Golden Finger

"I'm here, you ugly lizard!!"

Rama taunted the shadow drake lurking near the main building. 

The creature, immediately turned its head toward him, its eyes narrowing with predatory focus.

Without waiting for the drake to make a move, Rama executed a quick 180-degree turn and sprinted away, heart pounding with adrenaline.

The drake, with its muscular, reptilian build, could close the gap between them in no time. Rama's legs pumped furiously, as he ran toward his prepared destination, a small, open window along the side of the main building, Rama took a leap of faith. He dove through the narrow opening just as the drake's massive body barreled toward him.

CRASH!

The impact of the drake crashing into the wall behind him reverberated through the building, shaking the ground beneath Rama's feet.

ROARR!!!

The drake roared in frustration, its powerful claws and jaws scrabbling against the wall as it tried to force its way inside. 

With a swift, practiced motion, Rama slashed the venom-coated dagger across the creature's exposed side and stepped back, his gaze locked on the beast as he waited.

Seconds ticked by, and the poison showed no immediate signs of taking hold. Instead, the drake's intelligence became apparent. It began to probe its surroundings, seeking alternative routes to get to Rama.

"Dammit!" 

Rama swiftly ran back and followed his plan to walk up the stairs buying him more time, however as he stepped into the living room he was shocked to find a second shadow drake already waiting for him.

ROAARR!!!

With great reflex, he dodged the drake's ferocious fangs by sliding into the ground, and luck helped him scratch the poison dagger into its feet.

"Bye!!"

Rama quickly paced himself and climbed the stairs, from above he now saw two drakes crashing into each other as both tried to follow him up the stairs. Rama swiftly enters the selected bedroom, one with a sturdy door, and holds the door with his body

BAMM!! BAMM!!

"No no! No animal allowed in the room!!"

The two shadow drakes outside continued to batter the door, their powerful blows reverberating through the room and making Rama's arms and shoulders ache with the effort of keeping it shut. The minutes ticked by agonizingly slowly as he held on, his breathing ragged and sweat dripping down his face.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the pounding stopped. 

Peeking through the small gap around the door, Rama saw the two drakes stumbling around outside, their movements erratic and unsteady. They seemed to be swaying, their massive bodies losing coordination as if they were drunk.

Relief washed over him as he realized the poison had taken effect. Gathering his remaining strength, Rama stepped out cautiously and seized the opportunity to strike. His dagger sliced through their tough hides, as he aimed at vital points to ensure a quick kill.

A familiar chime echoed in his ears, signaling the long-awaited reward for his hard-fought victory.

[You have leveled up!]

Rama's heart raced with excitement and anticipation as the notification continued.

[Congratulations on reaching Level 5]

[You are eligible to choose one Golden Finger]

Rama's excitement bubbled over as he saw the notification. The term "Golden Finger" was a staple of fantasy novels, representing a unique, often game-changing ability that made characters stand out. 

"Give me! Give me!!" he urged eagerly, unable to contain his enthusiasm.

The system responded with a message that made his heart race even faster:

[As Reader, your Golden Finger is based on the characters of the story]

[You may choose one from the four books]

Book 1: The Reincarnator Divine Skill

Book 2: The Returner Divine Artifacts

Book 3: The Transmigator's Super Gene

Book 4: The Regressor's Past Life Memory

Rama's jaw dropped. "WTF!!!"

He stared at the options in stunned silence, his mind reeling. Each choice was tied to a different main character and represented a unique type of power or ability.

The gravity of his decision was immense; selecting the right Golden Finger could profoundly impact his future. Without more information, choosing between them felt overwhelming.

Fortunately, a new notification appeared:

[Choosing your Golden Finger (unread)]

Rama eagerly selected the message, and a flood of detailed information surged into his mind. The details clarified the nature of each Golden Finger and what he could expect:

Foremost among the revelations was the fact that he would be able to acquire these Golden Fingers every five levels. This generous mechanic filled him with excitement.

"Thank you!!! You are the GOAT!!" 

Next for the details on each reward; both Books 1 and 2 will be given a category of choice.

Book 1: Fighting Skill, Cultivation Technique, Utility Skills

Book 2: Weapons, Armors, Other

Rama noted that the skill or the items would be given at random based on his choice category, with lower-tier rewards available at the early levels and the promise of high-tier rewards as he progressed further into the game. 

Book 3: Promised to enhance his gene, providing an extra point to his stats with each level and an improved talent that could give a 30% increase in spirit point absorption. 

Book 4: Offered an immersive experience—he would gain insights into the past life of the main character, almost as if he were reliving those memories. 

Rama reviewed his options with a discerning eye. The fourth book, although intriguing in its own right, seemed less appealing to him. Having already read the book, he felt that reliving the past life of the main character might not provide the unique insights or advantages he was looking for. It seemed like a waste of a Golden Finger choice, given the other enticing options available to him.

His mind wandered to the powerful skills and artifacts used by the characters from the novels:

Wen Tian, the Reincarnator from Book 1, stood out prominently. His 7 Star Sword Array made him nearly undefeatable below the Saint realms. Additionally, Wen Tian possessed multiple cultivation techniques that could significantly enhance both physical strength and spiritual prowess.

Hiro Kazuto, the Returner from Book 2, was renowned for his collection of life-saving artifacts. Each artifact held immense value on Earth, offering a range of benefits.

Despite these appealing choices, Rama, as an experienced gamer, understood the critical importance of focusing on early-stage growth. The ability to gain 2 additional stat points per level promised significant long-term benefits, making it a strategic choice for maximizing his early-game potential.

With his decision clear, Rama firmly declared,

"I choose Book 3, The Transmigator's Super Gene!"