"Yes!" I shouted, pumping both fists in the air. I had done it.
But just as I was about to take a breath, a system message popped up.
―You have completed the objective of the Limited Time Mission "Fight Against Death"!―
―Reward obtained: Skill Rune (Random)
---
Energy enveloped my hand, and a black stone slowly materialized in my palm. The stone was cool, and the white runes etched on its surface emitted a soft glow.
So this was a skill rune. It was something that could only be obtained through the system, either by buying it in the system shop (for ridiculously high prices, by the way) or by completing quests. And now I had one in my hands.
"You don't see that every day."
Breaking one of these stones gave you a permanent skill. And the best skills, well, you know how that works. They were very rare, like diamonds. Although I wasn't sure if what I would get would be a crappy skill or a good one, either way, I felt like I had just won the lottery.
Without hesitation, I crushed the stone in my hands. I felt it disintegrate between my fingers, and a new message appeared in its place.
[You have acquired the skill: Advanced Regeneration]
---
―Skill: Advanced Regeneration―
Type: Active Skill
Rank: A
MP Cost: 0
Cooldown: 1 minute
Duration: 20 seconds
---
―Description―
This skill grants the user with accelerated HP and MP regeneration. For 20 seconds, the user regenerates 5% of their health and mana per second, providing constant recovery in or out of combat.
---
I stared at the screen for a few seconds, processing what I had just gotten.
"Wait, wait, wait... What?"
A rank A skill. It wasn't a combat-oriented skill, but a regeneration skill.
I chuckled. It was an excited laugh, like that of a player who had just pulled out a legendary award on the first try. A healing skill was always one of the most sought-after skills in any game. Not just because it kept you alive, but because it gave you a brutal advantage in any situation.
"This is ridiculous... a skill that regenerates HP and MP?"
In any game, healing skills are the holy grail. You don't get them easily. They are always only available to high level players or tied to a specific class. And once you have them, you become a freaking tank.
But this was actually different from a simple healing skill. HP and MP regeneration at the same time, and no mana cost. It was like the system had thrown me a bone and let me not only bite it, but keep it forever.
"Well, looks like things are finally looking up for me. Thanks, thanks."
At that moment, still feeling the thrill of having acquired a skill that would save my life more than once, I realized that I hadn't used it yet. What better time to test it than now, when I was barely standing with less than half my HP?
"Let's see... do I have to recite it? Advanced Regeneration."
I activated the skill. It didn't require any mana cost, and that made me like it even more. I felt a tingling sensation all over my body as it began to take effect. Within seconds, my HP began to rise. The same thing happened to my mana, although well...
[+55 HP]
[+0 MP]
I could feel my sore muscles relaxing, the burning on my skin slowly fading.
"This...this is amazing."
There's nothing more satisfying than feeling your health restore itself in real time. Within 20 seconds, my HP was back to full.
The reward for the mission had already left me more than satisfied, but the miniboss... it left something else. Right next to where its body, I saw a small pillar of red light.
"Hehehe... A drop." I rubbed my hands together with a perverted grin.
I bent down and picked it up, feeling the weight of a small box in my hand. It was red, about the size of my palm. At first glance, it wasn't too impressive. But a drop shouldn't leave anything useless behind, or so I hoped. Summoning the system, I brought up a screen to see the item's status.
[Weapon Box]
―Rank: D+
---
―Description―
Each weapon in this Weapon Box is forged from the hardened remains and core of the Lethal Ant miniboss. The user can choose one Rank D+ weapon from the "Killer Swarm" set.
---
My eyes lit up as I read the description. The box was so small that it didn't even look like it could hold anything bigger than a kitchen knife. But as soon as I opened the lid, a screen appeared showing a selection of weapons.
Swords, clubs, battle axes, magic wands. All kinds of weapons, each with a red hue similar to the exoskeleton of killer ants. And incidentally they looked incredibly deadly.
"God, I want them all."
The greedy part of me wanted to take them all, but the system wouldn't let me. I could only choose one.
I looked down at my chainsword. The blade was a little dull from the corrosive blood of the miniboss, and while it still did its job, I needed something new. And among all the choices, there was only one.
A chain sword. The same weapon I had already mastered. But unlike the previous one, the one in the box had a longer, sharper edge.
"Oh... This is what I need."
Without hesitation, I selected the chain sword from the list. Immediately, I felt the weight in my hand as the weapon appeared. I picked it up, admiring how the red chains glowed in the dungeon's dim light, and how the curved blade at the end looked like a scythe.
[Chain Sword]
―Name: Ravenous Mandible
―Set: Killer Swarm
―Rank: D+
―Shop Cost: 40000 Soul Essence
---
―Stats―
+30 Strength
+25 Dexterity
---
Passive Skill: Ant Force: Increases Strength by 15%.
---
―Description: A curved sword with a retractable chain forged from the fangs of the Lethal Ant.
---
"Damn. My previous weapon was only worth 5000 soul essence. Well, it increases by 5000 with each rank."
The passive was the icing on the cake. A 15% increase in Strength, plus the bonuses it already had... it seemed that E-ranked items and above had the ability to bring passive skills with them.
"Also... a set. Does that mean I can get the others too? That would be nice."
In the games, equipping a full set almost always grants additional stats or effects. But to get them here, do I have to defeat other Lethal Ant minibosses?
I spun the Ravenous Mandible in my hand and felt the chains react flawlessly to every move.
It was with some nostalgia that I said goodbye to my old chainsword. It had been my companion in more than one battle, but come on, when you get a weapon like the Ravenous Mandible, it's time to let go of the past. I gave it one last look, a little nod, and put it in my inventory along with my new weapon.
Then I looked around. The Killer Ants were lying on the ground like dead ants (they were ants, after all). Those things had my Magic Stones. It was a haul I couldn't ignore, so I went to work, going through the bodies and picking up the stones like candy on Halloween.
It wasn't quick work, especially when I got to the miniboss. Getting the Magic Stone out of that monster took time, and believe me, it was dirty work. But when I finally managed to get it out, I patted myself with satisfaction.
It was worth the effort. The purple crystal was almost twice the size of the normal ones. "The guild will pay well for this."
I placed the stone in my inventory and continued to examine the battlefield. I found another drop, something left behind by one of the ants. A small red stone.
[Endurance Stone]
―Rank: E
―Effect: When consumed +3 Endurance
---
"You don't look very appetizing, but I'm going to swallow you anyway."
I threw the stone down my throat and felt my body grow stronger immediately. +3 Endurance. It wasn't anything gigantic, especially for its rank, but any increase in my stats was welcome.
But if I'm honest, after killing hundreds of those ants, I was expecting a little more in the way of loot. Just one drop. Really? It's not a complaint, just... well, yeah, it is a complaint. But that's life.
As I wiped the dust from my hands, my eyes wandered around the place. The silence was eerie now that it was all over. No one else around. Not even Liliruca, the girl I had rescued. She was gone.
"That was quick. I guess people don't always stick around to say thank you."
It didn't bother me, really. By the end of the day, I had made more than satisfactory progress. New skills, a new weapon, Magic Stones.... What more could I ask for?
Satisfied and more than ready to leave, I began to climb the dungeon floors.
And as if the system had decided to wait all this time to take care of my business, I got a message. It was completely different from the previous ones.
[You have reached Level 10!]
―You have reached a crucial point in your development. It's time to take a definite path and get your Class. Until you do so, you will not be able to advance any further―
[The following Classes are available to you―Once selected, it cannot be changed]
―Normal Class―
Warrior
Assassin
Mage
Healer
―Advanced Class―
Paladin
Shadow
Archmage
Holy
―Special Class―
Mimic
***
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