growing bigger now.

Ding!

<Soul Cultivation Function has been unlocked>

<You have reached the [Soul Energy Gathering Realm]!>

So it even has Realms…

<All of your Stats have increased!>

My stats increased too! I guess this battle didn't actually weaken me, but it ended strengthening me…

I quickly decided to check my Stats now that I felt as if I was born anew, after my soul regenerated and advanced into a new Realm, it really felt like I was as light as a cloud.

…

Name: Drake.

Race: Adult Winged Ice Dragon.

Titles: Merciless, Savior, Pack Leader, Magic Teacher.

Mana Core Cultivation: Rank 2 (Middle Stage).

Soul Cultivation: Soul Energy Gathering Realm (Initial Stage).

Status: Satiated.

Vitality: 3894/3894

Mana: 8455/8455

Strength: 3548

Dexterity: 2340

Magic: 7100

Abilities:

Unique Skill: [Immortal Body]

Unique Skill: [Winter Magic]

Unique Skill: [System]

Unique Skill: [Ice Absorption]

Unique Skill: [God] (Sealed)

[Camouflage: Level 5]

[High-speed Thought Processing: Level 9]

[Parallel Thought Processing: Level 8]

[Wind Magic: Level 7]

[Mana Control: Level 9]

[Telepathy: Level 8]

[Berserk Mode: Level 6]

[Fear-Inducing Aura: Level 6]

[Naming: Level 5]

[Kin Control: Level 3]

[Crafting: Level 5]

[Apothecary: Level 4]

[Mining: Level 4]

[Hastened Mana Regeneration: Level 2]

[Phantom Body: Level 1]

Ice Dragon Natural Skills:

[Ice Dragon Bloodline]

[Ice Dragon Frost Breath: Level 2]

[Metallic Ice Dragon Scales: Level 2]

[Medium Self-Regeneration: Level 2]

[Strong Freezing Slash: Level 2]

[Furious Freezing Bite: Level 2]

[Freezing Tail Whip: Level 8]

[Steel Body: Level 2]

[Keen Instincts: Level 4]

[Ice Thread Production: Level 2]

[Group Cultivation: Level 2]

[Whip Technique: Level 1]

[Spear Technique: Level 1]

[Projectile Fire: Level 2]

Resistance:

[Cold Immunity]

[Hunger Resistance: Level 4]

[Fear Resistance: Level 5]

[Pain Resistance: Level 6]

Ice Dragon Natural Resistances:

[Physical Attack Damage Resistance: Level 9]

[Fire Resistance: Level 4]

[Wind Resistance: Level 6]

[Thunder Resistance: Level 4]

…

My stats indeed increased… Mostly my Mana and Magic, so I guess those Stats are deeply connected to the Soul too.

It seems that Soul Cultivation has many Stages… I wonder if I can check them through Analyze.

Ding!

<Soul Cultivation>

A Transcendental type of cultivation that exists in every world, you have unlocked its functions by strengthening your soul density.

By using the universal principles of soul strengthening, you can shape Soul Energy absorbed from other souls into yours, making it your own power and soul. Or you can put your soul into strains and regenerate it back, enhancing its quality.

Each Realm has four Stages in between, Initial, Middle, Upper, and Peak Stages.

Soul Cultivation has several Realms.

Soul Energy Gathering Realm.

Soul Core Creation Realm.

Soul Core Nourishment Realm.

Soul Energy Refinement Realm.

Soul Core Enlargement Realm.

Spiritual Soul Realm.

Spiritual Soul Core Realm.

Nascent Soul Realm.

Divine Soul Core Creation Realm.

Divine Soul Realm.

…

What a big info dump. But it works!

It seems that similarly to Mana Core Ranks, there is a bunch of Soul Cultivation Ranks… Hm, I see, I see.

So I can even get a Divine Soul… Whew, that's not happening any time, certainly.

I finally feel like moving, so I quickly get up, as I was sitting over the ground, it seems.

The first thing I see are the wolves around Benladann, who has just woken up.

Her yellow-gold eyes seemed tired, as she glared at me.

"How are you feeling?" I asked.

"Ah… Sniff… Drake!"

Benladann then rushes towards me and jumps over my neck, hugging me with her strong arms.

"Thank you… for being there for me… for saving me… Sniff… I promise you that it won't happen again…" she cried, as I grabbed her with my large claws as gently as I could.

"Don't worry, I will make sure that it doesn't happen again," I said.

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