A strange sensation washed over Lux.
The pain that had been wracking his body just moments ago — his aching ribs, his bruised limbs and neck, the burning exhaustion — was suddenly gone.
Dark mist swirled around him. It feels cold yet oddly comforting, like a second skin wrapping around his body. It seeped into his muscles and bones. Then then it faded, he felt refreshed.
His eyes widened in confusion. Just seconds ago, he could barely move. But now, his body felt lighter, his breathing steady, his strength fully restored.
"What... what just happened?" he muttered.
The Abyss System's voice echoed in his mind. ["You leveled up. Your body has been restored."]
Lux blinked. Leveling up healed him? That was... useful. Very useful.
A familiar chime rang in his ears, and new notifications appeared before him.
[You have gained 5 Stat Points!]
His grin widened. So this was what leveling up did. It made him stronger, refreshed his body, and even gave him points to improve himself.
"That's amazing," Lux breathed. He clenched his fist, feeling the new energy surging inside him. "Thanks for that."
Silence.
The System didn't respond.
Lux frowned. It spoke when it wanted to motivate him or push him, but it maybe had no interest in small talk. Still, this was good. Now he understood. If he wanted to survive and wanted his reveng then EXP was the key.
He needed to kill more creatures.
His gaze fell to the dagger in his hand, the smooth bone-white blade that had allowed him to fight back. He was about to inspect it when another thought crossed his mind.
"What is this Basic Combat Skills?"
["Basic Combat Skills are the foundation of battle. They allow you to perform attacks properly, react faster, and use weapons effectively."]
"So... does that mean I automatically know how to fight now?"
["No. It only grants you the potential to fight. You must train to increase your proficiency. Without training, it will be useless."]
Lux's excitement dimmed slightly, but he nodded in understanding. It wasn't an instant power-up — it just meant he had the capability now. He still had to work for it.
He exhaled slowly and gripping the dagger tighter. His journey was just beginning
His grip on the dagger tightened. He had survived. But what now?
"What should I do next?" he asked.
["Open the Skill Shop."] The voice answered.
Lux frowned. "How?"
["Your mind is already connected to the System. Simply think about it, and it will appear."]
His eyes widened slightly.
Lux inhaled and focused. He said the words Skill Shop in his mind, willing them to appear.
A second later, a translucent screen flickered into existence before his eyes. Unlike the simple notifications from before, this one was more detailed, filled with lines of runes.
[Skill Shop]
[Basic Skills - Unlocked at Level 2]
Basic Combat Skill (Passive): Grants fundamental combat awareness and coordination. Enhances basic attack efficiency, improves reaction speed in battle. (Acquired)
Weapon Mastery (Passive): Enhances proficiency with basic weapons. (Unlocked) (Abyssal Essence Required: 20)
Evasive Steps (Passive): Slightly improves dodging ability. (Unlocked) (Abyssal Essence Required: 20)
...
[Intermediate Skills - Unlocked at Level 10]
Abyssal Grip (Active): Allows host to grasp and interact or attack the formless Supernatural Creatures. (Abyssal Essence Required: 500)
Bloodlust Surge (Passive): Temporarily boosts speed and strength when injured. (Abyssal Essence Required: 500)
Void Slash (Active): A strike infused with abyssal energy that cuts deeper than a normal attack. Infuse Curse to target. (Abyssal Essence Required: 2,000)
...
[Advanced Skills - Unlocked at Level 50]
Abyssal Devour (Active): Absorb the power of defeated foes to temporarily enhance abilities. (Abyssal Essence Required: 5,000)
Phantom Stride (Passive): Move through shadows for a short duration. Make the host able to ambush from shadows, become intangible for a moment, or weave between shadow form and solid form. (Abyssal Essence Required: 5,000)
...
[Forbidden Skills - Unlocked at Level 100+]
"Abyssal Rebirth : ?????
"Abyss Hunter's Call: ?????
Lux's eyes scanned the runes, his mind start swirling absorbing all the new possibilities before him.
Each line of runes held so much potential. The options seemed endless, with skills ranging from the basics of combat to terrifying otherworldly powers that he couldn't even grasp yet.
The voice returned in his mind.
["You will be able to see at least ten skills in each list when you choose to focus on one category. What appeared now is just the surface. There are many abilities to acquire but only a few are available at your current level. As you can see."]
Lux blinked, understanding now that the longer he stayed alive and the more he fought, the greater his potential would be.
A sense of longing tugged at him, wishing he could access the stronger skills like the Abyssal Devour, Phantom Stride, or the Forbidden skills.
But then, Lux shook his head.
Focus.
He wasn't ready for any of those advanced abilities yet. He didn't want to be overwhelmed by things he couldn't wield. He needed to be patient.
Instead, Lux focused on the skills at hand.
The Basic Combat Skill was a solid foundation. Weapon Mastery and Evasive Steps were both within reach. These were the skills that would make a real difference right now. He could grow stronger with these.
Lux clenched his fists and steadying his mind. It was tempting to dive into all the other skills, imagining the power they would bring, but he couldn't afford distractions. He had to focus on the here and now.
"Can I go back to the real world right now?" Lux asked.
["Yes."].
After the voice saying that, darkness embaring Lux and he feel the sensation of falling.
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