NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 9: Upgrade
Skill Name: Thrygian's Trait
Quality: Rare
Required: An innate ability of Thrygians Race, only can be learned with Thrygians Bloodline.
Effect: Physical Enhancement - enhance 20% of your physical ability for a period of time. Enhancement effects depend on the purity of bloodline.
"A rare skill but..." Vincent's voice trailed off, a hint of disappointment evident on his young face.
He let out a small sigh, his brow furrowing slightly.
"I can't even use it."
He contemplated his options, his mind working through the possibilities.
"I could sell it on an online auction," he mused aloud, "but the prerequisites might make it difficult to find a buyer. Still, it's rare. I could make good money if I manage to sell it."
Vincent's thoughts drifted to the quality tiers in this world: Common, Uncommon, Rare, Epic, and Legendary. A small, wry smile tugged at his lips as he remembered the unlisted 'Poor' quality tier, found only outside of Origin World. His black-steel alloy daggers, which had cost him 25,000 credits, fell into that category.
"Just imagine how much this rare book could sell for," he muttered, carefully storing the skill book away.
Next, Vincent turned his attention to the massive sword left behind by Taruk. He reached out, gripping the hilt with both hands, and lifted.
"It's quite heavy," he noted, silently grateful for his recent increase in strength.
As he held the sword, information flooded his mind:
[Darksteel Sword]
Power: Tier 1 Armament
Quality: Common
Details: A sword crafted by a novice blacksmith using black-iron materials.
Skill(s):
Darksteel Slice
Effect: A basic attack skill that deals moderate damage to a single target. This skill has a chance to inflict a minor bleed effect on the target, causing them to take a small amount of damage over time.
"An armament?!" Vincent exclaimed, genuine surprise coloring his voice.
His mind raced, recalling what he knew about armaments. They were on another level compared to crafted weapons on Astralis, capable of being stored in an Origin Warrior's consciousness and growing alongside their owner.
A cold realization washed over him.
"I've been fighting against an armament with my black-steel alloy daggers," he murmured, a mixture of awe and disbelief in his voice.
"If I hadn't focused on dodging..."
His gaze fell to the daggers at his side, and his lips twitched in dismay. Visible cracks marred their surface.
"This is just the first day I used you for fighting," he addressed the daggers, a hint of bitterness in his tone, "but it seems you won't last much longer."
Despite the setback, a spark of excitement ignited within him.
"At least I've got a new weapon now, and it's an armament!"
[Do you want to bind it?]
Without hesitation, Vincent agreed. The Darksteel Sword broke into motes of light, entering his consciousness. With a thought, he summoned it back into his hand, marveling at the seamless transition.
He repeated the process several times, familiarizing himself with the weight and feel of the weapon.
As the excitement of his new acquisition faded, Vincent's mind returned to the gravity of his situation. His appetite, interrupted by the Thrygian attack, had not returned. Instead, a sense of urgency filled him.
"I need to use all my precious limited time in Origin World," he muttered, his purple eyes scanning the forest around him.
"I have to get stronger quickly."
The memory of the two Thrygians he had defeated surfaced in his mind.
"Killing Grirak's lackeys... our enmity has reached an irreconcilable state." He paused, his expression hardening.
"No, it was irreconcilable the moment Grirak bullied and humiliated me."
With a few hours of daylight remaining, Vincent set out to hunt, pushing himself to make the most of his time.
As Vincent ventured deeper into the Verdant Wilds, unbeknownst to him, events were unfolding elsewhere that would have significant implications for his future.
*****
Somewhere in Novice Continent, Grirak paced back and forth, his face contorted with annoyance. The young Thrygian's usually composed demeanor had given way to visible frustration.
"What the hell are those fools doing?!" he growled, his fists clenching and unclenching rhythmically.
"Why are they taking so much time just to kill that insect?!"
His eyes darted to the communication device on a nearby table, willing it to light up with news from Taruk and Farek. But the device remained stubbornly silent, further fueling Grirak's irritation.
"They had one simple task," he muttered, his voice low and dangerous.
"Find the human and eliminate him. How difficult could that be for two warriors?"
As the minutes ticked by with no word from his subordinates, a seed of doubt began to take root in Grirak's mind.
Could something have gone wrong?
He quickly dismissed the thought. After all, what chance did a mere human newcomer stand against his two Thrygian warriors?
Little did Grirak know, his world was about to be turned upside down.
*****
Meanwhile, on the Thrygian planet, within the residence of the Blackthorn Clan, a scene of confusion and despair was unfolding.
In a dimly lit room, Taruk and Farek sat side by side, their expressions a mixture of disbelief and fear. Their usually vibrant purple skin had taken on a sickly pallor, a physical manifestation of their inner turmoil.
Taruk, the larger of the two, broke the heavy silence.
"We... died?"
The words came out as barely more than a whisper, his gaze fixed on the window, staring out at a world that suddenly seemed alien to him.
Beside him, Farek's voice trembled as he voiced the question weighing heavily on both their minds.
"What are we going to do now?"
The reality of their situation crashed down upon them like a physical blow. Death in the Origin World meant more than just a temporary setback. It meant the severance of their connection to that realm, cutting off their chances of becoming the powerful warriors they had aspired to be.
Farek's hands clenched into fists, his voice taking on a bitter edge.
"We were just lackeys. We can't afford the resources for our cultivation outside of the Origin World."
Taruk nodded grimly, the full implications of their failure sinking in.
"Our dreams of power... gone. Just like that."
As the initial shock began to wear off, their expressions shifted from despair to a mixture of fury and nervousness. The memory of their defeat at the hands of the human they had dismissed as insignificant burned in their minds.
"How?" Farek growled, slamming his fist against the wall.
"How could a mere human newcomer defeat us both?"
Taruk shook his head, his voice low and filled with dread.
"It doesn't matter how. What matters is what comes next. We... we have to report this to the young master."
The thought of facing Grirak with news of their failure sent a shiver down both their spines. They knew their young master's temper, his intolerance for failure.
Farek's voice quavered as he spoke.
"We have no other choice anymore. We can only report what happened to the young master and hope for mercy."
Taruk nodded solemnly.
"May the ancient Thrygian warriors have mercy on our souls."
With heavy hearts and trembling limbs, the duo left their room, steeling themselves for the confrontation that lay ahead. The walk to Grirak's chambers felt like a march to their execution, each step bringing them closer to a fate they feared more than the death they had just experienced in the Origin World.
*****
Back in the Verdant Wilds, oblivious to the turmoil he had caused in the Thrygian ranks, Vincent continued his hunt. The sun was beginning to set, casting long shadows through the dense foliage.
As he hunted, Vincent discovered new limitations to his SSS-rank talent. Not only did he fail to gain experience from killing lifeforms of a lower tier, but his accumulated experience points could not exceed the limit needed to raise his cultivation level.
Currently at Tier 1 - 3★, his limit was 300,000 experience points.
This revelation led to a moment of contemplation. Vincent found a small clearing and sat down, his back against a sturdy tree trunk. He closed his eyes, focusing on his inner energy and the lessons he had learned.
"If I continuously raise my level," he mused aloud, his voice barely above a whisper, "one day I'll hit a bottleneck. I might face an opponent I can't defeat with cultivation alone."
Opening his eyes, determination glinted in their purple depths.
"I need to plan carefully for my future."
After careful deliberation, Vincent decided against leveling up immediately. Instead, he focused on his available options:
[Available Options:
●Upgrade to Tier 1 - 4★ (requirement: 300,000 exp!)
●Upgrade skill proficiency (requirement: 100,000 exp!)
●Upgrade skill quality (requirement: 100,000 exp!)
●Upgrade item quality (requirement: 100,000 exp!)]
With 300,000 experience points at his disposal and no immediate plans to delve deeper into the Verdant Wilds, Vincent made his choice.
"I'll increase the quality of Stinger," he decided, recalling how useful the skill had proven during his recent hunts.
[Do you want to upgrade the quality of Stinger?]
Vincent nodded, a small smile playing on his lips.
"I do."
[The Stinger skill quality has been successfully upgraded!]
Eager to see the changes, Vincent checked the skill's new parameters:
Skill Name: Virulent Stinger
Quality: Uncommon
Effect: Increases the damage and status effect of weapon strikes, causing the target to bleed and take poison damage for a longer duration. Additionally, the target's movement speed is slightly reduced, making it easier for the character to land additional attacks.
"The name changed, and it has an additional effect!" Vincent exclaimed, unable to contain his excitement. The improvements to Virulent Stinger filled him with a sense of accomplishment and anticipation for future battles.
With 200,000 experience points remaining, Vincent considered his options carefully. He could upgrade Virulent Stinger once more, but the increased Origin Power consumption gave him pause. After weighing the pros and cons, he made his decision.
[Choose Item to upgrade]
●Drop materials
●Common Copper Armguard
●Darksteel Sword Armament
Without hesitation, Vincent summoned his Darksteel Sword.
"I choose you," he declared, his voice filled with certainty.
[Darksteel Sword has been upgraded successfully!]
The massive sword in his hand suddenly glowed with digital lights. After a few moments, the lights faded, revealing the upgraded weapon:
```
[Darksteel Sword]
Power: Tier 1 Armament
Quality: Uncommon
Details: This sword is forged from black-iron materials and infused with a magical enchantment that increases its damage output and durability.
Skill(s):
Darksteel Slash
Effect: A more powerful version of the Darksteel Slice skill that deals increased damage to a single target. This skill has a greater chance to inflict a bleed effect on the target, causing them to take moderate damage over time.
Vincent's eyes gleamed as he examined the improved weapon.
"It's unfortunate that I didn't get a new skill," he mused, "but it's good that the existing skill improved!"
Satisfied with his progress, Vincent decided against further upgrades. The sky was darkening, and he knew the dangers that lurked in the Verdant Wilds at night. Primals were more active in the darkness, and he had no desire to test his newfound strength against them just yet.
As he made his way back to No.3 Novice Sanctuary, Vincent remained vigilant, occasionally engaging low-level primals to farm experience points. Each encounter was an opportunity to test his upgraded skills and weapon, and he found himself growing more confident with each victory.
Upon reaching the sanctuary, Vincent headed straight for the Newcomer's Lodge. He presented his Novice Warrior token, securing a single bed room for the night. Exhaustion from the day's events weighed heavily on him, and he decided against cultivation, opting instead for a restful sleep.
The next morning, Vincent descended to the lobby, intent on having breakfast before reporting to the Novice Center. Already wearing his black mask.
To his surprise, he found the inn bustling with activity. The dining tables were filled to capacity, occupied by a diverse array of races engaged in animated conversations. Among them, he spotted a group of humans, a sight that caused him to pause momentarily.
Curiosity piqued, Vincent approached the bar. Behind it stood a bartender with sharp ears, green skin, and black spots – a striking appearance that momentarily caught Vincent off guard.
"Is it like this every day?" Vincent inquired, his voice muffled slightly by the black mask he wore.
The bartender, who had been cleaning a glass, looked up at Vincent. His expression remained neutral as he studied the newcomer.
After a moment of silence, the bartender spoke.
"I bet you're a newbie, right?"
Vincent nodded, seeing no reason to deny it.
The bartender set down the glass he had been cleaning.
"You might not know this, but today is the date for the weekly Outer District Battle."
"Outer District Battle?" Vincent echoed, his interest piqued.
"Yes," the bartender confirmed.
"Newcomers will fight in the arena, and the selected winners will be allowed to enter the Lost Grove."
Vincent's brow furrowed beneath his mask.
"What is Lost Grove?"
Instead of answering, the bartender simply tapped the bar table. Vincent understood the unspoken message.
He reached into his pocket, retrieving five origin crystals and placing them on the table.
The bartender's gaze fell to the crystals, but he made no move to take them. Vincent, catching the hint, added another five crystals to the pile.
A wide smile broke across the bartender's face as he scooped up the payment.
"Lost Grove is a secret realm," he began, his voice lowered conspiratorially.
"Rumor has it that it contains powerful relics and artifacts left behind by the Ancient Origin Warriors."
Vincent leaned in, intrigued. The bartender continued, "The realm is said to be guarded by a powerful spirit, but those who can prove their worth and defeat its guardians will be rewarded with powerful treasures."
As the bartender's words sank in, a question formed in Vincent's mind. He voiced it carefully, "If it's really as you say, that it contains relics of ancient origin warriors, then who is recruiting warriors to enter the secret realm, and why?"
The bartender's smile faltered slightly. "About that..."