[You received three additional stat points]
Available Points to distribute: 4
Understanding that stamina was his biggest challenge when fighting the spiders, Rama knew he had to bolster his vitality to ensure he could endure the battles ahead. He allocated the points with careful consideration.
Name: Rama
Level: 4
[Stats]
Strength: 8 (9)
Dexterity: 13
Perceptions: 11
Vitality: 7 (10)
Intelligence: 15
As the stat increases took effect, Rama felt a surge of energy course through his body, like a breeze of life that reinvigorated his very being. His newly formed arm flexed with newfound strength, and his HP, now at 90%, left him feeling nearly invincible.
Rama stepped out of the room, his dagger gripped tightly in one hand while the other held a makeshift shield—a piece of a broken door that he had fashioned by turning the knob into a crude handle. It wasn't much, but it would have to do.
He moved cautiously through the building, every sense on high alert as he entered the main living room with an opening void to the second floor. He spotted two spiders almost immediately, their metallic fangs glinting as they crawled towards him.
The spiders moved in, but Rama's practiced movements were fluid and precise. He sidestepped the first one's leap and brought his dagger down in a swift arc, slicing through its exoskeleton with ease. The second spider lunged at him from the side, but he raised his makeshift shield just in time, deflecting the creature's attack before he struck again, ending the fight almost as quickly as it had begun.
Although he was still grappling with the spiders, what had once left him breathless and near death now felt almost routine. A quick glance at his SP bar showed it had only increased by 15%. It was clear—the higher his level, the more effort it would take to fill the gauge.
Just as he prepared to move on, a new notification appeared, catching him by surprise.
[Your comprehension of dagger weapons has increased]
[Dagger Mastery > level 2]
Rama couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement as he anticipated what the dagger mastery level-up might bring. He expected to see some immediate improvements—maybe increased damage or a new skill.
However, as he made his way upstairs and engaged in more battles with the blade spiders, he realized that nothing had changed. The only noticeable difference was his growing confidence.
"What's the level-up for, then?"
Despite this, his increased strength and stamina made the fights smoother. He took down two or three spiders at a time and rested for half an hour to clear the paralysis effect before continuing. Over the course of two hours, he managed to clear out the remaining 10 blade spiders in the building.
His SP bar now stood at 90%, tantalizingly close to leveling up again. But with all the spiders defeated, Rama knew he'd have to face the ghouls outside if he wanted to progress further.
The thought of facing those creatures again made his stomach churn with anxiety. He knew he needed an edge, something that could turn the tide in his favor.
As he paced the dusty room, an idea sparked in his mind—a memory from Book One of the Avatar of Gods novel. There was a chapter where Wen Tian, used his apothecary skills to create a potent poison from the venom glands of the blade spider.
Driven by this new plan, Rama spent the next hour dissecting the spider corpses. It was a meticulous and unpleasant task, but eventually, he managed to identify the venom glands and smeared the venom onto the blade of his obsidian dagger.
"If this doesn't work, I'm gonna blame you, Wen Tian,"
####
"I'm here, you ugly creature!!"
Rama taunted the ghoul lurking near the main building.
The creature, immediately turned its head toward him, its eyes narrowing with predatory focus.
Without waiting for the ghoul to make a move, Rama executed a quick 180-degree turn and sprinted away, heart pounding with adrenaline.
The ghoul could close the gap between them in no time. Rama's legs pumped furiously, as he ran toward his prepared destination, a small, open window along the side of the main building, Rama took a leap of faith. He dove through the narrow opening just as the ghoul's body barreled toward him.
CRACKK!!
The impact of the ghoul crashing into the wall behind him reverberated through the building, shaking the ground beneath Rama's feet.
ROARR!!!
The ghoul roared in frustration, its powerful claws scrabbling against the wall as it tried to force its way inside.
With a swift, practiced motion, Rama slashed the venom-coated dagger across the creature's exposed side and stepped back, his gaze locked on the beast as he waited.
Seconds ticked by, and the poison showed no immediate signs of taking hold. Instead, the ghoul's limited intelligence became apparent. It began to probe its surroundings, seeking alternative routes to get to Rama.
"Dammit!"
Rama swiftly ran back and followed his plan to walk up the stairs buying him more time, however as he stepped into the living room he was shocked to find a second ghoul already waiting for him.
ROAARR!!!
With great reflex, he dodged the ghoul's strike by sliding into the ground, and luck helped him scratch the poison dagger into its feets.
"Bye!!"
Rama quickly paced himself and climbed the stairs, from above he now saw two ghouls crashing into each other as both tried to follow him up the stairs. Rama swiftly enters the selected bedroom, one with a sturdy door, and holds the door with his body
BAMM!! BAMM!!
The two ghouls outside continued to batter the door, their powerful blows reverberating through the room and making Rama's arms and shoulders ache with the effort of keeping it shut. The minutes ticked by agonizingly slowly as he held on, his breathing ragged and sweat dripping down his face.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the pounding stopped.
Peeking through the small gap around the door, Rama saw the two ghouls stumbling around outside, their movements erratic and unsteady. They seemed to be swaying, their bodies losing coordination as if they were drunk.
Relief washed over him as he realized the poison had taken effect. Gathering his remaining strength, Rama stepped out cautiously and seized the opportunity to strike. His dagger pierced through its chest, as he aimed at vital points to ensure a quick kill.
A familiar chime echoed in his ears, signaling the long-awaited reward for his hard-fought victory.
[You have leveled up!]
Rama's heart raced with excitement and anticipation as the notification continued.
[Congratulations on reaching Level 5]
[You are eligible to choose one Golden Finger]
Rama's excitement bubbled over as he saw the notification. The term "Golden Finger" was a staple of fantasy novels, representing a unique, often game-changing ability that made characters stand out.
"YESS!! Give me!!"
The system responded with a message that made his heart race even faster:
[As a Reader, your Golden Finger will be based on the characters of the story]
[You may choose one from the four books]
Book 1: The Reincarnator Divine Skill
Book 2: The Returner Divine Artifacts
Book 3: The Transmigator's Super Gene
Book 4: The Regressor's Past Life Memory
Rama's jaw dropped. "WTF!!!"
He stared at the options in stunned silence, his mind reeling. Each choice was tied to a different main character and represented a unique type of power or ability.
The gravity of his decision was immense; selecting the right Golden Finger could profoundly impact his future. Without more information, choosing between them felt overwhelming.
Fortunately, a new notification appeared:
[Choosing your Golden Finger (unread)]
Rama eagerly selected the message, and a flood of detailed information surged into his mind. The details clarified the nature of each Golden Finger and what he could expect:
Foremost among the revelations was the fact that he would be able to acquire these Golden Fingers every five levels. This generous mechanic filled him with excitement.
"Thank you!!! You are the GOAT!!"
Next for the details on each reward; both Books 1 and 2 will be given a category of choice.
Book 1: Fighting Skill, Cultivation Technique, Utility Skills
Book 2: Weapons, Armors, Other
Rama noted that the skill or the items would be given at random based on his choice category, with lower-tier rewards available at the early levels and the promise of high-tier rewards as he progressed further into the game.
Book 3: Promised to enhance his gene, providing an extra point to his stats with each level and an improved talent that could give a 30% increase in spirit point absorption.
Book 4: Offered an immersive experience—he would gain insights into the past life of the main character, almost as if he were reliving those memories.
Rama reviewed his options with a discerning eye. The fourth book, although intriguing in its own right, seemed less appealing to him. Having already read the book, he felt that reliving the past life of the main character might not provide the unique insights or advantages he was looking for. It seemed like a waste of a Golden Finger choice, given the other enticing options available to him.
His mind wandered to the powerful skills and artifacts used by the characters from the novels, but as an experienced gamer, Rama understood the critical importance of focusing on early-stage growth.
The ability to gain 2 additional stat points per level promised significant long-term benefits, making it a strategic choice for maximizing his early-game potential.
With his decision clear, Rama firmly declared,
"I choose Book 3, The Transmigator's Super Gene!"