"Hahahaha... you truly did not disappoint me." Lilith laughed with satisfaction.
The scroll of "Assimilation Method" rank A vanished, while the Chimera scroll in Lucien's hand emitted a dazzling light.
"You definitely won't regret this decision," Lilith said confidently. "I will help you reach heights that no one has ever attained."
Lucien also gave a confident smile. "Uhm! I trust you, Master. I will definitely surpass the barriers of fate and accomplish things no one has ever done."
Immediately after, the scroll transformed into a stream of light, flying straight into Lucien's forehead.
"Relax..." Lilith began to instruct Lucien on how to absorb energy using the Chimera Assimilation Method.
Lucien sat on the ground, closed his eyes, and began to follow everything Lilith said.
After a while, he sensed streams of green energy in the surrounding space starting to flow into his body.
However, the amount was very small and extremely sparse. He tried to absorb for more than two consecutive hours, but could only assimilate and convert two streams of green energy.
Those two streams of energy were only enough to fill a quarter of his energy storage capacity.
Lucien opened his eyes and let out a long sigh. "Too slow, it seems... in order to have the necessary amount of energy, I'll need to absorb energy for the entire night."
"Don't be discouraged," Lilith spoke up at this moment. "After all, right now it's only rank E. Once you upgrade it to rank D or higher, the speed will increase significantly."
"It's just... I didn't think this Assimilation Method would suit you this much."
"Heh?!" Lucien asked in confusion, "What do you mean, Master?"
Lilith explained, "The Assimilation Method isn't something everyone can learn. If the synchronization rate is too low, you can only bring out its effects at the lowest level."
"Simply put, the higher the synchronization rate, the greater the effects of the Assimilation Method."
"The Chimera Assimilation Method is something extremely peculiar, which is why I thought you would have a hard time synchronizing with it."
"In fact, I even thought you'd need a week just to start bringing out its effects. But on the contrary, in only two hours, you've already mastered its use and unleashed its effects to the maximum."
"It seems... you and it truly are made for each other, the synchronization rate is unbelievably high."
Hearing this, Lucien felt a surge of happiness inside.
Even Master thought he'd need a week to activate the effects brought by the Chimera, but in the end, he only needed two hours.
Lucien felt a connection between himself and the Chimera.
Both of them started from an incredibly humble beginning, but he believed that he and the Chimera could reach a level that anyone would look up to with envy.
"All right!" Lilith said at this moment, "That's enough. There's no need to rush. Let your body get used to the Chimera a bit."
"At this pace, with my assistance, by the time you have to duel that brat Lathel, you'll reach Level 1 – Mid-stage."
"By then, all you'll need to do is swing your sword and it will be enough to kill that brat with ease."
Hearing this, Lucien felt immense joy at the thought of Lathel kneeling at his feet, crying like a dog.
At that time, everyone would realize that Lathel was nothing but a liar—so weak and pitiful.
Just then, Lilith continued, "Lucien, remember this well... in this world, rules are made by the strong."
"No matter how clever or deceitful he may be, in the end, he's still useless."
"When faced with absolute power, every scheme is meaningless."
"Yes, Master." Lucien clenched his fists and smiled. "I will definitely not let you down."
...
The next day, Lathel woke up in his private room.
He and Selvia hadn't seen each other for a day, but he wasn't worried.
On the contrary, he calmly enjoyed his breakfast. Beside him, the maid Mira began helping him change his bandages, but when she saw his wound, she was startled.
"Ah! Your Highness's wound has almost completely healed," Mira exclaimed in surprise.
Lathel smiled, reached out, and gently caressed Mira's beautiful face.
She didn't resist as her blushing face was held in his hand. On the contrary, inside, she was so happy it felt like she could float up to heaven.
Her eyes curved like crescent moons, her body trembled slightly but she still tried to stand still, her heart pounding wildly as if it were about to leap out of her chest.
Lathel teased Mira a little, then said, "After all, my mother invited the best apothecaries in the Kingdom and used the most precious medicines, so it's only natural for my recovery to be this fast."
Hearing that, Mira pursed her lips, her eyes full of concern as she looked at the wound. "Your Highness, will it... will it leave a scar?"
"Maybe it will... maybe it won't..." Lathel replied indifferently. "Are you worried about me?"
Mira nodded lightly, her eyes wet as if she were about to cry. Lathel gently patted her head, then let her continue changing the bandage.
He asked, "How is Selvia now?"
"Your Highness..." Mira answered as she changed his bandage, "Her Highness the Princess Consort is much more emotionally stable now, but... she's still very sad."
Hearing this, a look of worry appeared on Lathel's face. He sighed and said apologetically, "It's because I was too careless that I made her worry."
"No! Your Highness, please don't say that," Mira said angrily, puffing out her cheeks. "Those idiots have really been brainwashed by the Church."
"They not only fail to see your kindness, but even tried to assassinate you."
"I really don't understand what the hell they're doing anymore."
Lathel shook his head and said, "Don't blame them. They're just being manipulated by the Church. After all, they are still citizens of this Kingdom."
"If we harm them, the ones who die are still our own people. The only true beneficiary would be the Church—do you understand?"
Mira tilted her head. Although she didn't quite understand, she still nodded, doing her best to look like she understood everything Lathel had just said.
Lathel glanced at Mira, then looked toward the window, his eyes filled with satisfaction.
'Good. Keep feeling guilty, keep blaming yourself, Selvia,' Lathel thought to himself. 'That way, you'll have the motivation to awaken your S-rank talent.'
'Don't waste it. Don't become useless.'
At that moment, while Mira was changing Lathel's bandage, she suddenly shivered, a chill running down her spine as if she sensed something truly evil nearby.
Mira turned her head, looking around, but didn't notice anything unusual. She was left feeling bewildered.
Lathel, meanwhile, gave a command to the System in his mind: "System, summarize my total experience points up to now."
[🔔 Summarizing total experience points up to now.
You have received a total of: 5,832,000 EXP as of 00:00.
Total EXP you currently have: 10,384,000 EXP.]
"Over ten million EXP?" Lathel frowned, considering what to do with all that EXP.
He thought for a moment, then said, "Mira, leave me alone for a bit. I want some quiet."
"Ah! Yes, Your Highness." Mira hurriedly straightened Lathel's clothes, and every now and then, she would 'accidentally' let her body brush against his hand.
After that, her face burning red as if she was about to burst into flames, she left the room.
Lathel watched Mira's retreating figure with contempt, then ordered the System, "How much EXP is needed to upgrade the 'Perfect Human' talent?"
[🔔 To upgrade the 'Perfect Human' talent from level 3 to level 4, you need 9,000,000 EXP.]
"Good! Upgrade 'Perfect Human'."
[🔔 9,000,000 EXP has been successfully deducted. Upgrading the 'Perfect Human' talent now.]
At that moment, whirlwinds formed in the space around Lathel, converging toward him as if he were a black hole.
His body swelled slightly, then returned to normal.
Waves of energy coursed through his body, making him feel as if he were being bathed in warm currents.
A moment later, Lathel opened his eyes, nodded lightly, and felt utterly satisfied.
[🔔 Upgrade successful.]
...
Name: Lathel Solvain
Identity: Youngest Prince of the Kingdom of Terith (in reality, a transmigrator replacing the real prince who was kidnapped)
🎭 Role: Villain
🎖️ Level: Level 2 – Late-stage
Talents:
🌀 Space (Rank S) – Level 2 🧬 Perfect Human (Rank B) – Level 4
🔱 Soulbound Weapon: Celesthalis (Spirit: Evelyn Noctis)
💖 Harem:
💍 Selvia Aquelis (Wife)
...
"My energy reserve has doubled compared to level 3, and the quality of the energy has also increased significantly," Lathel muttered as he looked at his hands.
"The most important thing is..." Lathel saw countless white specks of light in the air slowly drifting toward him, automatically transforming into energy within his body.
"It seems..." Lathel gave a wicked smile, "my body is now even more terrifying than most energy assimilation methods in existence."
Suddenly, Vera entered the room and bowed. "Master! The plan is complete. The believers have already begun to fall into chaos."
Lathel glanced at her, then said, "Tomorrow I will depart for the academy. I... don't want a single grain of sand left in my eyes."
Upon hearing that, Vera bowed her head and replied, "Understood, Master."