It was the decisive moment for Kahn.. He knew that even though he was considerably stronger than the majority of the population in this city, he was still one man. And who knows how many crouching tigers and hidden dragons lived in this city. He wasn’t a fool to think that the people he met till now were the only ones standing at the peak. 

A peak master rank person would be a big deal in this place but if he went to higher places.. A Master rank fighter would not be even worth mentioning. And there were still few things he had to do and for doing them, he needed more power.

Kahn took out the golden core he got after killing Stragabor. He could already feel the vast and dense mana inside his bright and dazzling core. He gave it some thought and finally gulped down the core after washing it with water.

Kahn sat in the meditative pose on his bed and started absorbing the core.

Ding!

Ding!

Ding!

He finally heard the system notifications after a long while. He hadn’t used or ate any cores after he reached Level 58 more than a week ago and prioritized on getting his subordinates stronger as he did with Omega, Oliver and Blackwall.

A bright yellow glow shimmered from Kahn’s body again and again as his level rose few times. But unlike before.. There was a lot of qualitative change in his strength and aura. Because this time, his body started glowing golden in color as he was leveling up.

Ding!

The system notification sounded for the last time and he finally opened his eyes. Suddenly a dreary and volatile golden aura mixed with Kahn’s own black and red aura leaked out of his body. For some reason, Kahn couldn’t control this aura by his will and the entire room filled with his terrifying and majestic aura.

Clatter! Clatter!

The table and chairs in the room started trembling, the bed he was sitting on was shaking while the air inside the room was filled with a tangible pressure that could be seen with naked eyes.

Suddenly, Kahn’s heartbeats raced faster with every passing second and he felt a type of heat coming from inside of his body. In just minutes, Kahn’s entire body was burning hot and he felt like his bones and flesh were undergoing some kind of transformation.

His veins and muscles bulged as the golden glow emitted right inside his heart.

“Arrrrrrh!!” shouted Kahn in pain.

BOOM!!

An explosion of mana blasted everything that was in the room and broke all the furniture, the glass window was shattered and a loud noise filled the entire neighborhood.

Kahn’s body dropped on the floor after this burst of mana nearly destroyed the whole room. Even the clothes he was wearing were torn to shreds.

He quickly took out some clothes and wore them before anyone came after this commotion.

[Congratulations to the host for breaking through the Grandmaster Rank.] announced System and declared Kahn’s new achievement.

“What the fuck was that?!” shouted Kahn.

[It was the leftover sentience inside the golden core which was trying to reject the host in the form of golden aura. It has been completely subdued and now mixed with the host.] answered the system. 

“Show me all my stats and important skills and abilities. Skip the low-rank ones and those which I don’t need or use anymore.” ordered Kahn as he finally came to terms with this entire ordeal being his breakthrough process to reach the Grandmaster Rank.

[ Host Attributes and Skills are as follows :

Name : Kahn (Host)

Species : Human

Rank : Beginner Grandmaster Rank 

Level : 65

Strength : 526

Agility : 498

Dexterity : 461

Defense : 437

Mana : 582

Divine Abilities : Ability Absorption, Dimensional Law, Synthesis

Blessings :

War Dominance (Stage 2)

Weapon Mastery (Peak Master Rank) (Grandmaster rank in Battleaxe weapon) 

Combat Techniques Mastery (Peak Master Rank)

Survival Instinct (Stage 2)

Berserk God Mode ( 5 times the physical strength)

War Deity Body (Stage 3)

Gifts : All Languages Knowledge known to the War Deity.

Physical Abilities :

Ripper Claws 

Side Hopper

Hunter’s Intent

Poison Acid

Poison Immunity (Grandmaster Rank)

Somir Scale body

Executioner’s Gaze

Heat Sense 

Magical Skills :

Shadow Walk

Hive Mind

Firestorm 

Water Blade 

Frost spike

Wind blade 

Combat Techniques : 

Windcutter

Defense Fortitude

Backstab

Lacerate

Sword Edge

Deflect/Parry 

Tornado Axe

Ground Shatter 

Axe Splitter

The host has met the conditions to break through the next stage for the Blessings given by the War Deity. The range and effectiveness of the blessings has increased by two times. ] replied the system and listed all the useful and important skills and abilities Kahn always had in use.

“Phew.. Finally!” said Kahn as he let out a content smile after his new transformation.

If he was a really strong fighter before.. Now he was twice stronger than before and even his Blessings were two times more effective than before.

In other words. He was truly a powerhouse now.

Even if he couldn’t win against a peak grandmaster rank fighter. He still had the advantage in levels and physical attributes. With his newfound strength.. Kahn was sure that he would at least be able to fight against Arkham on equal footing because he was 10 levels above him.

He could feel every inch of his body and the pores on his skin, his eyesight and mind’s processing speed also went through another breakthrough. The last time he had this feeling when Kahn had absorbed the core of the Somir and inherited its will.

“System, compared to other Beginner Grandmaster rank fighters, how strong do you think I am?” asked Kahn out of curiosity because only his System had the perfect analytical capacity to properly judge someone’s combat strength.

[The host is currently two times stronger compared to other beginner grandmaster rank individuals because of the increase in the War Deity Body stage.] replied system.

“So in other words.. I could be compared to an Intermediate Grandmaster rank person, right?” he asked.

[Yes.] responded the system in its lifeless voice.

“Subarashi..” said Kahn and tipped his imaginary glasses with a smug smile on his face.

“About time I start hunting those Dungeon floor bosses. Before I have to leave this city.. I’m going clear out all these dungeons and absorb as many abilities I can.” said Kahn with a resolute countenance.

“But before that.. Let’s meet those old fogies tomorrow.”