Az slowly opened his eyes, expecting to find himself in another familiar setting. Sure enough, he saw the unmistakable visage of Lumi's face peering down at him, and he couldn't help but feel like he was caught in a recurring dream.
"Hi, Az," Lumi greeted him with her usual cheerfulness, a warm smile on her face.
Az, still drowsy and wanting to savor the moment, playfully responded, "Don't wake me up just yet, Lumi."
But, as if having a mind of her own, Lumi disregarded Az's request and promptly stood up, causing Az's face to tumble onto the grass. He shot up with an irritated expression. "Oi!"
Ignoring his protests, Lumi beamed and delivered the news. "Congratulations, Az! You defeated the Colossal Alien."
Az couldn't resist the opportunity to flaunt his triumph. With a smug expression, he casually remarked, "Heh, that was an easy task," putting a hand to his cheek and tilting his head in an exaggeratedly proud manner.
But then, as his fingers grazed his cheek and he inspected his face, he was met with a surprise. "Eh?" Az exclaimed, his eyebrows knitting in confusion. "Where's the wound on my face?"
Lumi, standing nearby, responded with a knowing smile. "After defeating the Colossal Alien, all the status effects on your body will be reset to normal, even if you were on the brink of death."
Curiosity got the better of Az, and he couldn't help but ask the pressing question on his mind. "Lumi, what happens if I die?" he inquired, a note of concern in his voice.
Lumi's cheerful expression swiftly turned solemn as she addressed Az's query. She turned to him with a serious face and explained, "If you die, Az, you will be reborn, and the same goes for me. But there's one thing to keep in mind: all the unspent Alien Skull you've collected will be gone forever."
Az, at first, didn't seem too perturbed. "Well, that's not such a big deal if we can be reborn," he remarked casually.
But then, with an air of gravity, Lumi leaned in closer to Az, and her voice dropped to a whisper. "But, Az, if both of us were to die at the same time, we would be dead for real."
Az, puzzled and somewhat concerned, asked, "But Lumi, aren't you like an NPC or a supporting character in this simulator?"
Lumi's response was enigmatic, and she shook her head. "I don't know what you're talking about, Az, but right now I'm connected to you." Her words held an air of mystery, leaving Az even more perplexed.
"What do you mean by that?" Az pressed for more information, a tinge of anxiety in his voice.
Lumi's response, however, was cryptic, and she simply said, "That's all I can tell you for now."
Az had many more questions, but it seemed that for the time being, the full extent of their connection and Lumi's role.
Lumi's eyes held a distant look as she clarified, "All I can tell you is that I'm your Félagi."
Az furrowed his brow in confusion. "Félagi? What do you mean?" he inquired, not familiar with the term.
Lumi skillfully shifted the conversation away and directed Az's attention to something else. "Az, why don't you check your status profile?" she suggested, her tone deliberately casual.
Curious, Az opened his status tab, but what he saw there left him utterly shocked. The number of Alien Skulls available was beyond anything he could have imagined. He blinked in disbelief, his eyes fixed on the astonishing figure.
Name: Az
Class: Fantasy
Title: Colossal Slayer
Level: 1
STR | Strength: 200
DEX | Dexterity: 200
MND | Mind: 200
INT | Intelligence: 200
ARC | Arcane: 200
Alien Skull Available: 12,000
The realization struck him, and he turned to Lumi, his voice filled with astonishment. "Lumi, do you see this? The amount of Alien Skulls available is... unbelievable!" It was as if the simualtor had gifted him with an unexpected bounty, and he couldn't quite believe his luck.
Lumi explained that Az could choose how to use the Alien Skulls available to him. He could allocate them to enhance his existing stats or use them later. The decision rested entirely on Az's choices and preferences.
Az found himself facing a multitude of possibilities, each offering new ways to develop his character.
As he thought about what to do with the Alien Skulls available to him, he couldn't help but notice the bold new title assigned to him, and with a hint of shyness and a touch of pride, he confessed to Lumi, "Isn't it a bit exaggerated?" The title was a testament to his incredible feat of defeating the Colossal Alien.
Lumi then handed Az a shield crafted from the formidable hard skin of the Colossal Alien, and Az couldn't help but observe, "Isn't this made from the same material as the Colossal Alien's skin?"
Name: Colossal Skin Shield
Description: Shield made from shattered skin of a fallen Colossal Alien.
STR | Strength: C
DEX | Dexterity: F
INT | Intelligence: -
ARC | Arcane: -
Passive: Dexterity increases for 10 seconds if dropped while in battle (Cooldown: 600 seconds)
Lumi nodded in agreement. "Yes, it's made from the Colossal Alien's skin. You can choose to use it, or if you prefer, we can trade it for other materials or weapons."
Az considered his options for a moment and then chuckled, "Well, I'd prefer a weapon over a shield, but I guess beggars can't be choosers, right?"
Lumi inquired about Az's decision regarding the use of his Alien Skulls. With confidence, Az replied, "I think so." He had a clear idea of how he wanted to allocate his resources.
Az shared his decision, and his status profile transformed accordingly:
Name: Az
Class: Fantasy
Title: Colossal Slayer
Level: 13
STR | Strength: 1700
DEX | Dexterity: 1700
MND | Mind: 1200
INT | Intelligence: 1200
ARC | Arcane: 7200
Alien Skull Available: 0
Lumi sought confirmation, asking, "Are you sure about this decision, Az?" Az nodded with determination, and as if responding to his resolute choice, a radiant glow enveloped him, solidifying the changes he had made to his status.
With his enhanced stats, new equipment, and a burning determination, Az was brimming with motivation. He turned to Lumi, his eyes filled with excitement, and asked eagerly, "Lumi, what should I do now? I'm ready for anything this world throws at me."
Lumi, feeling a bit embarrassed, hesitated before responding. "Well, that's all for now," she admitted. "The simulation initially expected you to struggle and strive over the course of these three days. But, well, you've managed to exceed the simulation's expectations."
Az, however, wasn't one to back down easily. He couldn't believe that there was nothing more to do in this fantastical world. A series of comical scenes unfolded as he argued with Lumi, trying to convince her that there must be more adventures and challenges waiting for him.
But, much to his frustration, Lumi couldn't alter the simulation, and the program seemed to insist that he'd already completed his assigned tasks.
Az dropped his shield with a disappointed expression. An aura of despondency seemed to envelop him, and his disappointment was palpable. His mouth hung open, and his skin momentarily turned ghostly white, creating a rather comical and bizarre sight.
Finally, Az couldn't contain his frustration any longer. With a dramatic and humorous outburst, he shouted to the air, "Fuck youuu, simulationnnn!!!" while extending his middle finger in defiance.
Az's outburst continued as he shouted at the seemingly empty sky, venting his frustration at the limitations of the simulation. "You can't just end it here! I was just getting started!" He waved his arms dramatically, his voice filled with both annoyance and humor.
Lumi, on the other hand, tried her best to keep a straight face, though a playful smile tugged at the corners of her lips. "Az, it's just the way the simulation was designed," she reasoned, her tone gentle and soothing. "You've done incredibly well, but it's time to rest and prepare for what's next."
Az turned to Lumi, his expression a mix of mock indignation and a mischievous grin. "Prepare for what, Lumi? Preparing is for people who don't have Colossal Slayer titles!"
Lumi couldn't help but laugh at his antics. "Well, you've certainly earned that title," she said, patting him on the back. "But you can't be a Colossal Slayer all the time. Even you need a rest."
Az couldn't resist one final dramatic gesture before moving on. With a mischievous glint in his eye, he cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted to the invisible forces that governed the simulation, "You hear this, simulation, alien, or whatever the hell you are? Gimme more boss fights! Give me ten, no wait, give me a hundred!"
His voice echoed through the simulation world, and Lumi couldn't help but join in the laughter.