Chapter 9 - Death and Life
—————————————————————
[1,250 System Points earned!
Current System Points: 1,250 + 350 = 1,600
13 Free Stat Points earned!
0.04% System Upgrade Acquired!]
"Core Assessment and Status"
...
Great, I'm really making good progress…
—————————————————————
— 1 month and 22 days later —
October 22, 23:59
[Today's Energy Earned: +217.4 Energy
Current Energy: 10,000.8]
"System, upgrade the 『Dual Mana Gathering』 skill to Super Rare Tier."
[Ding…
Current Energy: 10,000.8 - 10,000 = 0.8
Remaining Energy: 0.8
Skill Upgrade Initiated!
1%...
3%...
5%...
8%...
98%...
99%...
100%!
Skill Upgrade Successfully Completed!
— Skill Information —
Skill: Dual Mana Gathering
Tier: Rare → Super Rare
Type: Passive
Description: Passively absorbs a small amount of surrounding Mana into your Core and Body.
This passive Mana collection speed is equivalent to that of a Mid-Tier Cultivation Technique.]
"Yes, System, explain."
[Ding…
Normal Tier Cultivation Technique = 1× (Collects 1 Mana per second)
Intermediate Tier = 10×
Advanced Tier = 100×
Royal Tier = 1,000× (Collects 1,000 Mana per second)
...]
Hmm... seeing this makes me realize just how far I still have to go.
Right now, my passive Mana Gathering is only at the level of an Intermediate Cultivation Technique.
I wonder what the future will be like...
—————————————————————
I've been following my morning routine for these past two months, but ever since Syr entered my life, things have become far more interesting.
Normally, after training, I'd read a book, lie down to clear my mind, then meditate, take a walk, or spend time with my family.
But now, I spend my days outside with Syr — from noon until 8 PM — and not once have I grown tired of it.
Even walking side by side in silence feels better than walking alone.
Maybe it's because I finally have a friend after all these years...
But whatever the reason, I never want to forget this feeling. I'll protect it — no matter what.
To do that, I need strength. True strength.
After all, Syr isn't just anyone. I'm almost certain she's a noble elf — her name is Aenwyn Moonlight.
There are a few possible reasons she might be here.
Either she's the princess of a fallen kingdom and was sent here in secret for her safety,
or she's the daughter of a noble family sent away due to special circumstances.
Either way, that means potential enemies... and that one day, they might try to take her back.
So I need power — at least Platinum Tier power.
And more than that... I need the will to kill.
Even if I can project killing intent through my ability, that doesn't mean I'm ready to truly kill.
If I ever regret sparing someone who later harms those I care about… I'll never forgive myself.
Still, these aren't things I should dwell on now.
—————————————————————
Spending these two months with Syr has brought us closer.
I don't really know what she thinks of me… but I'm sure she doesn't dislike me — and that alone makes me happy.
Lately, I've been thinking about creating a skill that can permanently increase my Mana.
I plan to create three skills for this:
1. First Skill: Consumes 1 MP per second.
2. Second Skill: Starts at 0.1 MP and regenerates MP each time MP is used, increasing regeneration by 0.05% each time.
For example:
First = +0.1 MP/s
Second = +0.100005 MP/s
Following that logic — in 10,000 seconds,
0.1 × 1.0005¹⁰⁰⁰⁰ = 14.83 MP/s.
That means I'd gain ten times more MP than I spent.
Then, I'll raise it from 1 MP per second to 10 MP per second and continue from there.
3. Third Skill: After every X MP used, 1 MP will permanently increase.
I'm really a genius, haha...
...
That was childish.
Still, since I only have 0.8 Energy left, I'll have to create them tomorrow.
—————————————————————
As Syr and I walk through the forest like usual, I suddenly feel something… off.
Something dangerous.
I don't know why, but my instincts are screaming — I'm standing face to face with death.
And what's worse… we're in the middle of the forest, completely alone.
I turn to Syr, my voice trembling slightly.
"Syr… there's something here."
She looks at me in surprise.
"What's wrong, Kael?"
"There's a very dangerous creature nearby… I can feel it. And I think— I think it's after us."
"Targeting."
Then—about a hundred meters ahead—I saw it.
A Wolf Beast, towering at least three to four meters tall, charging straight toward us with killing intent so thick it was almost tangible.
I instantly activated my Assessment Skill and checked its status.
[Ding...
Name: Elite Wolf
Age: 76
Type: Beast
Status: Aggressive, Irritable
Cultivation: Silver (Medium) (79%)
Body Refinement: Mortal
—————————————————————
Statistics:
HP: 120,000 / 120,000 (100%)
MP: 7,800 / 7,800 (100%)
Power: 970
Vitality: 1,200
Agility: 1,679
Intelligence: 780
—————————————————————
Skill(s)
Skill: Frozen Claw
Tier: Uncommon
Type: Active
Description: The wolf enchants its claw with the Ice element.
Cost: 100 MP
Effect: Freezing Effect
Duration: 3 seconds
—————————————————————
Skill: Frozen Howl
Tier: Rare
Type: Active
Description: Freezes the surrounding air with a howl, slowing enemy movement speed.
Cost: 500 MP
Effect: Freezing Effect
Duration: 10 seconds
—————————————————————
Skill: Agile Claw
Tier: Common
Type: Active
Description: One hit? I landed three. When activated, a single hit within 3 seconds delivers three strikes.
Cost: 700 MP
Effect: 3 Hits Instead of 1
—————————————————————]
"Okay... that's pretty powerful. I might have messed up this time."
[Ding...
User: Kael Oksileon
Age: 1 (+20)
Type: Human
Status: Healthy
Training: Silver (Beginner) (0.154%) → (1.5%)
Body Refinement: Silver (Beginner) (0.154%) → (1.5%)
System Level: Low (0.031%)
—————————————————————
Statistics:
HP: 62,000 / 62,000 (100%) → 77,600 / 77,600
MP: 19,990 / 19,990 (100%)
Strength: 620 → 776
Vitality: 620 → 776
Agility: 620 → 776
Intelligence: 1,999 [MAX]
—————————————————————
He's almost twice as fast as I am—maybe even faster—and his other stats easily surpass mine.
My only offensive skills are Fire Spell and Fist Novice, both relying entirely on talent and improvisation.
[Linked Skill: Emperor's Sword Intent (Lowest Level): 3.4% → 6%]
Even at 6%, it's not much help without an actual sword.
But right now, even a sturdy branch could save my life.
After all, when wielding a sword, my attacks deal 11 times more damage.
—————————————————————
"Syr! Leave here immediately! Don't look back—go find my father!" I shouted, my mind racing.
Syr froze for a moment, then stammered, "I-I can't leave you! W-we'll die together!"
I hadn't expected her to say that. She really has grown attached to me.
But there was no time to waste.
I quickly grabbed a thick branch from the ground and infused it with my IKN (Emperor's Sword Intent).
Even though it could activate automatically, reaching six times the base requirement for Intent allowed me to shape it manually now—molding the very essence of the energy as I wished.
While the wolf closed in, I prepared a Fire Spell, wrapping it around my Sword Intent.
I used 1,000 MP to sustain it for at least three minutes—long enough to counter the wolf's ice-based abilities.
If you ask how I could control the flames so precisely… I honestly don't know myself.
It felt natural—like breathing.
When Syr saw the fiery aura swirling around my Intent, she finally understood the power it held.
Her eyes widened, and she nodded firmly.
"O-okay! I'll find Mr. Carlos and come back right away! Please, stay alive!"
And with that, she ran off into the forest.
Good girl… but I wish you'd left sooner.
—————————————————————
The wolf was already upon me.
Its claws sliced through the air, freezing mist trailing behind.
I barely managed to dodge and immediately countered with a horizontal slash—but it leapt aside with terrifying speed.
I was too slow.
We clashed like that several times, its movements fluid and relentless. Then, for a brief moment, I spotted an opening.
I fired a Fire Arrow—100 MP—straight at its stomach.
Knowing it would dodge, I aimed another blast—this time, 500 MP—at the exact spot I predicted it would move to.
It worked.
The explosion hit dead-on, scorching its front leg.
It stumbled, growling in pain.
Good. One leg down.
But before I could press the advantage, the wolf howled—its voice freezing the very air around us.
In an instant, my limbs grew heavy.
For one brief second… I slowed.
Then the flames surrounding my blade erupted, breaking through the icy pressure in less than a second.
After all, 500 MP wasn't something to scoff at.
And this fight—had only just begun.
In that split second, it lunged at me—its claws glimmering with a layer of frozen death.
Without even thinking of dodging, I raised my makeshift weapon in front of me and poured 2,000 MP into it, forming a blazing Fire Shield.
The flames roared to life, melting the ice coating its claws—
but not fast enough.
The beast's strike landed.
Blood splattered across the ground.
…
I'm scared.
I'm really scared.
I could die here.
But—!
I have to continue.
As its claws tore through me, I gathered everything I had left, burning 5,000 MP to form a Fire Spear, and hurled it straight into the beast's chest.
The explosion blasted one of its legs clean off, scorching its body and charring its fur.
My HP dropped to 60%—and still slowly ticking down at 0.3% per second.
The wolf's HP was at 40%.
Realizing it was cornered, the beast entered a frenzy—a kill-or-be-killed state.
It unleashed everything. Every skill. Every shred of power it had left.
It had only used 600 MP, but now it poured the rest into its attacks.
I, on the other hand, had burned through 8,600 MP, leaving only 11,390 MP.
Then, with a thunderous roar, it howled—once. Twice.
Frozen air burst outward, locking me in place for five full seconds.
Normally, that should have lasted twenty… but my Fire Spell still cloaked the field, cutting its effectiveness to a quarter.
Still—five seconds felt like an eternity.
The wolf's claws glimmered with ice once more, slicing toward me.
At the very last instant, I broke free—barely dodging its strike.
But it didn't stop.
It kept attacking.
Over and over.
Each claw strike faster, sharper, more desperate than the last.
To block them, I poured 1,500 MP into a barrier each time, deflecting the worst of its blows.
And so the battle dragged on.
Five minutes of pure survival.
When it finally paused, gasping and trembling, its mana pool was completely drained.
Mine… was barely 2,000 MP.
My HP was down to 34%. My vision blurred. The world swayed.
The edges of my sight darkened.
The wolf's HP hovered at 20%.
I could barely stand, my breathing ragged.
Ahh… I don't want to die… I don't want to die… I'm scared…
But then—
that same fear awakened something inside me.
I lunged forward, my final strike forming in my mind before my body even moved.
This would be the end.
Either I die here… or the wolf does.
I checked my mana—
only 10 MP left.
I poured it all into my blade, fusing my Fire Spell with Emperor's Sword Intent at full power.
The branch in my hand blazed like the sun.
The air trembled with heat.
It felt far stronger than even a 5,000 MP spell.
The wolf, desperate and half-blind from pain, charged at me with its claws raised.
No mana, no strategy—just raw killing instinct.
We collided.
My burning branch met its icy claws.
And in that instant—
Crack.
My weapon shattered.
But something… changed.
The world slowed.
Mana rippled through my body.
And from the fragments of the branch—
a sword of pure Intent materialized in my hand.
—————————————————————
[Ding...
Skill: Emperor's Sword Mastery (0.0000000...0009%) → (0.0000000...0100%)
Tier: UNKNOWN
Description: You have awakened a fraction of the Emperor's Sword Mastery.
Effects:
-You comprehend sword techniques faster. [ACTIVE]
Every attack carries the Emperor's Sword Intent, ensuring nearly perfect accuracy. [ACTIVE]
-Attacks imbued with the Emperor's Sword Intent deal 1,000% increased damage. [ACTIVE]
??? [Unlocked!]
??? ...
—————————————————————
Linked Skill: Emperor's Sword Intent (Lowest Level): 6% → 100%!
Advancing from Lowest Level → Low Level!
—————————————————————
Linked Skill: Emperor's Sword Intent (Low Level): 1%
Effects:
You can now wield Sword Intent without a physical sword.
Damage Bonus increased from 1,000% → 2,500%.
The Emperor's Friend is indestructible.
A sword fully infused with the Emperor's Sword Intent permanently gains the title:
Indestructible (Legendary).]
—————————————————————
My power… multiplied again.
Not 11×—
but 26×.
And with that surge of strength—
I cut through the wolf in one final, blazing strike.
The creature let out a broken howl before collapsing, lifeless.
Victory.
But…
My body was broken beyond repair.
—————————————————————
[Ding...
User: Kael Oksileon
Age: 1 (+20)
Type: Human
Status: Dying, Bleeding, Concussion, Critical!
Training: Silver (Beginner) (1.5%)
Body Refinement: Silver (Beginner) (1.5%)
System Level: Low (0.031%)
—————————————————————
Statistics:
HP: 77,600 / 172 (0.2%)
MP: 19,990 / 10 (0.05%)
Strength: 776
Vitality: 776
Agility: 776
Intelligence: 1,999 [MAX]]
—————————————————————
0.2% health.
An empty mana pool.
No strength left to move.
I'm… really going to die.
As the world fades to black, memories rush through my mind—
my new world, my parents, the quiet mornings, the laughter, even the boring days that I used to take for granted.
All of it…
flashes before my eyes like a fading dream.
And just before the darkness consumes me—
a single tear escapes my eye.
Crying...
Tears stream down my face—me, KAEL—the child who hasn't cried since the day he was born!
I'm crying... because I'm going to lose them. Because I'll never see them again.
Syr...
That beautiful, sweet face of hers… ahh, at least I managed to save that innocent girl...
But I want to be with her.
I want to spend time with her.
I want to tell her that I'M IN LOVE with her sweet, gentle personality!
I want to... but I can't.
Because I'm about to die.
As my eyes slowly close, these thoughts echo in my head. At the same time, I wonder—is this what people mean when they say your brain uses all its power in the last seven minutes before death to relive your memories?
I never believed that before. I thought, If you're dead, you're dead.
But now… I'm experiencing it.
My life is flashing before my eyes.
I may have only lived for nearly two years in this world, but these two years were far better than the twenty years I lived before.
And slowly, my consciousness begins to fade away…
---
[Ding...]
Secret Mission "The Master's First Battle" Completed.
Rewards will be given once "The Master's" God Awakening is complete.
[Ding...]
Extra Rewards:
— Life force will be transferred to "The Master" until his father reaches him.
...
...
Am I dead?
It feels like I'm floating in a void...
Ahh, it's so peaceful here.
I could stay forever.
After all, if I'm dead, what's the point of struggling anymore?
I'm sure my mom and dad will be fine without me.
I'm sure Syr will gain confidence and walk the path of strength on her own.
I'm sure...
No.
I'm not sure!
And I don't wanna be sure!
I WANT TO LIVE!
And no matter what it takes, I WILL.
---
[...]
[You're just as I remember you…]
A voice—beautiful, more beautiful than any I've ever heard—echoes through the emptiness.
But I can't tell whose voice it is.
[You always fought for us…]
"F-fought?" I murmur, confused, but I keep listening.
[You always put yourself on the front lines, no matter how many enemies there were… no matter how powerful they were.]
[That's why I fell in love with you—and always will.]
...
[No matter how many times you start over… no matter how many times you're reborn… I will always love you, Kael #?@&@!#?]
The voice speaks of love… of rebirth… but I can't grasp the meaning behind those words.
And when she says Kael, everything after that becomes distorted, tearing at my mind. Every word, every syllable after Kael brings unbearable pain to my head.
Yet… I'm certain of one thing.
That Kael… is me.
...
[May luck be with you, my dear. I will always love you—no matter how many nonillion or decillion years pass. My love for you surpasses even eternity.]
[Get strong quickly and come back to us. Everyone misses you so much.]
[Especially me and my sisters... Please come back soon, Kael! I'm begging you!]
...
The owner of that heavenly voice begins to cry and plead with me, but I can't understand what she wants…
...
...
I don't know how long it's been.
It feels like decades since I heard that voice.
And it feels like I've been floating endlessly—between water and space—for what might as well be eternity.
---
1 Month Later — November 23, 4:52 A.M.
My head throbs as if I've just awakened from an endless dream.
But I can't remember anything.
I open my eyes to a dark ceiling. Everything is pitch black.
"What was I doing?" I whisper to myself.
Then, faintly, I recall—
"I made my Dual Mana Gathering skill Super Rare Tier."
And suddenly, my memories come rushing back.
The forest with Syr.
The sense of danger.
The Silver-ranked wolf.
The fear of death…
And the moment I stared death right in the eyes.
All of it crashes into me at once.
After all… how could I ever forget the fear—
the fear of losing those I love.
After closing my eyes and lying down for a while longer, I feel sleep taking over me again. Unable to resist that heavy drowsiness, I slowly drift back into unconsciousness…
...
1:23 p.m.
When I open my eyes again, I see my mother Maria, and Syr standing before me.
Apparently, they had been watching over me all this time.
I look at them—
They look at me—
And the next second, both of them rush forward and throw their arms around me, bursting into tears.
Syr sobs uncontrollably, saying,
> "I'm sorry… I'm so sorry… I shouldn't have left you there!"
I freeze for a moment, not sure how to respond. Then I gently pat her head and give her a soft smile.
> "It's okay, Syr. What matters to me is that you're safe."
She lifts her face to meet my eyes.
When she sees the warmth in my gaze, she starts crying even harder.
My mother's voice trembles beside us.
> "I thought I'd lost you, son…"
I reach out, stroking her hair just like I did with Syr, and try to lighten the mood.
> "Mom, your son's not going to die from something that weak! The real thing you should be worried about is that wolf."
She hugs me even tighter, tears still falling.
> "Don't say things like that, Kael. You need to take care of yourself. If you had died… how could I have lived?"
There was nothing I could do.
So I just stayed still, letting them cry until their hearts calmed down.
They cried for nearly five whole minutes.
Honestly, I never knew a person could cry for so long.
When their sobs finally stopped, I asked quietly,
> "So… what exactly happened? Can you tell me?"
They exchanged glances, and Syr began to speak.
> "A month ago, when we encountered that wolf and you told me to find your father, I ran as fast as I could toward your house.
It took about seven or eight minutes. When I reached Mrs. Maria, I immediately asked where Mr. Carlos was and told her you were in danger.
Then we both ran to where Mr. Carlos was working and explained everything. Guiding him back took around ten more minutes because he had to follow me through the forest.
But when we found you… you were lying in a pool of blood on top of the wolf's corpse. We were terrified.
Mr. Carlos checked to see if you were alive. Once he confirmed it, he carried you to the town hospital as fast as possible.
You stayed there for about ten days. The doctors said your treatment was complete and that you just needed to wake up.
And now—twenty days later—you finally did."
I nodded slowly.
> "I see… so I really did defeat that wolf."
Then I turned to Syr.
> "And Syr, you kept apologizing for leaving me—but if you hadn't gone and found my father, I truly would've died."
I smiled softly, placing my hand on her head again.
> "Thank you… for saving my life."
Then, half-jokingly, I leaned closer, brushing my fingers through her hair and bringing it near my nose.
> "From now on, this life belongs to you."
Syr instantly turned bright red.
> "I-Idiot!" she shouted before bolting out of the room in embarrassment.
My mother crossed her arms, frowning.
> "You just woke up from a near-death state, and you're already flirting with Syr—right in front of your mother?
I grinned nervously.
> "Ehehe… don't worry, Mom. I love you as much as I love Syr."
She burst out laughing.
> "Then there's no problem! Flirt all you want—or build yourself a harem if you like."
> "A harem?" I repeated, blinking in surprise.
> "Of course! Someone as special as you, who can slay a Silver-Rank monster at just two years old, won't be satisfied with one girl," she teased.
I scratched my head, embarrassed.
> "Hehehe… we'll see about that later, Mom. Even if I wanted a harem, I'd only want people I truly love. I don't need trophies—I want partners for life."
My mom's playful smile turned into something terrifyingly serious.
> "Heheh… well, if you ever treat one of my future daughters-in-law badly, I'll deal with you myself."
…Yeah. That was really scary. I instinctively flinched.
But the next moment, she went back to her usual gentle self.
And then—
A familiar voice echoed in my head.
...
[Ding…]
M- User, while you were unconscious, I created the three Skills you planned using "Art of Infinite Creation."
The first two are Ordinary-Rank, while the last one has reached the Extraordinary Rank.
...
Even though I clearly heard M's voice, I didn't think too much about it at first.
I immediately opened my Status Window instead.
...
[Ding…]
User: Kael Oksileon
Age: 1 (+20)
Type: Human
Status: Healthy
Training: Silver (Beginner) (1.5%) → (2.27%)
Body Purification: Silver (Beginner) (1.5%) → (2.27%)
System Level: Low (0.031%) → (10%)
Physical Stats: ??? (Insufficient Level)
Statistics:
HP: 77,600 / 77,600 (100%) → 86,600 / 86,600
MP: 19,990 / 19,990 (100%) → 22,582 / 22,582
Strength: 776 → 866
Vitality: 776 → 866
Agility: 776 → 866
Intelligence: 1,999 [MAX]
——— Skills ———
Art of Infinite Creation (Super Rare)
Master of All Languages (Super Epic)
Fist Novice (Rare)
Energy (Super Rare)
Dual Mana Gathering (Super Rare)
Core and Body Development Assessment (Rare)
Order (Rare)
Limit (Common)
Assessment (Rare)
—————————————————————
Skill: Automatic Mana Consumption (New!)
[Ding...]
Skill: Automatic Mana Consumption (New!)
Tier: Common
Type: Passive
Description: Consumes 1 MP every second.
—————————————————————
Skill: Mana Regeneration (New!)
Tier: Common
Type: Passive / Active
Description: Each MP used regenerates 0.1 MP after the skill's activation, and every new skill cast increases the next regeneration by 0.05% more MP.
If the skill isn't used for 10 seconds, regeneration resets to 0.1 MP.
(Current regeneration: 168,220,735 MP / skill use)
(Author's Note: Used continuously for 1 month)
—————————————————————
Skill: Permanent Mana Increase (New!)
Tier: Uncommon
Type: Passive
Description: For every 1,000 MP used consecutively, MP permanently increases by 1 point.
This skill only functions at the Silver Tier.
(Current total increase: +2,592 MP)
—————————————————————
"System, show my current energy."
[Ding...]
Energy gained today: +386.1
Current Energy: 8,819.2
"System, upgrade all three skills to Rare Tier."
...
[Ding...]
Upgrading selected skills...
Upgrade complete!
...
Skill: Auto Mana Consumption (New!)
Tier: Common → Rare
Type: Passive → Passive / Active
Description: Consumes 1 MP → 1,000 MP every second.
(Can be toggled on or off.)
—————————————————————
Skill: Mana Regeneration
Tier: Common → Rare
Type: Passive / Active
Description: After using a skill that consumes MP, 0.1 MP is regenerated. Each subsequent skill cast increases regeneration by 1%.
If no skill is used for 10 seconds, regeneration resets to 0.1 MP.
(Current regeneration: 168,220,735 MP / skill use)
—————————————————————
Skill: Permanent Mana Increase
Tier: Uncommon → Rare
Type: Passive
Description: After using 10,000 MP consecutively, MP permanently increases by 100 points.
This skill now functions from Silver Tier → Platinum Tier.
(Current total increase: +2,592 MP)
(Author's Note 1: Daily increase = 864,000 MP.
I was shocked too, but I'm not changing it.
Also, this skill only activates when MP is spent every second. If no MP is consumed for 2–3 seconds, no increase occurs.)
—————————————————————
I couldn't help but laugh.
> "Perfect. Absolutely perfect. There are 86,400 seconds in a day…
If I consume 1,000 MP every second, that's 86,400,000 MP spent daily!"
I quickly did the math:
> 86,400,000 ÷ (10,000 ÷ 100)
86,400,000 ÷ 100 = 864,000 permanent MP increase—daily!
I couldn't stop grinning.
> "That's like gaining 86,400 Intelligence stat points every day!
And the Diamond Tier's max stat is only 74,999 points!"
> "Hahahahaha! I'm a genius! No more mana problems ever again!"
Feeling satisfied, I said,
> "System, show my Status."
...
[Ding...]
User: Kael Oksileon
Age: 1 (+20)
Type: Human
Status: Healthy
Training: Silver (Beginner) (1.5%)
Body Refinement: Silver (Beginner) (1.5%)
System Tier: Low (10%)
Physical Stats: ??? (Insufficient Level)
Statistics:
HP: 86,600 / 86,600 (100%)
MP: 22,582 / 22,582 (100%)
Power: 866
Vitality: 866
Agility: 866
Intelligence: 1,999 [MAX]
---
——— Skills ———
Art of Infinite Creation (Super Rare)
Master of All Languages (Super Epic)
Fist Novice (Rare)
Energy (Super Rare)
Dual Mana Gathering (Super Rare)
Core and Body Development Assessment (Rare)
Order (Rare)
Limit (Common)
Assessment (Rare)
Auto Mana Consumption (Rare) [New!]
Mana Regeneration (Rare) [New!]
Permanent Mana Increase (Rare) [New!]
---
Skill: Auto Mana Consumption (New!)
Tier: Rare
Type: Passive / Active
Description: Consumes 1,000 MP every second.
(Can be toggled on or off.)
—————————————————————
Skill: Mana Regeneration (New!)
Tier: Rare
Type: Passive / Active
Description: After using an MP-based skill, 0.1 MP is regenerated. Each new skill increases the next regeneration by 1%.
If not used for 10 seconds, regeneration resets to 0.1 MP.
(Current regeneration: 168,220,735 MP / skill use)
—————————————————————
Skill: Permanent Mana Increase (New!)
Tier: Rare
Type: Passive
Description: After every 10,000 MP used consecutively, MP permanently increases by 100 points.
Effective up to Platinum Tier.
(Current total increase: +2,592 MP)
(Daily "Passive" Increase: +864,000 MP)
—————————————————————
Wait a second...
Why does my System Tier show 10% progress?
> "System, why is your upgrade bar already 10% full?"
...
[Ding...]
While you were unconscious a top the monster, I absorbed its core.
It takes 1 minute to absorb a Silver-Tier Core.
As long as my tier doesn't increase, the required time will multiply by 10 per tier.
And as you might have already guessed—
From Low → Medium Tier, absorbing ten Silver Cores will be sufficient.
"You say anything... meaning it applies to humans too?"
[Ding... Exactly.]
A small, cold smile formed on my face.
> "Well then… I guess I should be glad the people I kill in the future will be useful."
With that, I turned over.
> "Alright then, let's end the day."
I buried my head into the pillow and drifted into sleep.
...
It was 2:16 a.m.
My body lay motionless on the bed, breathing evenly, lost in deep slumber.
The room was silent—until it wasn't.
Without so much as a whisper, something stirred in the air.
A faint shimmer—like moonlight condensed into form—appeared in the center of the room.
From that shimmer, a woman stepped out.
She was breathtaking—so much so that, had I been awake, I might have blurted out, "Are you a goddess?"
Her beauty wasn't the kind born of mortal flesh; it was divine, the kind that made the world itself seem dull in comparison.
She approached my sleeping form quietly, her expression unreadable.
Then, leaning close, she whispered softly—words that brushed against the air like wind over water.
> "[...No lips, at least not for now.]"
She smiled faintly, then placed a gentle kiss on my forehead.
For an instant, a glowing mark appeared there—radiant and mysterious—before fading away as if it had never existed.
Then, just as silently as she had come, she straightened up.
A trace of warmth lingered in her voice as she spoke:
> "[This is a gift that will save your life once. Use it well, dear.]"
And with that, she vanished, leaving behind nothing but the faint shimmer of fading light.
...
End of Episode
(Author's Note: What do you think about the current direction of the series?
Please leave a comment—I'll do my best to improve based on your thoughts!)