After the shock of the message wore off, I turned my attention to the translucent blue screen hovering in front of me. It outlined the details of my new stats:
Name: Octavia
Age: 1 hour
Level: 0
Skill points: 1000
Race: Starlight Octopus
Title: None
Stats:
Strength: 4Agility: 4Mana: 8Dexterity: 1Affinity: Dark
Skills: None
I stared at the numbers, a mixture of disappointment and fascination bubbling within me. My stats were weak—laughably so—but the abundance of skill points caught my attention. One thousand points felt like a fortune. As the realization dawned on me that these points could be spent on gaining new abilities, the urgency of my situation hit me. The tournament was only twenty years away, and in a world like this, I doubted I had that long to leisurely prepare. Survival wasn't guaranteed. I needed to act fast.
Focusing on my dark affinity and relatively high mana stat, I opened the skill shop. The interface shifted seamlessly, displaying a list of abilities available for purchase. Each was categorized by type, cost, and complexity. The options were dazzling:
Skill Shop:
Dark Blast – A ranged attack of condensed dark energy. (300 points)Dark Tendril – Summon dark appendages to ensnare and attack enemies. (400 points)Aubisile Claw – Manifest a spectral claw to deal devastating physical and magical damage. (500 points)Black Hole – Create a miniature gravitational void that pulls in and damages enemies. (600 points)
I scanned the options, feeling both excitement and trepidation. Each skill seemed powerful in its own way, but with my affinity for dark magic and focus on mana, two stood out: Dark Tendril and Black Hole. The former promised utility and versatility, while the latter screamed raw, destructive power. I hesitated for only a moment before making my decision.
"I'll take both," I murmured, selecting the skills.
A sharp tone rang in my mind, followed by a sensation like the gentle chime of a bell. The robotic voice returned, cold and mechanical, echoing directly in my thoughts:
You have acquired the skills Dark Tendril and Black Hole.
As a result, you have been granted the title "First Mage."
Title reward: You have gained 20 additional skill points.
Bonus reward: Legendary Dark Mage Hat.
My thoughts skidded to a halt. "Legendary Dark Mage Hat?" I barely had time to process what that meant before something materialized above me. The air shimmered, and a massive, ornate hat appeared. It was ridiculously large, made of deep, black fabric embroidered with intricate silver runes that pulsed faintly with dark energy. The brim drooped dramatically, nearly covering my entire body.
Before I could laugh at the absurdity of it, the voice continued:
Legendary Dark Mage Hat equipped.
Effect: Increases dark magic damage by 300%.
My mouth—or whatever I had for one now—dropped open. "Three hundred percent?!" I exclaimed, my voice echoing faintly in the cavern. It was hard to believe. Had I just stumbled into overwhelming power by sheer luck? I adjusted the hat awkwardly, trying to find a way to wear it without being completely overshadowed. The faint hum of its magic resonated with my own, making me feel stronger just by wearing it.
But the surprises weren't over.
Skill fusion detected.
Dark Tendril and Black Hole have merged to form a new skill: Black Tendril.
Black Tendril combines the utility of Dark Tendril and the destructive power of Black Hole into one ability.
I froze. "Fusion?" My initial excitement turned into pure shock. In less than an hour in this world, I had somehow acquired a unique skill. The realization made my tentacles tremble. I hadn't earned this power through hard work or effort—it felt handed to me on a silver platter. But I couldn't dwell on that now. I needed to focus on what to do next.
The cave around me seemed quieter now, the faint drip of water from the stalactites the only sound echoing through the chamber. Testing my new skill was the obvious next step. After all, it wouldn't matter how powerful I was on paper if I couldn't use my abilities effectively.
I slithered forward cautiously, seeking a more open space. The rocky walls of the cavern glistened faintly with moisture, and the phosphorescent moss provided just enough light to see. After a few minutes, I found a small clearing within the cave, a circular area with a high ceiling and fewer obstacles. It would do.
Focusing my energy, I whispered the name of the new ability: "Black Tendril."
Immediately, a surge of power coursed through me, almost overwhelming in its intensity. A dark vortex swirled around my tentacles, coalescing into shadowy, writhing appendages that extended far beyond my normal reach. The air grew heavy, and a low hum vibrated through the cavern as the tendrils lashed out.
The first tendril struck a boulder across the clearing, shattering it into fragments with a deafening crack. The second wrapped around another rock, crushing it effortlessly. The sheer destructive force of the attack left me stunned.
But it wasn't just the power that amazed me. As the tendrils moved, I could feel them as extensions of my body—flexible, precise, and almost instinctual. The gravitational pull of the ability's Black Hole component created a swirling effect, drawing debris toward the tendrils where they were pulverized.
"Whoa…" The word escaped me as I marveled at the display. My heart—or whatever passed for it now—pounded with exhilaration. This power was incredible.
But as the tendrils faded, dissipating into wisps of black smoke, exhaustion set in. My mana reserves had taken a significant hit, leaving me feeling drained. A glance at my stats confirmed it: my mana, which had started at 8, was now nearly depleted.
So, there was a cost.
I slumped against the cool stone floor, letting myself recover. The hat's magic pulsed faintly, restoring a small amount of energy over time. As my breathing—or what I assumed was breathing—steadied, I realized something important: raw power alone wouldn't be enough. If I couldn't manage my mana effectively, even the strongest abilities would be useless in a prolonged fight.
"I need a plan," I muttered to myself. "Strength is one thing, but control is everything."
The thought of the tournament loomed in my mind. Twenty years might seem like a long time, but in a world of magic and war, it was barely a blink. Somewhere out there, others were likely preparing as well—others who might be stronger, smarter, or more experienced.
I couldn't afford to get complacent.
For now, I had power, but I would need more than that. I would need strategy, allies, and above all, the wisdom to use what I had wisely.
As I rested, I made a silent vow to myself: I wouldn't waste this second chance. Whatever challenges lay ahead, I would face them head-on. I was no longer the powerless outcast I had been in my old life. Here, in Asmodeus, I would carve my own path.