(+0.1N) [Force: 31.4]
Sin fixed his gaze upon his status window, engrossed in the unfolding scenario. The moment he dispatched the 44th killer rat, a notification materialized before him.
Initially, he had been apprehensive about exterminating these rodents, the idea of taking a life unsettling him deeply. But as time progressed, he found himself growing accustomed to the act.
"Master Sin," a voice broke through his thoughts, "I have a question for you. Why persist in eliminating these low-level rats when you possess the power to confront more formidable adversaries?"
It was Rodriguez who asked him.
Sin responded with candor, "Well, I'm in the process of solidifying my fundamentals. Strengthening my foundations by dealing with these low-level creatures makes it easier for me to ascend to greater heights."
His explanation, however, left Rodriguez puzzled, yet he opted not to probe further. Each noble possessed unique inclinations, and it seemed that Sin's peculiar fascination lay in repeatedly dispatching feeble rats.
In the meantime, Sin made an intriguing discovery: he could unleash a force three times more potent than his inherent baseline strength with his left hand. This implied that if his base Force measured 30 newtons, he had the capability to exert a remarkable 90 newtons of power.
Regrettably, Sin found himself not on familiar terrestrial ground. As a predominantly right-handed individual, the signals emanating from his brain weren't as seamlessly aligned with his left side.
It appeared that the cells within the wooden appendage were playing a pivotal role in amplifying the potency of his Force, exhibiting more proficiency than his native right side. This explained his relentless pursuit of level 1 rats, which functioned as a means to hone his dexterity with his left limb.
Upon vanquishing the 100th rat, he paused and nodded towards his left hand, declaring, "Let us take a breather." He recognized that recuperation was an integral facet of his training regimen, an essential aspect of the process.
Indira approached with a container of water, which Sin readily accepted and swiftly consumed in a single, quenching gulp.
Intrigued by his abilities, Indira couldn't contain her curiosity. "What type of magic is this, your Ghost magic? I've never witnessed anything like it before."
Sin contemplated her question for a moment before responding, "This is a distinctive form of magic, one that appears to be exclusive to my capabilities, I believe." He opted not to rectify her misconception, allowing her to remain under the impression that it was a unique power only he possessed.
A sudden shift in the team's atmosphere caught everyone's attention when Luke, one of their members, abruptly became alert to a particular direction. He rose to his feet and announced, "There's something approaching us."
Sin, taken aback by Luke's assertion, assumed he could sense and visually detect any impending threats through his ethereal window. But to his surprise, there was nothing to be seen.
In response, he activated his Sharingan, scrutinizing the surroundings more intensely. This time, he was able to spot it – a fleeting presence, astonishingly swift and already right before his eyes, leaving him no time to react or utilize his Kamui.
In a swift response, Sin pivoted his body to the left, confronting the oncoming attack head-on. The impact was powerful, sending him hurtling through the air and inflicting considerable damage to his wooden appendage and his ribs.
Acting swiftly, he retreated into his specialized space, finding a spot to sit and regain his composure. Even though he knew this realm would facilitate his recovery, it did little to alleviate his excruciating pain. In fact, the agony he presently endured surpassed that which he'd felt when a formidable player from his youth had once delivered a brutal punch to his ribs.
Upon his full restoration, Sin reemerged and prepared for the next encounter. This time, he was ready to employ his Kamui without hesitation. And there, he saw the figure responsible for the earlier assault.
It was an unexpected sight – a rabbit, or at least something that resembled a commonplace rabbit, standing on its hind legs.
"Intriguing," commented the mature voice emanating from the talking rabbit, "you momentarily vanished and returned with an unblemished form. Truly remarkable. The variables I'm detecting here are quite captivating."
Sin, now aware that this was no ordinary rabbit, scanned the situation quickly. Fortunately, his companions appeared to be unharmed, but he knew he had to move them to safety, as this enigmatic creature posed a significant threat.
Referencing the information displayed on his ethereal screen, Sin realized that this rabbit far exceeded the power of even the dungeon's final boss. It was indeed a formidable adversary, and he needed to buy some time.
In an attempt to gain more information, he inquired, "Who are you? Or perhaps I should ask, what are you?"
The rabbit's response was both cryptic and dismissive as it shifted its weight onto a single leg, stating, "You have yet to attain the worthiness to comprehend my identity. Your current strength remains insufficient for such knowledge."
However, as the rabbit spoke, Sin had already sprung into action. He swiftly positioned himself in front of his team, whisking two of them away to another dimension through his teleportation abilities. The remaining two were similarly transported via long-distance teleportation.
The talking rabbit, evidently impressed by Sin's actions, inquired, "Remarkable feat! You've effectively transported your companions to an alternate space. I've never witnessed teleportation of this nature before. What form of scroll or power do you possess?"
Sin, responding to the rabbit's earlier comment, reiterated, "I'm not inclined to freely divulge information about my abilities."
The enigmatic rabbit appeared to find Sin's determination rather amusing. "Huhu huhuhu! You carry the essence of revenge within you. Very well, let's test your abilities firsthand, shall we?"
With a swift motion, the rabbit lunged towards Sin, attempting to deliver a powerful kick. However, Sin was now fully prepared. With precision, he activated his Kamui, transporting a portion of himself into the space-time dimension. As a result, the rabbit's attack passed through the void of his displaced form, causing it to crash forcefully into the dungeon wall, shattering it like a fragile sandcastle.
The inquisitive rabbit, seemingly undeterred by Sin's reluctance to disclose his power, continued with a barrage of questions. "Hmmm? What is this? How did you execute that maneuver? Is it a form of Sprite magic, perhaps?" he pondered aloud.
However, Sin maintained his silence in the face of these inquiries.
The rabbit, undeterred, leaped toward Sin once more. This time, Sin was prepared, delivering a well-timed jab that caused the rabbit to pass right through him. Sin then promptly pivoted 180 degrees and unleashed a powerful punch in the rabbit's direction.
But to Sin's astonishment, the rabbit did not get propelled backward. Instead, it remained suspended in the air. Simultaneously, Sin felt as though he had struck the most impervious substance in the world as if not even a sword could pierce through its skin.
Recognizing the vast gap in power between him and the formidable rabbit, Sin made a quick decision. He phased through the ground, reappearing on the other side in the blink of an eye.
As he contemplated his next move, he weighed the option of attempting to teleport the rabbit elsewhere. Yet, he was aware of the limitations of his long-distance teleportation, as using it too frequently risked causing a debilitating backlash. Nevertheless, he decided it was worth the attempt.
The rabbit charged towards him once more. Sin activated his Kamui, and the outcome mirrored their previous encounters. The rabbit passed through him, but this time, Sin realized his critical mistake. The rabbit had prepared a counterattack.
Fortunately for Sin, he remained within the Kamui's protective effect, rendering the rabbit's attempted counterattack futile.
Perched atop a stone, the rabbit spoke with a sense of determination, "Very well, it seems I must relinquish my level 0 restraint and upgrade to level 1 restraint. Take pride in your abilities, human."
With those words, a radiant golden aura enveloped the rabbit's form, signaling a significant escalation of its power.