Kira stared at the five glowing skill options in front of him, his mind whirling as he prepared to choose. But something strange caught his attention as his eyes passed over the third skill, Energy Surge. Looming just above it was a faint, barely visible symbol—a symbol no one else seemed to notice.
"Exchange."
Without a second thought, Kira clicked on it, his finger tapping the glowing word.
Immediately, the skill Energy Surge disappeared, replaced by two new options.
"What...?" Kira murmured under his breath. "Why didn't anyone else get this option? I didn't see this the first time..."
His brow furrowed, and a realization struck him. "Is this a perk of being an MVP candidate?"
His eyes darted between the two new skills:
Focused Item: Grants the ability to channel and enhance all future skills through a single item.Lightning Conjuring: Allows the user to summon and control powerful bolts of lightning.
After a brief moment of consideration, Kira chose Focused Item. The moment his choice was made, a surge of energy coursed through his veins, the skill embedding itself within him. He felt a deep connection to the world around him, as though the objects he touched now held immense potential.
A glowing synopsis flashed before his eyes:
Focused Item: "You may now designate an object to act as a focal point for your skills. This object will grow in power as you do."
Kira grinned, his mind already turning to the ring worn by the leader of the refusers. Without hesitation, he turned back toward the man, who had been watching from the shadows, his golden ring glinting in the cold light of the tower.
Kira's eyes locked onto him, a fierce determination blazing within them. "That ring," he muttered, stepping forward. "It's mine now."
The leader barely had time to react before Kira, now emboldened by his new power, attacked with brutal precision. In a flash, he struck the man down, yanking the ring from his cold, lifeless fingers. The metal felt oddly warm as it slid onto Kira's hand, settling into place as if it belonged there all along.
A sudden notification flashed in front of Kira's eyes:
Congratulations! You have earned the favor of the dead Ice Wizard. You are permitted to choose one more skill.
A faint whisper followed the notification, so soft that Kira wasn't sure if it was real or imagined:
Shh...you have been gifted Aether Sight by the Level 5 boss, the Ice Wizard.
Kira blinked in shock as a new menu appeared. Alongside his gifted skill, Aether Sight, the system offered him the chance to choose yet another ability. Without hesitation, he selected Energy Surge.
Suddenly, a powerful surge of energy washed over him. His body felt as if it was being reshaped, remolded, as though every cell was being enhanced to its peak potential. His vision blurred for a moment, then sharpened as a final message appeared before him:
All skills have been merged. You are now granted the unique skill: Superhuman Vessel.
Superhuman Vessel: "Your body is now the pinnacle of human physical potential. You have gained the passive skill Surge Mode which allows you to increase your power, similar to Kaioken. However, your body will suffer from immense fatigue the longer you maintain it."
Kira's entire form seemed to pulse with newfound strength, his muscles thrumming with raw power. He clenched his fists, feeling the rush of energy threatening to overwhelm him. But he held firm. This was his power now.
As the words faded from his vision, Kira looked down at the ring on his finger—the item he had claimed as his focused point. It shimmered with an eerie, cold glow, remnants of the Ice Wizard's essence still lingering within it.
With a smirk, Kira turned back to the rest of the group, who stood in stunned silence. He had just taken down a man and claimed victory with such ease that it left them speechless.
"We move," Kira said, his voice steady, unyielding. "On to the next floor."
And with that, he led his 415 companions toward the second gate, his power now unmatched and his resolve stronger than ever.