17 Striving for Strength

The morning sun painted the sky in shades of orange and pink as Luke woke up in his small home. He sat up, feeling a mixture of determination and frustration swirling inside him. The memory of his fierce battle with the Ice-Fanged Wolf was still fresh in his mind, and he couldn't help but replay the events over and over.

If it wasn't for that hooded figure's intervention, he knew he would've met his end. Luke clenched his fists, realizing how weak he was compared to the challenges he aimed to face. The desire for revenge against the bandits who destroyed his home town seemed almost laughable now. How could he seek revenge when he was still so vulnerable?

However, amidst the doubts, Luke's resolve hardened. He knew he had to get stronger, no matter the cost. He couldn't afford to be weak anymore; his family's memory deserved better.

Determined to take control of his fate, Luke called upon the shadow system once again. The bluish holographic panel appeared before him, and he spoke with a determined voice,

[YES, INHERITOR?]

"I need to get stronger," Luke said, his determination evident in his eyes. "Tell me how I can increase my strength beyond what I've been taught."

The system responded with its usual mechanical tone,

[TO INCREASE YOUR STRENGTH, YOU HAVE SEVERAL OPTIONS, INHERITOR. FIRST, YOU CAN ALLOCATE YOUR STAT POINTS EARNED FROM BATTLES. YOUR STATS ARE VITALITY (VIT), STRENGTH (STR), DEXTERITY (DEX), AND INTELLIGENCE (INT). ALLOCATING MORE POINTS TO A SPECIFIC STAT WILL INCREASE ITS CORRESPONDING ATTRIBUTE AND ENHANCE YOUR ABILITIES.]

Luke nodded, absorbing the information. "Alright, tell me how many stat points I have now."

[STAT POINTS: 25]

[YOU CURRENTLY HAVE TEN STAT POINTS, INHERITOR. YOU CAN DISTRIBUTE THEM AS YOU SEE FIT]

Luke thought hard about where to allocate his points. He knew he needed to increase his physical strength and agility, so he decided to invest ten points into Strength, increasing it from 20 to 30. Another ten points went into Dexterity, raising it from 28 to 38. He also put five points into Intelligence, bringing it from 15 to 20.

[ALLOCATION CONFIRMED--]

As Luke made the changes, he could feel a subtle but definite surge of power within him. It might not have been a drastic increase, but he knew that even the smallest improvement could be crucial in a tough battle.

Satisfied with his choices, Luke looked at the holographic panel and saw his updated status:

[NAME: LUKE GRAHAM]

[JOB: ADVENTURER]

[CLASS: SHADOWMANCER <<RARE>>]

[SUB-CLASS: SWORDSMAN <<COMMON>>]

[LVL: 3]

[VIT: 105]

[MP: 105]

[STR: 30]

[DEX: 38]

[INT: 20]

[SP: 0]

[AP: 10]

[SKILLS: 3]

[<<LV.2>> SHADOW REFLECTION]

[<<LV.2>> SWORD SLASH]

[<<Lv.1>> ARISE]

[TITLES: 2]

[INHERITOR OF THE SHADOW SYSTEM]

[THE ONLY SURVIVOR]

As he admired the changes, Luke was filled with a sense of accomplishment. He was getting stronger, one step at a time, and he knew he had to keep pushing himself to reach his goals.

"Thank you, system," Luke said, feeling a newfound determination. "I won't stop here. I'll keep growing, no matter what."

The system's response was devoid of emotion, as always.

[ACKNOWLEDGED, INHERITOR. CONTINUE ON YOUR PATH AND UNLOCK YOUR TRUE POTENTIAL.]

With his resolve strengthened with a new found sense of strength and determination, Luke headed to Stalwart Ironworks, the run-down and shabby blacksmith shop in the city. As he entered, the sound of clanging metal filled the air, and the smell of hot iron greeted him. The shop was dimly lit, and the tools and weapons scattered around gave it a disorganized appearance.

At the counter stood a short, stout dwarf with a scowl etched on his face. Stalwart looked up from his work and glared at Luke, his tone rude and abrasive. "What do ya want, boy? Have ya already destroyed the armor and weapon you bought last time you were here?"

Luke maintained his composure, refusing to let the dwarf's attitude faze him. "Actually, I've come to have something made. I have a special material for you," he said, reaching into his bag and pulling out the Ice-Fanged Wolf's fang.

Stalwart's eyes widened with surprise and admiration as he saw the fang. "Well, well, well, looks like you're more than some greenhorn adventurer, eh? Where'd ya get such a fine piece of material, boy?"

Luke blushed, feeling a little awkward about revealing that it was a gift. "I came across it during a recent battle. It's a good material for crafting, right?"

Stalwart chuckled, taking the fang from Luke's hand and examining it closely. "Good? Boy, this is some of the finest material I've seen in a while! You've got yourself a treasure here. I can make ya a top-notch dagger with this."

Luke felt a sense of pride hearing the praise from the usually gruff dwarf. "Thank you. I'd like you to craft the best dagger you can with that fang."

Stalwart smirked, his confidence apparent. "You bet your boots it'll be the best. Come back tomorrow, and you'll have a masterpiece in your hands."

Luke nodded, feeling a mix of excitement and anticipation. "Thank you. I'll be back tomorrow."

As he left the blacksmith shop, Luke couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction. He was looking forward to seeing the finished product, knowing that the dagger would be a symbol of his progress and determination.

The next day, Luke returned to Stalwart Ironworks with a mixture of excitement and nervousness. He stepped into the shop and saw the dwarf hard at work, his hammer striking the metal with precision and skill.

As the dwarf noticed Luke, he wiped the sweat off his brow and grinned. "Ah, the greenhorn adventurer returns. Come, have a look at what I've made for ya."

Luke approached the counter, and the dwarf presented him with a gleaming dagger. The blade was crafted from the Ice-Fanged Wolf's fang, and the handle was made from a combination of sturdy wood and steel.

The craftsmanship was impeccable, and Luke couldn't help but be in awe of the dagger's beauty. It felt balanced and powerful in his hand, and he knew that it would be a formidable weapon in battle.

"It's magnificent," Luke said, his voice filled with genuine admiration. "Thank you for your skill and craftsmanship."

The dwarf smirked, seeming pleased with himself. "You're welcome, boy. Just make sure to put it to good use. A weapon like that deserves to be wielded by someone who knows how to handle it."

Luke nodded, fully aware of the responsibility that came with such a weapon. "I will. Thank you again."

With the newly crafted Ice Fang Dagger shimmering with an icy aura in his hands, Luke felt a sense of excitement and curiosity. Suddenly, the shadow system alerted him with a message.

[DING !]

[NEW ITEM DETECTED: ICE FANG DAGGER]

The system then asked if Luke would like to inherit the Appraise skill to learn more about the weapon. Luke's eyes widened in surprise at the prospect of gaining such a valuable skill. The ability to appraise items would undoubtedly be helpful on his adventures.

Without hesitation, he replied, "Yes, I would like to inherit the Appraise skill. Use 10 AP for it."

[DING !]

[SKILL INHERITANCE SUCCESSFUL]

[YOU HAVE ACQUIRED THE APPRAISE SKILL]

Feeling a newfound sense of empowerment, Luke activated the Appraise skill to learn more about his new weapon.

[APPRAISE !]

[ICE FANG DAGGER]

[ATTACK SKILL: FROSTSTRIKE]

- Has a chance of freezing an enemy when a critical blow is landed -

[RESISTANCE SKILL: COLD RESISTANCE]

- Grants little resistance to cold temperatures -

Luke marveled at the information revealed by the Appraise skill. The Ice Fang Dagger wasn't just a beautiful weapon; it had unique properties that made it even more valuable in combat.

With the dagger in hand, he could feel the cold aura emanating from it, and he imagined how it might come in handy in future battles, especially against foes that wielded ice-based attacks.

Grateful for the additional knowledge the Appraise skill provided, Luke thanked the shadow system mentally. He knew that the system was a valuable ally in his quest to grow stronger and navigate the challenges that lay ahead.

As he sheathed the Ice Fang Dagger and continued on his journey, he felt a renewed sense of purpose. With the dagger's freezing ability, the power of his Shadow Reflection, and the skills he had honed through battles, Luke was more determined than ever to become a formidable adventurer.

As he left the blacksmith shop, he looked at the dagger once more, feeling a surge of determination. He had grown stronger, and he knew that there was still much more to discover about himself and the world around him.