In the game “Destruction Saga,” the [Strength] stat, which represents power, is measured quite vaguely.
“Stamina, mana, lung capacity, physical strength, agility, endurance, current condition, and more… Just the things I know already cover this much.”
Undoubtedly, there are many undisclosed factors as well.
Interestingly, even in a severe state of hunger, consuming food can lead to a slight increase in strength.
Anyway, it means that any beneficial action I take directly contributes to an enhancement of my abilities.
Among the early methods for rapid growth, the most straightforward and effective one is good old-fashioned physical training. And within that category, running stands out.
Running simultaneously improves stamina, physical strength, endurance, and lung capacity.
“Huff… huff…”
As I sprinted across the field behind the outbuilding like a madman, I finally stopped, gasping for breath.
- [Strength] has slightly increased.
- The tendency toward [Lethargy] has diminished a bit.
- The trait of [Severe Obesity] has also weakened slightly.
The relentless pursuit of achievement, even when tempted to give up immediately, has yielded results over the past hour.
“Excellent.”
With a satisfied smile, I closed my eyes to check my status window.
“Damn it.”
Despite feeling like I’ve run to the brink of death, there’s no change.
“It’s increasing by decimal points.”
Although my physical strength, necessary for moving my massive body, is close to the average for my age group, all other abilities are near rock bottom. As a result, this remarkable stat of 1 has emerged, with the negative factor excluded.
“When will the traits unlock?”
The conditions for reaching the 1-star level where the “Genius of Combat” trait is unlocked vary slightly for each hero. Generally, it’s around 25, higher than the average adult male but similar to that of lower-tier mercenaries or regular soldiers.
However, at this rate, I might not even reach 1 star, let alone hit the promised 10 within a month.
Moreover, there’s a colossal barrier constantly blocking my path.
“Maybe I should rest a bit… No, snap out of it. I might really die like this.”
I want to sit down, and if I sit, I want to lie down. The [Lethargy] trait is overwhelming—tempting me to just lie down and sleep.
Heroes with this trait used to curse and resist my orders, but now that I’m in their shoes, I understand their behavior. Resisting the constant allure of laziness requires superhuman patience.
“I can control other aspects, but… not this one.”
Negative traits significantly affecting my actions. Among them, lethargy is particularly potent.
Given the tight timeframe, relying solely on willpower won’t cut it. So, I’ve decided to execute my plan a little earlier than scheduled.
“The research lab with the elixir must be hidden in the forest, right?”
Recalling the structure of the Meteor Sword Sect, I begin walking toward the dark woods behind my ancestral home.
”I only want to get reagent No. 142”
Amidst the crimson-eyed me, Violet Aster, with chestnut irises, stands out in the assembly. She gazes at me, her body drenched in a sticky, viscous liquid, and asks, “Hmm… Did I hear you correctly?”
I know exactly what that substance is, but perhaps it’s best not to dwell on it.
“You heard correctly. Reagent No. 142,”
“Is it the unnamed creation? What does it signify?”
“It’s either a failed experiment or an unfinished product. In this case, it’s the latter,”
“I thought you weren’t particularly interested in me, young master,”
“Some things are basic knowledge,”
Violet, despite being the oldest among the four noble families, possesses a remarkably attractive appearance. Yet, even in her presence, my [carnal] instincts remain dormant. Why? Because I know quite a bit about her.
‘Not just her physical secrets, but also what transpires in the hidden depths of this modest underground laboratory,’
Regardless, my current lethargy demands Violet’s assistance—a form of medicinal treatment.
The 142nd reagent, developed to enhance soldiers’ combat abilities, will eventually be dubbed the “Blood of the Radiant Warrior).” When ingested, it impairs judgment, reducing individuals to a single repetitive action. Soldiers and knights who consume it charge blindly toward their foes, forgetting all pain and fear. A slight boost in abilities is an added bonus.
Sounds reasonable so far, right? But here’s the catch: even after achieving their objectives, they continue the same behavior until the drug’s effects wane.
If enemies are absent, they kill allies; if allies are scarce, they turn on themselves.
‘A revelation from experiments involving the Royal Guard,’
Due to its perilous nature, Reagent No. 142 remains locked away in a corner of the laboratory storage.
Violet chuckled as if finding the request absurd.
“If you want to commit suicide, you should mention it in the alchemy room. If you wish, I could even assist you. What do you say?”
“I have no intention of dying.”
“Why is that?”
“Because I need to live. Besides, isn’t this a proposal that could benefit both of us?”
“It seems you’ve come due to the condition set by the Grand master. But what gain is there for me? If this fact were to reach the ears of our family head, I’d be reprimanded.”
“You’re not someone who fusses over trivial matters. And even though you’re the family head, you’re aware that you can’t treat the alchemist recklessly.”
“Did you… No, I mean, does the household have such an interest in me?”
Violet’s eyes swept over my ample belly, and she grinned.
“So, what part of this benefits me? Technically, as the Meteor Sword Sect’s heir, you barely escaped execution. I don’t see how you could help me.”
“…Do you truly believe that?”
“Yes. You’re just a layabout.”
Violet’s expression turned mocking. Suppressing the urge to curse, I opened my mouth.
“Enough with the pointless chatter. Let’s get to the point.”
“The point?”
“Olde Violet, the eldest of the noble family. Or rather, now that the ‘failure’ has escaped, perhaps Mother Violet is more fitting. If you prefer a different title…”
Before I could finish, the air turned icy. Violet’s face, which had been full of laughter, transformed like a wax doll.
“How do you know that?”
A mechanical sound—her expressionless head twisted almost at a right angle.
It was a grotesque movement, surpassing the human joint range by far.
“Why do you care? You’re not supposed to know something even the family head doesn’t.”
“Is that really important?”
“It is. It’s the most crucial matter to me. Far more important than your wretched life, my lord.”
Bubuuu-A small fly appeared behind her and settled on my shoulder. The chill emanating from Violet’s “body part” sent shivers down my spine.
‘Seems like I rushed things. I should have been more cautious.’
I swallowed hard.
Violet isn’t angry. She’s merely afraid that the existence of the escaped “failure” might reach the family head’s ears.
“Swear that no one else knows about this, so don’t worry.”
“How can I believe that?”
“If I had been careless, would the family head still be unharmed?”
“Hmm… That makes sense. Since we’re in this situation, I could easily silence you here.”
Violet’s lips twisted into a wry smile, and simultaneously…
Buzzzz—The fly perched on my shoulder began to buzz.
It felt like a razor blade was slicing through my spine. Any movement, even the slightest, might sever my neck.
Suppressing my fear, I addressed Violet with a steady voice.
“If you kill me now, you’ll regret it. I assure you, currently, there’s only one person in the Meteor Sword Sect… no, on the entire continent who can assist you.”
“I find that hard to believe. How could you catch a slippery fish like the one I can’t even grasp?”
“Even if I can’t reveal all my cards, there are ways to keep some hidden. Instead, I’ll offer you insurance. Take it.”
I handed her an envelope, prepared in advance to divert attention from our precarious situation.
“…What’s this?”
“It’s my will.”
My self-written testament—a declaration of my inability to overcome guilt, leading me to take my own life. Violet furrowed her brow as she read the concise letter.
“Why are you giving this to me?”
“Didn’t I mention it? It’s insurance for our deal.”
To gain something overflowing with value, one must pay an appropriate price.
To persuade Violet, who has many useful corners, I also needed to risk my life.
“We are making a deal. If you promise to support me in the future…”
“If I promise?”
“I’ll find the guy within a year.”
“Then this will be…”
Finally, Violet understood my intention and widened her eyes.
“If I fail to keep the promise or die due to the side effects of the incomplete product you provided, consider it a ‘fatal accident’ disguised as suicide.”
Given Violet’s keen understanding of human anatomy, that level of deception should be a piece of cake.
Moreover, since I personally wrote the will, even magical detection won’t expose the truth.
“…Isn’t this a risky deal for you?”
Violet, having heard my proposal, glanced around and lowered her voice.
“It doesn’t matter. If I continue like this, I won’t last a day. Whether I die this way or that way, it’s the same. At least let’s make a stand. As I mentioned earlier, isn’t this a mutually beneficial deal?”
Despite my past rebelliousness, it’s a matter of life and death. Why not give it a shot?
“Hmm…”
As Violet rolled her eyes, searching for any other options, a smile crept across her face.
“Well, if you put it that way. No room for hesitation, right?”
Then she dashed to the research lab’s storage area and retrieved a container filled with blood-red liquid.
“Take it. We have plenty in stock, so feel free to use it. If you need anything else, just let me know.”
While it might seem like a risky deal from Violet’s perspective, considering the unverified effects of the substances, it’s a different story for me.
I have two reasons to back this up.
Firstly, I’m a seasoned collector of nearly all of Disa’s items.
Therefore, Violet’s current and future item information is at my fingertips.
‘The first thing that’s really dangerous is two-fold. I’ll have to pay a little more attention to that.’
‘And the second thing is that I have the attributes of a player, not an NPC.’
[Blood of the Berserker]
▶ The user’s judgment becomes cloudy, and they repetitively perform the same actions blindly to achieve their goal.
▶ Duration: [3 hours]
In Dias, players are avatars created to usher in the advent of the god of light in the present world.
One of the features of avatars is the existence of clear durations for consumable items with special effects or spells.
‘It seems like using unfamiliar languages or characters, or even seeing a status window, is some kind of ability that avatars have.’
Anyway.
In other words, if I can somehow endure only the duration, I can survive.
‘I’m glad I memorized Dias’s settings.’
It’s the first time I’ve felt proud of myself for being so obsessed with the game and putting it before everything else.
And then, while I was feeling proud.
“Alright. This is the first time you’ve impressed me, young master.”
“Shall we draft our contract? Deals need to be certain, after all.”
Among the creatures I’ve raised, not a single character has ever consumed Violet’s creations and died.
“Among them, there were certainly useful items that performed at least above an inferior level.”
As I pondered, I surveyed my surroundings.
Despite the bright daylight, there was no sign of activity near the annex. How many lackeys and maids did my original self keep here?
That spineless wretch.
Cursing the one who left me in this wretched situation, I retrieved the Warrior’s Blood from Violet. It was obtained by trading my own life for it.
“Until death… No, just enough to avoid dying outright.”
Even if I suffer severe damage, my avatar’s superhuman recovery abilities should keep me alive.
- You have consumed Warrior’s Blood.
- Remaining duration: 3 hours.
- As a result, the Lethargy trait is temporarily removed.
- Overall physical abilities have slightly increased.
- Current strength: 3
As the message surfaced, my body gradually heated up. It’s hot.
I’ve only seen this feeling through the monitor.
Although it’s temporary, the trait that held me back is now removed, so it’s time to take action.
“I will survive; I will definitely survive.”
After making my determination, I took a deep breath, fueled by excitement, and stepped forward.
- Strength has slightly increased.
