It was just a thought, just wanting to test his 'Copy' ability, but everything may actually mean everything.
With this came another problem. Seeing how unreliable the system was, it was just a matter of time until he'll find another player that has '?!!?' in his stats.
Wanting to see if his theory was correct, he used 10 points on his magic power.
[MP -?!!? - Error]
Just as he thought, upgrading an undefined stat will not change anything, remaining still undefined. If he were to encounter someone else with undefined stats, he doubts his ability will work properly.
To maximize his output from his abilities and unlock new ones faster, he either had to somehow upgrade his own system or... completely destroy it since it will just hold him back.
Not wanting to rely on something created by someone else and with the possibility to very well be his demise, the second option was his favorite.
But since right now he doesn't know how to do it, he'll have to wait. As Ertex was contemplating, Artrus killed the ogre, gaining 2 levels, reaching level 11.
After he did that, the hologram appeared once again.
"Congratulations Players for surviving this trial. Because of this, you are one step closer to saving your world. You will be able to see a leaderboard with everyone's levels, and the top 3 will be rewarded accordingly. I pray for your success from here on."
After saying that, she disappeared as fast as she appeared and the leaderboard became visible.
< 1- Kleiss Ertex - Lv. 25>
< 2 - Kedan Artrus - Lv. 11>
< 3 - Oliver Kend - Lv. 8>
[Acquired: 10,000 coins for being number one!]
[An additional 25,000 coins have been added due to being the first Player reaching level 25 in this trial!]
Artrus was dumbfounded. How could someone reach such a high level from this trial alone? Admittedly, Ertex killed lots of monsters, but realistically, nowhere near enough to reach level 25.
'An ability that gives more experience points when killing? Or one that drastically decreases the requirements for leveling up? Is that even possible?'
He was simply at a loss of words. Many times in his previous life he felt that other players had an immense and quick growth, but Ertex was just out of this world.
Artrus' condition kept declining. Ertex was a variable that he never thought of. What if this guy sided with them? His chances that are already low would just drop 0. Should he just make him an ally? Could he?
As Artrus was deep in thoughts, the survivors were disappearing just like before. One by one, until that place became almost empty.
Almost empty.
Ertex was still there, for some reason. Looking around, he saw that he was the only one that wasn't summoned like everyone else.
"What about me?" He asked, no one in particular. Seeing that he got no rasponse, he began walking, though there was nothing to see. Fallen trees, footprints, organs, bodies. No secret to be uncovered.
"How are you, Ertex?"
Suddenly hearing someone, Ertex looked to his left. There he saw a man. His black hair was slicked back, with some glasses on his eyes, wearing a suit with his hands behind his back. He looked like he was around Ertex's age.
"Very good. How about you?" He responded in the same manner the man asked him.
The man sighed, looking at the forest.
"I would've responded the same if you weren't here."
"Ouch. You're here to kill me?"
The man chuckled.
"I want to. Trust me, I really do. But I can't."
'Of course you can't.' Ertex smirking thought.
"There are rules that doesn't let you kill players?"
"Please. As if I ever stick to the rules. It's just that... I love to be alive, Ertex."
"So you'll also die if you kill me."
"Something like that." The man nodded, taking out a pack of weird looking cigarettes, lighting one.
'Why does seeing someone like him smoke feels... weird?' Ertex thought before taking the man's pack, stealing one and lighting it with the fire that was slowly spreading in the forest.
"... These were mine."
"Why are you here, then?" Ertex asked, blowing the smoke, ignoring him.
"While I can't kill you, I can try to make you not want to kill me."
"Can't say you did a good job until now."
This time was the man's turn to ignore him.
"I'll be frank. You're an anomaly."
"I'm... a guy."
The man rolled his eyes, seeing how Ertex wasn't taking this seriously.
"I'm aware that you'll grow insanely fast to a point where I don't even dream to reach. So... you could say I'm trying to make preparations."
"Flattery won't get you anywhere. You didn't even told me your name."
"Beil. My name is Beil."
Ertex didn't respond immediately, smoking from the almost finished cigarette, quite liking it.
"Beil. I suppose there should exist a hierarchy where you come from. Where would you rank yourself?"
"It's complicated. But if I were to classify it as low, middle and high, I'm probably somewhere in the middle."
Ertex, after finishing the cigarette, threw it in the fire.
"For now, I'll ask you some questions. If I feel that you are lying to any of them, I will not cooperate with you in the future. I'd say it's a simple task, don't you think? All you have to do is... be honest."
Beil nodded with a small smile.
"Were you a player?"
"No."
"What's the point in summoning people here?"
"To entertain us. You know how these with power from your world are. We are not that different. We want some entertainment once in a while, and summoning normal humans from all over the universe to fight for their lives is the perfect way to do it."
"Do you have a system?"
"Of course. Everyone has it."
"Everyone?"
There, Beil took a moment to respond.
"Well... special cases may exist."
Ertex nodded. Up until this point, nothing was of big surprise to him since he already kind off knew the answers. What he truly wanted to know, though...
"Who made the system?"
Beil looked at the burning forest, seemingly thinking.
"Why do you want to know who made it and not why?"
"I already know the answer."
"You knew the answers for the previous questions too. Yet you asked."
There was a moment of silence.
Until Ertex began laughing, clapping his hands and shaking his head.
"Of course. Didn't I say that if I feel that you are lying I won't cooperate with you?"
"You don't know the answer for that, so how will you know that I'm lying or not?"
"Try me."
They both looked at each others eyes. Beil sighed, closing his eyes before opening them again.
"I'm afraid I cannot tell you."
Ertex looked at him for a moment, before stretching out his hand.
"Alright, Beil. Let's remain friends from now on!" he said with a smile.
Beil looked at his hand before shaking it.
"Yeah. Let's."
After that, Beil sent Ertex to the place where everyone went, remaining alone.
He looked at the burning forest.
[LCK - 49 - SS+]
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It was 50 before.