[26 Orcs defeated]
[Experience gained: 2,600]
[Leveled Up!]
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[Level 4; Experience: 2,313/2,500]
[5 ability points granted]
Nick was about to allocate his ability points into Strength again when the system flared again
'Am I going to get more gear?' Nick wondered with ill-disguised intrigue. Even after gaining almost 2 levels in just a single wave, he still wanted more.
When he read the system's message, he realized he was even luckier than he had thought.
[B-Rank Spell Tome Acquired: Evisceration]
[B-Rank Active Skill: Evisceration — There is no weapon greater than that of an Emperor. Every swing of their sword changes the course of history. When this skill is activated, for the next 10 seconds the user drains stamina 3x as fast but also deals 300% more damage. Cost: 25 MP; Cooldown: 3 minutes]
Nick couldn't believe his eyes. He had really gotten a B-Rank Skill? Already?
Smiling, he already knew that he had put the skill to its best use. It was basically a burst damage kind of gig, which meant that it dealt a lot of damage in a short amount of time.
In order to maximize its effectiveness, he needed to find some kind of skill that either increased his damage even more or lowered his enemy's defense. Then it could become a skill capable of one shotting even the most dangerous bosses.
'Like the primordial from the tutorial' Nick thought, eager to return to the place where his journey started. If he got these kinds of rewards here, what waited for him after he defeated the primordial?
'Best to disregard those thoughts for now.' The air became polluted with the stench of the dead, signaling the next wave was about to start. Besides, he knew he still wasn't nearly strong enough to challenge the primordial even now.
Nick put his ability points into Strength as he watched the boss out of the corner of his eye. After the entire battle was over, he promised himself that he'd look over all of his gains.
For now, it was time to kill.
The Apostle's smile somehow grew even wider to such an unnatural degree that some of its teeth fell out. Even in its wildest dreams, it could've never imagined this...
The current subject was quite strong! Having annihilated the first 2 cycles with ease, the Apostle knew his subject would be able to handle the next one.
Nick could tell something was off this time... he didn't know exactly how he knew or what was wrong, but it was a strange and supernatural feeling. Like the reality he knew was actually false, and in just a few seconds he would be thrust into the true fight.
Also, Nick was pretty sure an evil giant psycho skeleton smiling wasn't good news.
It was a good thing he got that skill then... almost like it was a gift.
*You... you... I remember you. Progenitor. King.*
The Apostle's formless words forced themselves into Nick's mind like a dull sword piercing flesh–slow, painful, and destructive. They weren't like regular words or other sounds of the living that traveled through the air.
These words came from a transcendent place and language, one only known by kings and their messengers.
And for some reason, this one thought he knew Nick.
'Unlikely. I was a fat slob with no family, and now I'm an overpowered Progenitor, King, whatever it's called, with no family.'
Also, he was pretty sure he'd have seen some kind of family photo if he had a giant 30-foot-tall skeleton that was the culmination of 100s of corpses as a cousin. The boss was just confused because Nick had destroyed its first 2 waves with ease. That's all.
*Hmm... very well.*
Its voice held a small tone of disappointment, or whatever passed as such for it, but otherwise, there was no change in its demeanor. The Apostle was smiling as wide as ever.
Then it raised 4 of its hands for the races it hadn't called upon just yet. An insane otherworldly energy built in the staffs as the Apostle Ethos ushered in the next cycle.
Nick stared at the lights with apprehension.
4 shining lights–4 races attacking Nick all at once. Even with his perk, level up, and new skill... would it be enolevel-upugh to beat them?
'Why not. I have my blade and I have my skills. Those were the tools I was given, so they're the only ones that could possibly lead me to victory.'
Still, he couldn't help but feel his body shaking. This wave wouldn't be like the others, he could feel it already. Every ounce and more would be tested in the upcoming battle.
But if–when–he lived through it, he would have killed a wave containing 4 different races. Even if they were lesser monsters, that would still be an insane amount of level-ups.
So there really wasn't an option. In life, there was 1 rule. You either faced your problems or you died with regret.
For the longest time, Nick felt like that rule was bogus. After his dad died, he did feel regret for a long time.
Every day was spent wondering what he could've done different. Within a few months he had become obsessed with that idea, that somehow he could've saved his dad.
Maybe if he had gotten his doctorate faster he would've been able to pay for his father's treatment.
That obsession quickly fell into depression. Nick couldn't find much to enjoy in the real world so he lost himself in games. Most people talk about how hobbies fill some empty part of him, but for Nick it felt completely different.
The more he played the games, the more empty he felt. Eventually, real emotions fell to the wayside as he lived for the short-term happiness gacha brought.
He no longer regretted his inability to save his father, because he didn't have to capacity to feel that grief. His life became centered around the dopamine rush of summoning the new meta units and waifus.
The little amount he had tried to save up for his father's treatment allowed him to indulge with the pay to win aspects of his favorite games.
If he hadn't died and then transmigrated into this game, he would've spent all that money summoning for Juliana. Truthfully, he was thankful even if the game was a slaughterhouse.
Since entering it and meeting Juliana, he felt a strong desire to live, to truly live again.
So, as the Apostle of the Remembered, Ethos, revived all the Fallen of this world's past from every race, Nick felt not even the tiniest desire to flee. His new friends were behind him as well as Yck.
Earth itself trembled as the Endless Horde pounded against it. Nick wasn't going to back down even still.
The Lone Emperor stood his ground as the final cycle began.