Théoden went through the new information and could somehow understand how the system worked. He knew the given status window from the games he played back on Earth but this one was similar but entirely different.

First, there were no quests. The system just functioned alongside his normal daily activities. He would gain stats by doing something repeatedly to the point of exhaustion which was no different from training. In other words, it was simply a mirror that showed his embodiment.

He, at the very least, could observe the progress he was making in real time. He didn't quite understand the authority but he understood that it gave more benefits compared to when he had none. The whole requirements for advancement were not clarified. The system only demanded he gain strength.

'What type of strength? It...couldn't just want me to be rugged and brawny,...right?'

The new function was 'System Storage'. It seemed like a reward for gaining more authority or it was a perk of gaining the so-called authority. The layout of the storage was a bit different than he thought. It was four pages, each page visible of twenty-five boxes. One box was occupied which was labeled as an unclassified demon core. There was no description of how many objects or the capacity of each so it was not reliable to assume. He was happy that there were adequate boxes, nevertheless.

Thinking back to the previous day before falling asleep he saw a small ball similar to the one inside the box flow towards him and disappear. He unconsciously reached out to the occupied box, but it popped out before he could reach the hologram screen.

'How could I forget? The hologram is intangible.'

The ball appeared in his hand. That didn't quite explain how the system initiated the command to retrieve the ball.

'I just thought of it...is this how it works?'

The thing he discovered is that the system was following his thoughts and will. When he wanted something he could simply think of it appearing on his hand and it would. It was such an advanced technology far surpassing anything he had ever seen.

Having something like that attached to him was scary since it could read his mind, but since it was of help so far, it was no harm having it around. Not that he knew how to get rid of it in the first place.

He stared at the small ball in his hand. It could roughly fit within his closed palm. Similar to a marble. It was red and glowed in a dull light. It was like a heated stone that exuded some mist. It was cold to the touch.

Théoden thought it was deserving of something from a fantasy world where even demons existed. He wondered why the system specifically stored this in his storage when he had just come to learn of its existence that very day. It was indeed a mystery.

[Would Host like to absorb the unclassified demon core?]

'I guess I know why now.'

[Choice: Yes / No.]

'Why would it display it when I can't touch it?'

The thought of it a while. The core had to be something special. Given the few conclusions he had drawn so far, he was sure the system would never recommend something that could harm him. They were in a symbiotic relationship so it was only right for the system to want the best for its host.

With that, he thought of 'yes' as the answer.

[Skill: Devour activated on the target unclassified demon core]

The core shattered into mist and dissolved within him. The warm fuzzy feeling he awaited was nowhere to be felt. Instead, he was followed by agonizing pain.

'W-why?'

[Unclassified demon core fusion rate: 1%]

With the pain that followed he could not help but fall over his body as could not help it. Théoden was writhing in agony as small groans escaped his lips. He tightly bit the cloth that was nearby to spot the urge to scream or bite his tongue.

His body audibly shattered and crackled. His bones seemed to be broken and mended the shattered once more. The process of reconstructing his body was more than he could sanely bear.

However, he was beginning to lose his sanity at that point. He couldn't fall unconscious due to the immense pain either. Amid the pain, there was the anticipation he felt in his very core.

[Unclassified demon core fusion rate: 7%]

The hologram message showed time went far too slowly to his dismay.

Enduring was hard, but what could he do? Somewhere deep down he knew there was something good from the agonizing pain. A reward he would receive. After all, you reap what you sow.

Somehow, he persisted as he was already shedding tears and could not stop them either. Not sobs or groans, but silent tears flowing showing the pain felt by his nerves. That would be the least form of release from the repetitive torture.

After an hour of torture, the rate still hadn't reached a full percentage. However, there was less pain at least. However, the traumatic experience Théoden went through still lingered in his mind. Testament to this is that his body still trembled as he curled himself tightly holding his knees close to himself. His eyes had long lost focus, but he wasn't asleep. He bared it all awake. They were bloodshot from all the tears he shed.