Orum walked along the corridor of White Stone Mansion, heading toward the back courtyard.
His footsteps echoed softly against the stone floor, reverberating through the quiet hallway.
He pushed open the heavy wooden door leading to the back courtyard, and the warm afternoon sunlight spilled across his face at once.
The back courtyard was a fairly open space, covering more than two hundred square meters.
The ground was paved with hard bluestone slabs, each one polished smooth and even.
Tall walls surrounded the courtyard on all sides, blocking any view from outside. The walls were built of gray stone blocks and stood a full three meters high.
Rows of dense ivy grew along the top of the wall, their green leaves hanging down to form a natural screen.
Orum looked around, confirming how well-concealed the spot was.
This part of the courtyard sat in a blind spot of the building; from any second-floor window, this corner simply couldn't be seen.
Even if Carolina and Ristina stood by their windows, they wouldn't be able to observe what happened here.
This place was perfectly suited for certain secret activities that weren't meant to be seen.
It was here that Orum had once perfected the skill known as Iron Heart Force.
Now, he intended to carry out another round of physical modification, to deal with the monster organs he'd been stockpiling.
He walked over to the wall and leaned his back against the cool stone.
Taking a deep breath, he murmured silently in his mind.
"Panel."
A translucent, glowing blue panel immediately surfaced in the center of his vision.
Dense rows of information covered it, visible only to him.
At the very top of the panel, a line of golden title text stood out clearly: [Monster Organ Harvest List].
Below it stretched a long list of monster organs not yet fused into his body.
Each entry was clearly labeled with a name and status.
Monster Organ: Race-Compatible Reproductive System (marked)
Monster Organ: Strong Acidic Bodily Fluid
Monster Organ: External Mycelium
Monster Organ: Man-Eating Scale (converted into Enhancement Point)
Monster Organ: Bugbear Skeleton (converted into 2 Enhancement Points)
Monster Organ: Bugbear War Roar Organ (converted into Enhancement Point)
Monster Organ: Bugbear Tendon (converted into 2 Enhancement Points)
Monster Organ: Fire Salamander Flame Organ
Monster Organ: Faint Presence Aura
[Current Enhancement Points: 8]
Orum carefully studied the list of monster organs.
Each organ represented spoils he had gained from killing monsters.
Some had already been converted into Enhancement Points; others still remained in their original state.
Just as he was looking over the list, the panel suddenly displayed a new notification.
A golden glow flickered, clearly signaling an important update.
[You have slain 8 different types of monsters. Your Monster Compendium level has been upgraded to Tier 1]
[The following features have been unlocked for you: Qualitative Change, Physical Fusion Optimization]
[Current Region: Sacred Ganyi Kingdom, Southern Territory (Monster Species Unlock Rate: 2%)]
[Region: Unlocked (Monster Species Unlock Rate: 0%)]
[Region: Unlocked (Monster Species Unlock Rate: 0%)]
[Region: Unlocked (Monster Species Unlock Rate: 0%)]
This line of golden text appeared right in the center of the panel.
The font was twice the usual size, unmistakably prominent.
The names of the two brand-new features made Orum's hands begin to tremble slightly.
He couldn't help feeling a surge of excitement, and he carefully read through the string of region information displayed beneath the two main notices.
This was the region Orum currently found himself in.
Although he had already killed 8 types of monsters, that only accounted for a mere 2% of all the monster species across the entire southern territory.
Below that were several notices marked [Unlocked].
Wait, that wasn't right. It meant that across this vast continent, there were countless unknown regions and monsters still waiting to be explored and conquered.
"What does Qualitative Change mean?"
Orum's gaze fixed once more on the term "Qualitative Change."
His mind filled with curiosity and anticipation.
He clicked the feature with his thoughts, and a detailed explanation immediately popped up.
[When any monster organ's enhancement level reaches Level 4, Qualitative Change becomes available. Spend Enhancement Points to gain an additional, powerful ability]
Orum read through the explanation carefully.
The core of Qualitative Change was to further strengthen an organ he already possessed.
It wasn't simply a stat boost, but the acquisition of an entirely new, far more powerful ability.
This meant that the organs he'd already fused into his body all held further potential for growth.
Orum read every word carefully.
His mind raced.
He analyzed the deeper implications of this feature.
Qualitative Change meant that a monster organ was no longer limited to a single-dimension boost in ability, but could undergo a genuine transformation in nature.
It could expand what was originally a one-dimensional monster organ into a wealth of new possibilities.
Take, for example, the Bugbear Tendon he currently had fused into his body.
This was an organ purely dedicated to boosting physical strength.
Aside from making its user stronger, it carried no other additional function.
But after undergoing Qualitative Change...
This purely strength-based organ might grant Orum all sorts of extraordinary abilities.
The possibilities were nearly unimaginable.
For instance, after Qualitative Change, he might gain the ability to control gravity, letting him freely increase or decrease the weight of objects, or even create localized gravity fields to pin enemies helplessly to the ground.
Or he might gain power over flame, so that every strike carried scorching fire damage, as though a god of fire had descended.
Taken to an even more extreme degree, he might even become something like a "rubber devil fruit user," his body able to stretch infinitely, his fists snapping out like elastic bands.
From then on, every punch Orum threw would turn into a "rubber machine gun," bombarding enemies with an unbroken barrage at terrifying speed, each strike carrying horrifying force and velocity.
Of course, these were only Orum's speculations and imaginings.
The actual effects of Qualitative Change would only become clear after he tried it himself.
But the mere possibility alone was enough to set his heart racing.
"Calm down. No need to rush."
Orum forced himself to settle down, taking several deep breaths.
Then he shifted his attention to the second new feature.
[Physical Fusion Optimization]
The name sounded rather plain and unremarkable, but the moment he saw the pop-up explanation, Orum's eyes went wide.
[Physical Fusion Optimization: Greatly reduces the pain caused when fusing monster organs or upgrading monster organs, keeping the sensation within a bearable range]
"My god?!"
Just a few dozen words, yet they made Orum's eyes light up.
This was, without question, the feature Orum needed most, a truly godlike function.
Because over this stretch of time, the greatest torment Orum had endured, the most agonizing experiences he'd suffered, hadn't come from any enemy.
Nearly all of it had come from the process of fusing monster organs, an agony that was frankly worse than death.
Every single fusion felt like his entire body had been stuffed into an industrial meat grinder.
Bones ground down and reassembled, muscles torn apart and regrown, organs replaced and remade.
Every single cell screamed in agony.
That kind of pain went beyond what language could describe.
It wasn't something words like "very painful" or "extremely painful" could capture.
It was a torment that reached into the very soul, the kind that made a person wish they could simply pass out on the spot.
But the panel refused to let him lose consciousness. Instead, it forcibly kept his mind clear, forcing him to "enjoy" every single second of the entire transformation process.
It was, quite simply, a form of torture beyond the limits of what any human should endure.
There had been several times when Orum had even entertained the thought: maybe I shouldn't be using this panel at all.
The pain had made him question his own existence.
But now, with this Physical Fusion Optimization feature.
Everything was about to change!
Orum would never again have to endure that soul-shredding pain. The transformation process would now be kept within a manageable range!
"No need to think it over. If this feature hadn't shown up, I might've lost my mind."
He made the decision without a moment's hesitation.
With his thoughts, he clicked the "Activate" button beside the Physical Fusion Optimization feature.
The golden button lit up instantly with a brilliant glow.
A prompt appeared in the center of his vision:
[Spend 2 Enhancement Points to raise 'Physical Fusion Optimization' to Level 1?]
Orum looked around once more.
He confirmed that this corner of the training ground was indeed a hidden blind spot, and that no one could see him here.
Neither maid was likely to suddenly appear in the back courtyard. The timing was perfect.
"Yes."
Orum affirmed silently in his mind. Though no sound left his lips, the intent reached the panel with perfect clarity.
The very next instant, a brilliant golden light burst forth from within Orum's body.
The light seemed like molten gold, radiating a warm, sacred aura.
The golden glow spread rapidly, enveloping Orum's entire body.
From the top of his head to the soles of his feet, from the surface of his skin to the organs deep within, not a single part of him escaped the golden light.
This light seeped into every bone, staining even the marrow itself gold. His bones grew tougher, and fine golden patterns surfaced across their surfaces, as though they had been reinforced with gold.
The golden light poured into every muscle fiber, every internal organ, even the tiniest of cells, leaving nothing untouched. It was as though the membrane of every single cell had been reinforced by the golden light, and his overall vitality underwent a qualitative leap.
The process lasted roughly thirty seconds before the golden glow gradually dimmed and finally vanished completely, as though it had never appeared at all. Orum's outward appearance looked no different than before.
But Orum could feel with absolute clarity that something fundamental had genuinely changed within his body. Even though nothing had changed on the outside, his internal structure had been thoroughly optimized.
He clenched his fist and could sense an unprecedented degree of coordination.
The way his bones, muscles, and organs worked together had become far more refined, as though a precision machine had just been freshly recalibrated.
Orum's body had now attained [Physical Fusion Optimization Level 1].
Immediately afterward, a restless eagerness took hold of Orum.
He wanted to test the effects of this new feature right away.
His gaze returned to the panel and locked onto the monster organ [Bugbear Tendon +2].
This organ had already been enhanced twice, currently sitting at level +2, and with the considerable amount of Enhancement Points he had on hand, he could push it further.
Orum took a deep breath and murmured silently in his mind, "Enhance Bugbear Tendon."
The intent reached the panel with perfect clarity, and at the same time, he braced himself mentally to endure the pain.
[Spend 1 Enhancement Point to raise 'Bugbear Tendon +2' to 'Bugbear Tendon +3'?]
"Yes!"
Orum answered without a shred of hesitation, making the call instantly.
He wanted to personally experience the change that Physical Fusion Optimization would bring.
A familiar wave of energy surged out from the panel, flowing into Orum's limbs.
A new round of enhancement and transformation began on the Bugbear Tendon.
But the searing pain he'd braced for never came!
Orum's eyes went wide, his face full of disbelief.
Because all he felt was a wave of soreness and swelling spreading through the muscles of his entire body, not the soul-tearing agony he'd expected!
That soreness felt exactly like the sensation of muscles engorged with blood after an intense workout at the gym.
It was somewhat uncomfortable, but entirely within the range of what he could bear.
In fact, that soreness even carried a strange thread of comfort to it.
It felt like the satisfaction of muscles that had just been thoroughly worked out, a sensation that let him feel real, tangible growth in his strength.
Orum could hardly believe it.
"This is what enhancing a monster organ feels like?"
Compared to that soul-shredding, worse-than-death agony from before, this was simply heaven compared to hell.
With the protection of Physical Fusion Optimization, the pain that once required gritting his teeth just to survive had now become nothing more than mild soreness.
The contrast was enough to nearly move Orum to tears.
The feeling was like a prisoner who had suffered endless torment in hell, suddenly released into paradise.
That sense of relief, that happiness, was simply beyond words.
Or perhaps it was more like a player who had grinded daily quests and hoarded gold coins day after day, exhausted to the point of near-death, suddenly handed a cheat engine that let him change his gold count straight to a hundred thousand: an ecstasy so intense it nearly took his breath away.
At this moment, all the monster muscle throughout Orum's body was undergoing rapid enhancement under the panel's energy.
About ten seconds later, the enhancement process completed smoothly.
Orum could feel clearly that the strength in his limbs had surged dramatically.
It was as though the ferocious power of an entire adult Bugbear had been injected into his body once more.
He clenched his fist and heard his bones and tendons creak with friction.
These fists now carried enough terrifying force to shatter solid rock with ease.
But Orum didn't stop there. He wanted to strike while the iron was hot and push forward with a second enhancement, taking the Bugbear Tendon straight to its limit at +4.
[Spend 1 Enhancement Point to raise Bugbear Tendon +3 to Bugbear Tendon +4?]
The panel's mechanical voice sounded once more.
"Yes!" Orum confirmed without the slightest hesitation.
The panel's energy surged into his limbs again, beginning the second round of tendon enhancement.
This time, the soreness was slightly more intense than before, but it remained entirely bearable. Orum even had the composure to carefully observe how his muscle fibers changed under the panel's energy.
He could "see" every muscle fiber growing thicker, longer, and tougher.
The connections between the fibers strengthened as well, and the overall efficiency of his power output rose significantly.
Another ten seconds or so passed, and the second enhancement completed. Orum's limbs bulged outward once more, not in an exaggerated, grotesque way, but in a coordinated, power-laden growth, before shrinking back down to a normal human proportion.
At this moment, the Bugbear Tendon within Orum's limbs had reached level +4.
Every single limb now carried the terrifying might equivalent to five adult Bugbears.
This kind of strength had already surpassed what an ordinary human could imagine. A single punch could easily shatter a thick wall; a single kick could snap a large tree in half. He had, quite literally, become a humanoid engine of destruction.
Orum flexed his limbs, savoring the surging power within his body, the corner of his mouth curling into a satisfied smile.
The feeling of growing stronger was simply wonderful, his entire body brimming with a sense of power.
However, just as he prepared to continue enhancing, the [Enhance] button on the panel suddenly turned gray, no longer clickable.
"What's going on?"
Orum frowned. He clicked the grayed-out button with his thoughts, wanting to know why he couldn't continue enhancing. The panel quickly provided a detailed explanation.
The prompt text surfaced on his retina in a cold, blue glow:
[Overall bone strength and cardiopulmonary efficiency detected as insufficient. Bugbear Tendon cannot be enhanced further!]
The core of the problem was clear enough. Although the Bull-Headed Troll Skeleton was already a formidable monster organ, its strength had reached the absolute limit for its current level, and it could no longer support further enhancement of the Bugbear Tendon.
It was like fitting a sports car with a super-engine, but if the chassis and frame weren't strong enough, forcing the engine to run at full power would cause the entire car to fall apart at high speed.
Orum's limbs now carried force equivalent to five adult Bugbears, and if unleashed at full strength, that power would place an enormous strain on his skeleton, potentially even causing bone fractures.
And the problem wasn't limited to the Bull-Headed Troll Skeleton alone. The two hearts and four lung lobes in Orum's chest faced the very same dilemma; their working efficiency could no longer keep up with the demands of his muscles.
Orum quietly calculated in his mind. If he wanted to continue enhancing the Bugbear Tendon, he would first need to raise the levels of the Bull-Headed Troll Skeleton, the Dual Hearts, and the Quad Lungs, bringing his entire body's panel into balance.
But that would require a large amount of Enhancement Points, and right now, Orum only had 2 Enhancement Points remaining, far too few resources.
"Seems like the panel is more rigorous than I expected," Orum murmured to himself.
He reviewed the information on the panel once more, beginning to formulate a more sensible enhancement strategy.
"The Bugbear Tendon has reached level +4. It should be ready for Qualitative Change now."
With that, Orum focused his intent on the [Qualitative Change] tab on the panel.
The Qualitative Change tab expanded instantly, revealing a detailed selection screen.
On the translucent blue panel, a striking line of golden title text surfaced: [Bugbear Tendon +4]
Available Qualitative Change options.
Below that were two entirely different directions for the Qualitative Change.
The first option made Orum's eyes go wide.
[Friendship Face-Breaker Fist: You may deliver a single punch to another person's face that causes only minor injury, but carries a special effect. Within five minutes, the target's favorability toward you rises dramatically. They will regard you as an ally or family, and will subconsciously rationalize away any illogical behavior on your part.]
[Once the effect ends, the target will fall into overwhelming rage.]
[Additionally, the higher the target's tier is above your own, the shorter the duration.]
[Usable once per day.]
(Costs 3 Enhancement Points to raise to LV1)
(Each level up increases the number of uses and the duration)
The corner of Orum's mouth twitched slightly.
The name of this skill was riddled with unintentional comedy.
Friendship Face-Breaker Fist?
Was that name even reasonable?
Still, its effects were genuinely practical.
A mind-control type ability, capable of temporarily turning an enemy into an ally.
In multi-person combat, this skill's tactical value was self-evident.
Imagine, in the middle of a fierce group battle, suddenly landing a punch on the face of the enemy's core combatant.
Then that powerful enemy would treat you as their closest comrade.
And turn around to attack their own allies instead.
The tide of battle could flip in an instant.
Or in an infiltration mission, encountering a powerful guard, or someone of high status and authority.
One punch, and they'd treat you as one of their own.
Then you could stroll right into the forbidden zone without a care.
This kind of maneuver was practically a divine-tier infiltration technique.
But Friendship Face-Breaker Fist's flaws were equally obvious.
First, the user had to get within melee range of the target and land a punch to their face to trigger the effect.
If the opponent was a ranged spellcaster, surrounded by protective magic and traps, or if the opponent's speed far outstripped his own, making it impossible to close the distance...
Then this skill would be completely useless.
And the backlash effect after the skill ended was also a major liability.
The target would fall into "overwhelming rage."
That kind of rage could very well make them far more dangerous.
They might even go to any lengths to kill him.
Orum's gaze shifted to the second option.
[Demon God Stance: Your shoulder blade structure will undergo a massive transformation, granting you an additional pair of powerful arms, allowing you to wield 4 weapons simultaneously in combat, unleashing devastating, storm-like blows]
[In ordinary times, this stance can be kept hidden, retaining your normal human physique. You may transform at any time upon entering combat]
(Costs 4 Enhancement Points to raise to LV1)
(Each level up adds one additional pair of arms, up to a maximum of LV4)
(Current Monster Organ Quality: Superior. Replacing it with a higher-quality monster organ can unlock additional Qualitative Change slots)
(When replacing a monster organ, Qualitative Change levels are preserved and will not be lost)
Orum's pupils constricted slightly, his breathing growing rapid.
Four arms!
That meant he could wield four weapons at once.
His attack frequency would essentially double.
He would hold an absolute advantage in close-quarters combat.
Any enemy foolish enough to engage him in melee would be torn to shreds.
And Demon God Stance had no usage limit and no cooldown.
Nor did it carry any downside whatsoever.
This kind of reliability was something Friendship Face-Breaker Fist simply couldn't match.
Furthermore, the combination possibilities of four weapons were extremely flexible.
He could wield four long swords to maximize attack speed, or four warhammers to maximize sheer destructive power.
Or mix long and short weapons together to adapt to different combat scenarios.
Orum quickly weighed the pros and cons of the two options in his mind.
Friendship Face-Breaker Fist represented mental control, a situational, utility-based skill.
This kind of skill would prove devastatingly effective in certain specific scenarios.
But its usage conditions were harsh, and its drawbacks were significant.
By comparison, Demon God Stance represented pure, unadulterated aesthetics of violence.
A straightforward, brute-force method of massively boosting physical attack capability by increasing the number of arms.
It was simple, crude, but absolutely effective.
And Demon God Stance's growth potential was even more tempting.
LV1 meant four arms; LV2 meant six arms.
At the maximum LV4, he'd have ten arms.
A thousand weapons striking simultaneously, that kind of scene was simply beyond imagination.
Like a humanoid meat grinder, anything standing in his path would be torn apart in an instant.
Orum took a deep breath, letting his racing heartbeat gradually settle.
His mind raced, analyzing the merits and drawbacks of both options from multiple angles.
In terms of long-term growth potential, Friendship Face-Breaker Fist's upgrades only increased the number of uses and duration, a ceiling that wasn't especially high. Demon God Stance's upgrades increased the number of arms, and its theoretical ceiling was absolutely terrifying.
Looking at his current circumstances, Orum was in the southern territory of the Sacred Ganyi Kingdom, a place overrun with monsters, where combat could break out at any moment. What he needed was stable, reliable combat power, not an uncertain trick.
And Orum's combat style had always leaned toward direct confrontation, crushing enemies with sheer overwhelming strength and speed. Demon God Stance clearly suited his fighting habits far better.
More importantly, Demon God Stance's growth potential was enormous. At LV4, having ten arms represented a truly qualitative leap in combat power, while Friendship Face-Breaker Fist's ceiling was comparatively limited.
After careful consideration, Orum made his final decision.
Though the control effects of Friendship Face-Breaker Fist were tempting, he leaned toward choosing Demon God Stance.
The reason was simple.
He was an extremely pragmatic person.
In this dangerous other world, survival came first, above all else.
Demon God Stance could directly boost his combat power, without any usage restrictions whatsoever.
This kind of stable, reliable form of enhancement better suited his needs.
And the visual impact of four arms was rather stunning in its own right.
Imagine, when an enemy thought they were facing an ordinary human.
And then suddenly witnessed a transformation into a four-armed demon god.
That kind of shock effect would surely shatter an enemy's psychological defenses in an instant.
Besides, even after choosing Demon God Stance now, once he had enough Enhancement Points later, he could still pursue the Qualitative Change for Friendship Face-Breaker Fist and add that skill to his arsenal as well.
[Spend 4 Enhancement Points. Qualitative Change for Demon God Stance begins!]
Orum could sense with perfect clarity that the Enhancement Points within his body were being drawn away at an astonishing rate. It was a strange sensation, as though some source of energy deep within his soul was being guided, transformed, and reshaped.
Almost the very instant the panel's prompt appeared, an unusual burning sensation shot through Orum's back.
At first, the sensation was faint, like a warming patch pressed against his shoulder blades.
But within less than three seconds, that faint warmth swelled rapidly, from warm to scorching, from scorching to searing, and finally into a heat as terrifying as molten lava!
"Hiss...!"
Orum sucked in a sharp breath, his entire body going rigid in an instant.
Cold sweat immediately beaded across his forehead, the droplets glinting under the sunlight.
At the location of Orum's shoulder blades, it felt as though an active volcano was buried, ready to erupt, magma churning violently deep beneath the crust, gathering catastrophic power, ready at any moment to burst through the surface.
He could feel something growing inside his shoulder blades, an unusually clear sensation of bone extending, tendons weaving together, blood vessels forming, nerves connecting.
This pain was unlike the surface-level sting of an external wound. It was a deep, root-level agony, as though the very junction between soul and flesh was being slowly sawed apart.
The air in the training ground began to carry a faint scorched smell, the result of Orum's overheated body causing sweat to evaporate off his skin, mixed with the metallic tang of blood!
But Orum now had Physical Fusion Optimization!
A golden glow surged out from within his body, enveloping the area around his shoulder blades.
The burning sensation at his shoulder blades gradually faded, like a retreating tide, slowly withdrawing from the shoulder blades and spreading outward.
In its place came an indescribable sense of relief, like the feeling of leaping into a cool spring on a scorching summer day, or drought-stricken earth finally receiving rain, a joy that seemed to well up from the very depths of his soul.
Orum could sense clearly that the transformation of his shoulder blades had completed. The two originally separate bones had now become a far more complex structure, with entirely new joints and connections forming within.
The newly formed bone, muscle, nerves, and blood vessels were rapidly integrating into his body's panel, like new gears and transmission components being added into a piece of precision machinery, fitting together perfectly.
[Qualitative Change complete! [Demon God Stance LV1] has been activated!]
The golden panel notification surfaced in the center of his vision, accompanied by a pleasant chime, marking the triumphant conclusion of this painful transformation.
Orum rolled his shoulders, feeling the entirely new power structure within his body.
He could sense with perfect clarity that his shoulder blades now possessed additional joints and muscle groups, as though a piece of precision machinery had just been fitted with new components.
These new structures currently remained in a hidden state, and outwardly, he looked no different from an ordinary person.
But Orum knew that whenever he wished, he could activate Demon God Stance at any time, channel his mana, and let the extra pair of arms extend outward from his shoulder blades.
Orum let out a long breath, releasing built-up tension.
Mixed into that breath was a faint heat and the tang of blood. His face looked somewhat pale, but his eyes shone unusually bright, filled with excitement and anticipation.
Though the transformation process for Demon God Stance had just now been protected by Physical Fusion Optimization, it was still, after all, a body modification of such magnitude, and the mental energy it consumed wasn't something to underestimate.
He subconsciously wanted to try activating Demon God Stance right away, to feel the power of four arms.
His right hand had already begun to rise, ready to activate the skill, but he stopped himself just before triggering it.
Orum looked down at the clothes he was wearing: an exquisite white dress shirt, a tailor-made black vest, a finely crafted pair of deep blue trousers.
This was the outfit he'd specifically purchased for lounging around at home, an entire set worth quite a sum.
"If I activate the stance right now, and two extra arms suddenly sprout from my back..."
Orum ran through the scene in his mind, and the corner of his mouth couldn't help but twitch.
The back of his shirt would tear apart instantly, the seams of his vest would burst open, and he'd end up looking like a ragged mess amid the sound of fabric ripping.
That would be far too undignified.
"Better to test it out some other time. At the very least, I'll need to prepare a special set of clothing that can withstand the transformation."
Orum reasoned his way to a sensible decision, forcibly suppressing the curiosity and impulse welling up inside him.
He took a deep breath, pulling his attention away from Demon God Stance, and turned his gaze instead to the [Monster Organ Inventory] section of the panel.
Several unfused organs still sat quietly there.
Orum's gaze swept over the names of the organs remaining in his inventory one by one: Strong Acidic Bodily Fluid, Fire Salamander Flame Organ, External Mycelium, Faint Presence Aura.
Each one represented a unique ability.
These four organs were ones he'd gathered over the course of his previous hunts and explorations, and he hadn't fused them yet simply because he'd been waiting for the right moment.
And now, that moment had come.
The successful activation of Demon God Stance had given Orum a huge boost of confidence. His body's tolerance and adaptability had both reached a new peak, making this the perfect time for a multi-organ fusion.
"Fusing four organs at once..."
Orum murmured to himself, a resolute light flashing in his eyes.
"Something I wouldn't have dared to even imagine before, but now, my body has grown strong enough to withstand this level of transformation."
He raised both hands, his fingers dancing rapidly through the air, selecting the four organs on the panel one after another.
Each time he selected one, a colored beam of light rose up from its icon.
Strong Acidic Bodily Fluid radiated a dim green, eerie glow, like will-o'-the-wisps rising from a venomous swamp, carrying a distinct sense of lethal danger.
Fire Salamander Flame Organ burned with a bright red flame, its light flickering unsteadily, like a miniature sun, radiating waves of scorching energy.
External Mycelium was shrouded in a gray-white mist, the vapor writhing and shifting endlessly, like countless thread-like tendrils, giving off a sense that was both vibrantly alive and unsettling.
Faint Presence Aura was the most peculiar of them all: nearly completely transparent, with only a faint glow visible upon close inspection, as though it might vanish into the air at any moment.
Orum didn't hesitate for even a moment, murmuring silently in his mind.
"Fuse."
The four beams of differently colored light shot out from the panel simultaneously, tracing brilliant arcs through the air like shooting stars, streaking toward Orum's body.
The first to fuse was the dim green Strong Acidic Bodily Fluid. This monster organ, sourced from a slime creature, arrived first, transforming into a stream of green light that plunged into the palms of Orum's hands, vanishing instantly, leaving behind only two faint green marks on his palms.
Orum could feel a cool, tingling sensation deep within his palms.
That was the sensation of bodily fluid glands forming, countless microscopic ducts weaving themselves into a network beneath the skin, connecting to newly formed secretion glands.
The second was the bright red Fire Salamander Flame Organ, following close behind, transforming into a ball of flame that rushed into Orum's throat.
He could feel his throat suddenly turn scorching hot, as though he'd swallowed a mouthful of molten lava.
An entirely new organ grew at the junction of his esophagus and windpipe, a structure resembling a fire-storage sac, filled inside with high-temperature gas, ready at any moment to spew forth a lethal, explosive fireball.
The third was the gray-white External Mycelium, splitting apart in midair into countless tiny points of light, drifting like dandelion seeds, before settling evenly across the surface of Orum's legs and rapidly seeping into his skin.
Orum could feel subtle changes occurring across the skin of his lower legs, countless mycelial threads invisible to the naked eye growing beneath the outer layer, forming a special protective membrane capable of bursting forth from his body at any time.
The fourth was the monster organ from a goblin, Faint Presence Aura, which seemed to be some kind of conceptual ability. Ever since receiving it, Orum had often even forgotten he possessed this monster organ at all.
That nearly transparent Faint Presence Aura drifted into Orum's chest cavity like a gentle breeze, merging into his lungs and heart, the entire process unfolding so quietly he could barely perceive it.
But Orum could clearly sense that his breathing pattern had subtly changed. Every exhale now released a special pheromone, one capable of lowering others' attention toward him.
The fusion process for all four organs went remarkably smoothly, producing no rejection reaction or discomfort whatsoever. They felt as though they had always been part of Orum's body, integrating perfectly into his existing physical system.
[Fusion complete! You have successfully fused 4 monster organs!]
Orum slowly opened his eyes, an unusual light flickering across his pupils.
He raised his right hand, carefully examining the changes in his palm.
On the surface, it looked no different than before, but he could feel a dangerous power lurking deep within his palm.
Orum clenched his fist, then slowly opened it again.
The skin of his palm grew faintly warm, as though something were stirring restlessly within.
He tried activating the ability of Strong Acidic Bodily Fluid, and with a light stir of intent, a few drops of clear liquid seeped from his palm.
The liquid looked harmless, much like ordinary sweat.
But the moment it dripped onto the bluestone slabs beneath his feet, it let out a hissing, corrosive sound.
The surface of the bluestone was instantly eaten away into several small pits, wisps of white smoke rising from them.
"Not bad at all."
A satisfied smile surfaced at the corner of Orum's mouth.
"Four organs, four abilities. My combat repertoire has grown considerably richer."
He murmured to himself, his tone carrying an unmistakable sense of satisfaction.
The quadruple fusion process just now had gone remarkably smoothly, producing no rejection reaction whatsoever.
This gave Orum a deeper understanding of his own body's adaptability.
It seemed the effects of Physical Fusion Optimization were even better than he'd expected.
Not only had it drastically reduced the pain, it had even improved the adaptability of the fusion process itself.
Orum took a deep breath, letting his mood settle.
Now wasn't the time to bask in the joy of success.
He needed to conduct a full assessment of his current strength.
Only by clearly understanding what abilities he possessed could he make the most of them in combat.
Orum raised his right hand and opened the [Fused Organ List] on the panel with his intent.
This was a feature he rarely used.
Normally, he simply checked the status of individual organs, rarely conducting a full inventory review.
But now, with the growing number of organs, it was worth doing a comprehensive organization of the panel.
The translucent blue panel expanded instantly, taking up most of Orum's field of vision.
A detailed list unfolded across the panel.
Each organ's name was marked in a different color, accompanied by a brief description of its function and its current level.
The entire list was arranged in chronological order by fusion time, appearing neat and well-organized.
Orum's gaze swept from top to bottom, scanning each entry one by one.
At this moment, the number of monster organs within Orum's body had grown to as many as 8!
They were, respectively:
[Bull-Headed Troll Skeleton] (Defense)
Quality: Purple Epic
[Bugbear Tendon +4] (Strength)
Quality: Blue Superior
[Bugbear Shaman Mana Liver] (Mana, Poison Resistance)
Quality: Blue Superior
[Ancient Tree Heart] (Vitality)
Quality: Purple Epic
[Strong Acidic Bodily Fluid] (Metal Corrosion, Armor Penetration)
Quality: Blue Superior
[Fire Salamander Flame Organ] (Fire Explosion, High-Temperature Burning)
Quality: Blue Superior
[External Mycelium] (Survival)
Quality: Blue Superior
[Faint Presence Aura] (Concealment)
Quality: Purple Epic!