Seeing that it was finally done, Asher stared at it with stars in his eyes.
[For the total experience points, you have gained 190]
Seeing this, Asher frowned there were lots of zombies. Why only 190? This made him very much confused as to why the low exp.
"System, aren't there about 20 or more of them? Why only 190? Did you get it wrong?" he demanded an explanation.
[No host, this system is fair. The reason for this is that you level up. The lower-level enemies you defeated will have a 50% deduction]
[When you kill a level 1 zombie, you earn 10 EXP. However, since you have leveled up and your level is now higher than the zombie's, the reward will be reduced by 50%.]
[Note that the absorption of essence is not subject to this rule.]
"Ohhh," Asher nodded in affirmation since this seemed to be a fair rule.
But halving it makes him a bit sad, of course. Then the system continued with what it was saying.
[For the absorbs essence... You have earned]
[+49 Aether Energy, +78 Strenght, + 18 Speed, +1 Constitution, +10 Defense]
Then, he felt his body rejuvenated by a powerful calming wave that went into his bloodstream and strengthened him.
When he opened his eyes it was filled with vitality and radiance, then the system continued again.
[Skill Fragment Acquired: 'Rotting Touch' x4]
[Congratulations for completing the fragments]
[Combining the Fragments...]
[Done...]
[You learned a skill, 'Rotting Touch']
[Skill: Rotting Touch
Aether Energy Cost: 10 per second.
Type: Offensive/Utility
Description: Rotting Touch, a dark and sinister skill that allows the user to inflict decay on living or undead targets with a single touch. It weakens their vitality, armor, or resistance over time, making it especially effective against durable foes.
Effects:
Decay: Inflicts a rotting effect on the target's body or armor. Reduces defense by a percentage over 5-10 seconds.
Damage Over Time (DOT): Deals minor damage over time to the afflicted area.
Current effect: Inflicts 5 damage per second for 10 seconds.
Weakness Infliction: Slows the target's movement or attack speed by 20% for a few seconds.
Additional Passive:
Special Interaction with Undead: Against undead creatures, the decay effect disrupts their regeneration or weakens their connection to dark energy, increasing damage received from light or holy attacks. ]
[Skill Evolution is possible]
[Evoltion Shard needed (1/10)] Or [Rotting Touch Fragment (3/100)]
[Status has been updated...]
[Status:
Name: Asher Veyron
Level: 3 (10/300)
Free Points: 12
Aether Core: 97
[Note: After you reach 100, the core will naturally form to store this value]
Strength: 170
Speed: 47
Defense: 44
Constitution: 18
Skills: Rotting Touch [1]
Techniques: Earth Shattering Punch [1]
]
Hissed
He made a sound when he saw his stats. They were so unbalanced. For example, his strength is already 170, while the rest of his stats are low.
"It must be because the zombies I killed had low speed, and some of them had nothing. Their focus is only on strength, causing a massive imbalance of my stats. But seriously, with this strength, I wonder how powerful I am right now?" he said, feeling curious.
He had some grasp of his ability now, but what about in his world? Glancing at his Aether core, which was already at 91, he was very much close to forming it.
"If I can form my own core, then what kind of monster would I turn into?" Asher said as his body trembled from this anticipation.
He then glanced at his newly acquired skill, filled with a smile. After reading its description, he decided to activate it.
[Rotting Touch Activated...]
That is when his hands emit a faint greenish-black aura, which greatly amazes him since it looks so cool.
[-10 Aether Core]
Seeing that there was a countdown, he squatted down and picked a small rock. When he touched it, it started to corrode, turning grey.
After 3 seconds, it slowly engulfed the stone, and when the wind blew on it, it turned into ashes like it had been burned.
"This is so powerful!" Asher exclaimed, seeing its powerful effects.
But the consumption of 'Aether Energy' is really great since it's 10 per second.
[Aether Core: 97 → 57]
Seeing the vast amount it absorbed to activate the skill and the recovery of his Aether Core, is recovering by 1 per 3 seconds.
As he stood up again, he was relaxed and, foremost, very happy, of course. With this, his survivability would increase.
Seeing the evolution is also possible, and there is an evolution shard and fragments, indicating that there are two ways to upgrade it.
[System Storage:
1 Evolution Shard, 3 Rotting Touch Fragments]
The amount of the skill fragment was big because its drop rate was kind of high. But even after killing about 20-30 zombies, not one drop of 'Evolution Shard' was given to him.
"The drop rate is really slow," Asher said, shaking his head.
This time he had to continue his hunt when he dashed frontwards. He was like a cannonball being fired.
But he noticed something missing. He could not feel his legs, and the tendons connecting them were gone.
His upper body was the only one that was flying; his vision was slowly losing its light as he looked back with a hazy vision.
His lower body was on the ground, and he could even see his flesh inside. The blood was dripping on the ground.
Just then, another figure caught his view. It was that humanoid being again; this time, he saw what it was holding: a scythe.
But what he can only see is darkness, and its back is facing him. The killer's black and torn clothes make him wonder if it's a reaper.
His upper body then falls to the ground as his eyes are wide open, losing the life behind it.
[You died...]
[Logging Out...]