The result of the attack left the combat group pale with fear. Their spears, though aimed with precision, only caused shallow wounds, barely scratching the monster's thick hide. The group's strength simply wasn't enough—most of them were only at an average level of 4, far too weak to inflict any real damage.
The bear roared in fury, the sound shaking the trees and making the ground tremble. With a single, furious swipe of its massive claws, it tore the spears free from its flesh. Those who hadn't released their weapons in time were sent flying through the air, crashing against the ground or into trees with sickening thuds. Many lay unconscious from the impact.
Michael's face turned ashen as he stood weaponless, the scene unfolding in front of him like a nightmare. Panic set in, and his hand instinctively reached for the gun he had hidden earlier. But before he could act, Sam, who had already recovered, appeared at his side and stopped him, gripping his arm firmly.
"Get everyone away," Sam said, his voice calm but filled with unwavering determination. "I'll take care of it."
Michael's eyes widened in disbelief. "No! It's too strong! We have to shoot it, or we'll all die!"
Sam met Michael's gaze, his own eyes burning with resolve. He shook his head and said with quiet confidence, "Believe in me, Michael. I won't die."
Michael hesitated for a heartbeat, torn between his fear and trust in his brother. But Sam's words, steady and resolute, gave him the push he needed. With a sharp nod, Michael turned and began shouting orders to evacuate the injured and regroup at a safer distance.
Sam turned back to the monster, gripping his shield and sword tightly. He exhaled slowly, steadying his breath, and prepared to face the beast alone.
Sam's confidence stemmed from the earlier clash. It revealed something crucial: the monster, for all its terrifying appearance, was not as strong as it seemed. No, the beast wasn't weak—but Sam realized he was far stronger than he had initially believed. The title he had earned increased all his stats by 50%, giving him an edge that pushed his capabilities far beyond those of a normal level 10 human. Coupled with his mental sense, which heightened his reaction speed, he knew he had the upper hand.
Gritting his teeth, Sam charged at the bear, his sword poised for a thrust.
The bear, enraged by its earlier stumble, roared in fury. Its crimson horn gleamed in the moonlight as it swung a massive claw downward, aiming to crush its defiant opponent. But Sam was ready. With his mental sense guiding him, he sidestepped the attack with precision and drove his sword deep into the beast's side.
The bear howled in pain, its roars reverberating through the forest. Undeterred, it lashed out again, its claws slicing through the air. Sam dodged with fluid movements, narrowly avoiding each swipe. His sword flashed as he delivered another precise strike, cutting into the creature's thick hide.
Ding! A sound from the system echoed in Sam's mind, signaling something new, but he ignored it completely. His focus remained on the fight. Each time the bear attacked, Sam anticipated its movements, using his mental sense to evade with ease.
With every thrust and slash, more wounds appeared on the bear's body. Blood matted its black fur, and its roars grew weaker, tinged with desperation. The massive creature could not lay a single claw on him—Sam was simply too fast, too precise. The balance of power had shifted entirely in his favor.
The bear seemed to have had enough. Its horn and claws began to glow with an intense red light, arcs of crimson lightning crackling around its massive form. Suddenly, its speed surged. In a blur, it swiped a claw toward Sam—too fast for him to dodge. Instinctively, he raised his shield, redirecting the blow into the ground.
The impact sent a cloud of dust billowing into the air, obscuring Sam's vision. He leaped backward, trying to create distance and regain his bearings. Through the swirling dust, a glowing red light emerged, burning ominously. Sam's instincts screamed, "Block it!"
Before he could react further, a beam of crimson lightning burst forth from the dust cloud, obliterating it in an instant. Sam knew he couldn't dodge—it was too fast. Planting his feet firmly, he raised his shield, praying the rare-grade equipment could withstand the onslaught.
The lightning struck with a deafening roar, searing the air around him. Time seemed to stretch as Sam held firm, his shield absorbing the brunt of the attack. Finally, the beam subsided. As the smoke cleared, Sam glanced down at his shield—it was still perfectly intact. Relief flooded him. "This rare-grade shield is better than I thought," he mused.
He turned his attention back to the bear. The beast, visibly drained, stared at him in disbelief. Its crimson glow dimmed, and it staggered, clearly weakened. Then, with a desperate roar, it turned to flee.
Sam recognized the moment of victory but refused to let the beast escape. Dropping his shield, he sprinted after the bear with all his might. Spotting a discarded spear on the ground, he scooped it up and hurled it with precision. The spear flew through the air and struck the bear's leg, bringing it crashing to the ground with a pained roar.
Before the creature could rise, Sam was already upon it. He leaped into the air, gripping his sword with both hands. With every ounce of strength he possessed, he brought the blade down in a powerful arc, aiming straight for the bear's neck.
Ding!
You have slain an enemy [lightning Bear: level 18]
Ding!
[Congratulations! You have reached level 8]
[Congratulations! You have reached level 9]
[Congratulations! You have reached level 10]
[Class Selection Available]
Ding!
[Congratulations! You have earned a new title: Tier Breaker]
Ding!
[Congratulations! You have earned a new title: Ascendant Slayer]
Sam fell to the ground, exhausted. The people in the camp stood stunned, overwhelmed by the intensity of the battle. They had never witnessed anything like this before.
His father rushed over to him, concern etched on his face. "Are you okay? Any wounds?"
Sam smiled, scanning himself. Other than his left arm, which had suffered a small burn from the leaked lightning, everything seemed fine. "I'm still good. Just need to rest."
His father sighed in relief. "That's a relief. I was worried we'd have to flee when the combat team fell. I couldn't hold them all off. Some already ran into the forest, but we can't send anyone to retrieve them. It's too dangerous."
Sam nodded, understanding. "They're just scared. I hope they survive the night. But look, Dad, we got meat for the night."
After a brief conversation with his family and others in the camp, Sam settled down, trying to rest. The night still held dangers, but it seemed no one could sleep. He began organizing his Soul Record, recalling the fight with the bear. As he focused, he felt the familiar notification and eagerly searched for it.
Ding!
[Congratulations! You have earned a new skill: Battle Focus]
It sound like a good skill, Then he read what he gained today one by one.
[Battle Focus
[Tier Breaker]: Signifying the achievement of killing a monster beyond one's current tier- Increase all stats by 10%.
[Ascendant Slayer]: defeating an enemy 10 levels above your level- Increase all stats by 10.
[SOUL RECORD]
Name: Samuel Barlow
Race: Human??
Class: Unassigned [Available]
Title: Lucky Man 9, Early Access, The First of Skill Wleider, Barrier Breaker,…]
Level: 10 [Tier 0]
[STATUS]
Strength: 15 +10[+60%]
Agility: 15 +10[+60%]
Vitality:14 +10[+60%]
Endurance: 13 +10[+60%]
Intelligence: 13 +10[+60%]
Wisdom: 13 +10[+60%]
Luck: 100 +10[+60%]
Undistributed Stats: 15
[SKILLS]: Mental power manipulation
[COMMON SKILLS]: language, mathematics, cooking, exercises,….Etc.
[TRAITS]: the Eye of ???, Unbound.
Sam stared at the record, satisfied. Just one battle, and he was much stronger than before. If he had to fight the bear again, he wouldn't struggle as much and could defeat it directly. Now, with the class option available, he was eager to see what he would be assigned. But before that, he decided to allocate his stats first.
[STATUS]
Strength: 17 +10[+60%]
Agility: 17 +10[+60%]
Vitality:16 +10[+60%]
Endurance: 16 +10[+60%]
Intelligence: 16 +10[+60%]
Wisdom: 16 +10[+60%]
Luck: 100 +10[+60%]
Sam felt the surge of power once more, then focused on the class option, eager to see what awaited him.
[Class System Overview]
The class allows users to harness and wield [Existence Energy]. By selecting a class, users can focus their abilities and gain specialized powers, enhancing their strength in specific areas.
The class can be selected upon reaching Tier 0, Level 10. The initial class selection guarantees three basic [Common] options, ensuring that all participants have access to foundational roles:
Fighter – Specializes in physical combat and weapon mastery, Unlock [Stamina] stats.
Spell User – Focuses on magic and elemental manipulation, Unlock [Mana] stats.
Backpacker – A utility class emphasizing survival, resource gathering, and mobility, Unlock [Force] stats.
Additional class options may appear based on an individual's Soul Record, achievements, and unique traits. These options can range from uncommon to rare or even higher tiers, depending on the participant's overall performance and accomplishments.
Class Rarity The rarity of a class determines the highest skill rarity available through its progression. Higher-rarity classes grant access to more powerful and unique abilities.
Class Skill Selection Class skills can be chosen at specific milestones within each tier, with increasing frequency as participants ascend through the tiers:
Tier 1 (T1):
Skill 1: Level 10
Skill 2: Level 15
Skill 3: Level 25
Skill 4: Level 35
Skill 5: Level 45
These milestones emphasize consistent progression and reward dedication to leveling up.
Sam was stunned by the detailed explanation that appeared upon reaching level 10—it was much clearer than the first time he had read it. As he scanned through the information, his eyes caught on the term [Existence Energy] and the three class options it mentioned. These options unlocked new stats: [Stamina], [Mana], and [Force].
"These must be forms of existence energy," he thought. "So, it's just a fancy term for the energy used as fuel, isn't it?".
Sam couldn't wait any longer—he initiated the class selection without hesitation.