Aftermath

"There is someone up ahead," Thaleia suddenly commented in a low voice. Alice maintained a safe distance behind, both moving slowly and carefully to avoid making loud noises that might alert any potential enemies. Given everything Lumière had said about this world filled with fantastical creatures, she hadn't expected their first encounter to be with a human. Now the question arose: was this person an enemy or not? Were they weak or strong?

It was difficult to ascertain, and frankly, Alice was not keen on risking a direct confrontation without first seeking some sort of advantage. She disliked gambling; she preferred to ensure victory.

She attempted to use her skill, but unfortunately, the distance between them exceeded 20 meters, and she could only detect the terrain around her. It was an intriguing skill, providing her with a sense of omnivision in that area. She had tested it before and was somewhat getting accustomed to it.

"Proceed carefully and try to establish a conversation. Be prepared for combat regardless of the response. If he approaches you, activate your skill and kill him. If he draws his sword, activate your skill and kill him. If otherwise, tell him to throw his weapon and kneel down. I will then tell you how to proceed from there. I'll wait here."

Alice had already talked and observed Thaleia and knew the latter possessed exceptional combat skills, skills that were even recognized by The Game itself. This acknowledgment came when Thaleia performed several moves and stances to acclimate to her newfound strength and assess the weight and balance of the sword she wielded. According to Thaleia, a message had appeared stating:

Enlightenment gained: Basic Mastery of the 1-H Sword(Rank 1)

-Awarded for reaching the first realm of 1-H sword proficiency

-Effect: +10% Finesse while wielding a 1-H sword

Title gained: Basic Combat Mastery (Rank 1)

-Awarded for gaining basic mastery of any weapon

-Award: +3 Might and Finesse

These added benefits provided a much-needed advantage for the challenges ahead. Alice felt quite confident in Thaleia's ability to easily overcome this first adversary— and yes, she was 99% certain it was an enemy. She only advised Thaleia to offer the chance of surrender as a gesture of humanity and to make a good impression in case the latter was one of those pacifist heroes who preferred to avoid killing.

Things proceeded somewhat as expected, except for the fact that the person, who had been lounging in a chair by a campfire, immediately charged at Thaleia upon seeing her, without asking any questions. Thaleia remained calm, her sword briefly glowing with an aura that Alice recognized as the activation of her skill.

Thaleia easily sidestepped the enemy's brutish charge and ended the battle with a clean cut, severing the head. It was over as quickly as it had begun.

Before setting out, Alice had conducted numerous tests, some of which slightly annoyed Thaleia, who was eager to start fighting and grow stronger, as her goddess had mentioned. Some of these tests were related to HP and regeneration. Alice knew that they now possessed superhuman capabilities to heal wounds, with cuts on the arm regenerating at a visible pace as the HP increased. The deeper the cut, the more damage it caused. She also discovered that cuts in certain areas inflicted more damage than others, indicating that enemies likely had weak points that, when exploited, would result in greater damage. It also helped that Thaleia did not need much convincing and had no problem with sustaining some cuts, as they healed very quickly, especially considering her boon: "HP regeneration increased by 50%."

For humans, Alice was certain that actions like severing the head or stabbing the heart would be lethal, functioning the same way as in her previous world. Other tests involved studying MP regeneration, getting accustomed to her skills, and coordinating their advance to react appropriately in various scenarios. It wasn't until Alice felt she had explained enough that they headed out.

Upon witnessing the aftermath of their first encounter, Alice took note of how the vanquished foes dissipated, sparing them the grim task of handling the fallen. This phenomenon provided a small comfort to Alice, who preferred this cleaner resolution to battle. She also noticed the prompt that appeared as the enemy fell:

1 Tutorial Coin acquired

'Interesting, some sort of currency, I suppose. By the name, it should only be valuable in the Tutorial, and we should expect some sort of shop further ahead,' Alice mused, seeing the potential that this new information presented.

Catching up to Thaleia, Alice remarked with a nod of approval and a smile, "Nice start. Let's keep this momentum."

***

Dante remained silent, his gaze fixed on the scene before him as all the summoner's minions dissipated into dust. He watched intently as Virgil stood tall before the skeletal ruler. This moment was unforgettable, not merely because they had overcome a hurdle that had thwarted their countless attempts, nor solely due to the artistry of combat he had just witnessed. More profoundly, it wasn't just the surreal spectacle of two mighty skeletons dueling to the death that captivated him. The most significant reason for this memory's permanence was the transformation it spurred in Virgil, marking his awakening as an individual, rather than merely an extension of Dante.

Through the bond that linked them, Dante could vividly sense Virgil's emotions: respect for a formidable opponent who had become his first real challenge; acknowledgment of this adversary as his first true mentor; and the birth of a deep-seated desire within Virgil to ascend to the pinnacle of combat, power, and dominion, inspired by the example set before him. Virgil yearned to fight, to improve, to conquer.

Virgil perceived in his opponent not just an adversary but a vision for his own future, a path that he, as a summoner, was destined to follow and surpass. He aspired to inherit the mantle of this initial mentor, to propel his legacy to unparalleled heights. His ambition wasn't confined to achieving a mere first level of Mastery; he was determined to attain the second, the third, and every level that existed. The sky was the limit.

While Dante could relate to these sentiments, the contrast between their origins was stark. Dante, after all, hailed from the comfortable reality of the 21st century—a university student with minor worries, whose greatest challenges were part-time jobs and sports. He hadn't yet faced the burdens of supporting a family or carving out his own path in life. Yet, he found himself thrust into a world that resonated with his deepest fantasies, a transition made surprisingly smooth by various factors. Whether this ease was attributable to his skeletal mentor's guidance, The Game's adjustments to his mindset, or the awakening of a dormant persona within him, Dante pondered. This new realm, with its eerie caverns void of sunlight, was a stark departure from his previous life.

Dante found himself at a crossroads of self-awareness. The transformation he underwent was subtle yet profound, as if each day in this new, bewildering world sculpted his character with invisible hands. His once straightforward personality now adapted, adopting nuances and depths he hadn't known before. This adaptation was partly a coping mechanism, a sprinkle of madness to lighten the weight of isolation and the novelty of his circumstances.

Approaching life with the strategic mindset of a gamer, Dante navigated this reality with an acute awareness of its dangers. This wasn't a game in the traditional sense, but a high-stakes challenge where the consequences were all too real. His acknowledgment of mortality mirrored that of a solo rock climber's – a calculated risk, yes, but with the belief that skill and caution could manage the danger. The difference for Dante, however, lay in the unpredictability of this new world, a place where the unknowns stretched beyond the horizon, each step a venture into mystery.

These revelations caused the moment to unfold with a clarity that profoundly struck Dante, marking a pivotal turning point. For the first time, he truly perceived Virgil in his authentic essence. This revelation of Virgil's true nature resonated within Dante, stirring a deep and unprecedented awakening. For the first time, he fully grasped the enormity of his circumstances: he had entered a new world. This was no fleeting chapter in his life, not merely a game to be completed in a handful of hours. Rather, he was embarking on a journey that promised to span a vast expanse of time. It dawned on him that Virgil's ambitions transcended those of a simple 'summon' or even a friend; they were reflective of his own aspirations. After all, he and Virgil were one and the same player in The Game.

As the skeletal summoner slowly faded from reality and etched himself deeply into his mind, Dante's focus shifted to the several announcements from the System:

Virgil leveled up

15,000 Tutorial coins acquired

Hidden Quest completed: defeat the Forgotten Monarch

Rewards: 

+1 Level 

+1 SP 

+ 25,000 TC

Title gained: Boss Slayer (Rank 1)

-Awarded for vanquishing your first boss-class adversary

-Award: +1 SP

Title gained: Apex Hunter (Rank 1)

-Earned by defeating an opponent five or more levels above your own

-Award: +1 to all stats

The collective rewards provided a significant boon to Virgil, granting him two level advancements, 4 extra stat points, and a total of 5 Skill Points to allocate. This included 2 SP from leveling up, an additional SP upon reaching level 10, and 2 more SP as part of the rewards.

Dante perused the array of available skills, his demeanor tinged with the slight eagerness typical of a seasoned gamer. However, there was a newfound maturity in his approach, allowing him to remain more composed than he initially anticipated. The recent events had stirred a tempest within his mind, diminishing the sway that the prospect of acquiring new skills once held over him. The Dante that entered the throne room was not the same as the one now contemplating his choices; the experience had tempered his excitement, casting a shadow of solemnity over his decision-making process.

Available Skills (SP: 5)

Active:

Summon Skeleton Warrior (R1 L5): Summon a rank 1, level 5 skeleton warrior to fight by your side. Limit: 3, duration: 380 s, MP cost: 30, CD: 100 s.

Summon Skeleton Archer (R1 L3): Summon a rank 1, level 3 skeleton archer to fight by your side. Limit: 2, duration: 340 s, MP cost: 20, CD: 140 s.

Summon Skeletal Hound (R1 L5): Summon a rank 1, level 5 skeletal hound to fight by your side. Limit: 3, duration: 380 s, MP cost: 30, CD: 100 s.

Strength Infusion (R1 L3): Adds 15 points to the Might attribute of a summon. Duration: 220 s, MP cost: 20, CD: 100 s.

Agility Infusion (R1 L2): Adds 10 points to the Finesse attribute of a summon. Duration: 200 s, MP cost: 15, CD: 110 s.

Conjure Bone Weapon (R1 L4): Summons a rank 1, level 4, 1-H bone mace, bone sword, bone dagger or a 2-H staff, sword or spear. Duration: 360 s, MP cost: 15, CD: 120 s.

Conjure Bone Armor (R1 L1): Summons a rank 1, level 1, bone armor. Duration: 300 s, MP cost: 5, CD: 180 s.

Passive:

Strengthen Summon (R1 L1): Increases the level of all rank 1 summons by 1.

He had anticipated the availability of the summoning hound skill, yet the emergence of a new passive skill caught him off guard. Indeed, it was fascinating and seemed to present a solution to one of his most pressing dilemmas: Virgil's summons were lagging significantly behind. To the current Virgil, they had become nearly obsolete. The Virgil of now bore more resemblance to a warrior than the undead summoner he was supposed to be. This newfound skill, coupled with the generous influx of Skill Points, provided a golden opportunity to bring forth his true colors.

A spark of inspiration then flickered in Dante's mind. 'Could this actually work? It seems feasible, why shouldn't it?' he mused, a mix of skepticism and optimism swirling within. With a conspiratorial grin, he decided.

 "Let's give it a try."