"Argh...! F*ck!"
Ding-! Ding-!
Russell woke up from the second incident if he could call it that. He was bombarded by numerous sounds of notifications, but due to the mild throbbing pain in his solar plexus, he repeatedly rubbed it, not minding the series of System messages that were waiting to be read.
After some time, he noticed that the Elderwood Training Dummy hasn't been firing anymore even though he's been awake for more than 5 seconds.
"W-what happened...?"
He wondered before he looked from outside of the arena as he mustered up his strength that fully recovered due to high Stamina Regeneration; only the pain in his solar plexus that was hit by the Mana Blast was lingering.
"...It's quiet. How did it stop...? Did "She" help me?"
He was extremely reluctant about such help as he was a victim of a very dangerous prank that just happened.
"...Sigh..."
Nonetheless, he heaved up a sigh of relief.
...
[You have been training for 16 Earth hours.]
[You have been training for 48 Chaos Training Grounds hours.]
[The Constellation, 'One Who Eats Fire for Breakfast' has used a cosmic Skill: Eyes That Melts the Hidden (??)]
[The Chaos Treasures that had been bestowed to you by the Constellation, Night of Primordial Chaos' has been partially unlocked!]
[The artifact of Chaos Origin: Mask of Night (EX) has fully unlocked its functions!]
...
[Mask of Night]
One of the treasures hidden in the Chaos Realm that symbolizes the power of night. It was made from unknown, universal materials.
Rank: Mythical
Classification: Artifact
Enchantment:
– Shadow Disguise
Effect:
The user can change his/her face and voice along with his/her whole physique. It is the perfect item for disguise as it can only be seen through the use of Skill or Artifact with the rank of SSS+ or above.
– Shadow Encroachment
Effect:
Allows the user to move into shadows, and move faster due to the bonus increase in Agility by 100, and 300 when it's nighttime. The bonus Agility only takes effect when the user blends in the shadows.
– Night Vision
Effect:
The user will see better through the dark.
– Two-in-One.
The user has the choice to just wear the mask as it is, or use it with the Shadow Disguise.
Intrinsic Effect:
– Twinkling Stardust
Upon wearing, Agility increases by 50, and Charm either increases or decreases depending on the face of the disguise the user will put on.
...
Russell — who was now sitting on one of the benches that were spread on the corners of the training ground — read the notifications with his deep blue eyes that alternatively dilated and constricted as though there was a mosquito distracting his vision.
Apart from the unexpected notifications, his heart thumped as he read that he's been in the Chaos Training Grounds for two days, 16 Earth hours.
"It's currently evening there. F*ck!"
He quickly recovered from his stupor due to unexpected System messages as he took out the True Key of Chaos in his Dimensional Inventory, and then thrust it into space.
"Eh...? Why the hell it's not working?!"
Ding-!
As though the System has been commanded to answer him, he received a notification, prompting him to look at it as he stopped what he was doing.
[Would you like to go back to Earth?]
[Yes or No?]
The veins on his forehead bulged as he read the System's message.
"F*CK!"
'Are you f*cking telling me that going back to Earth is possible without the key!?'
"Yes!"
But, amidst his thoughts, while feeling mad due to the seemingly unfair treatment he's receiving, he commanded the System to send him back.
[You are now returning to Earth.]
At that moment, without thrusting the True Key of Chaos into space, a Portal similar to before he went to the Chaos Training Grounds opened and sucked him inside without walking through it.
...
[You have arrived on Earth.]
His vision warped as though the previous scenery was just a painting, and the dormitory room he was in came into his view.
He slowly walked by the window and saw the bluish moon hanging above the sky, along with the starry night sky.
"8:42 P.M... Ah sh*t! Freya!"
He was concerned about Freya looking for him again as he checked the text messages on his smartwatch.
...
Received: 8:32 A.M.
- "Oppa, I won't be able to have lunch with you today. I'll be bonding with the friend I made. You should make one, too, you know! Stop being alone most of the time. Anyway, eat your breakfast, or else I'll kill you myself! (Knife emoji)
Received: 1:12 P.M
- "Oppa, I hope you have eaten your lunch. By the way, I introduced my newly made friend to the SET A we're always having. Guess what? She likes it, too!
Received: 6:07 P.M.
- "Oppa! You seemed busy or maybe still asleep? That's why you are not replying even just by saying 'okay'? Just what the hell did you do again, huh!? Anyway, I won't be able to have dinner with you. Guess what, I'm pretty close with someone now, don't be jealous, Oppa, okay? Hahaha! (Bleh emoji)
...
Russell smiled upon reading the messages of his younger sister, but at the same time, he couldn't help but feel some innocence in her actions. He also felt worried that maybe his younger sister looked for him after her dinner as her last text message was sent at 6:07 P.M.
Apart from that, he was reminded that he never ate or drink water for two days straight due to the endless bombardment of the training dummy, but it was thanks to the Stamina Regeneration and Lowest-Grade Health Potion that he still felt energized.
"But nothing beats food."
He muttered before tidying himself up for a few minutes, then he left to grab some meal on the Obelisk Cafeteria One.
...
As he left his dormitory room, he heard some murmurs about him just like usual, especially when he was not around his younger sister.
But, having a 33-year-old mentality with the exception of his age in this world, he knew that there was nothing good in fighting back against some immature kids on the academy premises.
After riding the High-Speed Elevator, he arrived at the ground floor of the Andromeda Building in less than 5 seconds, then as he walked to its entrance, he saw in his profound vision his younger sister, talking and walking with a very cheerful girl.
'Is she Freya's classmate?'
He inwardly thought before smiling and then avoiding going in their direction, not wanting to disturb his younger sister.
...
After a few minutes, he's done eating his meal, aside from what he previously bought, and then brought in the Chaos Training Grounds that became stuck in his Dimensional Inventory.
Sitting on his bed at this moment, without opening the lights of his dormitory room, he thoroughly inspected the items that have their functions either partially or fully unlocked.
"What a great artifact!"
Apart from the stats that could be hardly acquired from arduous training and easily acquired from the rare-to-find Consumable Treasures just like the Seed of Chaos, one of the easiest ways, especially if a person has unimaginable riches was to buy artifacts, weapons, or armor with high rarity.
These artifacts, weapons, or armor could make up for the lost stats compared to others to instantly boosts their ranks. An artifact that acts like equipment always has bonus stats, while weapons and armor only possessed bonus stats when their rarity ranges from Rare and above.
It's like Pay-To-Win for rich people that take them extra mile in becoming strong due to their capacity to purchase high rarity equipment. But, there's a downside to it... It's the real-life combat experience and mental fortitude.
The bonus stats of artifacts, weapons, or armor only encompasses the Variable Stats category, which means that increasing Invariable Stats such as Willpower and Tenacity required arduous training or effort to increase.
That's also the reason why even rich people who seemed to hoard high-rarity artifacts, weapons, or armor were in great danger if they have less to no real-life combat experiences. Because a naturally strong player who had an intimidating aura could mess with the mind and will of the opponent that only became strong from equipment.
The kind of players that should be truly feared were the ones who reached their rank through efforts and by going through a series of life-and-death situations, especially when they only possessed a few resources.
"...But there are perfect resources I have right now."
Russell spoke, cutting off his own thoughts.
What he referred to were the resources that "follow" the player's growth. They were the Equipment Set that he acquired from the Ancient Treasure Chest from Chaos.
He then inspected the items he previously couldn't inspect.
...
[Sword of '???']
A sword that will follow its user to the ends of time. It's made from "Nothingness".
The sword has been 'bound' to the player: Russell Moon.
Rank: Normal (Growth)
Classification: Weapon
Element Type: Chaos
Enchantment:
– Eater of Power
It consumes the Mana, Unholy Power, Holy Power, and Chaos Miasma of the beings that are killed with this sword. Synchronized with the Scythe of '???'.
- [Sealed]
- [Sealed]
- [Sealed]
- [Sealed]
- [Sealed]
Intrinsic Effect:
- Upon wielding, all Variable Stats increases by 50.
- [Sealed]
- [Sealed]
- [Sealed]
- [Sealed]
- [Sealed]
- [Sealed]
...
Russell also checked the Scythe of '???', which surprised him somehow as it has the same description as the Sword of '???'. It also has the same Enchantment and Intrinsic Effect. The only difference was that he couldn't use both weapons at the same time.
"Are these connected like twins...?",
He mumbled as he read the "Synchronized" in the description of Enchantment: "Eater of Power". It would divide the consumed Mana, Holy or Divine Power, Unholy Power, and Chaos Miasma into two. It means that no matter what weapon between the two he used to last hit something, these weapons wound rank up at the same time.
Apart from the weapons that had their names still blank, the Equipment Set, from Armor of '???' to Boots of '???' were also Growth items that were bound to him. And to rank them up, he needed Monster Cores or Magic Stones.
"I wonder how strong these would be if I rank them up to their end rarity.
"Hmm... System, can you tell me their end rarity?"
[You are not qualified to know such information.]
"Knew it."
A chuckle escaped from his mouth as various thoughts surfaced in his mind after he browsed the partially unlocked equipment.
...
The Growth Equipment or items that ranks up were the ideal items that a player could have. This follows the journey of the player as the said individual grows stronger.
These kinds of equipment were highly sought, especially if the indicated growth limit was S- rank or above, which costs hundreds of billions of Obel.
"...Sigh, I guess it's time to rest."
Although various thoughts were flowing in his mind about the System itself, the Goddess of Night, the end rarity of the Growth Equipment he acquired, and so on.
"...Hmm, if I'm not wrong, it's the God of Fire and Forge that partially unlocked my Equipment's information."
He softly muttered while he slumped on his bed with both his hands at the back of his head as he gradually fell asleep.
...
The next day, Russell did his morning routine; exercised, and ate his breakfast. Although he was quite thin in his previous life, he loves working out.
Tap. Tap.
As he sat on the couch of his dormitory room, he texted his younger sister.
...
Sent: 6:25 A.M.
- "Freya, I'll be out for some time. So... enjoy your lunch and dinner with your new friend. I'll be enjoying my time alone before the classes start, and don't worry, I still have some spare money."
...
Russell only told her half the truth. Although he's going out, which was true in some sense, he's not going outside the academy premises, but rather to the Chaos Training Grounds.
Surprisingly, he received a Freya this early in the morning just after a few minutes he sent the message.
...
Received: 6:34 A.M
- "I just woke up, Oppa. Good morning. Anyway, okay, just take care. I was planning to introduce my new friend to you, but she's shy so... probably next time."
...
Russell and Freya were very close siblings, but what the former was glad about when it comes to his younger sister's personality was that... she was not the super clingy type of sister that wanted to be always with her brother.
He didn't reply as he took out the True Key of Chaos after doing a quick check of his Dimensional Inventory's contents.
Then, just like yesterday, a torn fabric of space as though it was a broken glass appeared in his dormitory room.
...
[You have arrived at the Chaos Training Grounds.]
[The Time Difference ratio is 1:3.]
Russell didn't set the ratio any higher because he thought that he might experience again being knocked out for some time. Then, he looked around in search of a possible individual that partially unlocked his equipment except for the Mask of Night (Mythical) which was fully unlocked.
Without seeing anyone, he walked towards the certain training dummy.
"I'll label you as ETD 1."
He mumbled as he reached the Elderwood Training Dummy that almost killed him.
He was just about to take the Sword of '???' in his Dimensional Inventory, but he received a prompt from the System.
[It is not recommended to use the Sword of '???' against the Elderwood Training Dummy due to its current low rank.]
"...Is that so... Alright, wooden sword it is!"
After walking for a few seconds to pick up an Elderwood Training Sword, he quickly proceeded to cleave down ETD 1 or the Elderwood Training Dummy 1.
Without imbuing Mana to the wooden sword, due to his pettiness, Russell beat the crap out of ETD 1 which has its Enchantment: Counterattack disabled.
Bam-! Bam-!
"...Hah..."
After some time, he stopped his little revenge as various thoughts surfaced in his mind.
'I will need companions in the future.'
He knew that the future that awaits this world was something that couldn't be shoulder by a man alone. The names of the characters that barely appeared in his unpublished novel or the characters under the "Untouched Elements" category surfaced in his mind.
"...But for now, this will be my companion."
As he learned a summoning skill, he instinctively knew what actions needed to proceed. He took out the Scythe of '???' as he activated the skill he received after his Profession Evolution.
[Activating the Skill: Alien Call (EX).]