Absorption and Release
After finishing his bath, Bagan found Barret waiting in perfect posture right outside the bathhouse. He couldn't tell the exact time, but the sight of her attending to him without any rest stirred his curiosity.
“Barret, what's your daily routine like?”
Barret shrugged, clearly thinking it was an oddly specific question.
“As I am a maid bound to you, Master Bagan, I attend to your needs until you retire for the night, then take my rest.”
Just as he suspected. Barret really was his personal maid.
“I don't think I've seen any other maids besides you.”
At his second question, she perked her rabbit ears straight up, clearly sensing something was off today.
“There are no other maids besides me.”
She gave him a suspicious look.
“You're being unusually playful today, Master.”
“Am I?”
Bagan played innocent, casually shaking out his wet hair as he headed back to his room.
“Then go rest. I'm tired and need to sleep.”
“...Understood.”
Once again she stared at him with a puzzled expression before bowing and withdrawing. She watched him enter his room, then left.
With Barret gone, Bagan lay down on the bed, his body feeling refreshed. He hadn't lain down to sleep, though.
Let's see.
Bagan began recalling everything connected to Palamus.
“If this is Palamus's lair, then we're at the western edge of the Shoes Continent, in the Moral Mountain Range.”
Fantasy of Pangea boasted a vast world and story, featuring two major continents and countless islands. The Shoes Continent, which carried the early storyline, was a land where many nations with distinct characteristics intertwined.
The Moral Mountain Range spanned parts of the Zairan Forest—an autonomous region of the Seiros Kingdom—and the territory of the Sog Kingdom. It was a natural fortress teeming with powerful monsters and various races. Even the Seiros Kingdom, home to mercenaries, and the militarily powerful Sog Kingdom found it nearly impossible to pioneer.
“Plenty of monsters worth absorbing, then.”
The S-grade trait Absorption could, at first glance, absorb anything. In the game, its functions split into three main branches: growth, defense, and recovery.
Growth was the most important. A character with the Absorption trait would improve slightly in every aspect each time they defeated a monster. Normally, defeating monsters alone wasn't enough—you needed enlightenment to grow. This trait bypassed that entirely, making it downright broken.
Growth alone would have been plenty, but the second function, defense, was equally incredible. In the game, it reduced incoming damage by a percentage based on the attack's intensity.
It's practically invincible against low-level enemies.
Of course, Palamus was on an entirely different level, so Bagan wasn't counting on Absorption for defense here.
The final function was recovery. In the game, it was a passive that accelerated stamina and mana regeneration. Simple on paper, but for the current Bagan, it was the most vital.
To grow stronger quickly, I need to minimize rest as much as possible.
He really should have gone monster hunting immediately, but there were too many things to sort out first. That was why he'd stayed in the mansion. Even so, this much information was already enough to throw Palamus off balance.
But it wasn't over yet.
There's also Release.
Since Release was also an S-grade trait, its performance was every bit as impressive as Absorption's. Its greatest strength was tripling the power of release-type magic.
For example, it let you cast a fireball three times stronger than a normal mage's. You might think a fireball is a fireball, but because the trait applied to all release-type magic, it affected everything in that category.
In other words, when it came to release-type spells, Bagan could wield them more powerfully than Palamus. Not that it would come up anytime soon—learning magic wasn't easy. Still, the potential was promising.
Beyond that, Release had other remarkable abilities.
It even nullified poison.
It could neutralize all toxic attacks by expelling harmful substances from the body. Not particularly useful against Palamus, though.
Most importantly, Release's true value lay in its synergy with Absorption. Ironically, this had been the weakest aspect in the game because the description was so vague: You can release anything.
But Bagan was certain about this part.
If I combine it with defensive Absorption, I can return attacks.
It was a pattern where he absorbed an opponent's attack and flung it right back. This would prove extremely useful against Palamus, whose arrogance in his magical abilities would be thoroughly crushed.
Of course, he'd need to master both traits first. Only once he could wield them like his own limbs would their true power shine.
“My to-do list just got longer.”
The feeling of being hunted left a bitter taste in Bagan's mouth. Still, the fact that he had a chance at all wasn't bad.
Barret, who had been ordered to rest, didn't immediately follow that command. Instead, she moved busily through the mansion. As a maid, she could go anywhere without hesitation.
The place her quick steps took her was none other than Palamus's room.
Despite having permission to go anywhere, she couldn't help tensing up in front of his door. She took a deep breath before knocking.
“Huu~”
Knock, knock!
She didn't enter right away. Instead, she announced her business from outside.
“Lord Palamus, it's early, but I have something to report.”
Her caution was only natural. While she was Bagan's exclusive maid, she was still Palamus's subordinate. It was common sense to navigate carefully before one's master—especially when that master was a dragon.
Click!
No voice came from inside, but Palamus, who usually kept his door locked, opened it to grant her entry. Understanding the gesture, she opened the door and stepped inside.
The room was in complete disarray. Palamus hadn't allowed anyone inside for some time, so even Barret—who occasionally entered to clean—hadn't been here in a while.
She stepped forward without hesitation across the filthy floor, maintaining a flawless smile without so much as a wrinkle in her expression.
Palamus was busily moving about, reading and organizing papers covered in magic circles and runes. His swaying golden hair somehow felt pleasant to her, like a soothing rhythm.
“What is it?”
His weak voice and cold tone made her heart ache. She had already guessed the reason.
Palamus didn't have much time left.
She didn't let any of it show, answering with the same gentle smile.
“It's about Bagan. After his meeting with you yesterday, something seems strange. Today he left the mansion, addressed you without any hesitation, and showed me an attitude unlike his usual self.”
Even after her report, Palamus continued focusing on his work without responding. She waited patiently for his answer.
“Watch him... a little longer.”
Palamus stopped what he was doing. The fact that he'd paused meant Bagan's change was more important than his current task. But even if Bagan had changed, how much could he have possibly changed? To Palamus, such minor shifts held no interest.
Barret caught the signal and slightly lifted her head to look at him. Golden hair that shone like pure gold, paired with crimson eyes that didn't match. His sharp features created an oppressive silence, and within that quiet, his unclouded eyes scanned her.
That gaze carried a belief that naturally inspired awe.
“U-understood.”
Overwhelmed by the intense atmosphere, Barret answered in a small voice. She quietly left the room so as not to disturb him further.
“As expected of my master.”
The pressure was pressure, but Barret felt grateful she could surrender herself to it. It was proof that Palamus was still strong.
“He hasn't eaten these past few days...”
Unlike how she treated Bagan, Barret's concern for Palamus seemed endless.
On a mid-slope of the Moral Mountain Range where fierce winds howled, Bagan suddenly popped out of thin air. No presence could be felt in the empty space around him. Since this was a dragon's lair, the cave entrance had been hidden with magic.
Whiiiiiing~
Bagan faced the wind and looked down at the mountain range below.
“It's high.”
Dragons were flying creatures. Some lived in water or preferred volcanoes, but Palamus had built his lair on Persona Mountain, the highest peak in the Moral Mountain Range. When Bagan had first heard the explanation—that it symbolized being above all others—it had made him sick. But he supposed it couldn't be helped. After all, Palamus was a dragon.
This way.
From the hidden cave entrance, going left along the range led to the aerial zone where griffons lived. Going right led to the Zairan Forest, the autonomous territory of the Seiros Kingdom.
Thanks to the geographic knowledge he'd built up from the game, Bagan headed toward the Zairan Forest.
The forest was home to many different monsters, which gave even the Seiros Kingdom headaches. Of course, that also made it a lively hub for mercenaries and adventurers. It was also the starting area Bagan had used most frequently when creating characters.
The reason was simple: the Seiros Kingdom was a multi-racial nation where various species lived together in harmony. Since Bagan usually chose beastman or other non-human races, he was inevitably tied to Seiros.
To him, the Zairan Forest felt like home. It was a crucial key to early growth, and he intended to use it as such once again.
Bagan decided to test the limits of his stamina. He ran down the Moral Mountain Range and entered the Zairan Forest.
“Huu~ There is some stamina consumption at this level, after all.”
He'd thought the body wouldn't tire at all, but this was the most exhausting activity he'd done so far. Descending a mountain was just as difficult as ascending—especially one with such erratic slopes. Add maintaining balance while exhausted and then sprinting downhill at full speed. It would have been strange if he hadn't gotten tired.
Yet he recovered his stamina almost immediately. All thanks to the S-grade Absorption trait.
With his energy restored, Bagan began searching for monsters. The most common ones in the Zairan Forest were Arc Wolves and Overhorns. Arc Wolves were giant wolves, as the name suggested. Overhorns were massive boars with enormous horns.
Beast-type monsters were inevitable in a forest, but occasionally the forest's apex predators—ogres—or the undying trolls would appear. Those two were considered disasters the moment they showed up, so they didn't appear often.
“There it is.”
While pushing through the underbrush, Bagan spotted an Overhorn. Meeting one right away was fortunate. Arc Wolves traveled in packs, so a single howl could put him at a numerical disadvantage.
Since Bagan grew stronger with every monster he defeated, it was easier to start with solitary creatures.
The Overhorn's rear senses weren't well developed, likely due to the massive horn on its forehead. That made it easy to aim for its blind spot and land a critical hit.
Rustle. Rustle.
Bagan used the tall vegetation as cover and crept forward. The Overhorn was larger than a bear, so it was clearly visible even through the bushes. But Bagan, only slightly larger than an average human, could still hide.
If I get any closer, it'll notice me.
After stopping at the right distance, Bagan decided to trust his leg strength. He leaped toward the creature's rear.
Thud!
The Overhorn, whose rear senses were indeed underdeveloped, didn't notice the ambush. It had no choice but to expose its nape to Bagan's knife.
Kweeeee!
Too shallow?
The creature had taken the blade to its neck but hadn't died in one strike. Instead, it thrashed wildly in every direction to shake Bagan off its back. It was the Overhorn's tactic for dealing with an enemy it couldn't see.
This was Bagan's fault for choosing the wrong weapon. With nothing suitable available, he'd searched the mansion and grabbed a dining knife by mistake. He'd believed his superior physical abilities would bridge the gap between a kitchen knife and a proper dagger, but reality wasn't that forgiving.
“Stop moving!”
If he stayed on its back any longer, it might slam into a tree and inflict a fatal wound on him. To prevent that, Bagan gripped the knife embedded in its neck and twisted its head like a steering wheel.
Kueeeek!
The creature screamed in agony, but unlike Arc Wolves, Overhorns were strictly solitary. No help was coming.
With the situation improved, Bagan wrenched its head toward a thick tree and drove it straight into the trunk.
Bang!
“Ugh!”
The impact hit Bagan too. He shouldn't have trusted a small knife to brace his body. As the Overhorn collided with the giant tree, Bagan slammed into it as well.
“...Ow ow ow.”
Fortunately, the pain wasn't as bad as the creature's. His body was sturdier than expected and minimized the damage. Still, the collision had been hard enough to rattle his brain, causing a brief moment of disorientation.
When he regained his senses, the knife had snapped in half and was rolling on the ground. The Overhorn was nowhere to be seen—obscured by the cloud of dust.
As he looked around, a sound he shouldn't have heard reached his ears.
Kurruru!
It sounded like a horse's snort—the Overhorn's breathing. Once the dust settled, he finally spotted it.
When their eyes met, Bagan immediately understood what it was thinking. Its tenacious vitality was still intact as it took an attacking stance.
There was one thing you must never do when fighting an Overhorn: face it head-on. In the game, Seiros NPCs would joke, “My dick is scarier than facing an Overhorn from the front!” That was how well-known the danger was.
It definitely won't go easy on me, even if I beg.
It was an optimistic thought given the situation, but the creature's momentum was terrifying. Its massive horn stood tall, as if refusing to forgive Bagan for wounding it.
As it continued kicking, Bagan quickly devised a plan.
Its wound isn't small either.
It was limping, and blood flowed from its neck.
This should work.
No matter how strong his body was, the Overhorn's horn would likely be too much to take directly. Bagan came up with a tactic.
Kuaaa!
After limping for a moment, the Overhorn charged at him.
Tap! Tap! Tap!
The distance closed to less than a meter. But Bagan didn't dodge. Instead, he spread his left hand confidently.
Absorption!
Absorption
Fully absorbed the Overhorn's charge. Kinetic energy stored.
Bang!
Even weakened, the Overhorn's charge was powerful. The impact pushed his body back slightly, but the force was completely absorbed into Bagan.
The Overhorn, believing it had impaled its target, stopped moving in confusion. Bagan seized the opening and struck its flank with his right hand.
“I'll make good use of this.”
Boom!
Release
Converted stored kinetic energy into a shockwave. Power amplified.
A tremendous shockwave erupted from Bagan's right hand. The pure kinetic energy from the creature's charge was amplified by Release, creating an even stronger blast. The sound of exploding air rang out as the Overhorn's body vanished from sight, blown away by the terrifying force.
Bang!
It flew through the air, smashing through several trees before finally stopping. There was no further movement.
“One hit.”
Bagan looked at the corpse whose flank had been completely crushed and voiced his thoughts.
“Even better than I expected.”
His back still tingled from the earlier impact, but Bagan was smiling. Afterward, he continued hunting until he grew fully accustomed to his new body, then returned to Palamus's lair.