After sensing his stepmother descend the stairs and return to his father's side, Cassius's eyes fell on the distraught, half-nude girl sprawled out on his bed. A sensual memory of her fingering herself briefly flashed through his mind, but he quickly shook his head and walked toward the shower before undressing himself.
"This is not the time to think about nonsense," he muttered before undraping his expertly chiseled body.
Glancing at the bathroom mirror, Cassius quickly realized he had become absolutely shredded after successfully conquering his first Gate. The sight got him thinking about the Extra Clear Reward mail he hadn't opened yet.
While washing off the grime, dirt, and blood from his body, Cassius scrolled through his recent mail.
*Ding!*
[You have fully conquered the E-Rank Sudden Gate 'Savage Jungle.']
[You received 20 AP!]
[You obtained a Bronze- Skill Box!]
"Hmm…" Cassius raised a brow in intrigue. "This is my first time obtaining a Bronze-ranked Skill Box, whereas the others were all Copper-ranked with plus, minus, or neutral ratings. I should probably open them now, but first…"
He decided to check his system interface to gauge his progress.
BLING!
________________________________
[Name: Idle Evolution System]
[Host: Cassius] - [Lvl 17]
[Title: Advent Devil (D)]
______________________________
[HP: 1300/1300] [MP: 1100]
[FATIGUE: 0]. [AP: 44]
______________________________
[STRENGTH: 39] (Can throw a thousand+ pounds)
[AGILITY: 76] (Faster than a jetplane)
[ENDURANCE: 37] (Can satisfy three women with ease)
[INTELLIGENCE: 36] (Could rival the Genius of a mid-ranked National Academy)
[PERCEPTION: 39] (Verging upon a Sixth Sense)
[CHARISMA: 22] (Exceptionally handsome)
{[Skills:]}
[Muscularity (P)(F-)], [Slash (A)(F)], [Sprint (A)(F)]
_______________________________
Satisfied, Cassius opened the Inventory Space tab at the bottom of his interface. A mostly empty grid appeared, with only four slots containing items:
[Copper- Skill Box(s): 12]
[Copper Skill Box(s): 7]
[Copper+ Skill Box(s): 3]
[Bronze- Skill Box(s): 1]
Seeing that he had exactly 23 Skill Boxes, Cassius figured there was no point in letting them gather dust. Starting with the lowest-ranked ones, he clicked on them, watching as more than a dozen Copper Boxes materialized and popped open, throwing cards into his body.
*Ding!*
[Acquired - Copper Blade (A)(F-)] – Basic swordsmanship skill.
[Acquired - Iron Fist (A)(F)] – Introductory hand-to-hand combat technique.
[Acquired - Steady Aim (P)(F+)] – Increases proficiency with ranged weapons by 15%.
[Acquired - First Aid (A)(F+)] – Fundamental healing skill.
[Acquired - Earth Sense (P)(F+)] – Basic environmental awareness skill.
[Acquired - Fire Spark (A)(F+)] – Entry-level fire magic.
[Acquired - Stone Shield (A)(F-)] – Basic defensive technique/shield handling.
[Acquired - Bronze Brew (P)(F-)] – Introductory potion-making comprehension.
[Acquired - Tinker Tools (P)(F)] – Basic crafting and repair skills.
[Acquired - Swift Step (A)(F+)] – Foundation-level movement skill.
[Acquired - Mind Focus (P)(F)] – Increases concentration and mental dexterity by 10%.
[Acquired - Water Flow (P)(F+)] – Beginner water manipulation skill.
After reviewing the newly acquired Skills, Cassius felt a strange spark ignite within him, creating something from nothing. Previously unfamiliar knowledge flooded his mind, organizing itself into internal grimoires he could access at will.
Moreover, he began sensing something new in the atmosphere.
"Are these… Magicules?" Cassius murmured. He observed the brown, blue, and red blots of energy floating around his showering body.
Reaching out, he touched one. His fingers reacted positively to the colorful blot, forming a pleasant connection. The sensation felt natural, as though he and the Magicules were inherently linked.
Adjusting to the Magicules' presence, Cassius returned to opening the remaining Skill Boxes. One by one, he clicked on them, obtaining nearly a dozen more Skills. Among them, two stood out the most, introducing the lightning and wind elements, which manifested as additional floating Magicules.
With three new elements alongside the original three, Cassius now had access to a total of six elemental energies. While unsure of their battle effectiveness, he felt the thrill of unlocking new potential.
These discoveries unearthed hidden aspects of himself, begging to be refined and mastered.
Finally, it was time to open the Bronze- Skill Box. Cassius hoped to gain something of D-Rank or higher, but who knew exactly what lady luck had in store for him…
"The Copper Skill Boxes gave Skills ranging from F-Rank to E-Rank," he murmured. "The Bronze Box should yield something much greater."
As he clicked on the box, a bright bronze light erupted. The question mark-covered cube popped open, spilling its contents.