IDLE Database

Expectedly, that's not enough to kill an Extraordinary Rank creature. However, the attack seeped through the cut Aldrin made on its back, resulting in the hyena rolling on the ground in extreme pain, its blood seeping out of its gaping wound. Some of the smaller green-spotted hyenas crowded before its wound.

Astoundingly, they're pooling in their Dimensional Energy together to accelerate the Dreadgnaw's recovery as well its skin regeneration.

On the other hand, Aldrin, after having been freed with his predicament, cleared his head. He stood up and had the thought of finishing the Dreadgnaw while he had the chance.

Alas, the chance was already nonexistent.

As if they're royal guards to a king, the green-spotted hyenas that didn't crowd around the Dreadgnaw, blocked his way, snarling and barking to intimidate him.

Even until this time, none of them released that paralytic toxic gas.

Thinking back to its description again, Aldrin suspected something. 'Is it because it's still daytime? They can only produce their toxic gas at night?'

That's the only plausible reason he could think of. Either way, even without that, the number of hyenas was simply overwhelming.

A few distances away, Irina and the others had just started thinning the herd of hyenas trying to take down the Metadomes of the trainees.

'This is so not good. They're healing the Dreadgnaw. Even if I am confident to pass through these beasts, it will be too late. Moreover…'

Aldrin dreadfully glanced in the direction of the sea of trees.

While he's trying to pass through the wall of green-spotted hyenas, another pack of hyenas came flooding out from its depths.

The others hadn't noticed it yet because of the distance but if they continued fighting like this, they would definitely lose. However, even if they decided to retreat behind their walls inside the base camp, they would have to prepare to defend a siege.

'Where the hell are the instructors?! Isn't it high time for them to show up?!' He screamed inwardly.

His mind continued whirling with thoughts and possibilities. And upon thinking about it carefully, there's a possibility that they're also in a difficult situation. Or worse, the changes in this Dimension finally encroached upon the explored areas.

'Triple IDLE points. Yeah, right. I have no choice but to reveal them then also… it's about time to use that.'

Having decided on something, Aldrin called the four Dimensional Clones to come to his aid. And as if it's not enough, he used 2200 Essences to summon one Guardian Ant and Spider Sentinel to block the new flood of hyenas.

Aldrin pulled out his Metadome from battling the hyena royal guards. In his place, three hazy Shadow Clones replaced him.

He's aware. Everything he just summoned would not be able to last long against them but at least that gave him a breathing space.

Aldrin quickly opened a private communication channel to contact someone and relay his orders. A private channel had a longer range since it only connected one to another but the public one needed everyone connected to it to be in a certain range.

Obviously, he's outside that range. A while later, Irina's face appeared on his screen once more. She smiled but it's clear that she's near exhaustion. Or rather, her refined energy was about to be emptied. If it continued, losing consciousness and being weakened was the least thing that could happen. But on this battlefield? She'd surely be food for the carnivorous beasts.

Aldrin put on a calm look to avoid her from panicking as he put down an order. "Irina, relay this to everyone. The situation is currently bad. Evacuate inside the walls after rescuing Faye's group. I'll follow soon after."

"…U-understood! You better follow!"

Thankfully she only reminded him that. After nodding at her, Aldrin closed the channel to finally do what aimed to do.

Through the IDLE Database installed in his Metadome, Aldrin activated what he set aside yesterday. It's something that he couldn't truly explain if found out. But given the circumstances, it's his only shot to have a chance at resolving the current situation.

[You spent 3,000 IDLE Points]

[Applying Multiplier…]

[Note: Host will feel pangs of pain in both your mind and body. You will also feel a burning sensation in your Energy Channels and Energy Quintessence. Forcefully raising Host's prowess is akin to overstretching your current body's limits. It will persist until you opt to deactivate. However, the possibility of getting used and adapting to it is not zero.]

'As expected. It's not that simple… Ugh!'

Aldrin hadn't finished reading that note yet when the small part of the Metadome's holographic screen glowed and basked him in intense dazzling light that seemingly occupied the whole space of the cockpit.

That small part was what IDLE Database currently occupied. Although similar to how he's basking and absorbing Dimensional Energy whenever he would convert IDLE Points, the light was more intensified as if he's right under the sun.

Pain instantly coursed through his body starting from his four limbs. The pain was unimaginable. In his mind, feeling his limbs chopped while was leagues more comfortable to it. As those pangs of pain reached his bones, they began cracking loudly as if they're being crushed and regenerated at the same time. When it's done with his bones, his inner organs one by one ached as if they're being poked by countless needles before gradually sinking in them. His stomach acids boiled fiercely and he was about to vomit whatever he had eaten later. And when the pain reached his heart, Aldrin clutched his chest almost like someone having a heart attack. His heart started beating crazily as if it was revolting against him and it wanted to quickly pump all of his blood out.

If someone could see him at the moment, they'd surely be horrified at what he's going through.

However, even with all that, Aldrin held back a scream. He endured it thoroughly. In place of a scream, the tight suit that he was wearing was drenched in a cold sweat.

Unfortunately, that's not the end of his suffering or rather, the application of the Tier 2 Multiplier in his body.

Just when he thought he could finally breathe a sigh of relief, his vision darkened as his mind started being racked by another unimaginable bout of pain. This time, it's like his brain was being squeezed to a pulp.

Although the process only lasted for a few seconds, Aldrin felt like he had gone to and from the fabled underworld a few times already.

A few seconds later, Aldrin felt a flood of energy feeling his body as it coursed through his Energy Quintessence and every Energy Channel existing in his body. At first, it felt like his thirst was being quenched after walking in a desert without any water for a long time. It's too comfortable. Comfortable enough for him to want to rest and simple after the first two tortures he had experienced.

However, given that he failed to completely read the note, another surprise dropped on him.

The flood of energy coursing through his body didn't stop after his thirst was thoroughly quenched, it kept flowing into him, bloating both his Energy Quintessence and Energy Channels. Even it's not the same process that he needed to take to reach the peak Stage 1.

The energy that filled him up felt too foreign and once they settled down, it seeped through the walls of both his Energy Quintessence and Energy Channels until they disappeared completely.

'Is it over?' He foolishly asked.

At this point he's almost a spent tire, he just wanted an escape.

Regrettably, it wouldn't be given to him yet.

Following the absorption of the overflowing energy to the walls of his Energy Quintessence and Energy Channels, searing pain as if he was being deep-fried in boiling oil attacked his senses.

At this point, his endurance broke. His mouth opened wide and a scream resembling something about to die a horrifying death rang out.

"Aaaaahhhh!"

Lucky him, he's inside the Metadome. Had he been outside of it, everyone would be able to hear his death throes.

One second.

Two seconds.

Three seconds.

At exactly five seconds, the searing pain weakened to the point of being bearable but Aldrin… his eyes already lost their light…

Being subjected to that kind of pain… It's a miracle that he only screamed at the last moment.

And as fate would have it, if he lifted his head and stared at what's the view in front of his Metadome, he'd see the Dreadgnaw stood up, its fur turning purple as it began its charge towards him.