"Enas, is there a way to increase stats other than leveling up?" Alex asked as he looked outside.
[ Stats can be improved using elixirs and by training, but training is only recommended at the beginning as it's effectiveness decreases with time. ] Enas answered.
"What about buying things from the store, how do you determine the value of a memory?"
[ Each memory will be converted into its equivalent in drachmas, so you can actually use the store without spending your memories but it is not recommended. ]
"Hey Brian arrange for a sword instructor for me. " Alex asked Brian by calling him on the number he was given by Brian before he left.
"Yes sir. Your instructor will be here by morning. " said Brian before hanging up the call.
"How much coins do I have right now?" Alex asked.
[ You have 8 gold and 70 silver at the moment. ]
"Who, yes we forgot to distribute the rewards, well not like they would need it anymore, I'll just pay them back some other way." Alex talked to himself.
" Anyway, are there any swords I can afford with my coins alone?" Alex asked to Enas.
[ You can afford upto level 2 weapons with you current funds. ]
"Show me the most suitable sword for me."
After he said this, a sword appeared in his hands,
"Show me it's info."
[ You do not currently own that sword as such I cannot show you its status. ]
"Okay, then let's try this..." Alex said as he used the skill ' All Seeing Eyes ',
[ Basic training sword Lv. 2
Durability – 15/15
Attack – 12
Special : Increases training effects by a small margin. ]
" What's the price? " Alex asked as he looked over the sword.
[ 3 gold coins. ] Enas replied shortly.
"How much does a level 3 sword cost?"
[ The cheapest level 3 weapon costs 10 gold coins. ]
"I'll buy this sword." Alex said as he left his room to go to the training grounds.
Alex swung his sword a couple of time before asking,
"I was thinking does the value of memories remain constant?" Alex asked
[ No the value of a memory increases with the holder's power. ]
After hearing that Alex made a decision to hold back on using his memories as long as he could.
.....
29 days later,
For the past month Alex had been training on a daily basis according to a strict military routine. He also practiced the sword under the guidance of the instructor. Not only physical exercise he also tried messing around with his supernatural powers. To say the least, the last month had been tiring for him.
But labour doesn't come without benefits as he had managed to increase his constitution stat by three points as well as being able to use a sword in an actual fight instead of just flailing it around and he had gained some actual combat experience.
Today he was meeting with Major Tom as it was the last day before the trial occurred.
"Sir Alex we really recommended you to purchase a better armour, even if you use military grade armour it may not be able to stop monsters." Tom said as he had been emphasising for the last half month.
"Well, I don't really plan to let them hit me so the armour isn't that important, did you get everything I asked for?" Alex asked as he decided to not explain about saving his memories till he got stronger.
"Yes, let me just recheck with you, An anti–material rifle, a top grade military vest, remote explosives, a high qua and night vision goggles, is that all?" Tom asked with a tired expression.
"Yup!" Alex replied cheerfully.
"I sometimes find it hard to believe you are only 17, anyway Miss Lancaster and Mr Spencer asked about forming a party with them for the trials."
"Tell them I said no, I don't want to leave my life in hands of people I don't even know anything about." Alex said as he left the room.
"I'm sorry about this but to absolutely avoid what I saw I need to stay as far as possible from others." Alex said to himself as he recalled the scene he saw in the trial of despair. He had come to the conclusion that if never met the woman in that scene then he could reduce the chances of that future happening, so he had chosen to cut all close contact with others.
....
The next day, heard a sound he hadn't heard in the past month.
[ Would you like to enter the second trial? ]
[ Y/N ]
[ You have 30 minutes to decide or else it will taken as a no. ]
Alex, after checking he had everything decided to enter the trial, so he selected yes.
Immediately he was covered in a bright light before he disappeared.
......
When Alex opened his eyes and he looked around, he saw a black sky and destroyed buildings everywhere. For a second he thought that he was inside the scene from the trial of despair before realising that the place he was at still had its moon or more accurately moons. The three moons in the dark sky clearly stating that this wasn't Earth.
____________________
A day before the day of the trial,
"Who does he think he is?! to not even contact us after we offer our hand first and only sending a reply through a middle man! Just because he got the first position, he thinks he is some kind of a hotshot!!!" A woman shouted contrasting her elegant looking appearance.
"Calm down, both of us knew there was chance he would refuse. Also the reason he gave quite good, even I wouldn't have partied up with you if I hadn't known you before hand. Lets try again after this trial in a more subtle way, that is if survives." A similarly elegant looking man said as he calmed down the woman.
'Alex Reaver lets see if was just dumb luck or you actually know how to handle yourself' The man thought to himself as he tried to calm down the woman.