I Awakened as an SSS-Rank System Maker!

Chapter 48 - Puppets Evolution

Energy surged once more, spreading across the hall like a wildfire, rapidly filling the space. The raw force vibrated in the air, its resonance echoing through the ancient walls of the royal hall. Lucas felt it before he saw it André was transforming. He was becoming something greater. He was evolving into something unstoppable.

System Notification:

Congratulations: André has reached SS Rank.

Congratulations: First Follower to reach SS Rank.

The words flashed before Lucas’s eyes, but the reality unfolding before him struck harder than any system prompt.

André was now a force to be reckoned with.

Then, it happened again.

An explosion of power smaller than André’s but just as intense erupted from Lucas’s body.

System Notification:

Congratulations: You have absorbed 10% of André’s power.

Congratulations: You have reached Rank A.

Power transfer complete.

Silence fell over the hall, broken only by the whispers of lingering energy crackling in the air.

Siman’s eyes flared, and his voice broke out in disbelief. "What?! What’s happening?!"

Siman’s father, who had always been composed, observed the scene with an unreadable expression. "He can absorb power from his followers... What a fascinating system." His voice was calm, but there was a tone of respect underlying his words.

With a flick of his wrist, Siman’s father raised a second barrier around Lucas a black aura shimmering with a strange glow. It pulsed with the same dark energy that had surrounded André earlier, forming a protective shield around Lucas as the transfer continued.

Minutes passed, feeling like hours.

Lucas felt the power coursing through his body a scorching heat burning through every part of him. His body trembled under the pressure, every muscle quivering with the influx of strength. Sweat streamed down his face, stinging his eyes, his hair plastered to his forehead. The energy flowed inside him, crashing against the limits of his body.

Inside the barrier, Lucas’s heart pounded, his breath shallow. His vision was blurred, but he refused to fall. He wouldn’t break.

He couldn’t.

Then, the barrier flickered and dropped, the intensity of the transformation lessening. Lucas swayed forward, sweat dripping in rivulets, his black hair clinging to his face like a curtain. His breaths were ragged, but a twisted, satisfied smile spread across his lips.

"Hah..." His voice was rough, but a confidence not present before had taken root. "This is power."

He stood upright, his body still shaking, but steady enough to hold himself up. His eyes glowed with the raw energy he had just absorbed.

André, still radiating with energy, stood aside now firmly rooted in the SS Rank.

Siman’s jaw dropped as he looked between Lucas and André. "What? Impossible! That means... he’s not entering the Universe Tournament?!"

Lucas smiled, a teasing expression despite the exhaustion in his limbs.

"Looks like it."

The words hung in the air... the tournament, the system suddenly all of it felt trivial compared to what he had just achieved.

Then his eyes turned to Darlene, and his smile vanished, replaced by a focused expression.

"Your turn now," Lucas said, his voice calm but firm.

He looked at Siman’s father, who had remained silent throughout the entire process, still unreadable.

"Please... set up a barrier for her."

Not a muscle moved in the man’s face. His eyes were as cold and decisive as ever.

"Very well."

Without hesitation, Lucas turned his full attention to Darlene. He could feel the weight of the moment, the tension thick in the air. He had already seen what André could do—but Darlene was different. She had always been the healer, the support.

But instead of checking her status window, Lucas made a reckless decision.

He looked at Darlene and said, his voice low but resolute,

"I’m putting all the points into mana. Every single one."

"1,200 points," Lucas muttered, his fingers hovering above the system interface.

"All into mana."

The decision was made and with a swift movement, he confirmed it.

The system responded with a soft chime, and the transformation began.

Darlene’s body gleamed with energy, the force beginning to surge around her. Her eyes widened in surprise, and she instinctively raised her hands as if to control the power flowing into her. The air in the hall grew thick with mana.

Siman’s father raised his hand, and a barrier appeared around Darlene just as he had done for André and Lucas.

-*-

-*-

-*-

Suddenly

A blast of red-violet energy erupted from Darlene.

The hall shook under the sheer force of it. The air grew heavy, saturated with raw energy suffocating in its intensity. The barrier surrounding Darlene flickered violently, shifting from calm blue to blood-red, fluctuating erratically, struggling to contain the explosion of power erupting from within her.

Darlene stood in the center, her body radiating a disturbing and unnatural aura, immersed in immeasurable power an aura that distorted the very fabric of reality around her.

System Notification:

– Congratulations: Darlene has reached S Rank.

– Congratulations: First Follower to reach S Rank.

– Congratulations: You have absorbed 10% of Darlene’s power.

The words flashed rapidly across Lucas’s vision.

"No!" Lucas shouted, his voice hoarse with dread. "I forgot that part!"

The energy swirling around Darlene a twisted mix of blood-red and violet.

Lucas had absorbed power from his followers, yes but this... this level of power wasn’t meant to happen this quickly, and not in such an uncontrollable way. He had forgotten the risks, the impact it would have on him.

The burning pain struck him.

He was on fire an unbearable force flooding through his body, starting from his chest and spreading to his limbs, his mind, his soul. Every part of him screamed, as if being ripped apart from the inside out.

"Argh!" He clenched his teeth, vision blurred, his strength leaking from him. His body wasn’t ready for this. He couldn’t handle the influx of power at such a speed.

Siman’s father sighed a soft sound, but one full of unexpected patience. He raised his hand, moving his fingers in a simple gesture through the air. A barrier of pure black energy materialized around Lucas, encasing him. The burning pain gradually began to fade, the pressure easing just enough for him to breathe.

However, the damage had already been done.

The power within him churned violently unstable, threatening to tear him apart from the inside.

–––

The Next Day...

Lucas’s eyelids lifted slowly, a sharp pain striking his eyes from the bright light in the room. His head throbbed, rhythmic pulses of dizziness flowing through him as he tried to sit up. He was in a bed, the blankets still warm around him.

Siman’s voice broke the silence.

It was rough, but carried a trace of amusement as he said,

"Wake up! You slept an entire day."

Lucas blinked, trying to focus. His mind was foggy, exhausted.

"Huh... what happened?" His voice was hoarse, threaded with confusion.

Siman didn’t answer immediately. Instead, Lucas heard the sound of footsteps as Siman left the room. A moment later, Lucas gathered his strength and swung his legs over the side of the bed, standing cautiously. The pain in his body had lessened, but its memory remained sharp and fresh. He wasn’t sure if this was the effect of absorbing power or just the cost of pushing his limits too far.

Two hours later, Lucas found himself sitting at a grand royal dining table. The air was rich with the scent of exotic, decadent foods. The room was luxurious too luxurious for his taste with massive chandeliers hanging from the ceiling and marble floors beneath. The table itself was covered in meats, fruits, and a variety of gourmet dishes he could barely name.

His freshly donned black robe was pristine, his hair carefully styled to one side.

André and Darlene sat beside him, their faces expressionless as they ate.

They were quiet, distant as if mechanical in their silence.

They moved like soldiers in autopilot mode, their eyes fixed forward, unresponsive to anyone around them...