Infinite Potential System

William's face turned slightly ashen upon hearing the response from the System. If it was a Greater Fire Vein, it was even better than the Lesser Life Vein and the Earth Vein from before, but that also meant there would be severe consequences for absorbing the natural treasure.

Just the absence of five Lesser Life Veins had left the Livingwood Forest in shambles and destroyed a series of villages in its general vicinity. Absorbing a single Earth Vein had forced the entire Blue Moon City to take severe action, seeking the assistance of outsiders to deal with their calamity.

If a Greater Elemental Vein was absorbed, wouldn't that spell the end for the Southern Plains Region?

System, why do you do this to me?

-Just absorb the Vein, why are you worried about the consequences now? Why do you care, after everything that you've done so far?

William could tell the System was joking, but its words stung a bit. He couldn't say that the System was wrong about what it said, he truly hadn't cared about the consequences before. But now that he had become attached to this World, things were different.

If I did absorb it, how long would I have before the Beast Tides?

-Request requires 65 Potential Points. Yes/No?

Confirm. The price didn't matter. William needed to know.

-Eight to ten weeks.

Can you be more specific? Why that specific time-frame?

-Request requires 800 Potential Points. Yes/No?

Uh, that's too much.

-The cost is already halved; you have enough Points. Don't you want to know?

Ugh...fine. William gritted his teeth as the System subtracted almost three days' worth of Potential Farm earnings from his balance.

-The World needs more time to produce Magical Beasts with greater Cultivation. Additionally, the number of Magical Beasts produced would not be small, and the World's past behavior suggests it won't send the Beasts out until they have all been generated.

You're basing this off the past? Doesn't that mean you're just guessing? William asked.

-Yes...

William nodded. I think this is the first time you haven't been confident in your answer, System.

The System didn't respond, seemingly contemplating William's words.

Okay, next question. Is it worth it to absorb this Vein? Can I reverse the effects later, or replace the Vein myself?

-Only the Host can decide if it's worth it. The System will not answer your second question.

Will not answer? Hmm... William couldn't say he was satisfied with the generalized responses, but at least he wasn't charged again.

Before William could say anything else, something hidden within his memories suddenly triggered. It was the speech that Master Black gave out when talking to the fighters outside Blue Moon City.

"The Seven Cores of the Foam Desert were absorbed, and the World has mobilized its energy to regenerate them. The Magical Beasts you have been fighting nonstop are just the leftover energy."

"The Seven Cores..." William muttered, before his eyes widened in surprise.

System, did someone else absorb the other six Cores of the Foam Desert?

-Request requires 16 Potential Points. Yes/No?

Confirm. Compared to the 800 Point question, this was nothing.

-Yes. Nascent Soul Cultivators and above possess the natural ability to absorb the weaker Veins, while the Earth Veins can be absorbed by Soul Formation and above Cultivators. Retribution possesses a few individuals that know the technique to absorb these veins.

Are you saying that Retribution absorbed the other Veins, and is trying to blame it on me? Why?

-Yes. They recognize your Talent and one of their goals is to control you once again, as their leader believes you have the skill to eventually kill the one you know as Supreme Left. They can also benefit from absorbing the Veins, since it directly improves the Affinity of one's magic, although not above their natural limit.

William nodded. It seemed his decision wouldn't be so hard after all. If Retribution was following his footsteps and absorbing the veins of the World, there was no telling whether they would do the same here or not.

Before that happened, William planned to acquire the benefits first.

System, absorb the Greater Fire Vein, please.

-Cannot absorb, Host has not come in contact with the requested Vein.

I clearly touched it, didn't you see?

-You did not. That was only its residual aura leaking out from the crack.

Only its aura? Are you saying I didn't even get close to it? William didn't wait for a response, since he already knew what the System would say.

To think that he had suffered so much damage just from approaching the Fire Vein...

In that case, System, upgrade my Heat Resistance to S-Rank.

-1000 PP

———

TALENT UPGRADED

Heat Resistance: (A --> S)

Effects: Resistance to all forms of heat and their residual effects +550% >> +1200%

S-Rank Bonus Effect: Flames are your companion. When your body is entirely covered in flames, increase the power of your Fire Magic by 100%.

Next rank up: 2500PP

———

That ability is insane! William ogled at the S-Rank bonus effect of the Heat Resistance Talent.

Before, he had only put some attention on the resistance Talents because they didn't do much, but now he was beginning to have second thoughts. If he could raise the other resistances to S-Rank, wouldn't they have similar effects?

He didn't upgrade them just yet, but instead approached the crack bursting with flames again. Carl saw this and didn't stop William, but he still felt a little bit nervous.

As expected, William's arm was engulfed in flames once again when he reached into the crack, but this time he didn't feel the intense pain like before. Instead, he felt uncomfortably warm, as if he was washing dishes with the heat up just a little bit too high.

If he spent too much time in the fire, it would probably damage him, but it was bearable enough. William removed all his clothing and Artifacts, storing them inside his Space Ring, then he went further into the flames, his naked body sliding into the crack while Carl averted his gaze.

The temperature became hotter and hotter as William almost swam through the lava-like flames, the Mana of all Elements completely useless in this situation, even Fire. It was as if he was trapped inside someone else's Domain, countless times stronger than his own.

He swam forward a few more seconds, but he still hadn't reached the center. The flames became unbearable once again, and William was forced to retreat outside the crack. He almost lost his way on the return trip, but the Navigation Talent helped him escape the risky situation.

Carl heaved a sigh of relief when William stepped out of the crack, though his body was a bright red and the white flames were concealing the sensitive parts of William's body. He wanted to approach, but he was afraid of being consumed by the flames, so he kept his distance.

After dousing the flames on his body, William chose to spend 2500 Potential Points and upgrade the Heat Resistance Talent again. He wasn't going to give up on the Greater Fire Vein just yet.

———

TALENT UPGRADED

Heat Resistance: (S --> SS)

Effects: Resistance to all forms of heat and their residual effects +1200% >> +2400%

S-Rank Bonus Effect replaced.

SS-Rank Bonus Effect: Flames are your companion; Lava is your lover. When your body is partially covered in flames, increase the power of your Fire Magic by 100%. When your body is partially covered in lava, increase the power of your Earth and Fire Magic by 100%. When affected by both, both effects apply. Read exciting tales at m_vl_em_p_yr

Next rank up: 10000PP

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