Chapter 260: A Monster with Pink Hair

[NEW SYSTEM UPDATE!]

[STATUS REPORT]

<User: Silas Cupid Ashard>

<Race: Heartweaver Fae (First Wing)>

<Rank: SSS>

<Title(s): Exalted Orc Dominator, The First, The Orc King, Monster Seducer*, Illusion Breaker, Executioner>

<Age: 18>

<Level: 31>

<EXP: 0 / 2,100>

<Core Functions: Active!>

<System Integrity: Stable>

<Host Condition: Excellent>

[Core Stats]

<Mana: 4,250 / 4,250>

<Strength: 103>

<Speed: 106>

<Stamina: 108>

<Agility: 105>

<Intelligence: 86>

<Endurance: 91>

<Charm: 150>

<Cupid Points: 108,900,300+50,000 = 109,000,300>

||Note: The user’s physical attributes have increased following repeated high-level combat, racial development, and exposure to powerful entities.

[Heartweaver’s Racial Traits & Abilities:]

<Heartweaver Physique>

<Passive Heart Sense>

<Passive Fate Thread Vision>

<Passive Heart Domain>

<Passive Thread Stitch>

[Newly Detected Development!:]

<First Wing Manifestation:> The user’s first wing has become fully integrated into his Heartweaver lineage.

[Ability & Related Skills:]

[Ability: Thread Manipulation:]

[Stage 1: Perception:]

<Thread Perception>

<Thread Sight>

<Thread Analysis>

<Weak Point Detection>

[Stage 2: Physical Manipulation:]

<Physical Thread Manipulation>

<Razor Thread>

<Thread Spear>

<Marionette Grip>

<Web Domain>

[New Development!:]

<Thread Domain Awareness:> The user can now perceive abnormalities within constructed spaces, false environments, and illusion-based domains.

<Thread-Core Detection:> The user can distinguish between an outer manifestation and the actual source hidden behind it.

<Thread Resonance:> The user’s threads have become more responsive to hostile entities, abnormal energy, and domain structures.

[Cupid’s Traits:]

<Lust: Unranked>

<Mischief: Unranked>

<Battle: Awakened>

<Possession & Obsession: Unranked>

<Authority: Awakened>

[Skills:]

<Resonance: Special>

<Smooth Talker: Lv. 6>

<Sex Machine: Lv. 8>

<Prowess: Lv. 9>

<Dagger Arts: Lv. 4>

<Martial Arts: Lv. 6>

<Fated Echo: 2>

<Orc King’s Vision>

<Orc King’s Strength>

<Perfect Stature>

<Archery: Lv. 2>

<Talons of Tyranny>

<Solar Wings>

<Sunball>

[Marked Partners:]

<Anna Miles>

<Gromda Ashard>

<Chloe Montreal>

<Echidna, Mother of Monsters>

[Cupid Abilities:]

<Desire Manipulation>

<Charm Reflex>

<Targeted Obsession>

<Fated Connection>

[Cupid Weapon Set:]

[Cupid Arrow Sets:]

<Piercing Arrows: Unlocked>

<Additional Arrow Sets: Locked>

[Cupid Bow Set:]

<Wooden Hunter Bow: Unlocked>

<Additional Bow Sets: Locked>

[System Perks:]

<Shop Storage>

<World Catalogue>

[New System Function Detected!]

<Combat Exchange:> Allows the user to exchange Cupid Points for weapons, items, and combat-related resources during active situations.

Note: Item rank, system permissions, and available Cupid Points may restrict this function.

___

Looking at his current progress, Silas couldn’t help but whistle, but he had questions- a lot of them. And, as if reading his thoughts, the system started explaining stuff, saving him the energy of asking.

[Battle: Awakened]

[The user’s combat instincts, physical output, aggression, and enjoyment of battle have begun to synchronize with his Cupid nature.]

"Hmm?"

[Effects observed:

Increased physical strength during combat, increased speed and reaction time, improved close-range combat performance, greater pain tolerance, increased combat adaptability, abnormal persistence against stronger opponents, and increased attack intensity when the user is entertained by battle.]

"That’s new... looks overpowered," Silas commented while sipping cola. They still had some hours before the next stage started.

The system continued, ignoring his comments.

[Authority: Awakened

The user’s Authority has demonstrated the ability to interfere with and override the control of powerful entities connected to his domain of influence.]

[Recent Development: Stronger interference against powerful beings, increased resistance to external control, improved ability to impose the user’s presence upon hostile entities, and possible influence over entities affected by the user’s marks, traits, or domain.

Further development is required.]

"Uh... huh..."

"Who are you speaking to?" Alpha asked Silas, looking at him weirdly.

"You know what..." Silas answered, winking at Alpha.

"..."

"You know... I almost..."

"Don’t..."

"Blus..."

"Alpha..."

"Cool down your horses, big guy. I’m not attracted to men."

Alpha stared at him. Silas stared right back.

For three agonizing seconds, the room was dead silent. Then, Alpha slowly raised one hand, a faint, terrifying pressure rippling around his fingertips.

Silas immediately leaned back. "Whoa, whoa. Violence against a beautiful man? In this economy?"

"You were about to say something stupid."

"I was going to say something charming."

"You were going to say something disgusting."

"Those two aren’t mutually exclusive," Silas grinned.

Alpha’s knuckles cracked like a pistol shot, causing Silas to promptly dart behind Chloe, using her as a human shield. "Chloe, protect me! I am being victimized!"

Chloe didn’t even look up from her drink. "You brought this on yourself."

"Can you two shut the hell up?" Neil groaned from the couch, a pillow jammed over his face. "I am trying to sleep."

"Then sleep harder!" Silas shot back.

Before Alpha could step around Chloe to flatten him, a violent tremor shuddered through the walls. The cozy lights flickered and died. Outside the window, the peaceful artificial sky shattered into blackness as the tower’s oppressive presence descended like a suffocating weight.

Neil sat up instantly. "Oh, come on."

A giant translucent screen materialized in the center of the room, casting a stark cyan glare over their faces.

[STAGE FOUR: TRIAL OF THE FOUR PATHS.]

[OBJECTIVE: REACH THE CENTRAL SANCTUM.]

[ADDITIONAL OBJECTIVE: SURVIVE.]

[TIME LIMIT: 12 HOURS.]

A 3D projection expanded, revealing a brutal map split into four distinct, unforgiving biomes surrounding a jagged black spire: a suffocating dark forest, shattered stone ruins, a frozen wasteland, and a burning pit of molten rock.

[ACADEMIES WILL BE DIVIDED INTO FOUR GROUPS BASED ON PREVIOUS PERFORMANCE.

COOPERATION IS PERMITTED. BETRAYAL IS ALSO PERMITTED.]

Neil’s face drained of color. "Why did it feel the need to specify that last part?"

"Because someone’s going to stab us in the back," Damien said dryly.

Then, a flashing red warning text blanketed the screen:

[WARNING!]

[STAGE FOUR HOSTILE ENTITIES WILL NOT USE STANDARD CLASSIFICATIONS.]

[ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS MAY EXCEED HOSTILE THREATS.]

[SPECIAL CONDITIONS MAY ALTER ABILITIES, SKILLS, AND PHYSICAL LIMITATIONS.]

The room went dead silent. Even Silas’s signature smirk faltered slightly.

Interfering with abilities? That wasn’t just a hurdle; it was a potential death sentence.

The peaceful rest period was officially over. Panic transformed into practiced discipline as the team scrambled. Weapons were checked, armor buckled, and quick formation strategies shouted across the room.

Chloe stepped up beside Silas. "What’s your take?"

"The tower’s getting creative," Silas said, watching the countdown tick toward five minutes.

"It wants to split us up, nerf our stats, and throw us in a sandbox with desperate people."

Alpha stepped up on his other side, checking his gauntlets. "And you look thrilled."

"I am," Silas admitted, a familiar, dangerous glint returning to his eyes. "When the rules break, everyone panics. Confused people are much easier to manipulate."

"That’s horrifying," Alpha muttered.

Suddenly, a blue pulse flared beneath their feet.

[NEW MAIN OBJECTIVE: REACH THE CENTRAL SANCTUM.]

The golden transfer light surged around them, blinding and hot.

Silas rolled his shoulders, a faint pink thread dancing across his knuckles. "Alright," he murmured into the blinding light.

"Let’s see what kind of mess we’re walking into."

In a flash, Valecrest was gone.