Chapter 24: Addiction Disorder

Chapter 24: Chapter 24: Addiction Disorder

So, the moment Krono’s blade sliced the beast in half once again, he immediately pressed his hand against the severed lower half and activated [Absolute Absorption].

​The centipede’s physical substance instantly began to melt down to a molecular level, breaking apart and slowly being absorbed directly into Krono’s being.

​He could feel his strength and power increasing exponentially as the rich mana flooded his veins.

​Meanwhile, the Earthworm King could only watch its lower body get devoured, completely dumbfounded.

​When the monstrous insect desperately tried to regenerate its missing half, it failed horribly. The mass wasn’t just severed. it was simply gone.

​Realizing the sheer horror of this absolute erasure, the towering centipede started trembling uncontrollably.

​"No, no, no! Don’t do this! The Earthworm King pleads for mercy!" it shrieked.

​Krono ignored the pathetic cries. Only after he had completely absorbed the lower body did he finally turn around, a dark, mocking smirk playing on his lips.

​"Ho ho, why aren’t you cackling anymore?" Krono asked. "I actually loved that sound. Ah, who am I kidding? That noise was absolutely horrendous."

"Spare me! I will serve you! I can rule this forest for you. I can bring you endless human flesh!"

The Earthworm started pleading desperately as its remaining legs twitched frantically on the forest floor, trying to drag its mutilated upper half backward.

​Krono just tilted his head, his expression completely flat.

​"Why would I want a pet that smells worse than shit? Besides, your substance is far more useful to me."

​Hearing his verdict, the Giant Centipede opened its mandibles to scream, perhaps intending to launch one final venomous attack, but Krono was much faster.

Channeling the sheer agility he had just absorbed from the beastmen, he blurred across the short distance.

​His black iron blade then flashed in a crescent arc.

​Slice!

​The blade cleaved straight through the monster’s thick neck, severing its hideous head from the rest of its torso.

From there, sickly brown liquid sprayed across the dirt.

​The decapitated head rolled to a stop right at Krono’s feet. Its eyes were still wide with disbelief and terror.

​Krono did not hesitate. He placed his bare hand directly onto the severed head and the spasming upper torso.

​"Absolute Absorption," Krono muttered coldly.

Buzz!

​Instantly, the familiar dark energy swallowed the Earthworm King’s remains. The massive centipede form broke down into a flurry of molecular particles, rushing into Krono’s palm like a vortex.

​

​[System Alert: You have successfully killed a Variant Boss Monster, the Earthworm King.]

​[System Alert: Absolute Absorption activated.]

​[You have absorbed the Earthworm King.]

​[Your Strength has increased by 15.]

​[Your Vitality has increased by 20.]

​[Your Intelligence has increased by 12.]

​[New Skill Acquired: Mind Corruption (E).]

​Krono let out a long exhale as the massive influx of raw energy settled deep within his body.

Because of his newly added Vitality, the scratch on his back instantly stopped throbbing. The flesh was knitted together at a visible rate.

His attention turned to his new acquired skill: Mind Corruption.

[Description: This skill gives the user the ability to invade and temporarily manipulate the consciousness of targets with lower Intelligence and Willpower stats. Afflicted targets will experience severe mental disorientation, hallucinations, and a complete inability to resist basic commands. The success rate and duration depend entirely on the difference in Willpower between the user and the target.]

This skill was simply marvelous. He could completely hijack other people’s minds without even lifting a finger. They would become his puppets, forced to do whatever he commanded.

​But of course, there was a catch. Their Willpower and Intelligence had to be lower than his own.

​Speaking of Willpower, Krono realized it had actually been quite a while since he last checked his own growth.

​"Status," he commanded calmly.

​Instantly, the familiar holographic interface flashed into existence before his eyes.

​[ ULTIMATE DEVOURER SYSTEM (STATUS) ]

​[ Name: Kronor De Volcan ]

[ Age: 7 (39) ]

[ Race: Human (Base) ]

[ Title: None ]

​[ HP (Health): 100 / 100 ]

[ Miasma (Mana): 60 / 60 ]

[ Satiation (Hunger): 70% (Good) ]

​[ Strength (STR): 75 ]

[ Agility (AGI): 58 ]

[ Vitality (VIT): 60 ]

[ Intelligence (INT): 44 ]

[ Willpower (WIL): 30 ]

​[ SKILLS ]

• Mind Corruption (E), Web Weaver (E), Water Breathing (E), Aquatic Camouflage (E), Tremor Step (E)

​[ INNATE SKILLS ]

• Adult Soul (Passive)

• Photographic Comprehension (Passive)

​[ SYSTEM SKILLS ]

• Absolute Absorption (Active)

​Seeing the radiant blue text hovering in the air, a wide predatory grin stretched across his face.

​"Incredible! Looking at all these stats now just feels unreal. When I first began this journey, I only had seven or eight points on average. But now, my stats are almost ten times higher. And it has only been a few short months."

​He clenched his fists, feeling the intoxicating rush of his own overwhelming strength.

​"If my growth continues like this, I will one day become completely unstoppable. I must hunt. I must absorb more and more."

​A deep, insatiable greed for power bloomed inside his very soul.

​He began to hunt far more actively, slaughtering every beast in his path and completely absorbing their essence.

​His physical stomach might have been satiated, but his ravenous hunger for power was absolutely endless.

​The truth was that nothing in this world was more addictive than the sheer ecstasy of growing stronger. With every stat increase, he knew he was one step closer to becoming a Supreme Being.

​Born as fragile mortals, every living creature inherently desires more power and more control.

​It is the exact reason why history is filled with endless wars and bloody conquests. It is simply the innate, unavoidable nature of humanity.

​Krono was no different. If anything, the cold darkness taking root inside him was only amplifying this primal urge.

​7 Days passed.

Back at home, Aurora was sick with worry over Krono.

​"I don’t know where he is or how he is doing, Garrick. He wanted to train in the Gorak Forest, so I let him go. But it was only supposed to be for three days. It has been seven days now, and there is still no news from him."

​Garrick frowned deeply. "This is bad, Aurora. The Gorak Forest might be a low-tier zone, but I recently heard rumors that dragons have started attacking the area. What if one of them..."

His words were cut off by a sharp glare from Aurora.

​"Nothing must happen to Krono, Garrick. We are heading there this instant."

So as they went.