Yihi's wide emerald eyes stared at me, full of curiosity and innocence.
The little fairy had been sent as my companion, and she had already begun to show her peculiar, chatterbox nature. I didn't mind, though; her presence was a welcome change from the harsh silence of the Demon World.
But when it came to sharing information, I knew there were things I couldn't tell her. Not yet.
Her wings drooped as she pouted. The energy I felt radiating from her made it clear that if I let her, she would go on for hours. I needed to move forward and put my plans into action.
"I'm fine, Yihi. No need for explanations," I said firmly, dismissing her anxious look.
"Oh, but... Yihi prepared an explanation for Dungeon Master!" she chirped, eyes shining as she flapped her wings. The fairy was always so eager, so full of life, and it was both endearing and exhausting.
I held up my hand to stop her, knowing that if I didn't, she'd start reciting a long, detailed history of the dungeon's rules and the core's significance. "I'll manage, don't worry."
Yihi's wings drooped, and she gave me a pitiful look. "I understand..."
The room grew quiet as she watched me. I took a deep breath and turned to the glowing stone at the center of the cavern—the *Dungeon Core*. It was the heart of my domain, the source of my power, and the key to everything that lay ahead.
---
"Dungeon Master, I will now open the store."
Yihi's voice was filled with a practiced formality as she cleared her throat. I felt a spark of anticipation. Memories of the Demon World came back to me, of how I'd spent hours as a blacksmith, honing my skills and making the best of what I had. The store was my new frontier, my tool for navigating this strange, human world.
A swirl of letters appeared in front of me, forming into a glowing screen.
[Welcome to the Store of All Things.]
Points (pt) were necessary when purchasing.
I currently had 200,000 pt. I heard that the Dukes and Grand Dukes started with a lot more points.
Below the message, a long list of items scrolled down the screen, showcasing everything from healing potions to powerful magical armors. Some items were so expensive they were marked in millions of points, but I didn't need any of those right now. I had 200,000 points, and I intended to use them wisely.
My eyes flicked over the store's contents, scanning for what I needed. And then I found it—*Skill Books*.
Skill books were a rare find, capable of teaching new abilities and skills that couldn't be found in the store's regular inventory. The price varied, but the highest-level books were always the most expensive. The original Randalph had started with an *OP skill*, which was likely the key to his success in the game.
---
There were thousands of skill books. The quantity was also limited. Very good skills often only had one skill book and an expensive price. Perhaps if I bought it then it would disappear from the list of other demons.
Among them were skill books that I wanted.
'All of these.'
I scrolled through the selection, seeing names that made my eyes widen. Skills like: Skill Combination (Rare), Far View (Normal), Magnification (Normal), Eyes Closed Tightly (Normal), Outstaring (Normal), and Calm (Exceptional Normal) jumped out at me.
Yihi, who had been watching me with a mix of excitement and concern, bit her fingers and let out a nervous sound. "M-Master? Shouldn't you be more careful with your points? It's hard to earn them, and these skills... they're not exactly the most impressive ones."
I waved her off, already clicking the buy button for each skill. 150,000 points flew away in an instant, leaving me with only 50,000. Yihi gasped, her eyes wide with shock as she watched the points disappear.
"Oh my god...!" she whispered, clutching her tiny chest. I couldn't blame her. 150,000 points was a staggering amount for a beginner, and I knew it would shock even the most seasoned Dungeon Masters.
A whirlwind of energy appeared in front of me, spinning and churning before the six skill books fell into place, hovering in the air. I reached out and took one in my hand. The learning process was straightforward: hold the book and speak the word, "Learn."
[Skill Combination (R) has been learnt. You can combine skills below the Rare rating.]
[Far View (N) has been learnt. Increases your range of vision.]
[Magnification (N) has been learnt. Allows you to see objects up close.]
[Eyes Closed Tightly (N) has been learnt. A defensive skill that improves focus and resistance to mental attacks.]
[Outstaring (N) has been learnt. Increases your ability to resist intimidation and pressure.]
[Calm (Ex N) has been learnt. Helps maintain composure under extreme stress.]
I smiled, satisfied that the investment had been worth it.
---
I held up the Skill Combination book and said, "Skill Combination."
[Please select the skills to combine.]
I pointed to the ones I'd just learned. "Far View, Magnification, Eyes Closed Tightly, Outstaring, and Calm."
[Far View, Magnification, Eyes Closed Tightly, Outstaring, and Calm have been selected. Are you sure you want to continue?]
I nodded. This combination could yield something powerful. The Dungeon Master who combined skills in a unique way had the chance to create abilities not sold in the store. I had learned that while the odds were slim, it was worth the risk.
[Congratulations! Unique skill, 'Mind's Eye' has been created by combining 5 skills that pierced the heart! Unique rated skills can only be learnt once. Congratulations on being the first person to combine a unique skill. 30,000pt will be paid.]
I felt a surge of triumph as the skill activated in my mind.
[Skills:
-Skill Combination (R): Can combine skills of the rare rating and below.
-Mind's Eye (U): Can see the status window of the opponent. Hidden Status, Potential has been opened.]
---
Yihi's eyes were wide, her mouth hanging open in disbelief. "T-that's ridiculous!" she exclaimed. Her reaction was expected; unique skills were rare and often cost over a million points. To create one for just 150,000 points was unheard of, even for a seasoned Dungeon Master.
I opened my status window to confirm the change.
---
[Name: Randalph Brigsiel]
[Occupation: Demon Baron (Dungeon Master)]
[Title: None]
[Base Stats:]
Strength: 64
Intelligence: 42
Agility: 59
Stamina: 72
Magic Power: 50
[Potential: (287/500)]
[Uniqueness: None]
[Skills:]
- Eternal Bond (N)
- Duplication (R)
- Ascension (R)
- Blacksmithing (N)
- Skill Combination (R)
- Mind's Eye (U)
---
I felt a rush of anticipation. *Mind's Eye* was more than just a skill; it was a game-changer. I could now see the status windows of others, including their hidden attributes and potential. This ability would be essential in navigating the human world, understanding the Heroes, and outmaneuvering anyone who dared to stand in my way.
Yihi's eyes flickered with curiosity and awe as she hovered nearby. "What will you do with this, Master?"
I smirked, the first real smile in a long time crossing my lips. "Everything. This is just the beginning."