"System! Explain the differences! Now!"
At Elian's desperate cry, the system windows showed him the information he sought.
___
[Adamant Pathway – Living Metal]
[Description]
Borne from the ability to stay level-headed in any situation, you have adapted. Now calm is your strength. Precision is your weapon. You are not forged—you are the forge.
[Effects]
– Allows manipulation of your body's components like liquid metal. Reshape yourself at will.
– Unlocks: Devour. Gains ability to consume then convert external objects into Living Metal.
– Large boost to Intelligence; moderate boost to Agility and Strength.
– Restriction: Cannot generate new material. You can only reshape what already exists.
___
[Driven Pathway – Juggernaut]
[Description]
Once you set a goal, you pursue it to the bitter end—no matter the cost. You never stop. You never bend. When the world breaks around you, you trample through the wreckage.
[Effects]
– Absorbs kinetic energy and mana to generate additional armor layers.
– Unlocks: Guillotine. Burn all excess armor for a massive speed and mana boost. Cooldown: 24 hours.
– Large Strength boost; moderate Agility; minimal Intelligence.
– Warning: Armor mass has no upper limit. Excessive buildup may exceed your mana's ability to protect your organs.
___
[Forged Pathway – Vanguard]
[Description]
You gave up flesh for metal. Blood for molten ore. Now fulfill your purpose as a weapon of war. With each battle won, forge a legend that would make the world tremble in your presence.
[Effects]
– Doubles down on Forged's traits. Base defense increased by 300%.
– Unlocks: Legacy. Every enemy slain permanently boosts all core stats. Stronger foes give greater rewards. No upper limit.
– Massive Strength boost. Reduced Agility and Intelligence.
___
"…"
As Adamant was active, Elian looked at the options with not a shred of emotion, but only logic.
"Three really good options. I only get one. I need to choose fast—but I can't screw this up."
Living Metal would allow me to adapt to any situation. I can create weapons, armor, even change the terrain. But Juggernaut's destructive power is amazing, although it's only a short period. Vanguard, on the other hand, has the potential to surpass both given enough time.
"Great. Now would've been the perfect time to have Master around. Ugh! Why didn't I do this earlier? I didn't know they would be this amazing! I thought it would be like fighter, mage, thief kind of thing."
Restless, Elian began to pace. But the soulgem in his hand grounded him. Nothing else mattered.
"System, is it possible to use Devour on monster corpses?"
[Affirmative.]
"So you can even answer questions directly! Can I segregate the monster cores from everything else? Do I have to do that on my own, or can you help me?"
[Affirmative. Automatic segregation can be programmed. Do you wish to create a sub-skill to automate it?]
"Sub-skill? You mean I can actually create skills by telling you?"
[Negative. This is an exception. Skills are programmed routines that record a user's actions. The system merely commits the routine to memory and replicates it, freeing the user of the burden of recreating said action manually for each use.]
"Wait. Are you saying you could control me?"
[Negative. Most skills must first be given a target, only then can the rest of the routine be executed. The goal of the creator was simplifying combat to raise survivability. Her husband's own experiences during the first generation shaped many of the systems in use. However, it cannot think or fight for you.]
"Wait... First generation you mean, humans made this?"
[Affirmative. The creator is Dr. Magnolia Dawson. She designed it for her husband, Chad "Daybreak" Dawson.]
"Wait. You mean THAT Dawson? The very first Breaker?
[Affirmative. The System's implementation using activators reduced Breaker fatalities by 73% during its first year.]
So the System wasn't built by a god. It was built by a worried wife. That... actually explains a lot.
"I see. Okay. Then who created the dungeons?"
[Access Denied. Clearance level insufficient.]
"Worth a shot. Okay, for now, I want to create a sub-skill for Devour. Automatically segregate the cores into a location of my choosing."
[Request accepted. Devour now has the property: Segregation. Proceed in locking in Living Metal as Elian Reed's first Job?]
"If Master were here, she'd probably scold me for overthinking. Then order me to become Living Metal anyway."
He smiled. Even with his emotions suppressed, just remembering her made things feel... lighter.
"Affirmative," the boy curtly replied.
Being able to understand the system and how it worked really drove home the point that Elian was no longer a Defect, but was in fact a Breaker—superhumans who used talents to clear dungeons.
[Job Ascension beginning.]
A bright yellow light burst from Elian's chest and soared into the sky. Power and a raging tide began to surge from his heart to the rest of his body. Power surged. A burning pulse flowed through his veins as it carved across every inch of his body.
The boy who waited noticed parts of his body tremble and vibrate. A low thrum echoed from his insides, and the once incredibly hard plates rippled like water. It was like being massaged by a hundred hands all at once. Every inch of his body felt itself slowly changing.
It wasn't painful. Unlike the forging he first experienced, the Job Ascension was a literal cakewalk. As Elian waited, his ears picked up loud gasps and soft murmurs. The source, of course, were the students and teachers still on the ground.
"You have got to be kidding me, he did all that without a job?"
"It's Yellow. How the hell can it be yellow? That's the color of the first job change, right?"
"Yeah, pink is the second, black is the third, red is the fourth."
"Holy crap, this bastard is a newb?"
Even Tessa, who limped toward Elian, couldn't help but stare at the light above him. Her words showcased the same thought as everyone present.
"My God. What in the world are you? Are you even human?"
Elian, who heard the question, couldn't help but chuckle.
I used to be. But not anymore. I can't even talk to people now.
At that moment, the last vestiges of mana surging skyward ceased. The soft tremor radiating from Elian's body stopped, and he felt his form solidify. From a dull black, his body now turned shinny. A network of red lines ran along his limbs and torso, like a cool paint job.
But of course, the outside hardly matters to me. What does is what I can do after.
[Job Ascension completed.]
"Status Window."
___
Name: Elian Reed (M)
Talent: Adamant (S) | Driven (S) | Forged (SSS)
Level: 16
HP: 14,500 / 14,500 | MP: 10 / 10
Strength: S | Intelligence: A | Agility: B
Job: Living Metal (SSS)
___
Seeing the results of his effort, Elian couldn't help but smile. While he couldn't feel happiness at the moment, just knowing that he had room to grow stronger pleased him greatly.
"Alright, time to get to work."
Raising his hand, Elian pointed his arm toward one of the bus-sized Soldier corpses. Then he used his Job's skill for the first time.
"Devour."
In an instant, all five fingers split like hairs. From his palms, rows of teeth emerged—razor-sharp, spinning like saws. Together with his wrist, the hand morphed into a grotesque mouth.
Elian's new appendage then shot forward. Like a metallic snake with a mind of its own. When it reached its target, it tore apart the Soldier ant's exoskeleton like glass. The tough flesh turned into confetti as Living metal gorged on the carcass.
The sight caused some students to scream in horror. Others threw up. Another tried to invoke his talent but failed—unable to focus. Even Tessa didn't move—she just watched the black snakes eat and hoped when this day ended she could still return home alive.
"Not fast enough. Can I change the shape?"
Just like one's own arm, Elian instinctively knew how much material Living Metal could use. Like blood, he allowed it to flow and gathered it around his new appendage. The added material caused the metal limb to thicken and grow several times larger.
"What the hell? Its e-eating the soldier ant's corpse!"
"Ms. Potts! I'm scared!"
"QUIET! ALL OF YOU! WHATEVER YOU DO, DO NOT CALL ATTENTION TO YOURSELVES!"
Ignoring the humans, Elian felt that the process was still far too slow. With each swallow his remote jaw made, he felt his Living Metal reserves increase. And while the current performance was already impressive, it was a race against time.
Elian extended his other hand to the other Soldier Ant. "Devour."
"System, can I make more? Use everything even my current armor. Retain only the bare minimum to preserve my form."
[Affirmative. Living Metal works on imagination. There is no limit.]
"Got it."
Then Elian imagined thousands of serpents erupting from his core. Within a few seconds, hundreds of black metallic snakes burst from the black knight and ravaged the corpses of his own making. Every moment that passed the number of metallic hunters grew.
Those that were present couldn't scream. They couldn't run.
They just watched—quiet, trembling—
As the boy who once bled like them feasted in silence.
Monster.
And everyone who saw him shuddered.