Golden Fox with System

Meanwhile, the people of the most prominent Sects who were watching, were, in fact, witnessing an exaggerated version of Theo's Heavenly Tribulation. However, every time it consisted solely of lightning, and never revealed the Faux Heavenly Fire nor the current Darkness. The less they knew… the better. And it was also possible that they could become shaken to their very core by the slightly exaggerated version of Theo…

But who told them to snoop, right? Well, you can't really blame them. They didn't know if they would have another chance in the future to see someone going through a Tribulation. The curiosity of living things is a simple fact of the world. It has also led many, many beings to their doom. However, they still cannot help being curious about the unknown.

Knowing what he would soon have to face, Theo put another healing potion in his mouth as he prepared to use <Devour> on the Dark Wolf that was approaching him very fast.

This time, he didn't have to delay the Tribulation. Although it could be said that it was coming very quickly, it was not enough to give Theo trouble for timing his usage of <Devour>.

"ROARRRR!"

Roaring as they approached, Theo quickly used <Devour> as soon as he noticed that it was getting close, just a few feet away from him. His tail once again expanded and snapped toward the Dark Wolf.

As a being without conscience, with only a single purpose to reach Theo, the Dark Wolf was an easy target. Just like previously, Theo merely had to wait for the right time to use <Devour> on it.

Just before Theo's tail made its final move to swallow the Dark Wolf, Theo immediately drank his potion. Downing it in one gulp, Theo did his best to prepare for the coming surge of energy.

"Arghhh!"

Despite suffering from the pain he had expected, it seemed to not be quite as bad as he thought it would be. Perhaps it was because Theo had used the potion before he began to suffer the injuries and pain from the absorption. Whenever his organs were damaged, or his bones dislocated and cracked apart, the potion's effect quickly activated and healed him. Of course, Theo knew that the potion's effectiveness would not last forever, so he took another potion for him to drink before the previous effect ran out.

"In the end, it was an excellent idea to take the potion before this process even started to hurt me…" Theo said in his heart. And he continued to absorb all the essence of Darkness, making it his own strength. At an alarming rate, even amid Theo's suffering, he could sense his power rising again, bringing a euphoric look to his face amid the agony.

[Filled 3,221,954 Lineage Cells]

[Affinity Darkness V-3 - Advanced to Darkness V-4]

"Huh?"

After finishing the digestion of all the essence of Darkness, Theo didn't level up, which surprised him a lot. "I thought it was too easy before… after all, I've already made it to the 11th Layer of the Apprentice Wizard Kingdom." Looking up at the sky and seeing another Tribulation forming once again, Theo muttered, "And it looks like it's not over yet."

Theo imagined that this would be the last one, guessing with the logic that it was 2 of lightning, 2 of fire, and now it had been one of Darkness, so only one more was left. Well, at least that's what he thought. He really didn't know if that was how it would really work.

"Okay, I don't have any time to waste, I still need to use the last two Pills before I reach the Wizard Kingdom." Theo thought and took the Fire Pill that refines 60% of the body.

Wasting no time, he brought it to his mouth and swallowed. Gritting his teeth, he endured the pain coursing through his body as it was beginning to be refined by the Pill. But the pain he was feeling couldn't even compare to what he suffered from using <Devour> on a Heavenly Tribulation, so he was holding on quite well, relatively.

All this time, Theo was still wearing his level 5 armour. Although he didn't necessarily need it right now, he was still wearing it because in the unlikely event of something interfering, somehow, he might end up getting hit by the Tribulation.

It was also because while devouring the Heavenly Tribulation, Theo was always at full Mana. He was even able to continually maintain his illusions.

Sighing as the effects of the Pill passed, Theo knew his time was short. Although he was happy with the improvement that the Fire Pill brought to his body, he soon took the Water Pill into his mouth and began to digest it.

If before, he was in constant pain and torment from the flames that were purifying him, now Theo was in a state of pure ecstasy. It was as if all the bad things in his body were being washed away… well, that description wasn't far from the truth. Theo's body quickly became drenched with the impurities that came out of his pores. It was all thanks to the Pills. Theo then used <Clean> on himself as he looked up at the sky, watching the gigantic Black Mammoth form.

This Black Mammoth was at least 4 times larger than the Dark Wolf. "Although it's a bit big, didn't I use <Devour> on the Faux Heavenly Fire Dragon that was even bigger than this Mammoth? I'm sure I'll be fine…" Theo muttered.

Throughout all of this, the girls and children from the orphanage could only see the illusions showing a Tribulation of Faux Heavenly Fire that Theo was supposedly undergoing. He knew that now more than ever, it was essential to hide his real skills.

It was because he firmly believed that since they were vigilant of him before, just knowing that he had gone through a supposed "Heavenly Tribulation" to go to the "Spiritual Kingdom," there was a good chance of them trying to observe him more closely. Well, at least as long as he couldn't get a technique or skill that can guarantee a perfect disguise from people. He thought it was the best course of action.

In fact, he wasn't actually changing the Heavenly Tribulation that much for them. He was just disguising it, making it look like he was battling the Heavenly Tribulation with his body while wearing level 5 armour instead of devouring it.

[Congratulations! Your Ability <Illusion of the Nine Heavens> has reached Level 7]

While many thoughts were going through his head, Theo received some excellent news. "That's great, now I can do even more things with this ability." Theo murmured in his heart.