After Vanishing had settled and Mark had walked a good distance away from the scene of the battle, he remembered there was another way to get skills.
'I should be able to buy a new skill.'
"Shop."
{New Skills:}
{Sacrifice Agility, 1000 Pain Coins}
{Pain Swap, 20000 Pain Coins}
{Items:}
{Barbed Gauntlets, 1000 Pain Coins}
{Barbed Chest plate, 2000 Pain Coins}
{Barbed Leggings, 2000 Pain Coins}
{Barbed Shoes, 2000 Pain Coins}
{Barbed Helmet, 3000 Pain Coins}
{Total Pain Coins: 1000}
'So, I can afford Sacrifice Agility or I can get the Barbed Gauntlets. I have no place to store the gauntlets and I only get benefits from the entire set.' Coming to a decision, Mark opted to buy the Sacrifice Agility skill.
[Congratulations! You have bought a new skill.]
[Sacrifice Agility: Destroys organ/s in your body to the point where they barely works to increase Agility stats. Damage caused by this skill will not be counted towards EXP gains. Increase Agility by: +2 for every organ damaged.]
[Congratulations! You have completed the 'Sacrifice' skill tree.]
[As a reward the system shall allow the host a new skill tree.]
[Please choose your new skill tree...]
[Mirroring Sacrifice]
[Sacrificial Weapon]
'Well, this is new. I didn't expect to be able to choose what kind of skills I could get next.' Looking at the names of these new skill trees, Mark got a general idea of what could come from the different branches. 'Mirroring Sacrifice will probably allow me to hurt my opponent by hurting me. It is like a worse version of Pain Swap. Sacrificial Weapon will probably allow me to get weapons.'
Thinking about the advantages and disadvantages of each skill, he came to the decision to get Sacrificial Weapon.
'It is going to save me a bunch of money and it will be handy when fighting in group battles.'
[Sacrificial Weapon selected as new skill tree.]
[Do you wish to proceed?]
[Yes/No]
"Yes."
A wave of cold passed through Mark's body as he said 'yes', going through his blood and skin. Immediately following the wave of cold, searing pain passed through the same route as the cold. Sweating bullets, Mark recovered from the uncomfortable feeling as quick as he could. He had somewhere to go and they didn't like people trespassing afterhours.
[Congratulations! You have unlocked the Sacrificial Weapon skill tree.]
[As a reward for unlocking this skill tree the first skill shall be awarded.]
[Sacrificial Knife: By destroying a finger the host can summon a knife made out of bones. The knife will be hard as steel and able to slice through materials weaker than it easily. If the knife is destroyed, the hosts destroyed finger shall be recovered. The knife will be destroyed after 1 hour.]
Reading the skills description, Mark's eyes widened with glee. He no longer needed to carry a weapon on him. He could make his own weapons now.
'Nice, and the price is the same as Sacrifice Summon. I can use my other ring finger if I need to get a weapon from now on.' Continuing on his way, he couldn't help but think of the trouble he could cause with his new skill.
"No time to waste, I gotta make it there before nightfall."
"Sacrifice Agility."
[Organs of the digestive system (minus mouth) chosen as sacrifice.]
[Breaking these organs will result in an increase of: +16 Agility]
[Damage done by this skill will not grant any EXP.]
[Do you wish to proceed?]
[Yes/No]
"Yes."
*SQUELCH*
[Current Agility: 31]
Feeling as if he was tearing apart, Mark could feel a change in his body. His surroundings seemed to slow down and he noticed the birds flying overhead were flapping slower than normal.
'So this is what high agility feels like. No wonder people can't see what happens in high level brawls, they're all moving at super speed.'
Finally prepared, Mark started running towards the black market, while making sure Vanishing was still on his head. Turning corners and hopping over fences, Mark made the trip that should have taken 1 hour in 15 minutes.
Huffing and puffing, Mark sat down holding his body that was in incredible pain.
'Man, I don't think that skill is meant for extended use.' Raising his head, he can see the door that would lead him to the black market. 'No time to waste, they're gonna close this gate soon.'
Standing up and walking over to the door, Mark was reminded he had a new friend he had to take care of.
"Hey Vanishing, I know you are hungry but can you wait a little longer? I will try to get us some food as soon as possible." Trying to think of a plan to feed Vanishing and himself, a realization dawned upon Mark. He had sacrificed his digestive system to use Sacrifice Agility.
'Guess I will need to use Painful Recovery.' Dreading his near future, Mark reached his hand out and knocked on the steel door.
The sound of him knocking echoed throughout the area, filling the deafening silence with an eerie atmosphere. From the opposite side of the door, a clunk could be heard as locks were being undone.
As the last lock was moved the door opened a sliver, revealing a fraction of a mans face. His eye was red and bloodshot, clearly he hadn't slept in days. He parted his lips, revealing pointed yellow teeth that looked like they could bite through steel.
"Isn't it a bit late for children to be walking around?" A cold voice that sounded like a snake had spoken those words, could be heard emanating from the man.
"Sorry sir, but you are mistaken. I am here to do business." Snapping out of the shock from seeing this fearsome man, Mark replied with a confident voice. "I have some items to sell and I need some information."
"Ah, I am sorry for the misunderstanding. Please come in." Opening the door to its fullest, the man welcomed Mark into the room. "Please have a seat, I will fetch someone to be your guide."
Looking around the room, Mark noticed leather sofa presumably for guests to sit while they wait. He made his way over to the seat, noticing some red stains on the cushion of the seat.
Deciding he could stand, he continued looking around the room. The room was small, only a few meters wide and long, with 2 doors at opposite ends of the room. 1 leading back into the alley and 1 presumably leading to the black market. A painting of a man with rabbit ears was on the wall with a plaque reading 'Harold Hops, our mighty founder.'
"Do you have an interest in art?" Emanating from the door to the market, a feminine voice rung out, startling Mark. "My dear boy, if you get startled this easily then you want last a day here."
"That's fine, I only need to last a few hours." Recovering himself, Mark replied.
The woman, now eyeing Mark up and down like a predator trying to find a preys weakness, walked into the room followed closely by the first person Mark saw.
"My name is Abby, I have been assigned as your guide for our... establishment."