FOURTH, FIFTH, AND SIXTH UPGRADE (4)

A moment later, Alab was carrying a sack of items as he strode out of Arkhe Town. On his side was Anastasia who was peering through the sack of items.

Alab had managed to purchase 286 mana potions from the shop. After that, the store pinned an "Out of Stock" sign on the mana potion shelves. Of course, the other customers were disgruntled but Alab could care less.

"Just where are you going to use that many mana potions?", Anastasia inquired. She tried to come up with reasons but it was futile. The only thing she could think of was that it had something to do with Alab's skill.

Anastasia was right. Alab bought mana potions primarily to restore his mana and converts items in a recurring manner.

Alab just shrugged her off which didn't surprise Anastasia.

"As I thought. You won't tell me a thing, won't you?", Anastasia sighed.

"By the way, we are now staying in a tavern close to the gate of the Arkhe Town. The barracks are just too gloomy.", Anastasia muttered.

When they learned of other participants departing their barracks and renting more convenient and habitable taverns, they hurriedly vacated their barracks and jumped into the trend.

Alab could see several species pouring out of the taverns as they strode in the streets. There was even a large comfortable space outside the Town to accommodate the gigantic species.

"You better come early in the barracks lest Girth steal your bed! HAHA", Anastasia humored.

She kept laughing and laughing, indulging in her humorous joke. Her eyes were teary from doses of ecstasy as she turned her head toward Alab...

"Was that a joke?", Alab was enigmatic...

*cough*

Anastasia was quick to clear her throat. She wiped her tears and hastily straightened her posture.

"That stall looks nice", Anastasia diverted the topic.

Alab remained indifferent as he just listened to Anastasia's constant blabbering. She was sharing random stories that were out of Alab's business.

Alab just listened... Literally.

At last, after visiting some more items and food stalls, and clothing stores, the two had come to the edge of Arkhe town. A small tavern rooted adjacent to the Town entrance.

Anastasia halted and turned her body. She was facing Alab. Her smile was gentle and her aura was modest.

Anastasia appeared more beautiful under the orange tint of the setting sun. The dusk's cold breeze began to pervade the town.

Meeting the eyes of Alab, Anastasia spoke.

"It is fun having some leisure time since entering this world", Anastasia beamed.

Looking at the dull black eyes of Alab, Anastasia could glimpse a sliver of hope. Somehow, she felt relieved to be Alab's teammate.

Something about him was calming her mind.

"Alab, if the time comes when we need help. Will you help us?", Anastasia spoke out of nowhere.

She knew that Alab was not the expressive type. He didn't care about anything or anyone. But... She hoped that even a speck, he would perceive their care...

Alab hadn't given it any thought. It didn't enter his mind even for a millisecond. Would he save them? Did he care about them?

Alab couldn't come up with an answer.

He turned his head. He couldn't look at Anastasia.

Alab didn't have an answer to her question at the moment.

Pained, Anastasia felt a sting in her heart.

"It's fine. We just met and it's not possible to be that close yet, right? Haha", Anastasia stammered.

She then similarly turned her head, adoring the beautiful orange shade of the sky above. The sun had set and darkness filled the area.

Opening her soft rosy lips, the darkness of the night concealed her beauty as she spoke.

"Girth... Please take care of him.", Anastasia glanced at Alab. A dim silver moonlight shone in her wistful eyes.

"I... I cannot promise", Alab responded.

-----

After some words, Anastasia headed into the tavern. Alab carved the name of the tavern in his mind as he summoned Misery and directly steered toward the [Red Hornet Dungeon (C)].

"It is closer and more convenient.", Alab found renting a tavern to be a remarkable decision.

Aside from the fact that it was in Arkhe town, it also saved time traveling back and forth from town to the C-grade dungeon. In no time, Alab hopped off the back of Misery as he arrived in the dungeon.

Looking at the Misery, Alab pondered whether he should upgrade this griffin first. However, he decided to toss it off at the moment as upgrading Misery was not urgent.

"His speed is already good", he mumbled.

A while after recalling Misery and then summoning Locust who tediously assaulted the herd of red hornets, Alab found a safe spot and then grabbed an item from the bloated sack.

Instantly, the item vanished subsequently, a system notice cheered his sight.

[Your converted points have increased!]

[E-grade points +1]

[Available Converted Points:

- E (×1)

- D (×3)

- C (×12)]

[You have consumed a Mana Potion (D)]

[You have restored 1,000 mana]

Alab wasted no time.

[Your converted points have increased!]

This time, Alab took a broken item. With another mana potion emptied, Alab attempted to convert the broken piece.

Then it resounded.

[Your converted points have increased!]

The conversion has worked!

Alab attempted for more and came to a realization. The broken items could be converted even if he had just a diminutive shard of it. However, converting the other fragments of that item would no longer work.

He could convert an item once at most. Still, that was a valuable realization.

When the dusk grew deeper, Alab finally had 100 D-rank points. Restless, Alab drank further mana potions, his stomach was inflated as he then reached another 100 D-rank points.

It was midnight when he came to an abrupt halt, with a bloated stomach, and caravan of system notifications satiating his sight.

[You have successfully upgraded the "Mana Cost Reduction (D)" skill!]

[Upgraded skill obtained! "Mana Cost Reduction (C)"]

[You have successfully upgraded the "Luck (D)" skill!]

[Upgraded skill obtained! "Luck (C)"]

Despite the upgrades, Alab remained restless. A breath later, he sat in a lotus position and proceeded to recover his mana.

He had run out of mana potion.

Locust with dimly lit crimson flames in his eyes glanced toward Alab. Alab's conviction to grow stronger and restless state sparked an equally burning conviction to Locust.

Immediately, Locust reaped a dozen hornets' lives. His crimson eyes were searing.

[Drop item obtained! Red Hornet Bees (C)]

At last, when Daybreak bathed his figure, Alab opened his eyes. A system notice was immediate in greeting him.

[You have successfully upgraded the "Luck (C)" skill]

[Upgraded skill obtained! Luck (B)]

Sluggish with hunger and exhaustion, Alab took out a golden chest from his inventory.

It was the mystery chest!

Now that he had a skill [Luck (B)], Alab could open the [Mystery Chest (E)] now...

"Show me your might, B-rank Luck"

---

The day of admission was nearing fast. Tomorrow, Alab and the participants had to compete once more in the new battleground namely the Academia.

No one knew what awaited them. But, they understood that whatever it was, the requisite was strength.

They had to be stronger!

Everyone was drowned in extensive training, wagering their lives as they dipped into dungeons. Death was just around the corner, hungry for their souls.

Alab had a similar impression. Somehow, he could feel it.

A small silhouette of a man lingering behind him.

Holding his back...

Grinning widely...

It was death.

Still, Alab clenched his hand.

A two or three would inevitably die in the upcoming days but Alab ascertained that it would not be him.

"No matter what it takes..."

At that point, the mystery chest opened...

[Opening the Mystery Chest (E)...]

[Ding! You have obtained...!]