Chapter 10 : daytime body strengthening technique
[Congratulations, Host, for obtaining the initial gift package.]
[Access Slots ×2]
[First Slot: 100%]
[Second Slot: 50%]
[Talent Upgrade Card ×2]
[Physique Upgrade Card ×1]
[Cloak of Absence ×1]
The panel shifted slightly as detailed descriptions began to appear one after another.
[Access Slots]
[Description: Slots that allow the Host to access acting characters. Each slot can only be used after the previous slot has reached 100% completion.]
[Talent Upgrade Card]
[Description: A card created by the extinct Omi Family. Extremely rare. Allows the upgrading of a talent. This version has been perfected and optimized by the System for the Host.]
[Physique Upgrade Card]
[Description: A card created by the extinct Omi Family. Allows the Host to upgrade or enhance their physique to a high level. This version has been refined and perfected by the System.]
[Cloak of Absence]
[Exclusive Item — Host Only]
[Description: Allows the Host to disguise themselves freely. The disguise must contribute to the creation, development, or stabilization of a character identity.]
[Effects:]
[Invisibility: 6 hour | Cooldown: 24 hours]
[Teleportation: 1 use per week | Stack limit: 10 uses]
[Detection:]
[All beings below Multiverse Level cannot see through the cloak.]
[Multiverse-level beings may see through it with concentration.]
[Note: Host is advised to exercise extreme caution when encountering Omniverse-level beings. Such entities can perceive through the cloak with minimal effort.]
[Method of Improvement: Cloak effectiveness increases as Host's strength increases.]
Dominic stared at the panel.
A faint excitement stirred within him, though his expression remained calm and composed, as if he were simply analyzing the information before him.
After a moment, his gaze shifted to the top right corner of the interface.
There, a small icon resembling a book hovered.
Without hesitation, he selected it.
A new interface appeared—filled with guidelines, explanations, and system instructions.
The system itself seemed incomplete, and this section acted as a manual.
Dominic read through it carefully.
Slowly.
Thoroughly.
By the time he finished, he had a clear understanding of how everything worked.
'Talent Upgrade Cards… can't be used until my awakening.'
'That means… two years from now.'
'The Physique Upgrade Card… requires an existing physique first.'
'It doesn't matter whether it's natural or obtained through a technique… as long as I have one.'
'And the stronger the base physique… the greater the enhancement.'
His attention shifted.
'The most interesting one… is the Access Slots.'
Initially, he had only one.
Now, he had gained two more.
After reading further, Dominic realized something unexpected.
'These slots… are random.'
'Someone could get none… or one… or ten… or even a hundred.'
'I got two.'
'And both already have progress.'
His eyes settled on the second slot.
[50%]
'If I assign a character to this slot… I gain fifty percent of their authority.'
Then he looked at the first slot.
[100%]
'This one… gives full authority.'
However, Dominic's expression didn't change.
'But it's not that simple.'
'It only grants authority… not raw strength.'
'If a character's power comes from laws—like controlling time—then it works.'
'But if it's pure strength… like lifting mountains… then it won't.'
'The system doesn't support sudden physical amplification.'
'Trying to force it… would only destroy my body.'
He paused briefly.
'Unless… the strength is something that can grow naturally.'
'For example… a character that becomes stronger by eating or adapting.'
'That kind of power… is acceptable.'
A faint thought crossed his mind.
'A fast-adapting character… combined with another that grants strength…'
'That could work.'
But he dismissed it just as quickly.
'For now… I don't need physical strength from this.'
'physical Strength can be cultivated.'
'The Blackwood family already provides enough resources for that.'
His thoughts shifted again.
'Apart from the Cloak… most of these can be used on others.'
'And even then… they need to be loyal.'
'As for the Access Slots… others would need a system of their own to use them.'
'A mimic system… something I'd have to create.'
He leaned back slightly.
'That's not important right now.'
'I'll use everything for myself first.'
'Once I'm strong enough… then I can think about building others.'
After organizing everything, Dominic came to a conclusion.
'Right now… only the Access Slots and the Cloak are usable.'
'The rest… will have to wait.'
He sat there quietly for a moment.
Then his eyes sharpened slightly.
'A plan…'
'First… I need to strengthen my body.'
'At least to the level of an average Duke family's child.'
'I'm not going to play the role of a weak, humiliated protagonist.'
'That only attracts unnecessary trouble.'
'In the Blackwood family… weakness isn't hidden.'
'It's exposed.'
'And mocked.'
With that thought, Dominic stood up.
His next destination was clear.
The training grounds.
He walked toward the back of the mansion.
Along the way, several servants noticed him.
Their expressions varied—surprise, confusion, disbelief.
Few of them had ever seen Dominic head toward the training grounds.
Even when he had tried in the past… it had led nowhere.
Eventually, Dominic arrived.
The sound of clashing weapons filled the air.
Swords collided.
Boots struck the ground.
Sweat, discipline, and force filled the space.
At the center stood a massive man.
Golden-brown hair.
A broad chest left exposed beneath loosely worn black and red clothing.
A wide grin stretched across his face as he watched the soldiers train.
Dominic observed everything carefully.
The soldiers here—considered the lowest rank—were already impressive.
'Their skill… at least at the level of battle soldiers, a ranking system that will be later introduced by the protagonist, who on their can destroy a Baron territory on their own, and even that is not enough to join the main blackwood soldiers, that is why most of them are here'
Then his gaze shifted upward.
To the man standing above them.
Blackwood Escanor.
The Sun in Darkness.
A man whose technique embodied the sun.
To allies, it shone brilliantly.
To enemies, it became an abyss.
Swallowing everything.
As Dominic watched him, Escanor suddenly turned.
Their eyes met.
A grin spread wider across his face.
And as if a chain reaction had begun, the soldiers slowly followed his gaze.
One by one, they looked at Dominic.
Some with surprise.
Some with disdain.
Some with indifference.
Dominic remained calm.
He had expected this.
Without hesitation, he walked forward.
Escanor burst into laughter.
"Ha ha ha ha ha! Look who it is! Isn't this our favorite child, Dominic?"
"So, what brings you here? Came to watch these fools swing their arms?"
"Or did you come to greet your uncle?"
Dominic wasn't surprised.
Among everyone in the family, Escanor was the most expressive toward him.
Even if it drew unwanted attention from others.
"Get back to training!" Escanor suddenly roared at the soldiers. "Stop swinging like idiots!"
Then, without warning, he lifted Dominic onto his shoulder and carried him away.
Soon, they reached the top platform.
Escanor placed him down on a chair beside his own.
"So?" Escanor asked. "What do you want?"
"If someone's bothering you, just say the word."
"I'll handle it quietly."
Dominic shook his head.
"Those people are not important."
Escanor paused.
Then he laughed softly.
"I heard your Wood Heart is about to awaken."
"So it's true."
"It doesn't feel like the usual type though…"
"Maybe the Blackwood family will finally get someone who isn't a brute."
He laughed again.
Dominic simply replied, "I came to look around."
"I think I might start training again soon."
"Perhaps… whatever was blocking me before is gone."
Escanor froze for a moment.
Then his grin widened even further.
"Good!"
"That's good!"
He laughed loudly, clearly pleased.
"Go on then! Look around all you want."
"But when you start training… I won't go easy on you."
Dominic smiled faintly.
"I wouldn't expect you to."
After that, he left.
Moving quietly through the training grounds, he began searching.
For the technique.
Time passed.
Nearly an hour.
Still, nothing.
Eventually, Dominic stepped aside and sat down to rest.
That was when he noticed it.
A corner.
Covered in shadow.
The roof blocked most of the light—except for a single beam that shone onto one spot.
His eyes narrowed.
'A line from the novel…'
He stood up immediately and walked toward it.
When he arrived, he looked down.
Nothing.
For a moment, doubt crept in.
'Did I remember it wrong?'
But just as he was about to leave, something caught his attention.
A small patch of soil.
Slightly disturbed.
Unnatural.
Dominic crouched down.
Using his foot, he brushed the surface lightly.
The soil gave way easily.
His suspicion was confirmed.
Without hesitation, he dug it up.
And there it was.
A hidden manual.
The moment his hand touched it—
[Congratulations, Host, for acquiring the Daytime Body Strengthening Manual.]
[Would the Host like to absorb this technique?]
[Caution: Absorption may alter the Host's physique.]
[Manual training will not alter the Host's physique.]
Dominic paused.
Then, after a brief moment of thought—
'I'll take it.'
In this world, techniques that strengthened the body were rare.
And this one…
Was valuable.
'Besides…'
'A Wood-based body… combined with a fire-oriented physique I wonder what it will produce will it eliminate my woods weakness to fire'
'Interesting.'
"Absorb it."
The book suddenly ignited.
Turning to ash.
A stream of light surged forward—entering his body.
In an instant, knowledge flooded his mind.
His eyes flickered slightly.
'Now… this is getting interesting.'