As the cart rumbled down the path toward Dragondale, the soft creaking of the wooden wheels and the steady rhythm of the horses' hooves filled the air. DK leaned back against the carriage wall, his muscles aching from the recent battle in Prickly Grove. The faint hum of his Nexus Core in his chest was steady, a comforting reminder of his progress. Despite his exhaustion, a small, satisfied smile played at the corners of his lips.
Lucy sat across from him, her gaze flicking between the passing scenery and DK's expression. Her sharp eyes narrowed slightly as she caught the faint smile on his face. "What's with that look?" she asked, her voice laced with suspicion.
DK blinked, startled out of his thoughts. "What look?"
"You're smiling," she said flatly, leaning forward slightly. "And I know that can't mean anything good. What's going on in that head of yours?"
DK chuckled, brushing off her concern with a wave of his hand. "Relax, Lucy. I'm just… reflecting. That's all."
Lucy leaned back, crossing her arms. "If you say so. But if you're planning anything crazy, I'd appreciate a warning this time."
DK's grin widened, but he said nothing. Instead, he focused inward, bringing up the familiar blue glow of the system interface in his vision.
—
SYSTEM
QUEST COMPLETED: USER's INITITATION
Objective: Slay 100 enemies within 3 hours.Enemies Defeated: 115/100.Mini-Boss Defeated: Bonus progress applied.Time Remaining: 37:12.
—
REWARDS
+1 Level
+5 Strength
+3 Dexterity
Basic Combat Technique Upgraded to Tier 2: SWIFT STRIKE
—
DK's eyes lit up as he read the rewards, his excitement barely contained. The boost to his stats was substantial, but the real prize was the upgraded combat technique. He mentally opened the details of Swift Strike, eager to see its new capabilities.
----
SYSTEM
STATUS
User: DK (Alias: Aiden Lin)
Nexus Core 1: Active (85% Stability)
Nexus Core 2: (??)
Corruption Integration: (??)
Level: 4 (progress to next level: 30%)
Strength: 17 (+5)
Dexterity: 17 (+3)
Health:15
Mana: 45
Luck: 0
Attack: 20
Defense:5
Magic attack: 1
Magic defense: 1
Corruption: (?)
—
SWIFT STRIKE (TIER 2)
A precision-based combat technique that allows the user to execute a series of rapid strikes with enhanced speed and accuracy. Each strike consumes 10 mana, with additional strikes in the sequence consuming 5 mana per strike.
First Strike: 10 Mana.
Additional Strikes: 5 Mana each.
Efficiency Bonus: Reduced energy cost per strike as proficiency increases.
—
DK leaned his head back with a low whistle, doing the mental math. With his current mana pool of 47, he could unleash a full three strike combo (10 + 5 + 5 = 20 Mana) and still have enough energy left for two more uses. The thought of using the technique in a real fight made his fingers twitch with anticipation.
Lucy's voice broke into his thoughts, pulling him back to the present. "Seriously, what's going on? You've been staring into space for a while now."
DK hesitated for a moment before shrugging. "Just thinking about how to improve. I'm feeling stronger after that fight, and I want to keep the momentum going."
Lucy raised an eyebrow but didn't press further. "Well, you're lucky those cactolus were as weak as they were. Don't get cocky just because you managed to take out a mini-boss."
DK smirked. "Come on, admit it—you were impressed."
Lucy rolled her eyes. "Impressed that you didn't get yourself killed? Maybe."
He laughed, but his thoughts quickly returned to the potential of Swift Strike. The ability wasn't just about raw power—it was a tool for precision and efficiency. He could already imagine the possibilities: dismantling groups of weaker enemies in a flurry of strikes or using the rapid movements to disorient and overpower stronger foes. The fact that the system allowed him to channel mana directly into his strikes made it even more versatile.
His thoughts wandered to the recent fight and the unexpected challenge of the explosive spikes. The cactolus had been a nuisance, but they'd taught him a valuable lesson: adaptability was key. If he wanted to survive and thrive in this world, he couldn't rely solely on brute force. Strategy, precision, and efficient use of his resources would be just as important.
The carriage hit a small bump, jolting DK slightly. He glanced at Lucy, who was now watching him intently, her brow furrowed. "What?" he asked, confused by her sudden scrutiny.
"You're doing it again," she said, her tone almost accusing.
"Doing what?"
"Smiling like you've figured something out," Lucy replied, her arms still crossed. "It's unsettling."
DK laughed, shaking his head. "You're paranoid, you know that?" DK nodded, the weight of her words settling in his chest. "I'll tell you if it's important," he said carefully. "But for now, let's just focus on getting to Dragondale."
He mentally activated the system's training mode, a feature he'd discovered earlier that allowed him to simulate basic practice scenarios. The interface displayed a faint outline of a humanoid figure, its movements slow and deliberate as it demonstrated the Swift Strike technique.
DK watched intently, mimicking the movements in his mind. The technique involved channeling mana into his blade to enhance both speed and cutting power, allowing for rapid, precise strikes in quick succession. The idea was simple enough, but he knew mastering it in real combat would be another challenge entirely.
The interface offered a simulated test at a whopping cost of 40 mana, and DK hesitated for only a moment before accepting. He closed his eyes briefly, visualizing the movements and focusing on the steady hum of his Nexus Core. The energy responded to his intent, surging faintly as he practiced the mental execution of the technique. When the simulation ended, DK opened his eyes, feeling a subtle shift in his awareness. The technique wasn't second nature yet, but he could sense the potential.