Only I Am A Reader-Chapter 562: Surprise Refinement

'The limit is still there, but I can stretch around it with this much.'

Even in its nascent form, the surprises that the Secondary Energy Storage gave Leo were plenty. However, compared to what he hypothesized when he was just getting to know this gift, the heights he touched were far beyond his original expectations.

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Personal Statistics:

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- Enigma: 1,999/1,000(+???)

- Physique: 3.99

- Mind: 2.75 (+2.78)

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Just judging by numerical value alone, progress could clearly be seen. It took nine months to achieve, but the initial +22% battery was now capable of storing almost as much Enigma as Leo could produce at full capacity.

Of course, just doubling the reserves didn't mean much in the bigger scheme of things, especially with convenient recovery methods like Enigma Stones. Yet, this was just another example of the Personal Book's lack of explanation.

Just because it was displayed as an extra 999 didn't mean that these 999 points of Enigma were the same as the original thousand!

In order to gauge that difference once more, a slender sword conveniently materialized in Leo's hands. The dark aura that immediately encased the blade was the automatic ability effect of the familiar Shadow Armament, but with an additional push, things were no longer as simple.

Like liquid boiling in excitement, the dark aura flared, growing at least 5 times as large. Even the sword's original shape seemed to have lost itself within the raging wave of energy.

'Supercharged.'

The explosive effect that refined Enigma had was something that Leo had already confirmed long ago, but the one thing he underestimated was the potential of this explosiveness!

The concept of refinement was always very minimalistic. Food industry, metal furnaces, and even the strict field of Internal Martial Arts, regardless of the field of application, multiple refinement cycles weren't typically a thing.

Going anywhere past the first cycle usually consumed too many resources and produced very few improvements. It just wasn't worth it.

Of course, considering that the Secondary Energy Storage did its job as a refinery at no production cost, the problem that stopped most procedures wasn't there to begin with. However…

'I couldn't have thought it would become any denser.'

Breaking logical limits might have been a recurring theme in fantasy novels, but reading about it and experiencing it for oneself was an entirely different thing.

Not to mention that he wasn't a protagonist, the condensation that the Enigma reached after one round of refinement was already so high that further improvement didn't seem possible.

Fortunately, however, it seemed that Leo had mistakenly underestimated the illogicality of the world he arrived in. When he attempted a second round of refinement, the resistance that he was expecting was nowhere to be seen.

In fact, Leo only hit the limit he envisioned after not just two, but three rounds of refinement!

At that point, the usually fluid Enigma started stagnating like the refinery itself had started rusting, yet at the same time, the 3-times refined Enigma was as crazy as it could get.

Stronger energy reading, occupying less capacity, a faster energy response… It was everything that stagnant Ability Users could dream of, but the real limit wasn't there just yet.

'I learned not to take it for granted.'

Forcing it for the fourth time appeared a lot riskier as the energy's resistance grew stronger, even resisting to dissipate if he didn't stop. Nonetheless, Leo had learned his lesson, limits weren't there until proven so!

As usual, training had to be the key. By attempting different rounds of refinements over and over and expending refined energy of varying qualities, the fourth round of refinement became possible within the first few months. In fact…

'It's the fifth one, but the boost isn't small either.'

Leo managed to stretch it by one more refinement just a few days ago. In fact, this was the only reason that 999 points of Enigma could be held by the limited space of the Secondary Energy Storage.

Of course, if he had to weigh out the benefits, being able to hold more refined energy was the least useful of them all.

After all, when it came to Leo's style of battle, quick conclusions were always the outcomes that he sought. Compared to being able to fight for a longer time, the strengthened lethality served his purpose more effectively.

'Unfortunately…'

At the same time, Leo also understood that his true limit had been reached. Even if a sixth round of refinement was theoretically possible, going by the observed rate of improvement, it would only become attainable if he was able to practice beyond the City of Villains' finale.

That being said, it didn't mean that Leo wasn't grateful for the bountiful surprises that were originally outside his expectations. Rather, just the first round of refinement was already a big breakthrough on its own. However…

'It's still not enough.'

The final result didn't fit any of Leo's two desired outcomes.

Considering the major opportunity that he exploited at the start, Leo could already be said to be semi-invincible within the limits of Earth's boundaries.

With or without the Secondary Energy Storage, aside from Aurora's unpredictable power surges, any other threat could be successfully handled with the correct approach, but at the same time, it wasn't like there was a bigger ceiling. It was just that…

'Not for the big bad.'

The one true enemy that not only threatened Leo's but this entire world's survival couldn't be touched just because Leo refined his energy five times. To begin with, this opponent wasn't meant to be handled through actual battle, being in a league of its own.

'I'm not sure… Maybe I could reach it after nine refinements?'

In the end, the unexpected growth only left Leo stuck in the middle. Too lethal for the usual scrubs, yet still too weak for the final boss. With the only hope of coming closer being based on an unattainable hypothesis, nothing much could be done.

Unless…

'Could it become the tree that keeps on giving?'

One more possibility opened up… If one could ignore how unstable the results could become.