Arc 8Moss Takes Control

Moss pushed her training into new territory, gaining powerful talents while nearly losing herself to a corrupting presence. She returned to Hill City, struck at Count Horn’s Territory, built new ties and resources, and ended the stretch by freeing enslaved children.

  • Moss trained at the waterfall, raising her martial skills and attributes before developing new ways to control magic and unleash her physical strength.
  • Moss altered her eyes to perceive mana, but a corrupting presence overwhelmed her until she tore out an eye and used Absolute Domination to destroy it.
  • Moss developed Mana Metamorphosis, transformed water into heavy water, and returned to Hill City with Anlia and Winsa.
  • Moss fought off an attacker sent to seize her, learned that Regis Bitt Horn had sought an Experiment Subject, and flew to Hornsbitt.
  • Moss led millions of Black Rats through Hornsbitt, defeated the Blood Devour Recilos, seized the treasury, and forced Regis into a Kin Contract.
  • Moss removed Umeilu’s Abnormal Organs, then bought twenty-seven Doro Beast younglings and moved them into Kin Space.
  • Moss followed an illegal slave caravan, used Observation Veil to overcome its guards, and freed the children, who called her their master.
Chapters 176–200 Vol. 2 Read

Ch. 176Training

Moss trained her body control by practicing Tai Chi on stone pillars and unexpectedly entered a state of enlightenment. Her Fist Technique improved, restoring some control over her strength, while Roz witnessed her unusual display.

  • After breakfast, Moss went to the inn's backyard to train while Umeilu returned to sleep and recover from surgery.
  • Moss raised stone pillars from the ground and stood motionless on one as she practiced controlling her balance.
  • Roz stopped Celia from disturbing Moss, explaining that Moss had entered a rare state of enlightenment.
  • Moss practiced Tai Chi across the pillars, controlling the wind with her movements and raising her Fist Technique to Level III.
  • Moss checked her strength control and found it had recovered to 9%, then accepted Roz's invitation to lunch and left with Celia.

Ch. 177A Sparring Match

Moss sparred with Roz at a waterfall, pushing her combat skills against the Adamantine-grade fighter and learning from his speed. After Roz left, Moss discovered that she had constructed two new movement talents from analyzing him.

  • Roz brought Moss to a secluded waterfall and agreed to spar with her while suppressing his strength.
  • Roz overwhelmed Moss with rapid attacks, but she used All Knowledge Analysis to read his movements and fight back at close range.
  • Moss stomped Roz's toes with Tremor Step and Active Healing, forcing him to end the spar after less than two minutes.
  • Roz left to test the Martial Skill improvement he had gained, while Moss reflected on how dangerous he would have been in a fight to the death.
  • Moss checked her panel and found that All Knowledge Analysis had constructed the talents Instant Dash and Flash Turn.

Ch. 178Control of the Body

Moss used Instant Dash and Flash Turn to explore how talents could help her control her body, then trained her speed, strength, and martial skills under 10x Gravity at the bottom of a lake. Exhausted but stronger by dawn, she decided to begin Mana Control training while she recovered.

  • Moss recognized Instant Dash and Flash Turn as talents that could help her stabilize her speed and turning at their limits.
  • Moss practiced combining high-speed movement with several fist techniques, triggering Fist Technique III to reach Level IV and blasting a huge hole in the lake.
  • Moss judged that she still lacked control over her strength and began training explosive power under 10x Gravity at the bottom of the lake.
  • Moss trained through the night, raising Full Body Enhancement to Level IV, Instant Dash to Level V, and Flash Turn to Level III; her Constitution reached 1082 and her Spirit reached 967.
  • Little Ball helped Moss dress and fed her breakfast as she rested, and Moss chose Mana Control training as her next method.

Ch. 179Magic Power Conversion

Moss investigated why her increased magic power had not improved her control over it and developed a new approach: studying how Mana Essence converted into elements. She left the lake with hypotheses about changing elemental structure and improving conversion efficiency.

  • Moss lost control of a water ball nearly thirty meters wide, which crashed into the lake and exhausted her.
  • Moss reasoned that her consciousness had not adapted to her stronger body and that changing how it understood magic control might improve her efficiency.
  • Moss tested how Mana Essence became water, fire, and earth, observing that each form dissipated at a different speed when she stopped supplying magic power.
  • Moss proposed investigating whether elemental structure affected conversion, dissipation, and the consumption of magic power and Mental Force.

Ch. 180Instant Burst Force

Moss spent five days studying Magic Power and improving her techniques, then stumbled upon a new sensation while practicing her Fist Technique. After hours of training and a day of stillness, she unleashed a devastating punch that blasted a hole through the lake and raised her talents to new levels.

  • Moss developed the Burst technique by combining an unstable Elemental Structure with compression, while her experiments with water and solid states remained unsuccessful.
  • Moss concluded that her perceptive ability was insufficient and determined that she needed to solve Problem Four to advance her research.
  • A punch from Moss suddenly tore a dark hole into the lake, but she could not reproduce the sensation, so she trained intensely for hours before sitting motionless underwater.
  • After another day, Moss sprang into a punching stance and murmured, "Rising Dragon..."
  • Moss unleashed a punch that sent a pillar of water hundreds of meters into the air, gained several talent level increases, and laughed with satisfaction.

Ch. 181The Goal Was Achieved!

After seven days of training, Moss gained Instant Burst Force IV and regained control of her body, then discovered that her Magic Power control had returned as her Spirit increased. She celebrated over breakfast and resolved to continue her research.

  • Moss laughed after her training produced Instant Burst Force IV, which let her unleash her muscles’ strength.
  • Moss reviewed her improved attributes and estimated that her body could only withstand about forty percent of its potential force.
  • Moss declared that her next goal was to regain control over Magic Power, but soon found she could already manipulate it and dismissed a huge water sphere.
  • Little Ball comforted Moss and prepared roasted meat with honey from the Farming Area.
  • After eating, Moss announced that she would continue her research despite achieving her goals ahead of schedule.

Ch. 182Blindness?

Anlia and Winsa found Moss practicing above a lake, where her explosive punch briefly reversed a waterfall. When they greeted her, they realized she could not see, leaving them alarmed about her blindness.

  • Anlia and Winsa searched through a thicket for Moss so Anlia could assess whether Blood Devour had parasitized her before vouching for her and Umeilu.
  • Anlia and Winsa reached the waterfall and watched Moss practice martial arts while balancing on bubbles above the lake.
  • Moss’s movements created multiple afterimages that fought one another before she unleashed a punch that sent the lake water surging into the waterfall and briefly reversed its flow.
  • Moss greeted Anlia and Winsa, but Anlia noticed her unresponsive eyes and waved a hand before her face.
  • Anlia and Winsa realized Moss was blind and panicked.

Ch. 183Five Days Earlier

Moss reassured Anlia and Winsa that her temporary blindness came from gaining a Visual Skill, then joined their celebration plans. The chapter shifted five days earlier to show Moss experimenting with water and fire to deepen her perception, but she still could not see the process clearly.

  • Moss told Anlia and Winsa that she was temporarily unable to see because she had obtained a new Visual Skill, and demonstrated that she could move and fight without sight.
  • Anlia explained that the troops had gathered early and that she, Winsa, and Lize were holding a celebration after recovering from their injuries; Moss agreed to attend.
  • Moss changed into dry clothes and covered her eyes with a strip treated with Healing Gel before the story returned to five days earlier.
  • Moss studied a suspended ball of water, heated it until it decomposed into hydrogen and oxygen, then made a drop of water appear in midair.
  • Moss admitted that she still could not see the process clearly, chose not to spend her remaining 13 Job Points, and decided to try again.

Ch. 184Modification and Loss of Control

Moss cut off her five senses to experience the world through her other perception talents, then used All Knowledge Analysis and Flesh Modification to try to strengthen her eyes. The modification went out of control, and strange new talents began constructing as her perception of the world warped.

  • Moss activated Full Body Enhancement and reflected on how her five senses shaped her understanding of the world.
  • Moss summoned Little Ball and ordered it to heal her if she had not recovered after fifteen seconds.
  • Moss severed the sensory nerves connected to her five senses and activated Multiple Senses, perceiving the world through mana, vibration, heat, and gravity.
  • Moss returned to normal and decided to use Flesh Modification to strengthen her senses rather than abandon them.
  • Moss activated All Knowledge Analysis and used Flesh Modification on her eyes, but the process caused her to lose control and writhe in pain.
  • Moss saw her surroundings distort as several unfamiliar talents began constructing.

Ch. 185Absolute Domination

Moss was nearly consumed by a corrupting presence from beyond the world, but Little Ball’s intervention helped her activate Absolute Domination and destroy it. Moss survived with her eyes regrowing, and she left wary of the Alien Gods but grateful for the gains from the ordeal.

  • Moss’s mind and body were overwhelmed by garbled talents and whispers, while Little Ball desperately tried to heal her with spells and gel.
  • Little Ball realized Moss’s eyes were the source of the corruption and tried to destroy them, but Moss dodged before the presence took control again.
  • Moss tore out her own eye, activated Absolute Domination, and gained immunity to mental attacks and pain as she crushed the corrupting talents.
  • Moss seized the distorted presence and burned it away, then vowed to kill it if it returned.
  • Moss told Little Ball she had encountered an existence from beyond the world and explained that her eyes would recover after the cost of using Absolute Domination.
  • Moss reviewed the talents she had gained, admitted her recklessness had nearly killed her, and resolved not to repeat it without a backup plan.

Ch. 186New Results and a New Step

Moss explained her new Mana Eye skill to Anlia and recalled how studying Mana Essence had led her to develop Mana Metamorphosis, letting her transform water into heavy water. She demonstrated its destructive power in the forest, and the group continued toward Hill City.

  • Anlia questioned Moss about her training and new skill, and Moss called it Mana Eye.
  • Moss recalled observing the structures and movements of Magic Particles in fire, water, stone, and gravity, which gave her new insights into elemental transformation.
  • Moss developed Mana Metamorphosis and used it to transform water into heavy water.
  • Moss fired the heavy-water ball through the forest, creating a long tunnel and startling Winsa.
  • Moss, Anlia, and Winsa hurried toward Hill City, hoping to return before sunset.

Ch. 187Back to the City

Anlia brought Moss and Winsa back to Hill City, where monster attacks continued because the Rockscale Dragon had driven monsters from the Rocky Mountain Range. At Golden Jade Breeze, Anlia received a letter from her mother and learned that she was coming too.

  • Anlia and Moss returned to Hill City and saw the city’s troops dealing with ongoing monster attacks.
  • Anlia told Moss that the Rockscale Dragon had driven monsters from the Rocky Mountain Range, causing more monsters to emerge from its World Gates.
  • Anlia showed the Purple Thorns token at the city gate and led Moss and Winsa into the locked-down city.
  • Anlia took Moss and Winsa to Golden Jade Breeze, where Lina and the others were waiting for the celebration.
  • A hotel employee gave Anlia a letter from her mother, and Anlia shouted in anger when she read that her mother was coming.

Ch. 188Intent

Moss reunited with Lina, Lize, Winsa, Anlia, and Umeilu at a celebratory dinner after recovering, while Anlia revealed that her former fiancé would arrive with the Imperial News Propaganda Department to record the extermination campaign. The group continued the celebration at the bathhouse, where Anlia confirmed Moss showed no signs of Blood Devour and eagerly tried to scrub her back.

  • Moss greeted the group, hugged Umeilu, and reassured everyone that she was well after Lina examined her.
  • Winsa explained that Anlia's former fiancé, Jahari Ligu Esyin, was coming to record the extermination campaign as a propaganda envoy.
  • Anlia became furious about Jahari's arrival, but Lina calmed her and suggested the campaign's publicity might build momentum for the First Prince.
  • Anlia led the group to the bathhouse as part of the Featherwing Adventurer Group's post-mission tradition.
  • Anlia saw Moss's healthy skin and concluded that Moss was not infected by Blood Devour or an Executor, then ran over to scrub her back.

Ch. 189Annoying Battle

After a quiet evening with Umeilu, Moss was attacked outside the inn by a man with spatial abilities and a Substitute Ring. Axio stopped Moss from killing him, and Moss went to confront Captain Novi, demanding an explanation for the attack.

  • Moss reflected on the Kin Space’s rapid expansion and planned to look for livestock at the market, while promising Umeilu she might remove her device that night.
  • Moss and Umeilu found an armed carriage waiting outside the inn, and its butler demanded that Moss accompany his master.
  • When Moss refused, the butler and soldiers attacked; Moss knocked out the soldiers and fought the man, who used illusions, spatial movement, poison, and a Substitute Ring.
  • Moss nearly killed the man, but Axio blocked her final strike and asked her to hand him over to Novi; Moss warned Axio before sending Umeilu inside.
  • Moss went to Novi and demanded an explanation, saying the attack was outside the scope of her mission.

Ch. 190Second God's Chosen

Moss confronted Novi after a spy’s attack on the Floating Ship, learned that Regis Bitt Horn had targeted her as an Experiment Subject, and set out toward Count Horn’s Territory. Novi warned Moss that the Second Prince might be involved, but Moss departed at Mach 10, intent on confronting her enemies.

  • Deputy Sali and his soldiers entered Novi’s cabin, but Novi ordered them to leave while she spoke with Moss.
  • Novi apologized for her negligence, and Moss repaired the hole she had cut through the ship’s armor.
  • Moss read the report identifying her as a suspected second God's Chosen and learned that Regis Bitt Horn had sought an Experiment Subject.
  • Moss asked whether she could kill Regis, and Novi warned that Count Horn was close to the Second Prince.
  • Novi cautioned Moss to be careful of the Second Prince, but Moss flew east toward Count Horn’s Territory at Mach 10.

Ch. 191An Unquiet Night

Moss arrived at Hornsbitt and created a vast swarm of Black Rats, putting Xi and Wa in command to test their strength. As the swarm descended on the city, a guard named Norman awoke to crashes and saw the city and castle swallowed by darkness.

  • Moss reached the outskirts of Hornsbitt and summoned Xi and Wa to test their abilities.
  • Moss created tens of thousands of Black Rats, and Xi and Wa organized the swarm.
  • Moss led the swarm toward an old place before midnight, and they vanished from the mountaintop.
  • Norman took over the night watch at the city gate and fell asleep after drinking his wine.
  • Crashes woke Norman, who saw the city lights go out as a black tide of rats flooded through Hornsbitt.

Ch. 192Raging Rat Tide

Recilos ordered Regis to deliver a mysterious mark to Moss, insisting she was divinely favored and could serve as a political bargaining chip. Meanwhile, Moss unleashed a massive Black Rat swarm across Hornsbit City to create a panic without killing civilians, and the city’s professionals began fighting back as she prepared her next move.

  • Recilos told Regis that Moss had to be divinely favored and was meant to become a pawn for His Highness Fagit against the First Prince Fatro.
  • Recilos caused black patterns to appear beneath Regis's skin and ordered him to give the mark to Moss.
  • Moss questioned whether Recilos had been contaminated by an Outer Realm Creature, then learned from Xi and Wa that the rats had occupied the city's sewer entrances.
  • Moss sent six million six hundred and sixty thousand Black Rats into the streets to cause fear, and the swarm overwhelmed residents and swallowed Shute and Ade.
  • Moss revealed that the rats had knocked the civilians unconscious rather than killed them, then announced that she would move on to the next step as professionals began attacking across the city.

Ch. 193The Wealth of Sin

Moss broke into Recilos's treasury after a massive rat attack overwhelmed the castle, then killed the corrupted count and seized his hoard. She left the treasury with Storage Ring after deciding the stolen wealth could be used to help the poor.

  • A frenzied tide of rats battered the castle's defensive array, and Recilos ordered his guards to evacuate Regis after a crystal prism shattered.
  • Moss broke into the underground treasury, where Recilos confronted her and accused her of attacking the city.
  • Moss mocked Recilos for claiming to care about commoners, then revealed she knew he was a Blood Devour and defeated him with a fiery strike.
  • Moss remembered the corpses and sacrificial altar in a hidden room, then burned Recilos to ashes with cyan-blue flames that left her eyes bleeding.
  • Moss had Storage Ring collect the treasury's gold, magic cores, and treasures, then left without counting them, saying the wealth could help the poor.

Ch. 194The Fear of Losing Control

Moss returned to Umeilu after killing Count Horn and forcing Regis Bitt Horn to accept a Kin Contract. Regis gained immense power from the contract, but Moss noted that the transformation had traded away his potential.

  • Umeilu woke to find Moss back and embraced her, while Moss stroked her head after returning from Count Horn's Territory.
  • Moss killed the corrupted creature and offered Regis the choice to serve her or die.
  • Regis, terrified of having his life controlled, begged Moss to spare him and chose to become her master.
  • Moss imposed a Kin Contract on Regis and infused him with Magic Power that raised him from Silver Rank to Diamond-grade strength.
  • Moss observed that Regis had exchanged his potential for strength and would likely be unable to improve further.

Ch. 195Nobles and Plans

Moss turned Regis into her loyal kin and tasked him with carrying out her plans in the city, including establishing a trade association. After restoring Umeilu to health, Moss prepared to go out and continue her work.

  • Moss completed the Kin Contract with Regis, who renounced his family and pledged his loyalty to her.
  • Moss gave Regis plans for using Magic Power and building a trade association, then sent him toward the city with a wooden flute.
  • Moss recalled that Regis’s noble status would let her establish a trade association without seeking help from other noble families.
  • Moss bathed with Umeilu, removed and regenerated all of Umeilu’s Abnormal Organs, and left her sleeping in good health.
  • Moss thanked Rowan for protecting Umeilu, ate breakfast at the inn, and left to handle her remaining tasks.

Ch. 196Underground Slave Merchant

Moss went looking for livestock to raise in her space and learned that Doro Beasts could serve several purposes. At Hill City's north gate, she recognized a convoy carrying abducted children and resolved to deal with the underground slave merchants.

  • Moss found Toreya at his grilled-meat stall and asked about the meat he was selling.
  • Toreya told Moss the skewers were made from Doro Beast, whose Wind Storage Bag had once been used to make the first Floating Ship.
  • Moss learned from Toreya that a livestock farm stood outside the city and headed for the north gate to find animals to raise.
  • Moss sensed her familiar mice hiding beneath a convoy and received their information about the people traveling in it.
  • Moss confirmed the convoy's children were illegal slaves being transported by underground slave merchants and prepared to confront them.

Ch. 197A Peculiar Skill

Moss watched an underground slave merchant caravan bribe its way out of Hill City, then went to Lorentz's Ranch to buy live Doro Beasts. She discovered that Lorentz's presence-concealing skill had earned her a new special talent, and he offered to show her newborn beasts arriving that day.

  • Moss saw the slave merchants bribe the gate captain and pass a cursory inspection, then slipped out of the city unnoticed.
  • Moss let the caravan go, planning to follow it at night, and headed to Lorentz's Ranch instead.
  • Moss met Lorentz, whose skill made monsters ignore his ranch and caused others to overlook him.
  • Moss gained the special talent Observation Concealment - Construction after resisting the effects of Lorentz's skill.
  • Moss asked Lorentz to sell her about twenty intact Doro Beasts, and he offered to show her a batch due to be born that day.

Ch. 198Younglings

Moss bought twenty-seven Doro Beast younglings from Lorentz and brought them to Kin Space, where Xi, Wa, and the little mice began raising them. After seeing the younglings settled in, Moss set off to clear out trash and test her new talent.

  • Lorentz explained how Doro Beasts gave birth, and Moss admired their younglings at the ranch.
  • Moss bought all twenty-seven Doro Beast younglings for fourteen silver coins and learned how to raise them.
  • Moss saw other livestock at the ranch and planned to bring some into Kin Space later.
  • Moss transported the younglings to Kin Space, where Xi, Wa, and the mice divided them between sheds and the Farming Area.
  • The mice fed the younglings, while Moss watched their work and then left to test her new talent while clearing out trash.

Ch. 199A Chance to Survive

Aaron and Shirley, captured by a slave-catching party and transformed into human-beast monsters, struggled to survive in a cage as Moss used Observation Veil to approach them unseen. Moss revealed herself and offered them a chance to survive.

  • Aaron awoke in pain inside the cage and offered Shirley his arm to eat, but she refused.
  • A bearded man threw the starving children soup and bread, cursed them as monsters, and hurried away when they stared toward Moss.
  • Moss passed through the cage unseen using Observation Veil and considered the talent's power, limits, and heavy Magic Power cost.
  • Moss greeted Aaron and Shirley and asked whether they wanted a chance to survive.

Ch. 200The Fear of the Observer

Moss attacked an underground slave caravan, using the Observation Veil and Flesh Modification to terrify its guards and gain a new mental-attack talent. She freed the captive children, and Aaron and Shirley approached her as their master.

  • A shadow killed a watchman, and the caravan guards used glow powder to reveal two transformed guards.
  • Moss’s Observation Veil caused the guards to undergo horrific transformations, leaving the bearded man unconscious.
  • Moss tied up the surviving Underground Slave Merchant and discovered the new talent Unbearable Fear—Construct.
  • Moss dissolved the mass of flesh, destroyed the carriages, and called for the children to come out.
  • The freed children gathered and cried, while Aaron and Shirley knelt before Moss and called her their master.
Arc 8 of 15