章節 24: Battle Rewards

Adam carefully unbuckled his trusty old Falchion from his belt and stowed it securely in his gauntlet, a place it had occupied for countless battles. With a sense of reverence, he fastened The Viper's Fang to his belt, ensuring it was easily accessible for the challenges that lay ahead.

Afterward, he accessed the next and final system message, which granted him a new title.

[Title Earned: Giant Slayer - Achieved by slaying a creature five times larger than your own size. Grants a +10% bonus to stats when facing opponents larger than you.]

Upon reading the system message announcing his new title, "Giant Slayer," Adam's eyes widened with a mix of surprise and satisfaction. A sense of accomplishment washed over him as he reflected on the feat that led to earning this title. He felt a surge of confidence coursing through his veins, knowing that his prowess in facing opponents larger than himself would now be augmented by a 10% boost to his stats.

Turning his attention to the fallen giant snake, its colossal form sprawled before him, Adam couldn't help but admire the creature's formidable nature. It had been a level 15 adversary, a worthy opponent in his journey through the dungeon. Reflecting on the snake's scaled skin, he contemplated its potential uses and benefits.

Glancing at the dungeon's time display, he noted the passage of almost 19 hours since he had first entered. The pressure of time weighed on him, with only approximately 5 hours remaining to complete the dungeon. Understanding the importance of replenishing his energy, Adam retrieved some cooked meat from his storage and devoured it, feeling the renewed vitality course through his veins.

Resolute and focused, he turned his attention back to the serpent's remains. He skillfully skinned the creature with skillful precision, preserving the valuable hide. He carefully extracted the venomous fangs, envisioning the potential for crafting deadly daggers infused with the snake's lethal poison. The task took less than an hour, leaving him satisfied with the spoils of his triumph.

Adam takes a moment to review his status sheet, eager to allocate his available stat points before venturing further into the next floor.

Status

Name: Adam Holt

Level: 13

Class: Warrior

Race: Human – LVL 2

Titles: Trailblazer, Bloodline Paragon, Giant Slayer

Health Points (HP): 815/815

Mana Points (MP): 503/503

Stamina: 650/650

Stats

Strength: 28

Agility: 28

Constitution:27

Endurance: 27

Vitality: 28

Wisdom: 16

Intelligence: 15

Perception: 24

Free points: 0

Abilities: [Basic one-handed weapon mastery (inferior quality) - Level 5], [Greater sword master (rare) - Level 3], [Power Strike (inferior) - Level 2], [Superior Endurance(inferior) - Level 4], [Identify - Level 3]

Bloodline: [Bloodline of Feral Fury (Bloodline Ability - Unique)]

Adam is elated with his improved stats. Without hesitation, he allocates his five additional stat points to both strength and agility, raising strength from 25 to 28 and agility from 26 to 28. He recognizes the importance of balancing these two attributes to enhance his swordsmanship.

Now prepared for the challenges that awaited him, Adam made his way toward the closed gate. As his hand made contact with the cold surface, a new system message appeared before him, signaling the unlocking of The Gate of The Verdant Sanctuary.

[Gate Of The Verdant Sanctuary (Unlocked)]

[Key Fragments Detected 4/4]

A series of four small flashes of different colored light illuminated the previously locked gate, followed by a grating noise as it started to open of its own accord. Peering into the darkness beyond, Adam steeled his resolve and stepped through the portal, ready to face whatever awaited him in the unknown depths of the next floor.

As Adam emerges from the darkness, he hears the distant rumble of the gate closing behind him. He finds himself standing in a vast garden, bathed in the soft glow of moonlight. The air is thick with the fragrance of blossoming flowers, and the ground beneath his feet feels alive with a vibrant energy. Small, delicate flowers and lush bushes carpet the landscape, creating a picturesque scene.

However, Adam's gaze is drawn to the far end of the garden, where a solitary tree stands in majestic solitude. Its trunk is massive, gnarled with age and wisdom. Countless branches extend from it, reaching out like ancient arms, their foliage dense and teeming with life. The tree's presence is awe-inspiring, both beautiful and foreboding.

Adam can't shake the feeling that this lone tree holds the key to his ultimate challenge. The garden around him fades into the background as he approaches, and the atmosphere shifts. The tranquility is replaced by an undercurrent of primal power, and the tree's branches sway with otherworldly grace.

Adam receives a new system message which makes him pause.

[Verdant Sanctuary: Final Floor]

Floor Objective: Defeat the Guardian and Boss Creature

Floor Description: The Verdant Sanctuary, a meticulously nurtured garden under the care of the floor's Guardian, awaits your arrival. Your task on this final floor is to clear the way by overcoming the formidable Guardian and ultimately facing the Boss Creature. The verdant surroundings teem with life and beauty but be prepared for the challenges ahead.]

Adam continued reading the system message without breaking his stride, resolute in moving towards the towering tree. His knowledge of treants from various fantasy novels and games prepared him for the encounter. As he drew nearer, the ground beneath him quivered, and the tree's massive branches swayed and shifted. Suddenly, a visage formed on the trunk, comprised of expressive eyes, arched eyebrows, and a wide, gaping mouth. A deafening shriek echoed through the air, causing Adam to momentarily flinch, despite expecting some form of reaction.

The trembling ground intensified, and Adam's gaze was drawn to the tree's roots emerging from the earth. These roots swiftly encircled the nearby flowers, snaking around them like serpents. Astonishingly, the flowers underwent a startling transformation, morphing into menacing flower monsters or small, ambulatory treelings. These newly-evolved creatures emerged from the soil, their root-like appendages propelling them forward with an eerie resemblance to spiders closing in on their prey.

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Author here. I just removed some of the stats and distributed them among other necessary stats. I am also adding a level system to his abilities. Later on, I am going to add additional functions to the system that would aid Adam and others in growing in the post-system world.