System upgrade and new skill (38)

Bending down in front of him, I yanked on his horns, a mischievous grin spreading across my face.

"Did you miss me?" I taunted.

He locked his yellow pupils onto me, silently awaiting my next move.

"The arena doesn't offer second chances," I stated coldly, driving a stick into his stomach and stirring his insides, extracting the purplish guts.

His face revealed no clear signs of pain.

Clicking my tongue disapprovingly, I savagely mutilated his legs, yet there was no response, not even a whimper. Snapping my fingers, I lifted him up and met his predatory gaze.

"I ask you to see it from my perspective, as a creature," I said. "I don't know whom I've angered out there, but it's too much to blame me for self-defense, don't you think?"

Ha.

A smirk twitched at the corner of my mouth as I turned my attention to the remaining two: the lizard, the tree-like creature. Bringing them closer to the center, I licked my lips with anticipation.

Seated upon the disemboweled remains, I began to transmit a message through their bodies, inscribing painstakingly crooked letters onto their intact flesh, addressing the unknown boss.

"You! You'll be the first." I pointed at the horned one and marked a number one on his forehead.

"You! You'll be second." I etched a crooked figure onto Peter's blood-streaked face, devoid of one eye.

"And as for you..." I stabbed the tip into the slowly healing wound on the torso, my voice morphing into a chilling melody. "You haven't yet tasted the full range of agony."

"I want a quick death, please," whimpered the tree, shriveling up like a raisin. But my gaze no longer lingered on it.

With less than an hour remaining, I needed to finish them off. Yet, I still hadn't obtained the information I sought. Frustration welled within me.

A clanging sound caught my attention from the direction of the horned one. Squinting my eyes, I noticed a spatial bag on the floor.

What?

Where did it come from?

The Dark Threads twitched involuntarily, and I squeezed all the threads with force, bones cracking as the remaining limbs of the creatures fell to the ground.

Phew.

That was close.

[Survival Crossroads:

101 enemies killed out of 102.]

A cough echoed through the air.

Approaching the horned one, who was enveloped in a yellow glow and wore a smile, he spoke cryptically, "Soon, very soon, you will receive your answers."

I reached out to touch him, but he dissipated into small black dots and vanished.

[Ding! Mission accomplished.

Survival at the Crossroads:

102 enemies killed out of 102.

Unlocking earned coupons:

1. []

2. []

3. []

4. []

5. []]

A blue panel with black boxes hovered before me, displaying the rewards, but I paid it no heed. Instead, I reached for the spatial bag, opening it to reveal a luminous blue glow.

Hundreds of Spiritual Stones rained down upon me, a heavenly wealth bestowed upon my hands.

I am wealthy, oh so wealthy.

Rising to my feet, I swayed my tail gleefully and began to open the coupons, my laughter resonating through the silent chamber, reverberating hollowly against the metal walls, where droplets of blood trailed and mingled with tattered remains of slaughtered carcasses.

--

There were 5 coupons hanging before me, stained with black smudges.

Clicking on the first one, I observed the numbers that materialized and burst into laughter.

A staggering 150,000 System Points.

Ah, the possibilities that lie ahead. With this wealth, I could acquire weapons, potions, and so much more.

Rubbing my hands together, I transferred the points into my virtual wallet. After purchasing the poison and antidote, I had a remaining balance of 300 points.

I opened the next coupon:

[Recovery Elixir +5. Usable in Battlefield, at the Intersection of Levels (against Boss). Restores all health, mana, and stamina points within 15 seconds.

One Elixir per battle.]

Upon reading the highlighted text in red, I inquired of the system:

[What if I use two elixirs? Does one battle refer to a single level or just one fight?]

[Elixirs have adverse effects on bodily parameters and interfere with the natural recovery process. UUsing two elixirs consecutively will diminish your regenerative potential. One battle refers to a single fight.

They cannot be used outside the Arena. Remember, you must conquer all 36 floors within 10 years.]

[Yes, I remember, I remember. But what can I do when everyone is after my head?]

Kicking aside the scraps, I stowed the elixirs in my inventory. Among the items, I also found a smaller copy of The Forbidden Land, the Skin of a Half-Bear, a Sickle-shaped Tail, someone's vertebra that would serve as a suitable material for crafting a bow, a snow-white horn, and a colossal cyclops club. Flasks containing pink liquids lined the edge. In this creature-infested cell, I had managed to scavenge a plethora of valuable items, making my past tortures seem like a blessing in disguise.

Gazing at the blue inventory of the system once more, I proceeded to open the coupon located at the end.

[Ding! Congratulations, you have 150,000 System Points. You can use them to update the interface and unlock new features with expanded capabilities. Update?

Yes. No.]

[What kind of updates are these?]

Narrowing my eyes suspiciously, I reached out to press No.

[U-hoo-hoo. Oh, you simply don't grasp the full potential of the system's features.]

A grinning cat with fur shimmering in shades of blue materialized before me.

[Participant 137, would you like to fulfill your ultimate dream of becoming the most formidable Villain in the Empire?]

Donning the cloak of a superhero, the cat gestured with its left paw towards the top.

The audacious face begged for a swift smack on the back of its head.

[Nope. It was you who set me that goal. Besides, I'm the one doing all the dirty work. Now, scat, will ya? I've got plans for this amassed fortune.]

Waving my fingers, I firmly pressed No.

But the window refused to disappear.

I tried pressing a few more times, yet it still persisted.

[What does this mean?]

I asked through gritted teeth.

[Participant 137, updating the system will only cost you 227,965 points. Isn't it a shame to let them go to waste?]

The cat reappeared before me, its blue eyes welling up with tears.

[No. A machine doesn't know how to cry. And what's with this exorbitant figure?]

[Don't you know that investing in me will greatly enhance your chances of triumphing in perilous situations? Just imagine the countless opponents you'll face behind the walls of the Arena. My update isn't just a money drain; it's a shrewd investment for your future.]

[No, forget it. If only it were that simple... Perhaps there are other glitches or loopholes, right?]

The offended feline muzzled, system 605 circled around and bared its fangs, laughing while smacking a plump paw against its own pads.

*Thump*

[I remembered! What if I tell you that you'll gain access to comprehensive information about the Arena? Aren't you intrigued by the prospect of completing this place faster and moving on to uncovering memories?]

Pricking up my ears, I clenched my fists. Memories of my appearance in that space within the system and the nostalgic allure that accompanied my encounter with that room (Store) still lingered within me. My survival hinged on reclaiming my identity; without my past, I risked becoming a mere slave to the system.

As if sensing a lucrative catch on the line, the cat prattled:

[Don't fret over what's lost. There will always be other missions, some with even more generous rewards.]

Right now, updating the system might not yield immediate benefits, but acquiring defensive artifacts, weapons, and potions wouldn't hurt. On the other hand, what if I could uncover clues on how to evade future adversaries with advanced knowledge? Information about the Arena could not only aid me in completing this location but also reveal the whereabouts of rare artifacts. Perhaps I could obtain those as well.

I clicked on Yes.

The download window appeared, and the coins from my wallet cascaded toward the black hole on the screen.

With each clinking coin, my spirits sank further.

[Participant 137, you have 2 more coupons remaining.]

That's right.

I gazed at the remaining blots and eagerly opened the 4th one:

[Congratulations! You can enhance all your body parameters by +200.

Commence parameter updates:

Yes. No.]

What?

Ha. Although, on the other hand, this is rapid progress.

I clicked on Yes.

Strength surged noticeably from the very core of my bones, muscles bulging as they absorbed newfound energy, striving for improvement.

[Name: Participant 137.

Race: Humanoid.

Grade: 4.

Strength: 170 (+200).

Dexterity: 260 (+200).

Endurance: 140 (+200).

Magic Resistance: 70(+200).

Luck: 2.

Mana Perception: 23 (+200).

Intelligence: 77 (+200).

Mental Strength: 82 (+200).

Regeneration: 155 (+200).

Regeneration: 105 (+200).

Experience Points: 120.]

For comparison, I could confront a lizard without fearing for my life. Squatting down, an exoskeleton sprouted from my body, its burgundy hue pulsating with power as I pounded the metal beneath my feet.

What had previously been unyielding now crumbled under the force of my fists.

Exhaling hot steam, I let out a triumphant howl. I yearned for a fight, to push myself to the limit and discover my true capabilities.

"Ha, ha, ha," I chuckled. The needles on my exoskeleton swayed in sync with my breath as I sat like a formidable porcupine upon a throne of corpses, relishing the accumulation of points.

I wondered just how many Spirit Stones I could absorb this time.

With a little over a day remaining before teleportation to confront the Boss of the Third Floor, I opened the final box, only to witness the system changing the interface and introducing new tabs:

[Adding A Video Fight.

0 - Video.

Capture your own battles and upload them to Hosting, watch and refine your combat style.

Missions:

Currently, you do not have any available missions.

The inventory has been upgraded to the 2nd Level, allowing you to carry a larger number of items and search the database by entering the initial letters.]

Raising an eyebrow in surprise, I gazed at the Video Hosting option and grinned. My own personal cinema. How cool.

I clicked on the final coupon, and shimmering runes materialized in the air, hovering above the ground and creating an eerie spectacle.

[What is this?] I questioned.

[Participant 137, the last coupon has granted you a new skill of a rare type. Would you like to commence training?]

[Will all my current skills remain intact?] I inquired.

[Of course, you can incorporate the new skill as an additional ability. However, I assure you, they are referred to as rare for a reason.] The system assured me.

Silently, I selected Yes.

The runes embedded themselves into my mind, their penetration far more intense than when I was taught the Dark Threads of the Abyss.

Clutching my forehead, I sank to my knees and emitted a growl.

"Raaaaa."

Pain throbbed intensely as if the runes were being tattooed onto the tissues of my brain. A swarm of unfamiliar letters arranged themselves into words that penetrated my consciousness.

"AAHHH..."

The outer armor cracked under the strain, arcs of lightning illuminated the surroundings, causing a painful glare.

Bones contorted and twisted into spirals, only to be swiftly readjusted by warm currents. Wings pressed against my back, teasing the skin and attaching themselves to the vertebrae fused with muscles, now covered in a pale whitish membrane.

With my claws, I tore at my back in a desperate attempt to alleviate the pain.

My fangs shattered into fragments, causing me to choke on my own blood. Losing consciousness, I descended into darkness.

Metamorphosis?

Is this the rare skill?!

Damn.

---

I regained consciousness to the sound of applause and felt weak blows hitting my side. Opening my eyelids, I realized I was standing on the edge of a cliff, with the system screaming at the top of its voice:

[WAKE UP! PARTICIPANT 137, PLEASE, MASTER!!!]

Ugh.

Digging my claws into the ground, I moved away from the affected area, and positioned myself behind of the enemy. He clumsily thrashed about with metal, his head twisting in unnatural ways.

Laughter erupted throughout the Arena, even the announcer couldn't contain his chuckles.

It was a long-haired creature, resembling a cow in its appearance. With its square build, brown wool, and bangs covering its face, it stood with its back to me. It turned its head 180 degrees, glaring at me with green eyes.

With webbed fingers, it crushed the iron, tearing off a weighty piece while letting out a battle cry:

"KAAAAA." This object came within a centimeter of my nose.

I activated the hosting on the blue interface and took a step back, finding myself a meter away from the original position.

The piece crashed onto the ground, causing the metal to bend and almost split in two.

The creature pressed its torso to the floor, digging its claws into the metal and disappearing from sight.

I felt vibrations under my feet, and raising my right hand, I struck the emerging woolly crown.

The creature gurgled.

I leaped up, landing 10 meters away from the cliff's edge. I observed my hands, now bare, as my entire body had undergone a transformation. The bristling needles were now snugly aligned with my body. The chest plate reflected yellow rays with brilliance, and I touched the needles to test their sharpness, letting out a laugh.

My tail pounded heavily against the floor, leaving cracks in its wake.

The wings were no longer obstructive, but I had a sense that I could unfurl them during a fight. I whispered the incantation for the Ignition Skill:

"Luto sub pedibus suis" (mud beneath our feet), "supra caput nebula" (mist above our heads), "viae ante nos in adolebitque" (roads before us shall be ablaze).

As I uttered the words, a rumble resounded, the creature whimpered, and it began to dig a deeper hole. However, it was too late.

As a spark ignited, the entire battlefield was set ablaze, striking the Boss directly.

With a brief howl, the Third Floor's Boss crumbled to the ground.

My stamina dropped by 142, and the 605 system provided an explanation:

[Rare skills are incredibly powerful but require more resources. Endurance is one of them.]

"ACHIAS DEFEATED THE BOSS AND TRANSFERRED TO THE FIFTH FLOOR..."

In a rush of shaaa sounds, I once again found myself leaning against the familiar confines of my cell.

Aside from the stamina loss, this battle felt rather unremarkable.

Sensing my lack of enthusiasm, the 605 system presented the hosting interface with a query:

[Would you like to watch your fight?]

I glanced at the screen, devoid of any interest. The movements were blurry shadows, except for that crucial blow to the head. The Boss quickly recovered and prepared to charge as I invoked Ignition. I paused the video and examined it more closely, finally noticing how the flames not only consumed the battlefield but also reached out to touch the audience.

[You might already be undergoing scrutiny from the Arena's service. Such a substantial leap in strength cannot go unnoticed.]

[So, it wasn't that the Boss was weak, but rather that I became stronger?] I inquired.

[You could say that. However, this rare skill has showcased its strength. Each summoning consumes at least 70% of your stamina. If the Boss had survived, you would have had to contend with the remaining stamina.]

So that's how it is.

[Tomorrow, you will face entirely different opponents, unlike any you have encountered before. Participant 137, prepare yourself.]

A chill ran down my spine, and I sighed, reaching for my inventory bag.

I simply need to increase my stamina. I hope...