Chapter 125: Skill Upgrading
{ That’s why you can’t properly use Monarch’s Transposition or Eyes of the Legion with the other Deadborns right now. Your only option is to get out of the Abyss first. }
{ Fortunately for them... you’ve only been gone for a few hours. }
Nova felt a heavy guilt for leaving his wives alone in the capital after everything that had happened. Although he had told Bai Chen to take them to the Frosthall Hunters Guild and entrust them to Guild Leader Dorian, the man was only a King Realm expert. Nova now had enemies far beyond that level.
The capital itself should still be relatively stable for now. Higher-level human forces would soon arrive to investigate the war and the mysterious disappearance of the Demon Lord’s heart along with his "dead" body. Still, he needed to get out of the Abyss as quickly as possible.
Like his wives, his parents would hear the news soon enough. His mother, in particular, would try to contact him through the Deadborns as he had instructed her. When she received no response, she would become extremely worried.
{ There’s no point overthinking it right now,}
Liya said gently.
{ The only thing you can do is train here for a few months and fully adjust to your new power. A few months inside will only equal a few hours in the Abyss, and even less time in the human world. You don’t need to worry too much just yet. }
Nova listened carefully. Her advice made complete sense. Right now, the only useful thing he could do was train and get used to his new strength before stepping back out into the Abyss to find a way home.
Nova opened his system interface and checked his total Evolution Points once more.
[Evolution Points: 505,254,960 ]
He turned to Liya and asked, "How many Evolution Points does it take to upgrade my Lightning Steps skill?"
{ Just click on Lightning Steps. The upgrade option will appear and show you the exact amount. }
Following her instruction, Nova selected the skill. A clear panel appeared in front of him.
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[Innate Skill: Lightning Steps]
Rank: A
Upgrade to S-Rank
Price: 100,000,000 EP
Would you like to upgrade it?
[YES] [NO]
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Nova wasn’t particularly surprised by the high price — he had already expected it to be expensive. Without any hesitation, he tapped [YES]. With over five hundred million Evolution Points, 100 million was nothing to him now.
A bright notification instantly appeared in front of Nova.
[Congratulations!]
[Your skill Lightning Steps (Rank-A) has been upgraded to Judgment Flash (Rank-S)]
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[Judgment Flash]
[Rank: S]
A supreme movement skill that transforms the user into living lightning, allowing near-instantaneous bursts of speed while doubling the user’s existing natural agility. It greatly enhances reflexes, evasion, and combat mobility. The user’s body is continuously tempered by lightning, significantly reducing physical strain and granting 2× resistance to natural lightning and lightning-element attacks.
Every movement leaves behind electrified afterimages, while the user can freely shape their lightning into devastating offensive techniques. The lightning generated by this skill far surpasses ordinary mortal lightning, approaching the destructive might of the heavens Judgment Lightning by 5%, making every strike swift, overwhelming, and devastating.
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Nova’s eyes lit up as he read the description. He carefully read through the description of the upgraded skill, and a satisfied smile slowly curved his lips.
Two times his natural agility, increased resistance against high-level lightning attacks... and most importantly, the lightning now approached 5% of the power of the heavens Judgment Lightning. Damn.
{ That was expected, }
Liya said calmly.
{ On the first place It’s an innate skill, so it doesn’t get consumed when ranking up. And upgrading a skill is different from simply ranking it up. When you upgrade, you improve its very foundations — not just the rank. Ranking up is a natural process that usually happens on its own for skills below S-rank. }
Nova understood her explanation clearly. Without wasting any more time, he decided to test his newly upgraded skill.
Nova shot into the sky, summoned His Rouve, and activated Judgment Flash.
Crackle—!
Lightning erupted from every part of his body, but this time it was completely different. The bolts were pure black, laced with a radiant purple glow. Their aura far surpassed any ordinary lightning.
The air around him buzzed violently as arcs continuously struck the surrounding space. Nova let the power flow a little more freely and immediately felt the overwhelming increase in strength.
He took a single step.
His body blurred, and within seconds he had already crossed several kilometers. The speed was on an entirely different level from before.
From the ground, Liya watched him with a soft smile. Nova carefully controlled the lightning so that none of the stray bolts descended near her.
He glanced down at her and spoke through their mental link. Liya nodded. A moment later, hundreds of mid-King Realm expert dummies appeared across the grassy field, all of them ready to attack.
Nova’s eyes sharpened. He wanted to test something.
His Rouve transformed into a massive war hammer as black-purple lightning crackled violently around it.
His entire body was now wreathed in the same dark lightning, the purple radiance making his eyes glow fiercely. With his long black hair whipping in the wind, he looked like a true god of thunder.
Then he moved. Like a falling meteor, Nova descended toward the earth with a speed that tore the air apart, creating a sonic boom that would have ruptured countless eardrums.
In the next instant, he brought the hammer down with sixty percent of his full strength right into the center of the army of Mid-king Realm dummies.
BOOOOOOOOM!
CRACKLE! CRACKLE! CRACKLE!
The ground shattered like paper. A massive crater — at least ten times larger than the one he had created three years ago — exploded outward. Debris and thick smoke erupted into the air like a natural disaster.
The shockwave was so powerful that even Liya was forced to float upward to see the results clearly, as she wanted to watch Nova’s overwhelming dominance.
When the smoke finally thinned, Nova stood calmly at the center of the destruction. Almost every dummy had been completely annihilated. Only a handful remained barely alive, their bodies broken beyond recognition.
Nova looked around in silence. He was still underestimating his own power. Not even mid-King Realm experts were a match for him anymore.
Liya waved her hand, and everything instantly returned to normal. The massive crater and all the burned grass vanished without a trace, leaving only the peaceful grassy field once more. She lightly landed beside him.
{ Did it feel good? }
she asked with a soft smile.
Nova nodded as Hai Rouve disappeared from his hands. "Yeah... it felt great. But I still need to refine my techniques. I can’t always rely on pure destructive force — that won’t work against stronger opponents."
{ You’re right. }
Nova opened the system panel again to decide on the next skill he wanted to upgrade.
++++
[Skill: Monarch’s Mask]
Rank: A
Upgrade to S-Rank
Price: 50,000,000 EP
Would you like to upgrade it?
[YES] [NO]
++++
Without hesitation, he selected [YES]. This skill was essential right now — especially for concealing his aura and making himself appear like a natural demon while he was still in the Abyss.
A new notification appeared.
[Congratulations!]
[Your skill Monarch’s Mask (Rank-A) has been upgraded to Origin Concealment (Rank-S)]
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[Origin Concealment]
[Rank: S]
A high-level concealment skill that allows the user to suppress their aura to its most natural state, preventing others from sensing their true power without creating an artificial aura. The user can freely manipulate their displayed level and visible stats, causing appraisal skills to perceive false information, while their bloodline and physique can be completely concealed from detection.
Even high-level appraisal and perception abilities of two Realm above the users strength can be deceived, though those with overwhelmingly superior power above that certain level have a chance to see through the disguise. The skill excels in infiltration, deception, and hiding one’s true potential without drawing suspicion.
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**
Thanks for reading....