"How do I do that?" Ruel asked as his thoughts echoed.
Muriel, her form appearing as her usual self, floated behind Ruel and replied:
"Control as much as possible of that black fluid and merge it with your body."
He paid attention to the fluid and saw that it did follow his control, although he needed crazy focus.
He pulled some fluid from within and attempted to coat his translucent form, but the liquid refused to stay.
He split his focus—coating his form while pulling more fluid out.
To make things worse, he saw a white sun in this endless void, and he was drifting to it at a crazy speed.
Panic crept in as the dark void rushed past him, drawing him toward the white star.
He tried to stop himself, but it forced him to split his attention a third way.
"You need to merge with as much as possible before we reach that star."
Muriel's words made Ruel grit his teeth.
His mind ached as he kept pulling the fluid out and coating his body.
After reaching a reasonable amount of coating, he left the remaining fluid alone and wanted to turn the coat to merge.
The line between his translucent body and body armor made of fluid thinned as they started becoming one.
'Faster, Ruel! Faster!'
He chanted as he felt the unharming heat of the sun.
Muriel, for now, could do nothing but watch.
It was Ruel's blood which was linked to him and mainly the ancient being's blood he was using to form.
Only Ruel or the Ancient Being could manipulate the black fluid… and the Ancient Being was out of the question.
Ruel's body glowed brighter and his mind grew sharper while his 'body' became more solid.
As the star loomed, Muriel warned:
"Prepare for the next part. Absorbing part of that star. The more you absorb, the more your talent can grow.
"Be careful. It may seem harmless, but it will destroy you."
Ruel didn't need an explanation as he saw his hands breakdown into light particles.
He gave up on the black fluid to focus on maintaining his form and absorbing the star's essence.
Ruel willed the white flames to enter within him.
Time seemed null as he only concentrated on the task at hand.
He absorbed and absorbed and absorbed.
His body was also slowly breaking down as he lost his limbs to the harmless flames.
"That's enough to grow into a B-rank!" Muriel said. "Look for the Anchor back to your body!"
Ruel knew not to test his limit in this scenario.
He did as said, but he felt his body break down… break down to the extent that the star essence he absorbed was leaking.
Still, he concentrated on returning back to his body.
"I-I can't find it!" Ruel yelled.
Muriel hesitated for an instant before she said, "Continue looking for it. I'll help you!"
As Ruel felt himself weakened, he saw Muriel enter into his body and merge with him.
Everything seemed to get better as Muriel began concentrating on stopping his body's breakdown while he searched for the link back to his original body.
That was good… until Ruel realized Muriel's presence was fading, absorbing into him…
"Muriel…? What's happening?"
"N-nothing. Just continue your task, Ruel!"
Ruel wanted to do as she said, but when Muriel merged with him, he felt her emotions.
There was her desire for revenge on their enemies burning
But most of all…
A primal fear surged from her—raw, terrified, clinging to life.
She didn't want to vanish.
She wept within him like a newborn.
He could hear her.
"I… don't want to die…"
"Fuck it! Fuck it!" Ruel yelled as he gave up on finding the link.
He needed to stop Muriel from fading.
'I need to stop the breakdown and to do that, my body needs to be strong.'
Ruel abandoned all else, locking his focus on the black fluid still pulsing inside him.
He put his full concentration on it to the extent that he perceived something hidden.
Hidden amongst this blood and the being's blood that absorbed the monster blood was a golden blood.
It was a faint glimmer in the tide of darkness—small, but brimming with ancient power.
Ruel controlled that blood specifically, but it proved difficult.
"Fuck it!" he said.
He forcefully created a single hand out of his disintegrating translucent body, further shrinking his size.
He dipped the hand into his body, creating a hole in him as he sink it into the black fluid.
"Die? It's too early for that!"
He could feel his body breaking down faster, but he willed himself to stay alive.
"Live! I'll live! I'll fucking live!!"
At this moment, a crack in the void appeared, two eyes made of black holes stared at him.
Suddenly, the power filled blood was completely in Ruel's control, and he swiftly merged it with his body which was near perfect crumble.
The golden blood turned his blue body bright, it's light almost dwarfing the star.
His body grew in size, his mind growing wider while his soul grew stronger.
At the same time, he saw the link to his body as his body's presence grew more evident as his perception range expanded.
Before descending, he easily absorbed a large amount of the star into his big translucent body.
Back in the underground cavern, the environment shook.
A surge of remnant divine energy slammed into the cavern as Ruel's consciousness slammed back into his body, trailing light and power.
Ruel's body glowed as the young man descended, dragging along a compressed amount of energy.
He knew what to do next.
Part three of the Ritual: Upgrade his talent.
He concentrated deep within him where a solidified energy was–the representation of his D-rank Talent.
He invested all that compressed energy into the solidified energy that merged with the original.
It all took a moment.
[Your Talent has been upgraded to "Cryo Genesis - SSS Rank"]
[You have made an accomplishment!]
[You have obtained a Title!]
[You have bonded with a Spirit!]
Ruel opened his eyes with a heave of breath.
He noted his environment.
The ritual circle had disappeared and the items on the circles had broken down.
Most of all, the floor around Ruel was frozen.
He didn't need to check further to know. He had become stronger.
As his mind registered everything that happened, he recalled his companion.
"Muriel!"
He said as he was about to turn to look around.
But he felt something leave his body, taking the form of a girl with short blonde hair and green eyes with a young face.
Floating in her white gown that seemed even more real, Muriel replied with a slight smile, "Yes?"
"Ah, thank goodness…" Ruel said with a smile.
As he was about to go through the information given by the System, his improved senses caught something at the entrance of his man cave.
A man with purple hair and black eyes with a lean build looked panicked as he jumped in.
As the man's eyes landed on Ruel, he said, "Oh, please, save my people!"
Ruel wore a confused look, cold air still spiraling from his skin.
The stranger's eyes locked with his—desperate, pleading.
"Please… you're our only hope."