His friends awaited him outside the arena as Kai emerged, breathless yet happy after an intense battle. The surge of adrenaline still coursing through his veins fueled him as he closed in on them. Greeted by their beaming faces radiating joy upon seeing him emerge victoriously.
"Kai, that was incredible!" Aoi exclaimed.
With a lively expression, Leon added to the conversation. "Yeah, I couldn't believe my eyes! You had him on the ropes the entire time."
Ethan nodded approvingly.
Kai beamed with satisfaction, their words filling him with a sense of accomplishment.
The group exchanged congratulations and shared their thoughts on the fight as they made their way to their respective mentors for their daily training.
Master Liang wasted no time in pushing Kai further, recognizing the importance of building upon the experience he had gained.
The day wore on as they immersed themselves in rigorous training, honing their skills and pushing their limits. Sweat poured down their faces as they tirelessly sparred and practiced under the watchful eyes of their mentors.
As evening approached, it was time to leave for home. Kai and his friends walked together, engaging in light-hearted friendly conversation.
Kai chuckled and said, "You know, it feels like forever since we've walked home together like this."
Leon chuckled in agreement. "That's true. You're always getting into some sort of trouble that keeps you from joining us."
Aoi playfully nudged Kai's arm. "It's become a running joke at this point. You just can't resist trouble, can you?"
Ethan joined in the laughter. "But hey, it makes life interesting, right?"
Their laughter filled the air as they continued their animated conversation.
They discussed how Kai would hide the minor injuries from his parents, sharing clever strategies and amusing stories.
Eventually, the time came to part ways, and they bid each other farewell, waving goodbye as they went their separate paths home.
Kai, before reaching his house, discreetly stowed away his sword, Dragonheart, in his inventory, ensuring its secrecy.
Upon entering his home, Kai let out a sigh of relief as he saw his sister engrossed in her favorite show.
He silently slipped past her and made his way to his room, grateful that his battered state went unnoticed.
In the comfort of his room, Kai paused for a moment, feeling the weight of the day's events.
He set his bag down on the table and sank into his chair, savoring a moment of respite. The exhaustion and adrenaline gradually subsided, replaced by a deep sense of satisfaction.
Suddenly, he remembered the notification he received after the fight.
Excitement sparked within him as he accessed the system's message:
[You have completed the Sudden Quest]
[You have gained 40 Exp Points]
[Rewards have been added to your inventory]
[Your Proficiency in Skill Pain Tolerance has risen up]
The mention of rewards piqued Kai's curiosity, and he swiftly navigated to his inventory. With eager anticipation, he observed the contents:
[Inventory]
1. Dragonheart
2. Low-Level Random Chest
Without hesitation, he commanded the system to open the Low-Level Random Chest, bypassing any further investigation.
As the chest revealed its contents, notifications popped up:
["Low-Level Random Chest" is being used]
[Strange [Luck] has activated]
[The Reward Has Improved]
[You have gained a new skill called 'Sword Mastery']
A grin spread across Kai's face, elated by the unexpected outcome. He was curious about the activation of Strange Luck and sought clarification from the system.
"Hey, System, I have a question," Kai called out.
The system appeared before him, its voice filled with familiarity. "Ah, Kai, it's been a while. What do you want to know?"
Curiosity in his eyes, Kai inquired, "What exactly is this Strange Luck mentioned in the notification?"
The system explained, "Strange Luck activates when your Luck stat influences the quality of a reward. As you continue to improve your Luck, it can enhance the rewards you receive, surpassing the norm. It's a fascinating aspect of your progression."
Satisfied with the answer, Kai turned his attention to the description of his newly acquired skill, Sword Mastery.
The screen displayed:
[Skill: Sword Mastery (Level 1)]
[Proficiency: 54.3%]
Description: At level 1 of Sword Mastery, the character possesses a basic understanding of sword techniques and principles. They exhibit decent accuracy, control, and fluidity in their strikes, but their skills are still in their early stages of development. With diligent training and combat experience, they can increase their proficiency in Sword Mastery, gradually improving their accuracy, speed, and finesse with the sword. As their proficiency rises, they will achieve a higher level of mastery over the weapon.
Intrigued by the skill's potential, Kai marveled at his growing proficiency, even at such an early stage. He engaged in a brief conversation with the system, exchanging banter and gathering information.
As the night grew darker, Kai's exhaustion caught up with him.
He climbed into bed, grateful for the chance to recover from his injuries. Thoughts of the fight and the newfound rewards lingered in his mind as he drifted off into a well-deserved sleep.