System's POV
Chapter 246.3: The Thirteenth Member Of The Apocalypse [Part 3]

"Since the maximum Core that someone who is about to become a Rookie is a Rank 5 Monster, why did you choose Arundel's Core?" Thirteen asked calmly. "Do you want me to die perhaps?"

"Of course not." Metatron chuckled. "In fact, I genuinely wish to help you, Thirteen. After all, you have so many restrictions placed on your body. I find you truly pitiful, you know?"

Hearing those words, a frown appeared on the seven-year-old's face. He didn't know how the Metatron knew about the restrictions placed in his body.

"I may only be a residual Will of my True Self, but remember this, Thirteen. In this world, I stand above the Celestials and Fiends," Metatron said. "You can even say that I am the being that is closest to becoming God. Because of this, I am able to see the restrictions on your body just by looking at you.

"Since you will stay as a Rookie for life, wouldn't it be a shame if you didn't get Arundel's Core and gain a fraction of his power?"

Metatron was like a devil tempting Thirteen to sell his soul to him in exchange for something good.

But the boy knew that the being in front of him was worse than a Devil. However, he also knew how devils operated because one of his hosts was an Arch Devil in the past.

"Don't worry, I will not do anything bad to you," Metatron stated. "In fact, I very much support you. After all, you're just like me, don't you think? Both of us hate Fate. So, why don't I help you absorb this Majin Core that belonged to a Prince?

"Also, I will give you one more bonus. After you successfully absorb this core, I will allow you to choose one skill that belongs to Arundel and make it your power."

"That won't happen," Thirteen shook his head. "I am unable to learn any skills."

"Correction, Thirteen." Metatron wagged his finger in front of the boy, shaking it left and right. "You're unable to learn skills the normal way. But with my help, you will be able to learn one of Arundel's powers. Didn't I tell you? I am the closest to becoming a God in this world.

"If The One can bestow skills upon you, I can easily do the same. The fun part is that your restrictions can't do anything about it. Do you want me to tell you why?"

Thirteen nodded.

"It's because whoever placed those restrictions on you broke the rules of the world," Metatron explained. "Because of this, the power restricting you is stretched very thin. If that restriction were to try rejecting a skill given to you by someone extremely powerful, what do you think would happen?"

"The restrictions would collapse," Thirteen answered in a heartbeat.

Metatron nodded. "That's right. So, the moment your restrictions refuse this skill, it will reach its limit and shatter into countless pieces. This will allow you to break free from the hold of a God who thought that they could shackle those who wished to fight against Fate."

Thirteen's expression became serious because according to his calculations, Metatron was right.

But since he believed that his Father would prioritize his restrictions over preventing him from getting a skill, he believed that Metatron's plan on giving him one would succeed.

Of course, that would be based on the theory that he would not implode after absorbing the core of the Majin Prince, which was worth a million points.

A million points was enough for Thirteen's Grandfather, Arthur, to become a Monarch.

"So, what do you think, Thirteen?" Metatron asked. "Do you want to take this chance to gain a portion of the strength and ability of a Majin Prince?"

Thirteen didn't even need to think.

Since he was limited to the Rookie Rank, he would take the risk of obtaining a power that no Rookie had ever achieved in the worlds of Pangea and Solterra.

"Do it," Thirteen replied firmly.

"Good." Metatron nodded with satisfaction. "Although I promise that you will survive in absorbing this Core, do understand that it is going to be very painful. I hope that you are prepared for pain."

"I eat pain for breakfast," Thirteen stated. "As long as I don't die, nothing will break me."

"Hahaha! I'd like to put that theory to the test." Metatron grabbed Arundel's Core and pressed it over Thirteen's chest. "Tell me, would you like to try dying once?"

"Jokes on you, Metatron," Thirteen said as Metatron forcefully pressed the Core into his chest. "I've already died once."

The Majin Core merged with the boy's body.

Thirteen braced himself for the pain, but after waiting for several seconds, the pain that he was waiting for didn't come.

"Hahaha!" Metatron laughed. "You should have seen yourself gritting your teeth so hard, ready to endure the pain. Actually, the Majin Core you absorbed is your reward, so you won't feel any pain.

"In other words, the Core has accepted you as its new Master, so it will not hurt you. On the contrary, it will even allow you to gain its powers without any pain."

Suddenly, several rows of text appeared in front of the seven-

year-old, highlighting the skills and abilities that Arundel possessed.

"You can only choose one," Metatron cautioned. "So choose the best."

Thirteen read the information of the skills and abilities in front of him for several minutes, taking time to understand the pros and cons for using them.

Arundel possessed many skills, so it took a while for Thirteen to read all of them.

Metatron, who seemed to be happy to have someone to talk to, waited patiently for Thirteen to finish choosing.

In the end, the boy decided to choose Arundel's Signature move, which was called "Disintegrator."

That was the same ability that he used to completely erase the Golden Bolt that Thirteen had specially prepared for him.

< Congratulations! You have learned the skill, Disintegrator! >

< Disintegrator >

— Once a week, you will be able to use the skill that can completely disintegrate anything you touch, leaving nothing behind.

— You can only disintegrate living creatures that are of the same Rank, or weaker than you.

— You are able to disintegrate any inorganic object, regardless of their Rank.

— Golem constructs, or any other artificially created life forms will also be disintegrated by this ability, regardless of their rank.

A faint smile appeared on Thirteen's face. Although this skill could only be used once a week and was ineffective against living creatures who were stronger than him, it was still very useful because he could use it in many ways.

Metatron also grinned. The boy didn't disappoint him and chose Arundel's strongest skill.

"Well, then. You can now choose two more items from Arundel's collection," Metatron crossed his arms over his chest. "After that, I will let you pick one item from the Treasury of the Apocalypse. So, be sure to choose only the best, okay?"

Thirteen didn't need Metatron to say that to him.

Even now, he was busy checking all of Arundel's possessions, looking for things that he or his subordinates could use, which would help them greatly when they arrived on the Main Continent of Solterra.