.The air in the cavern hummed with residual energy from the battle. Andre, standing amidst the scattered remnants of the black goblins, exhaled heavily, his chest rising and falling with every breath. His muscles seemed to ripple beneath his clothes, the effects of the battle still coursing through his veins.
Then, suddenly, a message flashed before Lucas's eyes.
"Congratulations, Andre killed the Black Goblins of Rank B, earning 40 points."
Lucas raised an eyebrow, glancing at the glowing notification. "Oh, 40," he muttered, his voice low but thoughtful.
The message seemed insignificant, but Lucas knew better. He understood the significance of those points in this game.
With a casual flick of his wrist, a new screen appeared before him, showing Andre's stats: Strength, Mana, and Speed.
Lucas studied them for a moment, his eyes narrowing as he analyzed the numbers. 22 strength, 6 speed, and 3 mana.
"Hm," Lucas mused, his fingers tapping lightly on his chin. "He didn't evolve to Rank A, but alright…"
He wasn't disappointed. Andre was still powerful, but there was always more to unlock. A Rank A evolution would have been ideal, but it wasn't necessary not yet. Not with what he had in mind.
"I'll put 20 into strength and 20 into mana," Lucas decided, his tone firm. He glanced at the mana stat. "I want to see what happens if I put a lot into mana."
The moment he made his decision, the air around Andre seemed to crackle. There was a sudden shift in the energy, a palpable pressure that everyone in the group could feel. It was as if the very cave itself had responded to the surge of power.
Siman, always keen to the changes in energy, let out a quiet laugh, the sound dark and amused. "Hehehe, so this is what happens when you evolve him. Hahaha."
The rest of the group stood frozen for a moment, the intense energy washing over them. It was as if the very ground vibrated with Andre's newfound power.
Darlene was the first to speak, her voice tight with concern. "What's happening?" Her eyes scanned the cave, her fingers flexing around her staff, ready to react at a moment's notice.
Lucas, his arms crossed as he observed Andre, spoke calmly, though there was a glint of amusement in his eyes. "No, don't worry. It's a skill he has that boosts his energy for a certain period."
But as he said those words, Lucas's mind was already elsewhere. I must not tell them my secret, of course. The thought was fleeting, a reminder to keep his cards close to his chest. There was no need to reveal everything just yet.
Kyle, who had been watching with a skeptical smirk, now looked impressed. "It's indeed an amazing skill."
The little boy with the yellow hair who had been silent throughout the entire battle remained just as still as ever, his expression unreadable. His silence was beginning to feel more ominous than anything else.
And then, just as quickly as the energy had risen, Andre's power exploded in a burst that nearly knocked everyone off their feet.
"Requirements completed. 20 mana points, choose a skill from the following."
Lucas's heart raced as another system message appeared before him. Now this is interesting
"Ooh, if I had known, I would've put more into mana," Lucas muttered to himself, though there was no regret in his voice. This was the fun part deciding the path forward.
A list of skills appeared in front of him:
Light Shot: A skill that allows the user to summon six light shots every 20 seconds, which improves with frequent use.
Lightning Speed: A skill that makes the user extremely fast, but it requires a lot of energy and cannot be used for long periods unless the user is at least Rank A.
Northern Black Dragon Wing: A skill that grants the user the ability to fly using the wings of a black dragon.
Lucas stared at the options, a grin tugging at the corners of his lips. "Hmm, three great skills, but I'm not sure…"
He glanced at the others briefly before turning to Siman, who had been watching the spectacle with an almost detached curiosity. "Alright, I'll consult Siman," Lucas said, his voice low, but with a hint of excitement.
Siman raised an eyebrow as Lucas gestured for him to step aside. They moved a little farther from the group, Lucas pulling him just beyond the edge of the cavern, where the faint light from the crystals barely touched.
Siman eyed the list of skills. "What? What are you saying? You can give him skills?"
Siman scoffed, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "Well, you're not wrong. But seriously, you can just ?"
Lucas nodded before interrupting. "Yeah, yeah. It's a skill system. But that's not the point. Check out these skills."
Light Shot's good, but Lightning Speed would be crazy if he could actually manage it. But, Northern Black Dragon Wing... flying?"
Lucas smiled at Siman's reaction. "I like Light Shot. Give it to him."
Lucas didn't hesitate, and with a flick of his wrist, the decision was made. The skill was granted, and the bright light of the crystals flickered as Andre's aura grew even stronger.
Returning to the group, Siman spoke with a calm, almost bored tone. "Let's go to the Dungeon Boss."
The words sent a ripple of anticipation through the group. They had been preparing for this moment.
As they moved deeper into the dungeon, the shadows seemed to grow longer, more oppressive. The temperature dropped, and the eerie glow from the crystals seemed to flicker in time with the pounding of their footsteps.
Kyle was the first to break the silence. "Alright, let's make this quick. I'm not in the mood for a long, drawn-out fight."
Darlene's voice was softer but no less firm. "Be cautious. We've only just begun."
The little boy, still silent, walked ahead of the group with a calm that bordered on unnerving. There was something in the way he moved something unnervingly precise and knowing.