Chapter 263: System’s Integration

Chapter 263: System’s IntegrationHis heart skipped a beat. "System Segment?" He muttered, his gaze darting toward the central throne. This was the very first time after activating the system that it reacted on its own for something.

Not to mention, according to the voice, it seems to be a fragment of the system, meaning this throne is part of the system. The system within him was very mysterious and truly unknown to him, even though it seems to have been connected to him from birth. He practically knows nothing about why it is with him and when he got it.

Although as a novel, a manga reader, he knew having a system made him feel like a protagonist who would never be defeated, but he still felt a bit afraid of the unknown within his body. Will it swallow him when the time is right, or is someone’s backhand to control him? He wasn’t sure of anything.

His gaze flicked back to the throne, its swirling dimensions seeming to pulse in rhythm with his heartbeat. If the system was connected to this place, then the mystery of its origins might finally start to unravel. But was he ready to face the truth?

He took a deep breath, forcing himself to focus. Now wasn’t the time for hesitation. Whatever the truth was, he would face it head-on. He hadn’t come this far only to back away from the unknown.

"System," he said aloud, his voice steady despite the turmoil inside him. "Tell me everything you know about this throne and your connection to it."

He tried to ask the system, hoping it would answer some of his questions, but it seemed he hoped for too much, as what he got was utter silence. System didn’t react at all to his words.

Seeing the cold silence, he sighed, as he somewhat expected that. The system always seemed kind of mechanical and just did the required task without any self-intelligence.

He can only find things on his own. With that, he stopped hesitating and steadily started to walk towards the central and largest throne, which seemed to contain numerous cosmos.

Apollo’s steps echoed in the vast hall as he approached the central throne, each step amplifying the tension in the air. The mysteriously linked patterns beneath him shimmered brighter with every move, responding as if acknowledging his resolve. The throne loomed ahead, its swirling, infinite cosmos seeming to feel like a living entity.

As he reached the base of the throne, a sudden wave of pressure swept over him. The air grew dense, and his body felt heavy as if the throne itself was testing his resolve.

A mysterious and terrifying energy seemed to be released by the throne, almost making him kneel, but how could he easily kneel? He wouldn’t kneel in front of anyone; in this life, he was going to stand above all.

"Aaahhh..."

He gritted his teeth as the oppressive energy emanating from the throne bore down on him, threatening to crush him. It wasn’t just physical—it felt like the weight of countless worlds pressing on his very soul, testing every fibre of his being.

His legs trembled under the immense pressure, and his vision blurred. For a fleeting moment, he felt the throne’s ancient and commanding intent, as though it demanded submission.

But submission was not in Apollo’s nature.

He didn’t kneel; instead, he used all his willpower and strength to resist the mysterious dominating power. With determination and faith in himself, he somewhat overcame the mysterious energy and started to fight back.

He stood and steadily approached the throne, determined to sit on it. A throne was meant to be sat upon by someone, and he didn’t care whether it was the "right" thing to do. No matter what, he was going to claim that seat.

If the throne sought to force him to kneel, then he would defy it. He was going to sit down deliberately as if to prove that it didn’t deserve his reverence—a fragment of a system or not. Nothing could force him. And nothing meant nothing—not even the system.

The energy around him intensified as if the throne itself had heard his defiance and sought to crush his resolve. His knees threatened to buckle, but Apollo roared in defiance, pushing back with every ounce of his strength and willpower.

"I won’t kneel!"

Slowly, inch by inch, Apollo began to move forward. Each step was a battle, his muscles straining, and his mind focused on one singular thought: claiming the throne.

With one final, resounding cry, Apollo broke through the oppressive force. The energy faltered as if stunned by his unyielding resolve.

He placed a hand on the armrest, his fingers gripping it tightly. The throne pulsed with a faint light, its cosmos swirling once more, but he was going to stop here.

With deliberate motion, he turned and sat down, his body sinking into the throne’s intricate design. The moment he did, the energy around him exploded outward, sending shockwaves rippling through the hall.

The burst of mysterious energy didn’t stop and seemed to send a shock through the universe, even countless dimensions, as many felt a rage of mysterious energy, something never felt before.

Within the hall, the oppressive force vanished, replaced by a profound stillness. It seemed as though the throne itself had accepted him—or perhaps yielded to his indomitable will.

But he knew that wasn’t entirely true, as at the moment, the system that was being silent after its notification seemed to become active again.

[Fragment is bound, and the absorption process is being started...]

The system’s mechanical voice echoed in his mind, startling him out of his brief respite. He straightened on the throne, his eyes narrowing.

"Absorption process?" He muttered.

Before he could speculate further, the mysteriously linked lines etched across the throne began to glow, spreading like veins of colourful molten light. A stream of radiant energy surged from the throne into his body, flooding his veins with a power so overwhelming it threatened to tear him apart.

"Agh!" Apollo clenched the armrests, his fingers digging into the cold, smooth material as pain seared through his very being.

It wasn’t like the time he awakened the system first when the god entered his mind. This time he felt pain as it seemed to absorb the mysterious power of the throne.

It wasn’t just physical—it felt as though his soul was being unravelled and rewoven, his essence laid bare and infused with something primordial. The energy from the fragment wasn’t gentle; it was raw and wild, a force that demanded submission even as it merged with him.

Apollo gritted his teeth, refusing to yield. "I will not break!"

The pain intensified, but so did his determination. He could feel the fragment’s power attempting to integrate with his system, reshaping it in ways he couldn’t yet comprehend.

The throne’s energy seemed to pierce through his mind, dredging up fragments of memories that weren’t his own—glimpses of ancient wars, collapsing worlds, and beings of unfathomable power.

The other nine thrones seemed to also feel something and quickly started floating around him in a circle, and different energies within them seemed to explode and start to merge with the central throne he was sitting on.

[Integration at 20%...]

The system’s voice was a distant murmur compared to the roaring storm within him. The throne pulsed beneath him, its light synchronized with the rhythms of his body as if testing his capacity to endure.

The energy continued to surge, relentless and consuming. Apollo’s consciousness flickered, but he clung to his resolve, forcing himself to remain grounded.

[Integration at 50%...]

His breathing was ragged, sweat streaming down his face, but he wasn’t afraid. "Fuck you, system. Why the hell is this time so painful?"

"If after integration you system didn’t come with some awesome function, then you are a piece of shit."

Apollo’s defiant voice echoed in the vast, starlit hall, his voice cutting through the swirling maelstrom of energy. The throne seemed to flicker in response, almost as if amused by his outburst.

The nine other thrones, now orbiting around him like celestial bodies, began to glow brighter. Their distinct energies—fiery red, icy blue, earthy green, and others—collided and merged, creating a chaotic symphony of power that funnelled into the central throne.

The intensity of it all was maddening, a force so vast and alien that it felt as though the universe itself was bearing down on him.

[Integration at 70%...]

"Damn it!" Apollo growled, his fists clenching as the pain surged anew. His body felt like it was on the verge of collapse, yet his spirit refused to falter. But his current situation wasn’t without any advantage, as his already strong third-turn divine body was also improving rapidly.

As there aren’t many things that can hurt or help him improve his divine body with him continuing to become stronger. His body is already very strong, and most energies aren’t much of help.

But the mysterious energy from the thrones is different and mysterious as although most of the energy is absorbed by the system, just the residue of its energy is able to tear his body.

As his body continued to adapt to this energy, it started to become stronger at a rapid rate that never happened before.