Max recounted his harrowing experience to Harry with a steady voice, each detail meticulously laid out. He began by describing his sudden appearance in a strange, place—an empty void that left him disoriented and anxious and then appearing in what seems to be a fighting arena.
The first thing he encountered was a monstrous entity called a Lesser Demon, its grotesque form and menacing presence overwhelming him. Despite his initial shock, he found himself thrust into a relentless battle.
The fight was grueling and brutal. Max described how he died repeatedly, each death followed by a rebirth in the same desolate place. After several deaths, with each respawn, he noticed improvements in his abilities and stats, communicated through a barrage of messages he could barely comprehend amidst the chaos.
After countless cycles of death and rebirth, Max finally landed a decisive blow on the demon's heart, vanquishing the beast. This victory was met with a flurry of messages, but only one stood out: a notification about returning to reality.
Max's recount culminated with his sudden appearance in a dense, unfamiliar forest. Disoriented and still reeling from his ordeal, he had followed the sounds of shouts and screams, which led him to Harry and the others.
And the rest was history.
Once Max finished his story, Harry nodded thoughtfully. "I see. It sounds like you were likely in a space designed for you, a sort of personal trial or tutorial realm. That would explain the repeated cycles and the messages you received. It was a controlled environment where you couldn't truly die, allowing you to keep trying until you succeeded."
Max nodded, though he didn't understand everything fully. He grasped the general idea that he had been in a sort of test environment, but the specifics were still murky.
"It's unfortunate that you don't remember all the other system messages," Harry continued, "because those could have given us clues about your situation. But we can figure things out as we go. For now, let's start by checking your status. We'll go through it one by one."
Max agreed, his eyes moving to the status window that still hovered before him. He saw his name displayed, along with two titles. One of the titles was marked with strange symbols and question marks, while the other read "Tutorial Maniac."
"Let's start with the title 'Tutorial Maniac,'" Harry said, pointing to the more comprehensible one. "Press on it and let's see what it reveals."
Max complied, pressing the "Tutorial Maniac" title. A new window appeared, displaying the following information:
_____
Name: Tutorial Maniac
Grade: Elite
Description: Ah, you are now the infamous Tutorial Maniac. It's a big surprise you've managed to survive and complete the first tutorial in Hell Mode. With nothing but your bare hands and unyielding willpower, you fought through countless retries, like a maniac determined to conquer the impossible. It's a feat that's both impressive and a bit foolish, but you emerged victorious despite the odds.
Effects: Increases endurance and physical prowess significantly. Grants a unique bonus when engaging in repetitive or survival-based challenges.
[+ 30% Learning Speed]
[+ 10 Intelligence]
[+ Heightened concentration (Unique Bonus)]
______
Harry listened intently as Max read the title information out loud. When Max finished, Harry explained, "A title is essentially a special achievement or label you earn through significant accomplishments or challenges. Usually, you can wield one title in most games or stories but our situation might be different. The title 'Tutorial Maniac' reflects your experience in overcoming an extraordinarily difficult tutorial. Hell Mode usually means the most difficult choice there is. That means you really did a good job. However I am surprised by how its description was written. It feels a little bit insulting and yet respectful, don't you think?"
"...Right." Max nodded in agreement. "What about the effects then?"
"Well, it as it was written. It boosts your learning speed, which makes sense given what you've been through. Besides there is the bonus - heightened concentration and the + 10 intelligence. Though you will probably get it when you are training."
Max absorbed the information, nodding in understanding. "Got it."
"Next, let's check your Health Points (HP) and Stamina Points (SP)," Harry said after explaining what HP and SP were. "What do you have there?"
Max looked at his status window:
____
Health and Stamina:
HP: 27/30
SP: 25/30
____
Harry's eyes widened in surprise. "Wait, 30 HP and 30 SP? My initial max HP and SP were just 15 each. Yours are double that. Interesting... This might be due to your intense training or the nature of the tutorial you went through. You said you received messages about your stats increasing after all."
Max raised an eyebrow at Harry's reaction but didn't comment further.
"Now, let's move on to your Core Attributes," Harry said, shifting focus. "What do you see?"
Max looked at the status window, revealing:
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Core Attributes:
Agility: 15 (Max)
Strength: 15 (Max)
Endurance: 15 (Max)
Vitality: 15 (Max)
Perception: 15 (Max)
Intelligence: 15 (Max)
Willpower: 15 (Max)
______
Harry studied the attributes with a mix of amazement and curiosity. "It looks like you unlocked most or all of your core attributes. And they are all at 15, with 'Max' indicating you've reached the limit for these stats. Damn, that's good. I say, whatever you went through in that Tutorial, it is worth it. You even unlocked the possibly rare Perception stat, dude. Alright, let me enlighten how OP you are now...."
Max nodded, absorbing the information as Harry continued with his explanation. He started to understand some things, one by one, one step at a time.
'I chose the right person to trust...' Max thought as he listened to Harry. 'I guess we were good friends back then...'
Then they also checked the two skills Max had.
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Skill Name: Demon Slayer
Grade: Basic
Description: The foundational skill for combating demonic entities. Provides a basic method to deal damage to demons and enhances resistance to demonic attacks.
Effects:
- [+20% Damage to Demons]
- [+10% Resistance to Demonic Attacks]
- [Basic Demon Detection]
Cooldown: None
Usage: Passive
---
Skill: Demon Destroyer Fist (Standard)
Grade: Standard
Description: A highly aggressive and powerful offensive attack designed to obliterate demonic foes. This skill focuses on delivering maximum damage through one and devastating strike. It sacrifices defense for sheer destructive power, ideal for overwhelming even the toughest demonic enemies with brute force.
Effects:
- [+50% Damage to Demons]
- [Crushing Blow]
Cooldown: 10 seconds
Usage: Active