Unlike last time, the entrance for the next floor opened right after I defeated the blind guardian, Kotur'Ah.
It was hard to find the beast core that the bird had left, because it had fallen among the dead bodies and the blood, but I wouldn't leave that floor without it.
But after sticking my hand into that bloody mess a few times, I could find the core, and to my surprise, it was a brighter tone of green. Almost yellow, which meant that the blind guardian was stronger than Tarhuk.
Then I remembered the system notification about the store.
It got me curious, because if it was what thought it was, things were about to go at least slightly more my way.
So I opened the system window, and checked for any updates.
[STORE AVAILABLE]
I was alone in there, so I clicked on the [STORE] icon that appeared at the system window, and my jaw dropped to the floor.
"So you were keeping all of this from me until now?"
There were healing, stamina, and mana potions, weapons, though I didn't see the need for it, since I already had the [MIDNIGHT SET], and even armor and clothing!
I was flabbergasted at the sight of all items that the store held.
So I went for what I needed first.
[LESSER HP POTION - 50G]
[MEDIUM HP POTION - 100G]
[MAJOR HP POTION - 200G]
[LESSER STAMINA POTION - 50G]
[MEDIUM STAMINA POTION - 100G]
[MAJOR STAMINA POTION – 200G]
[LESSER MANA POTION - 150G]
[MEDIUM MANA POTION - 300G]
[MAJOR MANA POTION – 600G]
Right... I guess it was too much to expect the system to accept my current world currency.
But was it gold? And how the hell was I supposed to get it?
And on top of that, why were mana potions more expensive than stamina and HP ones?
I thought I wouldn't have other option than to use the [FULL RECOVERY] I safe kept in my inventory for a major emergency, when I scrolled down a bit, and right at the bottom of the window, was an information that got me half relieved, and half pissed.
[INSERT BEAST CORES TO CONVERT INTO GOLD]
Why did it always put that kind of sensible information on the bottom of my system window?
I felt a little frustrated about it, but since it couldn't be helped, I just focused on the task ahead.
I had to see how much gold the dark green and light green cores would get me, so I took them out of the inventory, and inserted them in the store window.
And after a few seconds, a notification popped up.
[LOADING INFORMATION]
[CONVERTING BEAST CORES]
[...]
[...]
[YOU HAVE NOW 1.500G]
ONLY THAT MUCH?
Shit!
I went over the potions' price again, and after a few seconds of deep consideration, I opened my stat window to check on which potion I needed the most, since I had finally reached level ten.
[NAME: KURT BLAKE
LVL: 15
AGE: 16
CLASS: Rogue
STAMINA: 250/295
HP: 200/260
MP: 155/205
BASIC STATS
Undistributed stat points: 0
Strength: 73 (+10)
Dexterity: 84 (+20)
Agility: 84 (+20)
Perception: 82
Intelligence: 71
Vigor: 87]
I just kept looking at my stat window, not sure of what I should feel about it. But one thing was for sure.
I was speechless!
I leveled up nine times in a single Nest!
To get even slightly stronger was nothing but a fever dream for full fledged wielders, since their rank is set in stone once they awaken.
But there I was...
Leveling up.
Growing stronger and stronger, even though I had a nasty wound on my shoulder.
And as I remembered it, not only the system sent me a notification about it, but I started feeling a bit dizzy, my vision began to blur a little, and I staggered forward, almost tripping over a few carcasses.
But I set my feet hard onto the floor, and focused everything I had just to stay awake.
[ALERT]
[AN INFECTION HAS BEEN DETECTED]
[EMERGENCY QUEST HAS BEEN ISSUED]
[EMERGENCY QUEST]
[THE ENEMY WITHIN]
[REQUIREMENTS: STAY AWAKE FOR 03 MINUTES WHILE SUFFERING FROM THE EFFECTS OF THE BLIND GUARDIAN, KOTUR'AH'S INFECTED CLAWS]
[REWARD: UNIQUE SKILL]
[OBS: HEALING POTIONS WILL NOT TAKE EFFECT WHILE THE EMERGENCY QUEST IS ACTIVE]
I wanted the system to shut up, or at least to cut the bullshit.
An emergency quest to fight the infection, that would give me a unique skill. That was cool.
But to cut me from using any means I deemed necessary to heal myself?
Was the system really trying to get me killed?
Then, why did it go through all the work of allowing me access to the armory, to this Hidden Nest?
Why even give me such cool stuff, such as the [MIDNIGHT SET], if it wanted me to die, to begin with?
"Well... Fuck it, and fuck you system! I'm gonna survive this, no. Matter. What!"
So I gritted my teeth, planted my foot on the floor as if it were roots from a tree, breathed in, and then out, slowly, feeling my head spinning.
I didn't know how much time had passed, but the longer I tried to fight it, the more severe the effects seemed to become.
I felt so feverish, that it was like overheating, and the more I felt my skin getting hotter, the lighter my head would feel.
The dizziness turning to drowsiness, and soon after that, even if I was fully awake, my legs gave up underneath me.
And I fell face-down to the floor, having just enough strength to turn my head not to choke upon the blood.
I kept breathing.
Inhaling, and then exhaling.
I didn't know if I was even awake anymore.
Everything around me felt fuzzy, and suddenly, I felt a grip over my legs, then the world spun dizzyingly, and I felt like I was going to vomit.
Was I hallucinating?
"Don't worry, friend. Everything will be over soon. Just hear my voice and keep breathing."
The voice sounded like coming from a male throat at first. It sounded like Quintus, but then it sounded like Evelynn, the Red Oracle, also a stranger's, and I couldn't see a single thing in front of me.
Everything was so red.
The next moment, or an hour after, I couldn't know, I felt myself being dragged somewhere.
Then, everything turned to light.