Kale had meditated for nearly five hours, his mind and body focused entirely on the surge of energy coursing through him. His Energy stat had skyrocketed by 25, leaving him buzzing with newfound strength. When he finally opened his eyes, the world around him seemed sharper, more vivid. Two of his skills had synthesized with Chakra and evolved into something far beyond what he had ever dreamed. Both were now S1-ranked.
Sage's Eyes (S1): Monkey Eyes had transformed into Sage's Eyes, a skill bordering on the mythic. It protected him from psychological attacks, allowed him to detect lies with unnerving accuracy, and gave him a basic understanding of an opponent's stats. It wasn't as powerful as Golden Sage's Eyes (???), Sun Wukong's legendary skill, but it was dangerously close.
Nandaki (S1): The evolution of Aura into Nandaki was a revelation. This skill, once belonging to Brane, the God of War, allowed Kale to wield any weapon and unlock its full potential. With Nandaki, even the simplest sword became a tool of destruction. Possessing both Sage's Eyes and Nandaki was the kind of power that could plunge the Tower into chaos if anyone found out.
Despite his growing strength, cultivating Chakra had taken a toll. Kale was exhausted, his body aching from the relentless training. He hadn't even fully tested his new skills, so one day later, he resolved to push himself to the limit. He rented the large training hall for 50 gold, determined to see just how far he could go.
Summoning a basic training bot cost him 3 gold, but it was a necessary expense. The bot, with its blue-gray metallic body and a mana stone embedded in its Dantian, powered up and immediately launched itself at him.
Kale remained calm, his mind focused not just on survival but on testing the limits of his Monster Slayer skill. The skill's description was frustratingly vague: "Increases attack power by 25% against monsters, stacking up to 15 times when fighting groups." But the system had never specified what exactly counted as a "monster." Would a training bot trigger it?
As he activated Monster Slayer, the familiar sound of the system rang in his ears.
Ding!
[Level requirement not met. Applying penalty.]
[Talent: Greater Risk, Greater Reward activated.]
Before he could react, the bot began to change. Its metallic frame twisted and expanded, joints crackling as it morphed into something far more dangerous. The dull blue sheen of its exterior darkened, and its mana stone pulsed with newfound power. The once-basic training bot had evolved into a low-ranked combat machine.
"Of course," Kale muttered, gritting his teeth. His cursed talent had triggered again, turning a simple test into a life-or-death battle. This wasn't just a sparring session anymore—this was a fight for survival.
Drawing his sword, Kale faced the upgraded bot, its red eyes glowing with cold, mechanical precision. It moved faster than before, its arm flashing toward him with terrifying speed. He barely managed to block the strike, the force of it reverberating through his body. The bot had grown not only in size but in strength and speed.
He had to adjust his tactics. Darting forward, Kale aimed a precise strike at the mana stone in its Dantian. But the bot's reflexes had improved; it parried with ease, its mechanical limbs moving with an agility that belied its size. Shifting his approach, Kale kicked at the bot's left leg joint, denting the metal and causing the bot to falter.
Seizing the opening, Kale sheathed his sword into his inventory and, in a fluid motion, ripped the bot's sword from its grip. As the bot recalibrated, Kale summoned his own sword back into his hand, slashing at its exposed side. The strike was strong, but the bot managed to block again, forcing him back.
The bot's counterattack was brutal. A crushing blow from its arm sent Kale skidding across the marble floor, the impact leaving him breathless. His muscles screamed in protest, but he forced himself to stand, blood pounding in his ears. The bot lunged, its speed now lethal, and Kale barely dodged the attack, rolling to the side.
He needed an opening, and fast. He could feel Monster Slayer beginning to take effect, the power building with each passing second, but the bot's relentless assault left him little room to capitalize on it.
With a snarl, the bot threw another hammering punch, aiming straight for Kale's head. He ducked low, dodging by mere inches, and rolled back to his feet. Every muscle in his body burned, but there was no room for hesitation.
Gathering every ounce of mana he could muster, Kale condensed the energy into his right hand, feeling it surge like fire through his veins. This was it—his only chance.
Leaping into the air, Kale twisted mid-flight, bringing his sword down with all his strength. The blade collided with the bot's defense, its arm raised in a desperate block. But the force behind Kale's strike was too much. The bot's joints buckled under the impact, and it stumbled back, its mana stone flickering weakly.
Kale wasn't done. With a guttural shout, he funneled all his remaining mana into his sword, activating Nandaki.
[Nandaki activated.]
The blade shimmered with a brilliant, ethereal glow, the raw power of Nandaki amplifying Kale's strike beyond anything the bot could withstand. With a final, devastating blow, Kale drove his sword into the bot's Dantian, shattering the mana stone in a burst of blinding light.
The bot crumpled, its metallic body collapsing into a heap of twisted metal.
Kale stood there for a moment, chest heaving, every muscle trembling with exhaustion. His legs gave out beneath him, and he collapsed onto the cold floor, panting heavily. The adrenaline that had fueled him drained away, leaving him feeling hollowed out, every inch of his body aching.
Ding!
[Level up!]
[Talent: Greater Risk, Greater Reward has reached Level 2.]
A weak laugh escaped his lips as he lay there, staring up at the ceiling. His strength was growing faster than he could have imagined, but the cost was steep. He could feel the weight of each victory pressing down on him, the strain it took to survive these constant trials.
Still, despite the pain and exhaustion, a smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth.
This was just the beginning.
Kale lay on the ground, staring into the void above. The trials ahead would only grow harder, the enemies fiercer. But for now, in the silence of the empty hall, he allowed himself a moment of rest. He would need it.