novelraw Chapter 141: Ascendant Cores
Chapter 141: Ascendant Cores
Zorvax, still sporting a satisfied smile, turned to face Ophelia, who had been watching him intently, waiting for the results of his analysis. "So, what did you find out?" Ophelia asked, her tone laced with curiosity. She tilted her head slightly, her eyes locked on Zorvax, eager for his response.
Zorvax’s smile subtly widened as he prepared to share his findings. "Interestingly, I didn’t discover anything that could directly strengthen us," he started, his voice steady and thoughtful.
He paused for a moment, his gaze reflective as he considered the best way to articulate his discoveries. "However, I unintentionally consumed some electronic devices within their bodies. These have provided some rather unexpected insights."
Ophelia’s eyebrows raised in intrigue. She leaned forward slightly, her focus sharpening. "What kind of insights?" she asked, her curiosity growing. Her stance shifted to one of keen attentiveness, eager to grasp the full extent of Zorvax’s findings.
Zorvax, with a subtle air of excitement, began to share his revelations. "The world, it seems, has healed more significantly than I anticipated post-apocalypse," he said, his tone conveying a mixture of surprise and anticipation.
"Humans, in the traditional sense, have ceased to exist. They have evolved, transformed into a new species known as Ascendants." He paused, letting the information sink in.
His eyes sparkled with a mixture of wonder and excitement as he continued, "These Ascendants possess extraordinary abilities, far beyond what we knew humans to be capable of." He paced slowly, his hands gesturing expressively as he spoke, illustrating the vast potential he saw in this new revelation.
"There’s a whole new world of powerful beings out there," Zorvax mused, almost to himself, his imagination clearly ignited by the prospect of encountering these evolved humans. His expression turned thoughtful, a hint of a smile playing on his lips as he pondered the potential challenges and adversaries that awaited.
He then turned to face Ophelia, his gaze intensifying. "I have always relished the opportunity to test my strength against formidable opponents," he declared, a sense of resolve in his voice. "Perhaps it’s time for a change. Not as a Demon King," he said, pausing for effect, "but as a Zombie King."
Ophelia, absorbing his words, nodded in understanding. Her expression mirrored Zorvax’s enthusiasm, her eyes reflecting the excitement of embarking on new adventures in this altered world. "A world of Ascendants... This could change everything," she stated, her voice carrying a note of eager anticipation.
Zorvax’s face took on a contemplative expression as he delved deeper into his findings. "There’s more to it," he said, pausing to ensure Ophelia’s full attention. His eyes, keen and analytical, hinted at the importance of what he was about to reveal.
"The system didn’t just record the defeat of those Ascendants. It collected something crucial from them – Ascendant Cores." Zorvax’s voice was measured, imbued with a sense of discovery. He paused momentarily, letting the weight of his words sink in.
Ophelia leaned in, her interest clearly piqued. "Ascendant Cores?" she echoed, her eyebrows arching in curiosity.
Zorvax nodded slowly, his gaze still fixed on the invisible point in space where the system’s information appeared to him.
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[Ascendant Core: Power source of an Ascendant, containing the ability of the Ascendant.]
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"These cores," Zorvax continued with a hint of excitement, "are not just ordinary remnants. They contain the very essence of an Ascendant’s power, including their unique abilities." He held one of the cores up, examining it closely.
Ophelia’s eyes sparkled with curiosity as she leaned in to get a better look. "So, if these cores have abilities, what exactly does that mean for us?" she asked, her voice tinged with a mix of intrigue and excitement.
Zorvax, pleased with her quick understanding, nodded affirmatively. "It means," he said with a slight smile, "we can potentially harness these cores to acquire the Ascendants’ abilities ourselves." His eyes lit up at the thought, clearly anticipating the possibilities.
Ophelia’s mouth opened slightly in astonishment, her eyes reflecting her amazement. "That’s incredible! What kind of abilities are we talking about?" Her hands gestured animatedly, emphasizing her eagerness to know more.
"Let’s see," Zorvax replied, turning his attention back to the system. He navigated through the interface with deliberate movements, his fingers moving swiftly. "The system should give us a breakdown of the abilities within these cores."
As Zorvax read off the list of abilities, Ophelia listened intently, her expression changing with each revelation.
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[Sword Master: Enhances the learning speed and effectiveness of sword techniques, also amplifying sword-based damage.]
[Flame Sword: When wielding a sword, the user can only channel flame elements through it, specifically enabling the use of flame-enhanced sword moves. The ability is restricted to sword-based techniques and excludes other forms of flame manipulation.]
[Wind Spear: While holding a spear, the user is limited to using wind energy exclusively with spear techniques. This ability enhances spear attacks with wind elements but does not permit the use of other wind-based skills beyond spear maneuvers.]
[Stone Hand: Allows the user to encase their hands in a durable stone layer, greatly increasing defense and strength in hand-to-hand combat.]
[Sharpshooter: Significantly boosts the precision and accuracy of ranged attacks, ensuring greater effectiveness in shooting disciplines.]
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Zorvax studied the list of abilities, his gaze sharp and critical. As he read, a slight furrow appeared on his brow, signaling his deep thought. Ophelia, standing beside him, watched his reactions closely, her own expression mirroring his as a light frown formed on her face.
"These abilities... they’re rather niche, aren’t they?" Zorvax remarked, his tone laced with a tinge of disappointment. "Sword Master could be of some use, but our combat style leans more towards ranged weaponry." He gestured slightly with his hand, as if to emphasize their preference for guns and cannons.
Ophelia leaned in to get a better look at the list, her eyes scanning the abilities. "And these others," she added, pointing to the Flame Sword and Wind Spear entries. "They’re quite specific to certain weapon types. Not very versatile for our needs."
Zorvax nodded in agreement, his hand stroking his chin thoughtfully. "Exactly. The Flame Sword ability only enhances sword techniques with fire. Similarly, Wind Spear is limited to spear skills with a wind element." His analysis was precise, reflecting his strategic mindset.
He then shifted his focus to the Stone Hand ability. "Stone Hand seems pretty straightforward – a stone coating for hands. It could offer some defensive advantage, but it’s not particularly dynamic." His voice carried a hint of skepticism, his expression unchanging.
Ophelia nodded, her eyes still on the list. "Sharpshooter seems like the most relevant to us," she mused. "Yet, it’s quite basic. Just improved accuracy for shooting." Her tone was contemplative, yet she couldn’t hide a slight sense of letdown.