[Ding!]
[Your strength has increased by ...]
[Your agility has increased by ...]
[Your endurance has increased by ...]
'Siiil! Siiil! Siiil!'
...
For the past couple of days, this has been everything Axel was hearing besides eating and sleeping, the notifications of him getting stronger and Sylva's cheerful cries by his side, supporting and encouraging him.
"Whew, haaaah. System, show me my status right now."
[System Status]
Name: Axel Thorn
Profession: Labyrinth Master
Race: Human
Rank: F-Rank (1–50)
---
Stats:
Strength: 12
Agility: 11
Intelligence: 10
Charisma: 5
Endurance: 12
---
[Congratulations, Master Axel, your attribute total has reached fifty. You are now at the peak of F rank. You are now eligible for the breakthrough challenge for E rank. Please note that your attributes won't be able to increase again until you have completed your breakthrough challenge.]
"Sweet, what is my breakthrough challenge then?"
[Your breakthrough challenge for E rank is to acquire ?????]
"..."
"...I'm sorry? Can you repeat that again? What do I need to complete the challenge?"
[You need to acquire ????? to complete your breakthrough challenge... I apologize, Master Axel, it seems that the glitch has interfered with the system once again.]
"WHAT. IN. THE. FUCKING—"
[Ding!]
[Congratulations, Master Axel. You have successfully acquired ?????. You have completed your breakthrough challenge. You are now officially E rank.]
"—SHIT!?!?!?!?!?!?" As Axel stood flabbergasted by this shocking turn of events, his storage ring began to glow. The next moment, the mysterious sphere from his trials suddenly appeared in his hands, shining with a bright light.
The sphere continued to glow brighter, and a tremendous amount of energy began overflowing from it, enveloping both Axel and Sylva. The energy formed a large sphere that encased them. Within it, Sylva squirmed with a relaxed tone, while Axel felt a connection forming between himself and Sylva, visualizing a tangible link between them.
[Ding!]
[You have unlocked a ??? skill: Glitch Synergy.]
[Glitch Synergy: A unique ability created from the mysterious sphere's paradoxical energy. This skill allows the user to form a deeper bond with their summoned monsters, synchronizing their strengths and sharing abilities temporarily. When active, both Axel and his summoned monsters can share a portion of their attributes and certain skills, enhancing their combat effectiveness as a unified force. Warning: Prolonged use may cause temporary instability in the bond, resulting in random status effects.]
Axel stared at the system message, his mind racing with possibilities. "Glitch Synergy?" he muttered, looking down at the sphere, now inert in his palm. The glow had subsided, but the remnants of its energy lingered within him, creating a new connection between him and the orb, signaling this wasn't the end of its potential.
Sylva's form pulsed with excitement, her usual calm replaced by a curious energy that mirrored Axel's own. 'Siiil! Siiil!'
"Yeah, Sylva, this... this is something special," Axel said, feeling their bond strengthening. The idea of sharing abilities and enhancing each other's powers during battles was exhilarating. It wasn't just about his own growth anymore—it was about growing together with his summoned monsters.
This new skill opened up a range of strategies for labyrinth defense and exploration. Axel could borrow Sylva's corrosive attacks or her agility to outmaneuver enemies. Although, for now, this was a one-sided thing since Sylva was way stronger than him, but that wouldn't be the case once Axel grew stronger and acquired more skills beneficial to them both.
However, the warning about the temporary instability loomed over the excitement. He'd need to test Glitch Synergy carefully, ensuring control over the bond to avoid potential drawbacks during critical moments.
Axel clenched his fist, determination flaring in his eyes. "We're going to master this together, Sylva. We'll become an unstoppable team."
'Siiil!'