The heavy oak door of Rudelion's dorm room clicked shut, muffling the faint echoes of the academy's bustling evening. Outside, the last slivers of twilight painted the sky in hues of deep violet and fiery orange, a stark contrast to the brilliant blue-white glow of the System interface that now materialized before him. He was alone, truly alone, and the sense of solitude was a welcome reprieve after a day spent meticulously navigating the labyrinthine social currents of Aethelred Royal Academy.
His DAILY OBJECTIVES for the day had been thoroughly completed: three classes attended, an hour of Mana channeling practiced (a focused session in a secluded corner of the library, drawing from the ambient Mana of ancient tomes), three positive social interactions executed with effortless charm, and a new area explored – the academy's vast, seldom-used underground training labyrinths, which pulsed with a raw, unrefined Mana, hinting at future quests. Another five Gacha Tickets added to his rapidly growing stash.
He felt a deep sense of satisfaction, a quiet hum of accomplishment that resonated through his very being. This wasn't the fleeting exhilaration of a victorious battle, but the methodical triumph of a strategist executing a flawless long-term plan. He was playing this game of survival by his own rules, and he was winning.
He had accumulated a total of 25 Gacha Tickets from his daily diligence, along with the 1 Arcana Core Fragment from completing the Prime Mana Confluence quest. He had also progressed his Thaumiel Blood Imprint Awakening by an additional 10%, now sitting at a comfortable 20% total, the abyssal resonance within him subtly deepening, responding to his methodical cultivation. He felt the cold, inherent power of the Demon God's essence stirring, but it was his to control, his to channel, not a foreign entity controlling him.
Now, it was time for the harvest.
He tapped on the [GACHA] tab, the word no longer sparking revulsion, but a cold, calculating anticipation. The shimmering interface presented his current ticket count, and the enticing 10x Pull button.
Gacha Tickets: 25
He didn't hesitate. He knew the odds, understood the pity system. This wasn't about blind luck; it was about guaranteed progression. With a deep, measured breath, Rudelion tapped 10x Pull.
The System responded with a vibrant, dazzling explosion of Mana. A kaleidoscope of colors swirled across his mental vision, accompanied by a soft, melodic chime, like a thousand tiny bells. Ten ethereal cards materialized, shimmering with potential, flipping one by one to reveal their contents.
[STAT INCREASE: Mana Capacity +15][SKILL ACQUIRED: Mana Bolt (Active, Rare)]Description: Gathers and projects concentrated Mana as a focused projectile, dealing arcane damage. Damage scales with Mana capacity and control. Can be infused with Blood Imprint affinity.Rarity: Rare
[STAT INCREASE: Vitality +3][SKILL ACQUIRED: Defensive Arcana Weaving (Passive, Common)]Description: Subtly enhances passive magical defense, making it slightly harder for offensive spells to penetrate your Mana signature. Reduces Mana cost for defensive spells by a small amount.Rarity: Common
[STAT INCREASE: Dexterity +2][SKILL ACQUIRED: Basic Elemental Infusion (Active, Rare)]Description: Allows the user to imbue a Mana Bolt (or similar basic offensive spell) with a chosen elemental affinity (Fire, Water, Wind, Earth, Light, Dark) for enhanced damage. Requires mastery of elemental theory.Rarity: Rare
[STAT INCREASE: Strength +2][SKILL ACQUIRED: Blood Imprint Manifestation (Passive, Rare)]Description: Enhances the natural expression of your Blood Imprint, making its unique characteristics (such as visual appearance or subtle aura) more pronounced when Mana is actively channeled. Increases Blood Imprint skill proficiency gain.Rarity: Rare (Unique to Bloodlines)
[STAT INCREASE: Wisdom +1]
Rudelion felt a powerful surge of energy, a rush of raw data and new strength flooding his vessel. His Mana capacity expanded dramatically, the abyssal reservoir within him deepening further. The Mana Bolt was a foundational offensive spell, perfect for his tactical needs. But Basic Elemental Infusion? That was the true prize, allowing him to adapt his attacks and, more importantly, to mask his inherent Abyssal/Void affinity with a more generic elemental type if needed. And Blood Imprint Manifestation would accelerate his control over the Demon God's specific powers, linking his Mana to his Thaumiel heritage. This was progression. Real, tangible progression.
He immediately performed another 10x Pull. He had 15 tickets, enough for another guaranteed Rare.
The colors spun again, the chime resonated, and ten more cards flipped.
[STAT INCREASE: Mana Capacity +10][SKILL ACQUIRED: Void Step (Active, SR)]Description: An advanced movement technique leveraging Void Mana. Allows for instantaneous, short-distance (up to 20 meters) displacement, even through minor physical obstacles. Brief Mana signature disruption upon activation.Rarity: Super Rare (Unique to Thaumiel Bloodline)
[STAT INCREASE: Intelligence +2][SKILL ACQUIRED: Arcane Ward (Active, Rare)]Description: Creates a localized Mana barrier around a specific area or target, providing temporary defense against magical and physical attacks. Less mobile than Mana Shield but can protect others.Rarity: Rare
[STAT INCREASE: Vitality +2][SKILL ACQUIRED: Basic Scrying (Active, Common)]Description: Allows for simple magical detection of Mana signatures and minor illusions within a small radius.Rarity: Common
[STAT INCREASE: Charisma +2][STAT INCREASE: Strength +1][SKILL ACQUIRED: Mana Conduit Optimization (Passive, Rare)]Description: Improves the efficiency of Mana flow through your body, reducing Mana cost for all skills by a small percentage.Rarity: Rare
[STAT INCREASE: Wisdom +2]
Rudelion's grin widened, a genuine, unburdened smile that held no malice, only satisfaction. An SR skill! Void Step was a game-changer. It was the advanced version of his previous Thaumiel's Shadow Step, offering greater range and the ability to phase through obstacles. This directly enhanced his evasion and repositioning capabilities, crucial for avoiding Lathel and other threats. It was a direct manifestation of his Abyssal/Void affinity, controlled by him.
He quickly checked his [PROFILE].
[Host Profile: Rudelion Von Thaumiel]Status: Alive (Vessel of Incipient Demon God)Level: 1Mana Capacity: 85/135 (Greatly Improved!)Blood Imprint Affinity: Thaumiel (Abyssal/Void)Base Stats:
Strength: 12
Dexterity: 10
Vitality: 17
Intelligence: 18 (Override: Host Cognitive Framework)
Wisdom: 15
Charisma: 21
His Charisma had skyrocketed. He was becoming undeniably magnetic, even to himself. His Mana Capacity was now substantial, and his Vitality was approaching impressive levels for a starting character. His Intelligence had also seen a significant boost, further enhancing his already superior cognitive abilities.
He then navigated to the [SKILLS] tab, excited to see his new arsenal.
[Mana Shield (Active, Rare)]Level: 1/5 | Experience: 0/100 | Upgrade Cost: 1 Arcana Core Fragment OR 1x Gacha Ticket (Rare)
[Thaumiel's Shadow Step (Active, Rare)]Level: 1/5 | Experience: 0/100 | Upgrade Cost: 1 Arcana Core Fragment OR 1x Gacha Ticket (Rare)
[Basic Mana Recovery (Passive, Common)]Level: 1/5 | Experience: 0/100 | Upgrade Cost: 0.5 Arcana Core Fragment OR 1x Gacha Ticket (Common)
[Arcane Insight (Passive, Rare)]Level: 1/5 | Experience: 0/100 | Upgrade Cost: 1 Arcana Core Fragment OR 1x Gacha Ticket (Rare)
[Mana Bolt (Active, Rare)]Level: 1/5 | Experience: 0/100 | Upgrade Cost: 1 Arcana Core Fragment OR 1x Gacha Ticket (Rare)
[Defensive Arcana Weaving (Passive, Common)]Level: 1/5 | Experience: 0/100 | Upgrade Cost: 0.5 Arcana Core Fragment OR 1x Gacha Ticket (Common)
[Basic Elemental Infusion (Active, Rare)]Level: 1/5 | Experience: 0/100 | Upgrade Cost: 1 Arcana Core Fragment OR 1x Gacha Ticket (Rare)
[Blood Imprint Manifestation (Passive, Rare)]Level: 1/5 | Experience: 0/100 | Upgrade Cost: 1 Arcana Core Fragment OR 1x Gacha Ticket (Rare)
[Void Step (Active, SR)]Level: 1/5 | Experience: 0/100 | Upgrade Cost: 2 Arcana Core Fragments OR 2x Gacha Tickets (Rare)
[Arcane Ward (Active, Rare)]Level: 1/5 | Experience: 0/100 | Upgrade Cost: 1 Arcana Core Fragment OR 1x Gacha Ticket (Rare)
[Basic Scrying (Active, Common)]Level: 1/5 | Experience: 0/100 | Upgrade Cost: 0.5 Arcana Core Fragment OR 1x Gacha Ticket (Common)
[Mana Conduit Optimization (Passive, Rare)]Level: 1/5 | Experience: 0/100 | Upgrade Cost: 1 Arcana Core Fragment OR 1x Gacha Ticket (Rare)
He had 5 Gacha Tickets remaining, and 1 Arcana Core Fragment. He could immediately upgrade one of his Rare skills, or save the fragment for his SR skill. The Arcana Core Fragment was clearly a rarer, more valuable currency for upgrades, equivalent to multiple rare Gacha Tickets.
He decided to save his remaining tickets and the Arcana Core Fragment. He would continue to accrue daily tickets and push the Prime Mana Confluence quest for more fragments. Systematic progression. That was the key. He would not squander his resources.
The new skills opened up a myriad of strategic possibilities. Void Step made him practically uncatchable over short distances, perfect for evasion and surprise maneuvers. Mana Bolt gave him a direct offensive option, and Basic Elemental Infusion meant he could tailor its damage type, or even disguise his Abyssal/Void affinity by using a common element like Fire. Mana Shield and Arcane Ward provided crucial defensive layers. Arcane Insight and Mana Conduit Optimization were passive boons that would accelerate his learning and efficiency.
He felt the cold, subtle power of his Blood Imprint, the Demon God's essence, flowing through him more smoothly. It was a vast, ancient power, now being filtered through his human vessel, refined by his training and the System's upgrades. It felt less like a monstrous burden and more like a potent, latent ability waiting to be fully awakened. This was his path to True Freedom.
He stepped out onto his small balcony, gazing at the distant, sparkling lights of the capital city. The world of GoldenFrisk2 was still a mystery in many ways, but he was no longer adrift. He was armed, not with a blood-soaked blade, but with knowledge, cunning, and a System that was becoming his most powerful ally. His blonde hair gleamed faintly in the moonlight, and his heterochromatic eyes, one purple, one black, scanned the horizon with a new, calculating gleam.
The game was far from over. In fact, for Rudelion Von Thaumiel, it had just truly begun. He had survived death, defied fate, and now, he would carve his own legend, one gacha pull, one Mana channeling session, and one carefully crafted interaction at a time. His redemption would be forged in the fires of this absurd, beautiful, and utterly unpredictable world.