Solo Leveling: Monarch of knowledge

Surpassed 100 stones, here's the bonus chapter!

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Adam woke up feeling a faint buzz of energy, a lingering effect of the anticipation he'd carried to bed. He stretched, rubbing the sleep from his eyes, and got out of bed. After a quick wash, he dressed in casual clothes and headed outside, descending the stairs toward the basement to check on the portal.

As he neared the area, he saw a few officers from the Hunter Association still lingering near the basement entrance. The glow of their equipment and their casual chatter signaled the situation was under control.

Adam approached one of the officers, a stocky man leaning against a wall. 'Awà, scan him.' Adam thought reflexively.

[No mana signature detected. Non-hunter personnel.] Awà reported.

"Hey." Adam greeted aloud, stuffing his hands in his pockets. "How are things going down there?"

The officer straightened and gave Adam a brief glance. "The portal was closed about an hour ago. Everything's secure now. We're just packing up our gear and getting ready to head out."

Adam nodded. "Good to hear. Thanks for handling it so quickly."

The officer shrugged. "It's our job. Better safe than sorry, right?"

Adam offered a small smile and stepped away, satisfied the matter had been resolved. As he turned back toward the main entrance of the building, he spotted a delivery truck pulling up to the curb. A young man hopped out of the driver's seat and began unloading boxes stacked with books.

Adam's eyes lit up. 'That must be the library delivery.'

He approached the deliveryman and introduced himself. "Hey, that's my order. I can help you carry those up."

The deliveryman looked relieved. "Thanks, man. These boxes are heavy."

Together, they began transporting the books up the stairs to Adam's apartment. By the time the last box was set down in the living room, Adam was sweating slightly but feeling accomplished. He tipped the deliveryman, who left with a grateful smile.

Adam glanced at the towering stack of books and grinned. "Alright, Awà. Let's get to work."

[Understood.] Awà replied, her tone steady. [Would you like me to prioritize specific subjects or scan everything at once?]

Adam stood over the mountain of books in his living room, his fingers brushing over the spines as he contemplated the task ahead. His curiosity burned brightly, but the sheer volume of knowledge made him pause. 'Awà, what would happen if I injected all of this information into my memory at once?'

[The process would be extremely painful.] Awà replied, her tone calm and factual. [The human brain is not designed to process such a large influx of information in a short span of time.]

Adam frowned. 'But would it injure me? Could I die from it?'

[No.] Awà reassured. [The nano machines will mitigate all harmful effects, ensuring that your brain adapts to the information without long-term damage. However, the pain will still be intense.]

Adam sighed, his determination outweighing his apprehension. "Alright. If it's safe, I can handle the pain. Let's do this."

[Understood, Host. Begin scanning the materials when ready.]

Without hesitation, Adam grabbed the first book, flipping through its pages rapidly. Awà's internal systems captured every line of text and diagram, translating them into usable data within moments.

....

The first stack of books focused on basic sciences:

1. Mathematics (Beginner to Advanced): The children's books started with addition, subtraction, and simple geometry. As he progressed, the equations became more complex, diving into algebra, calculus, and linear programming. A detailed textbook on applied mathematics even included real-world examples of optimization problems.

2. Physics: The beginner-level books explained fundamental concepts like motion, force, and energy, while advanced ones delved into quantum mechanics and relativity. Diagrams illustrated the mechanics of wave-particle duality and the equations governing electromagnetism.

3. Biology: Starting with simple cell anatomy and basic ecosystems, the content grew more sophisticated, covering molecular biology, genetics, and human anatomy. A thick medical textbook included detailed diagrams of the cardiovascular and nervous systems, paired with clinical case studies.

....

The second stack explored practical survival and combat skills:

1. Wilderness Survival: A guide covered everything from building shelters and starting fires to identifying edible plants and navigating with the stars. Pages showed step-by-step images of tying knots, creating snares, and purifying water.

2. Martial Arts: Several books on unarmed combat techniques included striking, grappling, and counters. Awà recorded diagrams of precise stances and step-by-step instructions for executing effective throws and takedowns.

3. Weapons Handling: Manuals focused on bladed weapons described their proper care and use. One book included detailed schematics of common swords and knives, highlighting their weak points and best maintenance practices.

....

The third stack encompassed history, culture, and strategy:

1. World History: Texts spanned eras from ancient civilizations to modern politics. Maps and timelines detailed key events, such as wars, revolutions, and the rise of global economies.

2. Cultural Studies: Books explored various traditions, languages, and art forms from around the world, emphasizing their significance and evolution over time.

3. Military Tactics: A treatise on historical battles broke down famous strategies, such as Hannibal's use of the double envelopment at Cannae and Napoleon's rapid maneuver warfare.

....

Adam's hands moved methodically, flipping through page after page as Awà processed the material. The glow of the nano machines within him pulsed faintly, and beads of sweat formed on his brow as the influx of information strained his mind.

[Processing rate: 68%.] Awà's voice cut through the haze. [Pain levels increasing. Would you like to pause?]

Adam gritted his teeth, his vision momentarily blurring as a sharp ache throbbed in his temples. "No." he said aloud. "Keep going. I can take it."

By the time he finished the last book, Adam collapsed onto the couch, breathing heavily. His head felt like it had been squeezed in a vice, but beneath the pain was a sense of accomplishment.

[Knowledge transfer complete.] Awà announced. [All information has been integrated into your memory. The nano machines are now optimizing neural pathways to enhance recall and application.]

Adam let out a weak laugh. "That… was insane."

[Your resilience is noted, Host.]

Despite the pain, Adam couldn't help but grin. He had just absorbed a lifetime's worth of knowledge in a single day.

He stretched with his chest rising and falling as he recovered. "Honestly.." he said aloud, his voice tinged with amusement, "I expected it to hurt more. You know, like in those stories where characters pass out from the agony or scream their lungs out when they get overloaded with knowledge."

[That is because the nano machines did their work.] Awà explained calmly. [Without continuous healing of your brain's nerves and tissues, your brain would have liquefied from the strain.]

Adam winced at the thought. "Thanks for sparing me that."

[Additionally, I corrected or removed inaccuracies and redundant information from the material you scanned, decreasing the volume by approximately 30%. However, the overall gains increased by 500%.]

Adam's lips curved into a grateful smile. '500%... That's incredible.' He took a deep breath, his mind already buzzing with possibilities. "Thank you, Awà. I mean it."

[You are welcome, Host.]

After a brief pause, Awà continued. [Given the newly integrated knowledge, would you like to initiate the augmentation of your body's genetic structure?]

Adam straightened slightly, intrigued. 'What kind of changes are we talking about?'

[The augmentation will push your physical attributes to the peak of human biology without the influence of mana. Practically, you will become the strongest unawakened human possible. However, the true treasure will lie in your enhanced brain functions.]

Adam's eyebrows rose. 'Explain.'

[Your intellectual and motor functions will reach unprecedented levels. You will become a prodigy in body control and cognitive ability, able to flawlessly execute every technique you absorbed from the books. Your reflexes, strength, endurance, and precision will rival the highest levels of human capability.]

Adam grinned, his excitement barely contained. "So I'll basically be a superhuman without the mana? Hell yeah, let's do it!"

[Understood, Host. Beginning augmentation now.]

Before Adam could say another word, his body suddenly felt heavy, his limbs going limp as a wave of intense sleepiness hit him. His eyelids drooped, and he barely managed to mumble, "Guess I'll… rest up for this…"

Within seconds, he was unconscious, his body completely still as the nano machines went to work, rewriting his genetic structure at the cellular level.