Compromise

Chapter 48: Compromise

Time rewound to a day earlier.

The day before Han Dong went to register at the Knight Academy.

During the relocation from the Samai common district to the student housing, most of the moving was handled by local security personnel.

For the furniture, his sister Nina and mother went to the large market in the common district to pick it out. Once paid for, staff would deliver it all the way to their new home.

For this entire day, Han Dong didn't have to worry about anything; he just needed to rest well.

However, Han Dong had no intention of relaxing or resting.

He chose to study in seclusion in his old home, which was now completely empty in the common district.

First, he spent about five hours reading books about ghouls… gaining a detailed and in-depth understanding of this ancient monster species. Afterward, he began training and practicing with the 'arm'.

Connecting this brand-new arm, even if not perfectly skilled, he needed to at least be able to use it smoothly.

First, Han Dong realized the issue of 'weight'.

This arm, taken from a mature ghoul, was attached to Nicholas's body, a lean and thin physique that barely reached 1.7 meters tall and had suffered from long-term malnutrition. The arm was completely mismatched.

Including the length of its fingernails, the arm, when hanging naturally, could touch the ground. Its powerful muscle tissue was nearly as wide as his body… it was completely uncoordinated.

"The weight of this arm is estimated to be 20-30 kilograms. My body simply cannot bear it… once I swing it, my entire center of gravity will be thrown off, making combat impossible."

Han Dong couldn't last even ten minutes into his practice.

He was sweating profusely and gasping for air.

The characteristics of the Ghoul Arm were: [Great Strength], [Swift Movement], [Fungal Properties], and [Limited Regeneration], but these were exclusive to the arm itself.

Han Dong's physical fitness was still lacking.

"This won't do. Nicholas's body isn't something that can be easily trained… I need to come up with a solution.

I cannot explain the existence of Possessed Chen Li, nor can I let Chen Li appear in front of others.

If I encounter danger during registration, I must resolve it myself… a mere short sword isn't enough. I must master this arm and completely turn it into my own ability."

"Is there any compromise… a way to utilize the power of the 'Ghoul Arm' without bearing such a weight?"

Han Dong stared at the massive arm.

The only thing he could do was use the 'Imitation' ability granted by the Faceless Head. Besides disguising his face, it could also make the arm appear human.

Was there a way to compromise?

Han Dong spent four hours switching between the original form and the disguised form.

Slowly.

As the number of switches increased, his control became more proficient.

Han Dong gradually began to feel a peculiar sensation during the switching process… the key was to grasp that feeling and stop mid-switch.

Unknowingly, the sky had darkened.

The kerosene lamp in the room had been moved, leaving the room pitch black.

However, after a while, a faint green light emanated from the room, scaring some passing neighbors who quickly returned to their homes.

The green light originated from the 'Graveyard Fungus' property within Han Dong's right arm.

Green, bioluminescent blood vessels covered the arm, even protruding outwards.

Furthermore, the front end of the arm had grown sharp claws, about ten centimeters long.

Short and slender… but much sharper.

In this form, the arm maintained its human-like size, and the weight remained unchanged.

The green light emanating from the arm illuminated Han Dong's sinister smiling face.

"Haha… I succeeded! This is the compromise. The arm's weight and size remain the same, but I can activate the 'Graveyard Fungus' and 'Claw' attributes.

Although the power is greatly reduced, I can control it freely."

Han Dong casually swung his right arm.

Wherever his claws passed, stronger, corrosive fungal spores were left in the air.

After spending a full half-day, he could finally wield this brand-new arm freely… however, Han Dong's training plan was not yet over.

He took out a few white candles from his backpack and lit the dark old room.

"Miss Chen Li…"

As Han Dong called out.

The candlelight flickered.

A figure in red floated out.

The woman was already standing with her head bowed in the darkest corner of the room.

In this setting, it was truly terrifying, and Han Dong almost got caught up in the horror, his breathing becoming slightly rapid.

"Don't... don't scare me."

"...I didn't mean to," Chen Li immediately tied her hair back with a rubber band. "I just 'habitually' do this... this appearance makes me more comfortable."

"Habitually? So scaring people isn't the ghoul's true intention?"

This was the first time Han Dong had heard such a statement.

Once Chen Li tied her hair into a ponytail, her terrifying aura vanished without a trace.

Perhaps due to 'Evil Refining Evolution,' Chen Li had also shed much of the rustic charm she brought from the mountain village.

The dense evil energy made her appear even more aloof, while also making her skin delicate and cold.

"What do you need me for?"

"To spar with me... Since you can't appear in public right now, this trip to the Knight Academy might involve a series of trials or tests. I need to have a certain level of strength myself, otherwise, I won't be able to hold my head up in the academy, which will affect my future development."

"Spar? I'm worried... I might hurt you."

When Chen Li's eyes met Han Dong's, they would occasionally dart away.

"It's fine, just stop at the appropriate time, won't you? Some superficial injuries are insignificant."

"Then I'll try... All out?"

"Try going all out first. If I can't keep up, you can gradually lower it."

As soon as the words fell.

Without giving Han Dong any chance to react... a chilling wind swept over him, and a cleaver was already at his throat.

Chen Li was no longer the lightly corrupted individual from Destiny Space.

After drinking the liquid from the Holy Grail and evolving... Chen Li's temperament, the amount of evil energy, and her overall attributes had all seen significant improvement. She could be said to have completely transcended the human realm.

"Uh... slow down, a little bit slower."

Finally, after the two adjusted, Chen Li reduced her strength to thirty percent, which was exactly the training intensity Han Dong needed.

With this training, Han Dong didn't get home to rest until close to midnight.

Time returned to the present, [Dark Moon Forest].

Thanks to this intensive training.

Han Dong chose to formulate a combat plan centered around himself, facing the 'Scissor Stitched Creature' alone.

The pressure generated when the monster's tongue, wielding scissors, swung at him was much less than Chen Li's.

"Her speed, terrifying presence, and fighting spirit aren't as good as Chen Li's. In that case..."

As the stitched creature approached.

A stream of plague energy shot out from the tip of the short blade.

It precisely entered the opponent's mouth, corroding the crucial tongue... The long tongue, along with the scissors, fell to the ground.

Han Dong's right arm had already transformed into a normally sized, freely controllable limb.

Green veins bulged on the surface of his skin, and his claws were ready.

Shuua!

Taking advantage of the opening created by the severed tongue of the stitched creature, Han Dong launched his attack.

His claws dug in and forcefully tore open the stitched creature's body.

A dark core was stuck to its stomach wall.