"Haaah... My magic is gone?"
The news was devastating—the absolute worst thing Leon could hear in his current, wretched state.
The Chaos King, who once sat at the very peak of the power hierarchy, had now become nothing more than easy prey for these Goblins.
Even as Leon's suffering continued, enduring a brutal beating while struggling to fend off the overwhelming barrage of attacks, the Alternative Assistant was working tirelessly to find a safe way out for Player Leon.
[Notification: Player Leon's data is currently being processed with high precision.]
[Notification: The Player will be informed once the processing results are complete.]
As Leon fought the Goblin horde, that voice echoing deep within his mind, he had only one thing on his mind:
Survival.
Staying alive was Leon's top priority. He had always been able to survive the most desperate situations even when he was just a weak player. But the true reason he had reached the Throne of Chaos was one thing:
His uncanny ability to survive and adapt to every danger that crossed his path.
[Notification: Processing completed successfully.]
[Notification: After auditing Player Leon's status, I have reached a final conclusion: Player Leon is no longer capable of using Abyss Magic.]
As if Leon needed more news like this... problems were piling up one after another without pause.
Leon had felt something was wrong from the start, but after the Assistant's words, it became clear: the reason his spell failed earlier was simply his inability to use his signature magic, known as Abyss Magic.
Abyss Magic... the unique power that distinguished only one player in the world of Wonderland.
It was a forbidden and dangerous magic, so much so that every other player in Wonderland steered clear of it.
But there was one player who was foolish and reckless enough to do what no one else could.
The only player who mastered Abyss Magic and used it to build one of the greatest empires in the game.
That magic was the only thing that set Leon apart; it was his sole source of power.
But now, having lost it, he was nothing more than a novice player back at square one... everything had vanished. Everything he had built and strived to acquire had been stripped away.
Leon's feelings at that moment were indescribable—a complex cocktail of fear, rage, and the crushing despair of his loss.
[Notification: Warning... Player Leon has lost a significant amount of blood. Please replenish and treat wounds as soon as possible.]
[Notification: Player Leon's condition is critical... The Player is facing the risk of death due to massive blood loss.]
The sound escaping Leon's lips was faint, barely audible, as he staggered back and forth. "Ah... tsk... I feel so dizzy... Is this... the end...?"
[Notification: A unique trait has been discovered for Player Leon.]
[Notification: Does the Player wish to activate this trait?]
Despite the Assistant's question, Leon was in no condition to respond. He was dying, overwhelmed by the sheer number of his wounds.
[Notification: No response received from Player Leon... Does the Player wish to activate the unique trait?]
Despite the repeated question, the only answer was silence from Leon's side.
In that moment, given Leon's critical state, the Alternative Assistant had no choice but to do what it deemed appropriate.
[Notification: No clear response received from the Player regarding the unique trait. However, given the Player's current circumstances, the unique trait will be activated automatically.]
[Notification: Activating the Player's unique trait...]
[Notification: Setup complete... The 'Adaptation' trait has been activated for Player Leon.]
[Notification: The Player will gain the ability to adapt to pain.]
[Notification: Process successful... Player Leon has gained the ability to reduce pain by 50%.]
[Notification: Mental adaptation process in progress...]
[Notification: Process successful... The Player has gained the ability for mental adaptation in the most difficult situations. Currently restoring the Player's five senses.]
[Notification: Process successful... All of the Player's senses have been fully restored and will function at a heightened level.]
[Notification: Physical adaptation process in progress...]
[Notification: Process successful... The Player has gained the ability to fully regenerate his physical condition.]
While Leon thought it was the end—that he would die trapped in this world, killed by the lowliest creatures inhabiting it—these messages continued to pour in.
He couldn't make sense of it at first, but slowly, his mind began to clear. His health was improving as well.
Finally, Leon's health was fully restored, and he stood back up on his feet.
A look of confidence and resolve now graced Leon's face. "Ah... yeah... it seems my end won't be today... That's bad luck for you, Goblins!"
As he spoke, one of the Goblins attacked, wielding a massive stone axe and swinging it toward him.
The attack was direct and seemingly unavoidable.
But Leon thought: If the option to flee isn't always available, the option to face it head-on always is. Even if there is no way out... I will carve one.
Leon chose to confront the attack rather than dodge it... and in a flash, the stone axe slammed into his arm.
Though Leon succeeded in blocking the strike, the price was the shattering of the bones in his right arm.
Leon's eyes locked directly onto the Goblin's.
This was no ordinary Goblin; it was a powerful mutation even among its peers, as if it had undergone some form of evolution.
A sinister smile accompanied by a cold laugh escaped Leon's lips as he stared into the Goblin's eyes. "Heh heh... You're not half bad. But you made a fatal mistake when you messed with me... A King remains a King, even when he is far from his throne."
A cold, awe-inspiring gaze was enough to strike terror into the depths of this evolved Goblin, who had been dominating the fight just moments ago.
The massive Goblin retreated several meters, moving away from Leon, its legs barely able to support its weight.
[Notification: Player Leon has acquired another unique trait.]
This was a unique trait that could only be acquired under extremely difficult circumstances—a rare occurrence. Yet, the Alternative Assistant now announced Leon's acquisition of another unique trait alongside his Adaptation.
[Notification: Player Leon has acquired the 'Dominance' trait.]
[Notification: Player Leon can now impose dominance over the course of battle from this moment forward.]
[Notification: The Player now has the ability to impose negative effects on his enemies.]
[Notification: The Player can use Paralysis on his opponent, as well as impose Magic Restraints and the ability to lower opponents' stats.]
As Leon listened to this flood of messages in total shock, the Goblins before him were in a state of pure panic, rendered unable to make a single move.
So, it seems this trait is actually useful... Fine, let's see what it can do.
Leon pointed his finger toward the Goblin Leader in front of him, as if preparing to unleash some kind of magic, confidence radiating from his face.
"Paralysis."
The moment Leon unleashed his paralysis spell, the Goblin Leader completely lost the ability to move.
It couldn't even tremble as it had been doing moments before.
When the rest of the Goblins saw what had happened to their leader, they fled at top speed, leaving their leader to his inevitable fate.
Leon took a few steps forward toward the immobilized Goblin. As he advanced, his shattered arm was automatically restoring itself.
He soon stopped and leaned down to pick up the Goblin's axe—the very same axe that had broken his arm moments ago.
The axe was massive and heavy, but that didn't stop Leon from lifting it.
Leon stared at the stone axe for a moment, then shifted his gaze to the Goblin Leader, as if he had something to say. "Hah... isn't this a pathetic end?"
A sinister smile and a cold look crossed Leon's face. Before putting an end to his foe, he muttered a few words in a harsh tone:
"Hey... don't worry. It'll be over quickly."
With that, Leon swung the axe, taking the Goblin's head in the blink of an eye.
[Notification: The Goblin Leader has died.]
End of Chapter 3