Gore couldn't help but speak up.
"Raine's right. The highlands could erupt into battle again at any moment. Recovering our combat strength comes first."
Kyle fell silent for a moment, then finally accepted the pill.
"By the way," Raine asked, "you all saw the abilities I used earlier in the fight, right?"
"You mean that ability you used before? The one where you suddenly became much stronger?"
"But what was with that super-hard skin?"
"Don't tell me you've awakened two abilities?"
Pros asked in return.
He had also noticed that Raine had tanked quite a few direct hits.
Raine nodded, his thoughts stirring.
A gray-white, stone-like sheen immediately surfaced across his skin.
At the same time, faint dark-golden light flowed subtly—the beginner stage of the golem body.
"That's right," Raine said with a nod.
"This is Stoneform Skin, a bloodline ability of the gargoyle race!"
Hearing this, Kyle and the others were deeply shaken.
Among awakeners, it wasn't unusual for ability-users to appear. Some people even awakened abilities suddenly in a critical moment or during a single battle.
But one thing was certain—most ability-users only possessed a single ability. Awakening a second or third was extremely rare.
And yet, without exception, those who awakened multiple abilities—if they survived—almost always became formidable figures.
But now Raine had awakened a second ability!
And it was an exceptionally rare bloodline skill from a high-tier alien race!
The others couldn't help but show expressions of envy, while also feeling genuinely happy for Raine.
"Raine, did you make a deal with the devil or something? How did you suddenly become this strong?"
Young Matthew couldn't hide the envy on his face.
"Hahahaha…"
"Raine, if you've got a connection, I'd like to make a deal with it too!"
Old Gore propped himself up with his remaining arm from the bed.
"You old geezer with missing arms and teeth—no way they'd even look at you!"
Matthew teased without restraint.
"What nonsense are you spouting, kid? If it comes down to it, I can sell my ass—heard devils love that sort of thing!"
"Hahahaha…"
Old Gore's crude joke set everyone laughing.
The heavy atmosphere instantly lightened.
For a moment, it felt like they had returned to the old days—slacking off and joking around back when they were mercenaries…
Seeing everyone's mood improve, Raine spoke up.
"Everyone, this time I obtained two rather special secret techniques from that gargoyle prodigy. They'll be very useful to you."
He took out two scrolls from the ring and looked at them.
After these battles, everyone's potential had been greatly stimulated.
Kyle, Gore, and Pros had already been just one step away from Formal rank back when they were Trainees.
Now, all of them had reached the Formal rank, with much smoother control over Nex.
Even Matthew had reached Trainee Level 7!
"One of these techniques is called Soulbinding Rite. Master it, and your spiritual power and strength will undergo a qualitative leap."
"The other is called Colossus Warform. It's perfectly suited for all of us!"
"This secret technique doesn't require any specific talent to learn. Once you forge a body of immense strength, you'll be able to tear enemies apart with your bare hands!"
"I plan to teach both of these techniques to you."
Seeing the determination on Raine's face, the four exchanged glances.
This was a path Raine had found for his fellow villagers to grow stronger.
He couldn't pass on gargoyle-exclusive abilities, but this time, he had obtained secret techniques from Yobir that were suitable for all humans.
As he grew stronger, he didn't want these companions to be left further and further behind.
Or rather—he had an even bigger idea.
He wanted to spread these two secret techniques to all soldiers of the Seventh Division, Scarlet Wall Patrol.
If that happened, the overall combat strength of human soldiers would rise rapidly, significantly reducing casualty rates!
On this cruel battlefield, every additional bit of strength meant a greater chance of survival.
Kyle had originally wanted to refuse, but faced with Raine's unwavering gaze, he nodded.
Soon, everyone began using the healing potions while studying the two secret techniques Raine had brought out.
As for Raine himself—
After swallowing a Life Restoration potion, he closed his eyes and began to regulate his breathing.
A warm medicinal current quickly spread through his body, steadily and gently repairing his injuries.
At the same time, he split off a sliver of his consciousness to check the system.
[Bloodstone: 13,210]
The stronger he became, the more bloodstones he gained from slaying powerful enemies—this was obvious.
He considered his future growth path.
Both the Obsidian Golem Codex and Blood Pact required vast amounts of alien-race bloodcores.
Permanent advancement and temporary rank boosts also demanded enormous quantities of bloodstones.
Both factors were urging Raine to hunt more—and stronger—alien races!
He turned his gaze to the storage ring.
Aside from potions and ores, the remaining three ancient leather scrolls caught his attention.
He took them out and carefully unrolled them.
One recorded a close-combat technique called Riftpierce Thrust, emphasizing instantaneous penetration power.
Another detailed a movement technique named Windflow Step, suited for high-speed movement in complex environments.
The final scroll contained combat techniques for the supreme transcendent weapon—the black war spear Blackglow, titled Blackglow Combat Techniques.
Though these weren't as precious as the Obsidian Golem Codex or Blood Pact, they were all extremely practical.
They would perfectly compensate for his relatively limited close-combat techniques.
Just then—
Several logistics personnel arrived at Raine's tent carrying large barrels.
Inside were barrels packed full of bloodcores of various colors, all thoroughly cleaned!
The higher command had decided to prioritize Raine's cultivation.
Though the Seventh Division, Scarlet Wall Patrol was always short on resources, they provided the maximum possible support when it came to the bloodcores Raine needed.
Additionally, to avoid energy fluctuations during advancement from disturbing others—and to prevent any leakage of secrets—Black Falcon had specifically arranged a reinforced military tent for Raine, located far from the main camp and relatively secluded.
Raine did not refuse.
He needed to convert every usable resource into real, tangible power as quickly as possible!
Only then could he survive better, protect those around him, and kill even more enemies!
He picked up a red bloodcore.
Its dazzling, gorgeous color was eye-catching—like a blood diamond.
The essence within a bloodcore contained the most fundamental life force and racial traits of its original owner—violent and highly corrosive.
The first stage of the Obsidian Golem Codex did not involve directly absorbing this impurity-laden power.
Instead, it used the bloodcore as a medium, employing secret techniques to draw out only the purest portion of life energy.
This energy formed a special tempering force that penetrated inward through the pores—
Burning, hammering, and reforging every inch of skin, muscle, and bone, awakening the deepest potential of the body!
At the same time, it imprinted the original alien race's traits—such as "hardness" and "tenacity"—onto the newly reborn flesh.
It was a painful and slow process, and an immense test of willpower.
Raine closed his eyes and began guiding the bloodcore's energy according to the secret method…