Rogue Villain-Chapter 222: Overhuman

Ackster assumed it was because his injuries caused him to lose consciousness. But the boat he rode through the storm of his mind as he learned and deepened his understanding of the Unimportant Whatever Arts while his body took charge sunk. It just plunged below the surface, bringing Ackster with it to the lightless, watery depths of his mind.

Weirdly enough, Ackster was still aware of himself even if he were separated from his body and the outside world. Not even the storm, which represented his body interacting with the outside world and fighting all the sea creatures, reached Ackster.

He was like a baby in his mother’s womb. And just like one, Ackster felt comfortable as he curled his body up into a fetal position, hugging his legs to his chest. He closed his eyes and fell asleep.

Thinking was something Ackster had stopped doing ever since he let his body take the lead. Right now, he was just following what felt right. In the far recesses of his mind, something was saying it looked like he was dying. But that voice died out before it could make a splash or create any ripples in Ackster’s still-as-ice mind.

The whisper that claimed Ackster might be dying, not just falling asleep, was proven wrong by the fact that Ackster woke up some time later and not just from the deep corners of his mind. He reconnected and regained control over his body.

So, when he woke up and opened his eyes, he saw the glittering ocean, almost white from the reflected sunlight. It was bright, especially for someone who had just awoken. But Ackster barely had to squint as his eyes adapted to the light.

He gradually regained more and more cognitive activity as he raised his head and tried to sit up, only to discover that his boat was in shambles, and he had managed to secure a sleeping position on a larger piece of driftwood. He had conked out on a few wooden boards still stuck together. It wasn’t even something that could be called a makeshift raft.

Still, it kept him from drowning.

However, it would be hell of a lot more difficult going anywhere without the boat and its magical functions.

’I can just paddle until I get somewhere, I guess.’

Ackster hadn’t bothered keeping track of where he was, especially when he indulged in fighting until he and the boat collapsed. But the sun would guide him, and he would arrive at land sooner or later. And where there was land, there would be people. People meant civilization, and civilization meant the Guild. After that, it would only be a matter of waiting before he could get in contact with Wilma.

But first, he had to get to land. So, he stretched his arms as he sat up and broke off a plank from his raft. It was still buoyant enough to carry him, and it would be easier to paddle with—

"Huah!?!"

Ackster dropped his paddle before he could start as he looked at his hands, both of them. He held them in front of his face, twisting and turning, comparing them both. He then started touching and feeling his arm, his right arm. It was back!

"Fuck yeah!"

Ackster pumped his fist before waving his right arm all around and confirming it was indeed back and that it wasn’t a dream. The surge of emotions was overwhelming, especially compared to Ackster’s emotionless state of enlightenment.

He just stared at his arm with a dumb smile on his face, occasionally giggling like a child. It wasn’t only because of his arm, although that was a large part of it. It was also due to what his regrown arm signified.

Ackster had reached enlightenment and achieved a bodily rebirth, and he had done so by learning and understanding the rippling strike from the Unimportant Whatever Art. He had grown stronger and by a significant amount. What was there not to celebrate?

That wasn’t all, either. Now that Ackster had reached enlightenment, and his body had been reborn through that enlightenment, Bo’s seal on his skills had lifted. Ackster was curious about his status more than anything.

However, remembering his status made him remember one of his highest-ranking skills, Pain Tolerance. So, before he could get distracted or forget it, Ackster swam and rummaged through the wreckage until he found the box with Nold’s instruments.

Fortunately, the Sun God Token still hung around his neck, and Stormcaller was trapped between Ackster and the raft. He had everything he needed except for a boat, so he relaxed and retrieved his Nomi from his inventory with nostalgic anticipation.

[Name: –]

[Profession: ■■■■■■■]

[Inventory]

[Stats:

[Strength: S]

[Agility: S]

[Fortitude: S]

[Mana: E]

[Spirit: A]

[Stamina: S]

[Skills:

[Iron Body]

[Pain Tolerance: S]

[Poison Resistance: E]

[Overhuman Senses: E]

[Survivalist: C]

[Clear Mind: A]

[Limit Breaker: D]

[Monster Muncher: E]

[Guardian: C]

[Stubborn Well-Being: E]

[Curse Resistance: G]

[Feather-Footed: C]

[Stalwart Advance: G]

[Last Stand]

[Hemorrhage Resistance: G]

[Swimming: C]

[Sea God]

[Mana Manipulation]

[(Unimportant Whatever Art): B]

[Martial Body]

"Ohoo..."

Ackster was once again overwhelmed by the change and surge of emotion, not that his excitement from getting his arm back had faded.

It looked like he had lost a lot of his skills due to Bo’s seal. But he could tell that the ones related to Iron or Steel had ended up in his evolved Strong Body, Iron Body. The name was still a little weak, but the skill certainly wasn’t. Ackster was convinced of that.

A couple of other skills ended up in either the Unimportant Whatever Art skill or Overhuman Senses. A lot changed following Ackster’s growth and, most likely, the bodily rebirth, which should be the cause for his unique skill’s evolution.

As he accepted the change and the skills rearranged themselves and settled now that Bo’s seal was broken, Ackster felt his body surge with power. He not only had Iron Body to strengthen his body, but he also had his stats back to support his natural strength.

Ackster felt like he needed to take in and accept all the changes to his body following his enlightenment, lest he use his sudden leap in strength without knowing how to control it. He also wanted to experiment with his martial art, mana, and life force. Even after training to the brink of death and experiencing a kind of rebirth, Ackster wanted to continue training and growing stronger. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

However, his Overhuman Senses picked something up before he could get started. He turned his gaze in the direction of the presence he felt.