Free Web NovelChapter 24: Chapter 24: Talent Fusion
Chapter 24: Talent Fusion
The training grounds gradually returned to motion after Selene silenced the soldiers.
A few knights dragged Jack’s corpse away from the arena while servants hurried to clean the blood staining the cracked stone floor. No one dared voice their complaints anymore, but the atmosphere had changed completely.
The soldiers no longer looked at Andras with simple disdain.
Now there was caution in their eyes.
Fear as well.
Andras noticed it immediately.
Fear was useful.
Fear made people think twice before acting.
His gaze briefly followed the men carrying Jack’s body away before he lost interest entirely.
He did not care why Jack had released killing intent during the duel.
The reason no longer held any value.
Perhaps Jack hated nobles.
Perhaps the original Andras had humiliated him.
Maybe he carried resentment from some forgotten incident.
Or perhaps he had simply lost control in the heat of battle.
None of it mattered.
Dead men rarely mattered.
If Andras truly wanted answers, he could have spared Jack long enough to question him.
But from the moment he sensed that killing intent, the captain’s fate had already been sealed.
A disposable side character was not worth his curiosity.
Instead, Andras focused on something far more important.
The system.
Without paying attention to the surrounding soldiers, he spoke inwardly.
"System. Show me the details of Iron Blood Reinforcement."
A metallic notification echoed inside his mind.
[Ding!]
[Talent — Iron Blood Reinforcement (C-Rank)]
[Effect: Enhanced physical durability and explosive strength during combat.]
[Duration: 20 Minutes]
[Cooldown: 120 Minutes]
Andras studied the information quietly.
A straightforward warrior-type talent.
Simple.
Yet undeniably effective.
Unlike False Ceiling Break, which focused entirely on temporary amplification, Iron Blood Reinforcement strengthened the body itself.
Muscles.
Bones.
Endurance.
A talent built for brutal close-quarters combat.
Then his attention shifted to the second notification.
Talent Fusion.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"System," he thought. "Explain the new feature."
[Ding!]
[Talent Fusion]
[Host can fuse any two talents currently possessed into a single talent.]
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
So his assumption had been correct.
Fusion.
The system could evolve abilities beyond their original limits.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Most people in this world spent their entire lives bound to a single talent.
That talent determined their future from birth.
A weak talent meant mediocrity.
A powerful talent meant glory.
But Andras was different.
He could devour talents.
And now he could fuse them as well.
His growth no longer followed the rules of this world.
Meanwhile, several nearby soldiers secretly glanced toward him.
From their perspective, the young master had simply fallen silent while staring at a bloodstained arena with a faint smile on his face.
The sight was unsettling.
Even Selene watched him from a distance.
Her black eyes sharpened slightly.
Something about Andras felt different.
Colder.
Sharper.
Like a predator slowly awakening.
Andras ignored their attention entirely.
"System."
His command was immediate.
"Fuse False Ceiling Break and Iron Blood Reinforcement."
For a brief moment, silence followed.
Then—
[Ding!]
[System is fusing talents...]
Suddenly, heat spread throughout his body.
Mana surged violently through his veins.
His muscles tightened instinctively while his heartbeat grew heavier.
The sensation felt as though molten steel was being hammered together inside him.
Powerful.
Violent.
Unstable.
Even the air around him trembled faintly from the mana leaking from his body.
Several nearby soldiers noticed immediately.
"What’s happening?"
"Did the Young Master release his mana?"
One knight instinctively stepped backward.
Selene’s gaze sharpened at once.
She could feel two distinct mana signatures colliding inside Andras before slowly merging into one.
She had no idea what was happening.
But every instinct she possessed warned her that something abnormal was taking place.
A few seconds later—
[Ding!]
[Fusion Complete.]
[Host has acquired Talent — Warborn Limit Release (B-Rank).]
The pressure surrounding Andras vanished instantly.
A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
B-Rank.
The fusion had increased the talent’s quality.
That alone proved how valuable this feature truly was.
Without wasting time, he gave another command.
"Show me the details."
A translucent blue panel appeared before him.
[Ding!]
[Talent — Warborn Limit Release (B-Rank)]
[Effects:]
[1. Warborn Release]
• Triples physical abilities
• Greatly increases muscle durability
• Enhances reaction speed and movement
• Amplifies mana output and reinforcement
• Reduces pain during combat
[2. Iron Combat Body]
• Increased resistance to sword wounds
• Stronger bones and muscles
• Reduced damage from blunt-force attacks
• Improved stamina during prolonged combat
[3. Blood Rush]
• Explosive bursts of speed
• Sudden acceleration
• More destructive close-range attacks
• Increased striking force
[Duration: 15 Minutes]
[Cooldown: 12 Hours]
[Drawbacks:]
• Heavy physical exhaustion after use
• Muscle strain
• Temporary weakening of mana circulation
Andras read every line in silence.
The more he analyzed the talent, the more dangerous it appeared.
False Ceiling Break possessed overwhelming power, but its cooldown was absurd.
Iron Blood Reinforcement improved durability, but lacked explosiveness.
Now both weaknesses had disappeared.
The fusion created a perfect balance between enhancement and endurance.
This was no longer a simple support talent.
It was a battlefield slaughter talent.
Andras slowly clenched his fist.
Even without activating it, he could feel the subtle changes within his body.
His muscles felt denser.
His mana flowed more smoothly.
His control felt sharper than before.
If he combined Warborn Limit Release with Echo Resonance and Black Thorn Sword Style...
Even opponents above his realm would struggle against him.
A faint spark of anticipation stirred within him.
Not excitement.
Not exactly.
More like curiosity toward what he might become in the future.
Meanwhile, Selene began walking toward him.
The sound of armored boots echoed across the training grounds before she stopped a few meters away.
Her sharp black eyes studied him carefully.
"You’re leaking mana," she said calmly.
Andras turned toward her.
A faint smile touched his lips.
"Am I?"
