The final memory dissolved.
The sync timer hit zero.
A low hum filled the void. It resonated deep in his chest, vibrating through bone and marrow. Leo's body, worn and torn from the strain, began to glow. Faint at first. A soft glimmer beneath scarred skin.
Then brighter.
The light wrapped around him like smoldering fire. It seeped into every wound and fracture. He could feel it working. Raw energy coursing through destroyed tissue, mending what had been shattered. His organs stitched together with precision, like time was fixing the damage.
Each pulse of light rewound the pain. Undid the trauma. Knitted muscle and bone seamlessly back together.
But as the healing deepened, something else stirred.
Something darker.
Veins began to bulge beneath his skin. Pulsing. Writhing. Like serpents trapped beneath flesh. His heart raced in his chest. Each beat grew faster and stronger, as if it might burst.
Sharp stings raced up his spine. Exploded through his limbs.
His breath caught. Body convulsing. A low growl escaped his clenched teeth as he fought to stay conscious. The glow around him flickered like a flame in the wind. It pushed back the darkness with bursts of bright light.
His muscles tightened. Nerves straining. His very form was being torn apart and reforged to contain the power surging through his veins.
No longer just human.
No longer just elf.
Something more.
Something monstrous.
The bulging veins began to subside. The violent twitching slowed. His ragged breathing steadied, each inhale deeper, more controlled.
[System Notification] Sync with Silva completed.
[System Notification] Calculating synced years.
[System Notification] Successfully synced 300 years.
[System Notification] Congratulations, receiving successful sync reward.
[System Notification] Increasing all stats by 3000.
Power flooded through him. A surge so intense his fingertips tingled, his toes buzzed with electric energy. Every cell in his body supercharged. Leo threw his head back, savoring the rush as it crashed through his veins.
Exhilaration mixed with unease.
His muscles felt denser. His senses razor sharp. Like standing on the edge of an abyss, barely containing the force within.
Then, without warning, he felt it drain away.
Not all of it. But enough to notice. Much of his new strength faded away, pulled down by unseen chains.
Blight of the Vanquished, he thought.
The curse. His constant companion since defeating the Dragon Lord. A familiar weight he'd learned to bear. Daily life continued, but in moments like this, every bit of strength mattered. It felt like an anchor was weighing him down.
"Damn this curse," Leo muttered.
"Every step forward, it pulls me two steps back."
If it weren't for the curse, perhaps Silva wouldn't even be an issue by now.
Frustration flickered through him. His jaw clenched. The curse was a leash, holding back his true potential. But even as the thought formed, he pushed it aside.
He raised his arms, curled his fingers. Strength rippled through his limbs. His skin tingled, but nothing felt out of place. Even with the curse dampening his power, he felt stronger than ever. His muscles flexed as he twisted his wrist, marveling at the force flowing through him.
Then a system message appeared.
[System Notification] You have reached the maximum allowable active races.
[System Notification] Future syncs with other races will go into the passive category.
Leo's brow furrowed. Another limitation. A new rule.
Ai's voice cut through the silence, carrying its usual hint of superiority.
"It's included in the system update, Leo. A limitation in the Share the Pain perk called Racial Assimilation."
"Limitation, huh?" His eyes narrowed.
"Currently, only 3 races can be activated at once," Ai continued.
"These active races grant you full access to their skills and abilities."
"And if I sync with more?"
"Any extra races you sync with will be passive. They will only provide their natural traits and passive bonuses."
He sighed, running a hand through his hair. It made sense. His power couldn't grow infinitely without regulation. But the idea of being limited added an extra layer of strategy to his already complex system.
"I see," he muttered.
He clenched his fist, testing the strength still coursing through his veins. He had to choose the most useful combinations from now on. No room for mistakes.
Part of him felt annoyed by the restriction. Another part welcomed it. It was a challenge. And Leo had always thrived under pressure.
His voice came out muffled beneath the mask. The barrier between him and the world became more clear. The mask helped him think clearly, but it was annoying to wear.
Without hesitation, he gestured toward his system.
[System Notification] Activating Wardrobe 1 VIP perk.
[System Notification] Wardrobe 1 activated.
The mask faded from his face. Its weight and texture dissolved into nothingness. But its effects remained. The clarity of mind. The unyielding focus on his goals. A small smirk appeared on his lips as he flexed his jaw. He enjoyed the freedom to speak without any obstruction.
Even without the mask's physical presence, he felt more focused than ever.
He flicked through the interface to check his adventurer details. The familiar screen blinked into existence.
Leo Level: 15
Class: Swordsman
Race: Hybrid (Human-Elf-Mimic)
Age: 416
His eyes lingered on the word Mimic. It felt odd to see himself grouped with creatures he had once seen as enemies. But now, their power was his.
Something to wield.
Something to control.
A memory flashed through his mind. His encounter with Silva in her mimic form, hidden beside her throne. The strange sight of the treasure box had a single limb. It reached out to gently touch the girl's head in a creepy way.
That bizarre image now echoed through his body.
He remembered the Mimic's ability to shift form. To grow more limbs at will. To adapt and change as needed. The memory sparked something inside him, like a switch turning on in his mind.
Leo tilted his head slightly. A strange sensation crept along his spine. Then he felt it.
Tingling.
Almost alien.
Spreading from his back.
His skin shifted. Stretched.
Then, suddenly, four new limbs sprouted from his shoulders and lower back. They extended outward, dark and fibrous, moving with a life of their own.
His mind struggled to process the sensation. But curiosity overtook hesitation. Slowly, he tested the limbs. The initial awkwardness gave way to controlled movements.
It was confusing at first. His brain struggling to process the extra appendages. But with focus, he felt each one move independently. He tested them. Slight movements. Curling and uncurling. Bending at different angles.
The control came gradually. Like learning to walk for the first time.
Each of the six arms moved with a mind of its own, yet all obeyed his will. A sense of amazement settled over him. The sheer adaptability of his new abilities brought a quiet thrill.
Leo examined his new limbs. He'd once seen creatures like this as obstacles. But now their abilities were tools at his disposal.
The distinction between hero and monster blurred in his mind.
All that mattered was the power to achieve his goals.
He could feel it now.
The limitless potential of his hybrid form.