Bloodbound Codex: I Grow Stronger in Secret

Atlas and the Receptionist appeared inside a chamber that stretched for nearly half a kilometre from the entrance to the far end that could be seen in the distance. The chamber was almost equally wide in every direction, making its overall structure resemble a massive square rather than the rectangular evaluation rooms Atlas had become accustomed to seeing.

The ceiling was also unusually high, and the entire white interior was covered with faint markings that ran through the floor, walls and even parts of the ceiling, as if the entire chamber itself had been constructed to withstand something far beyond an ordinary person’s strength. Atlas slowly turned in place, taking in every part of the enormous room before thinking, ’Hmm, It’s similar to the Lumivale Evaluation chamber but much bigger and it has some equipment the Lumivale Guild didn’t have.’

The central area immediately caught his attention because, just like the evaluation chamber in Lumivale, a large pedestal stood there with a spirit measuring device floating several inches above it.

However, this one was noticeably larger and its structure was far more intricate, with several thin rings and metallic components surrounding the central crystal while faint lines of light occasionally travelled through its surface. At the far right side of the chamber stood the familiar Black Pillar.

But unlike the one Atlas had seen in Lumivale, this one was more than ten meters tall and considerably thicker, with intricate markings covering almost its entire surface. Several reinforced structures were also built around its base and extended into the floor, making it look less like a simple measuring tool and more like a massive structure designed specifically to withstand enormous amounts of force.

Atlas continued looking around before his gaze returned to the equipment, ’What would be the number of units needed for SSS-rank? Hmm, and who will even Evaluate me? I don’t see anyone except her here...’ His eyes dropped toward the Receptionist standing beside him, but before he could ask anything, a section of the leftmost wall suddenly shifted. A narrow line appeared across the otherwise seamless surface before the entire section slid sideways like a concealed door, revealing a passage behind it.

A person then stepped out from within, immediately drawing Atlas’s attention.

The man looked more like a researcher than a Guild employee who dealt with combatants, with dark circles beneath his eyes and a pair of glasses resting on his face. He wore a white coat over his clothes, while a pair of folded Angelic wings rested behind his back, and despite his somewhat exhausted appearance, his body was tall and well-built.

In one hand he carried a small, rectangular device that resembled a compact board, its surface displaying several lines of information that constantly shifted on their own. The moment he emerged, the Receptionist walked toward him and quietly spoke for several moments before turning around and nodding toward Atlas. Atlas returned the gesture, understanding that she was likely giving him the details of his evaluation before leaving.

After another brief exchange, the Receptionist walked toward the exit and gave Atlas one final nod before disappearing through the door.

The researcher remained behind, looking down at the floating information displayed above his device as he spoke without much enthusiasm, "Atlas Mariorett from Lumivale, starting as a Special S-rank here and now after a week or so you are here for a Re-Evaluation." His voice carried the exhaustion of someone who had probably repeated those same words far too many times, and Atlas could tell from his expression that this evaluation wasn’t exactly something he considered particularly interesting.

"Alright, you already know the basics of Evaluation from Lumivale, so go toward that Pillar and punch with all you have. I will get the measurements through the device I have, and do not hold back because you think that Pillar won’t be able to handle it. That Pillar has the capability to remain without a scratch even if the Guildmaster himself punched it." The moment Atlas heard that, his attention shifted toward the massive Black Pillar again.

He looked at its size, the markings covering its surface and the reinforced structure connecting its base to the floor, then thought, ’Hmm, It’s good then. If even that monstrous Guildmaster cannot leave a scratch on it, then I can finally go full strength.’

Atlas stepped forward, his footsteps echoing through the enormous chamber as he slowly approached the Pillar. The closer he got, the more clearly he could see the countless markings carved into its black surface, some of which seemed to form patterns that disappeared beneath the floor.

He stopped directly in front of it and looked upward, realizing once again just how massive the Pillar actually was. Before Atlas could do anything, the researcher spoke again, "Do not put spirit energy into your punch, though. This is only to measure your pure physical capability. The spirit energy measurement will be held after this. Now, punch with all your might." Atlas nodded because he had already planned to test his physical strength without using Spirit Energy.

Atlas lowered his body and adjusted his stance, bending his lower half while extending his right leg slightly forward. He shifted his weight through his body and slowly pulled his right fist behind him, concentrating all the strength within his body into that single movement. There was no need for Spirit Energy, no technique and no special ability. He simply wanted to know exactly what his body could produce after the transformation he had undergone inside the Divine-rank Ruin. The next moment, without wasting another second, Atlas punched.

The movement itself was so fast that even Atlas’s eyes widened slightly at what his body had just done. His previous speed had already been faster than sound, but this was something entirely different, and he couldn’t even properly compare the movement to what he had known before.

His fist crossed the distance in an instant and slammed directly into the Black Pillar with terrifying force. There was no explosion, no crack and not even a conventional shockwave. Instead, the entire chamber violently shook as though something enormous had struck the structure from within, the markings across the walls briefly flickering while the floor beneath Atlas’s feet trembled.

The researcher immediately grabbed the edge of the wall beside him to keep himself steady, his tired expression disappearing completely as he stared at the Pillar in disbelief. ’What the hell?! How did that punch carry so much force? It even shook the chamber connected deeply with the Pillar.’ His eyes quickly dropped toward the device in his hand, and several numbers began appearing across its display as the measurements were transmitted from the Pillar. The moment he saw the final value, his dark-circled eyes widened for the first time, and the exhaustion that had covered his face vanished completely, replaced by pure disbelief.

"What?! This is impossible! This is simply impossible!" His sudden shout echoed throughout the chamber as the violent shaking finally began to subside. Atlas turned toward him, his expression remaining calm as he looked at the researcher gripping the device with both hands. ’Is the number really that high that it shocked him like this?’

His own eyes shifted toward his right fist. ’I did feel the impact was too much but...’ Before Atlas could continue his thought, the man’s voice suddenly came from behind him again, this time carrying far more disbelief than before, "How is this possible?! He didn’t use spirit energy and yet the output is this much?! What the hell is going on?!"

Atlas turned toward him and saw the Angelic researcher scratching his head in frustration while staring at the device in his hand. The tired expression he had carried since the beginning was completely gone, replaced by confusion that seemed to grow with every passing second. Seeing that reaction, Atlas sighed before his figure blurred from where he stood and appeared beside the man without making a sound.

The researcher flinched at the sudden appearance, his eyes briefly shifting toward Atlas before he looked back at the device. Atlas also lowered his gaze toward the screen, finally seeing the result that had caused such a reaction.

[ Physical Strength Output: 9080 Units][ Output Surpasses Guildmaster’s Output by 1080 Units]

For several seconds, the researcher didn’t say anything.

His eyes remained fixed on the numbers as his fingers slowly tightened around the device. He checked the result again, then looked toward the Black Pillar before returning his gaze to the screen, as if he was trying to find some kind of error in the measurement.

"This..."

His voice came out low, almost as if he had forgotten that Atlas was standing right beside him. He stared at the result for another moment, his dark-circled eyes widening further before he finally muttered,

"...this can’t be right."

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