After hours of research, Eli was more unsettled than he'd ever been. How many of these creatures are out there? He read about dragons, sirens, werewolves, and vampires—and those were just the ones he recognized. There were even stranger beings he'd never imagined, lurking in stories passed down through folklore. The one small comfort was that most of these creatures had weaknesses—silver, sunlight, herbs like wolfsbane. But a few, like the phoenix and dragon, seemed almost invincible. He reassured himself with a shaky thought: How likely am I to run into one of those? The only shapeshifters he'd encountered so far were wolves and that one kite.
Determined not to stay unprotected, Eli began making a list: aconite, silver, and anything else he could find to fend off the supernatural. His thoughts wandered back to the strange ash he'd found last night; he'd need to check it out again soon.
But for now, he had a plan. His goal was to upgrade the marble to Level 9—a feat he'd never attempted. Slipping into his usual routine, Eli told his father he wasn't feeling well, then retreated to his room, closing the door. After a few moments of silence, he lay back, connected his IV, and closed his eyes, preparing himself mentally. He would need all his focus for this upgrade.
Ten minutes later, he opened his eyes to check the marble's stats:
Item: Focus Marble
Level: 2
Attribute: Spirit
Defense: 18/25
Attack: 2/10
Description: "Fidgeting with it slightly reduces anxiety."
The progress was slight, as he'd expected. Certain items, like knives or hammers, gained substantial boosts in strength or sharpness with upgrades, directly enhancing their power. But objects like his focus marble, which didn't fit a specific combat category, had more subtle improvements. Some items had unique attributes, like his mind potion or vitality potion, which affected things beyond straightforward attack or defense.
His gaze drifted to his black ring; curiosity piqued.
Item: Black Ring
Attribute: Fire, Life
Level: 8
Defense: 222/255
Attack: 311/500
Description: A black ring that grants significant strength when attacking and great defense when being attacked. Bathed in the flames of a kitsune. Warning: Any further attempt to upgrade this item past level 8 has a high chance of disintegration.
The ring had two attributes—Fire and Life. Thinking about it, Eli realized the ring always felt warm and comforting on his finger. But the term "attribute" left him questioning its meaning. He decided to focus back on his marble, planning to push it as far as he could tonight. Four hours later, he reached another breakthrough:
Item: Focus Marble
Level: 8
Attribute: Spirit
Defense: 36/130
Attack: 9/90
Description: "Fidgeting with it slightly reduces anxiety."
He felt drained but determined. Different from his usual upgrades, this time he planned to try something new. Digging through his supplies, he found the vials of fox fire he'd stored, along with a special potion: the mind potion he'd created, which his father kept on hand as a stress-relief tea at work, claiming it was his "good luck charm."
He took the vial marked "Strange Substance." He would have to make more of it for his father later, but for now, he needed it. Carefully, he poured a drop of fox fire into the vial to aid the upgrade process, then began the upgrade. An hour later, he checked the stats:
Item: Strange Substance
Level: 2
Attribute: Spirit
Mentality: 20/20
Description: "A beaker filled with a strange substance containing a spark of the supernatural. One-time use."
Eli's eyes widened, surprised at the unexpected power boost. It was clear now: Fox Fire didn't just help upgrade items—it amplified them to an extreme. He repeated the process, pouring in more of the foxfire until midnight, his heart pounding with anticipation. After another intense round of upgrading, he checked the vial again:
Item: Mind's Gate
Level: 8
Attribute: Spirit, Fire
Mentality: 200/259
Description: "A beaker filled with a strange substance containing a spark of the supernatural. One-time use. Bathed in the fire of a kitsune."
Finally, he'd reached Level 8. His parents were beginning to worry; Eli's "condition" had never persisted for this long before. But he knew he couldn't stop yet. He needed to ensure his protection in this city. Taking the now vibrant, blue-filled vial, he held the marble in his other hand, which was also at Level 8. He carefully poured a drop of the blue liquid onto the marble.
The effect was instantaneous—the marble glowed a vivid blue, nearly blinding him. He poured another drop, and the marble's stats surged, reaching their limits.
Item: Focus Marble
Level: 8
Attribute: Spirit
Defense: 130/130 +
Attack: 90/90 +
Description: "Fidgeting with it slightly reduces anxiety." In the light of the Mind's Gate.
Eli watched his IV fill up, indicating he was ready for the final push. It's time, he thought, feeling a thrill of nervous excitement. Let's see what Level 9 is really about.
As he began the upgrade, he felt an intense tugging sensation. It was as if his very essence were being pulled into a fierce struggle with the marble. His heart raced, and beads of sweat dotted his forehead as he gritted his teeth. The pressure was immense, and he held onto the marble with all his strength, refusing to let it overpower him. Time blurred, and he lost track of how long he'd been fighting to keep his control over the process.
Just when he thought he couldn't hold on any longer, the marble's pull suddenly eased. A wave of relief washed over him, and he took a deep, shaky breath. His hand trembled as he looked down at the marble, which now held a glow unlike anything he'd seen.
Item: Focus Marble
Level: 9
Attribute: Spirit
Defense: 300/300
Attack: 190/200 +
Description: "Fidgeting with it slightly reduces anxiety." Note: Items upgraded beyond Level 9 have an extreme chance of breaking. If successful, a special ability based on the attribute will be unlocked.
Eli's eyes sparkled with excitement, the rush of victory making his exhaustion feel worth it. He'd reached Level 9—a feat he'd once thought impossible. This was more information than he'd ever received from any item, and the possibility of unlocking new abilities filled him with a strange, quiet thrill.
He couldn't stop smiling, feeling a deep sense of accomplishment. Tomorrow, he'd celebrate properly. But for now, sleep tugged at him.