No one knew what Corazon said to Law.
But from that day forward, Corazon's attitude toward Law visibly changed, though Law remained as aloof as ever.
At the beginning of the month, the System Shop finally refreshed.
Abel eagerly clicked to browse the new offerings. Besides the ever-present Red Heart at the top, four new items had appeared:
[Item: Aurora Slash (Purple)]
[Skill-type item]
[Description: Concentrates one's will, spirit, and perception into the sword, creating an immensely powerful sword technique.]
[Effect: Unleashes an arc-shaped blade of aurora-colored energy, striking enemies at a distance.]
[Price: 2,800 Transaction Points (Struck Through)]
[Monthly Limited-Time Flash Sale Price: 200 Transaction Points!]
[Quantity: 1]
[Time Remaining: 23 hours 59 minutes]
[PS: Damn, that kid's got some serious luck!]
[Item: Asura's Mark (Purple)]
[Single-use consumable]
[Description: A stone imbued with a strange power.]
[Effect: Can enhance and upgrade specific types of skills.]
[Price: 1000 Trade Points]
[Quantity: 1]
[PS: Don't complain about the price! If you think it's too expensive, take a left on your way out!]
[Item: Green Arrow Gum (White)]
[Single-use consumable]
[Description: Fresh breath, Green Arrow~]
[]Effect: Freshens breath and slightly increases Mental Resistance during use.
[Price: 5 Trade Points]
[Quantity: 10]
[PS: How much advertising money did you get? I'll pay ten times more for Extra!]
[Item: Finger Snap Fire Oil (White)]
[Consumable (Single-Use)]
[Description: A bizarre item created by a bizarre person.]
[Effect: Apply to fingertips, then snap your fingers to ignite a small flame at the tips.]
[Price: 30 Transaction Points]
[Quantity: 1 bottle]
[PS: Wow! What boy could resist something this cool?! Buy it, buy it now!]
After reviewing the newly refreshed items, Abel was genuinely astonished.
It wasn't surprising that the limited-time monthly discount flash sale could feature purple-quality items.
But among the ordinary items, a purple-tier item had unexpectedly appeared! This was an incredible surprise!
The price, however, was simply too good to be true...
Without hesitation, he immediately purchased and used the skill Aurora Slash. This was an absolute must-buy!
Originally priced at 2,800 Transaction Points, it was now selling for only 200. Only a fool would pass up such a deal.
Then he hesitated.
Was it really necessary to buy the Asura's Mark?
He currently possessed only two skills. If he purchased it and it proved useless, it would simply gather dust in his inventory.
It wouldn't be a loss, exactly, but buying it would completely deplete his resources, leaving him back where he started. He was reluctant to part with his remaining Trade Points.
"Damn it, I'll take the risk!"
After agonizing over it for a long time, Abel finally decided to gamble.
After all, such a rare purple-tier item might not appear again for who knew how long. If he missed this opportunity, he might never get another chance.
He immediately bought it.
His Trade Points instantly plummeted from four digits to a mere 70.
A sense of urgency washed over him.
He immediately tried to use the Asura's Mark, and his luck proved neither good nor bad.
The Asura's Mark couldn't be used on Magic Card Modification, but it could enhance his newly acquired Aurora Slash.
The enhanced Aurora Slash instantly transformed into Asura Aurora Slash!
[Skill: Asura Aurora Slash (Orange)]
[Level: LV1]
[Cost: Mental Power, Stamina]
[Requirement: Sword or blade-type weapon]
[Effect: Unleashes a massive, cross-shaped arc of aurora sword Aura to strike enemies at range, with moderate penetration. Can be charged. Charging rapidly drains Mental Power and Stamina, significantly increasing the size and range of the sword Aura slash upon release.]
This was Abel's first time witnessing an orange-quality skill.
In a word: powerful!
'The thousand-plus Trade Points were well spent—worth every penny.'
Normally, he might not have been able to buy such a skill even for five thousand points.
Most importantly, he finally had a reliable offensive technique.
Eager to test it out, Abel immediately closed the System Shop, bid farewell to Baby-5, and left the junkyard.
After spending some time with them, he and Law had begun to integrate into the Donquixote Family and earned a degree of trust. As long as they didn't try to escape, they were free to go wherever they pleased.
Thus, Abel easily reached the uninhabited forest on the outskirts of the island.
He slowly gripped the longsword at his waist, then drew it with a swift motion.
In the next instant, the skill Asura Aurora Slash activated!
A crescent-shaped slash, roughly two meters long, erupted forth like two intertwined, dazzling moon crescents!
Trees crashed to the ground.
The severed surfaces were flawlessly smooth, still faintly tinged with the colors of the aurora.
The Sword Aura gradually dissipated after traveling approximately fifteen meters.
Abel was thoroughly satisfied with the power he had unleashed.
After all, the skill was only at LV1, and he was currently relying entirely on its effects to achieve such destructive force. If his own strength were greater, the devastation he could cause would undoubtedly be far more catastrophic.
"The energy consumption is quite high," he mused. "With my current stamina, I can probably only execute three consecutive slashes."
"I'll rest a bit, then test the power after charging it up."
After a short break to recover his stamina, Abel resumed his stance, this time holding back his strike.
A magnificent, seven-colored aurora enveloped him, ethereal and mysterious.
But after just a few seconds of charging, his Mental Power and stamina were rapidly depleted, forcing him to unleash the attack!
Whoosh!
An Aurora Slash twice as massive as before tore through the ground and plunged into the sea.
This time, the slash traveled over thirty meters before dissipating.
Thud.
Abel, who had unleashed the strike, collapsed to the ground before he could even witness its full extent, utterly exhausted and pale.
His eyes, however, remained bright and full of vitality, and he soon burst into hearty laughter.
Though he was far from unleashing the skill's true potential, it was clear that as he grew stronger day by day, he would eventually be able to cleave mountains with a single strike!
"Practice! I need to start practicing this right away!"
Abel pulled out a pack of N95 Filter Cigarettes and lit one with relish.
The mental exhaustion from overexerting his Mental Power began to dissipate, his mind clearing considerably.
Using these cigarettes as a recovery item was almost a joke.
But lighting one at a crucial moment still felt quite satisfying.
So he finished one cigarette, then another...
After smoking three in a row, he shook his head, stood up, and prepared to return.
As for cleaning up the scene, he had no intention of doing so.
As a combat skill he used regularly, concealing this technique was simply unrealistic—unless he never used it again.
It was better to reveal his true abilities at the right moment, using them as leverage to advance his position.
After all, the sooner he became an Executive, the sooner he could exploit the family's resources for personal gain.