"Now I've officially ascended to the rank of a One-Star Awakener."Ryoshu reflected on the distinction between stars and ranks. Ranks denoted overall strength, while stars symbolized the control over Mana and Magic. Despite reaching the one-star rank, Ryoshu remained an Unranked Awakener because the two metrics were not directly correlated.The terminology was coined by the Magic Council rather than the System, aiming to categorize power levels within the realm of Magic. Although based on their extensive observations and studies of Mana, a connection between Mana and stars was discovered, it wasn't fully comprehended until halfway through the game.One needed a Core, two Rings, and three Mana Pulses to attain the status of a One-Star Awakener. Progressing to Two-Stars required two Cores, four Rings, and six Mana Pulses. The pinnacle, Ten Stars, necessitated ten Cores, twenty Rings, and thirty Pulses, ultimately resulting in a Mana stat of 100.However, no player had ever reached the T
"In the future, let's not dwell on the future too much. Right now, my priority is survival, and only then can I consider... taking lives... Moreover, those villains deserve death more than the rabbit family," Ryoshu mused, his stomach growling insistently as if urging him to eat. Yielding to the demand of his hungry belly, he promptly sat down to satisfy his appetite."Once we finish our meal... it's bedtime," he declared.The night enveloped them in an eerie silence, broken only by the rhythmic breathing of a young boy asleep in his tent.Suddenly, a rumble echoed through the air, resembling thunder splitting the sky. However, there was no lightning in sight. What could have caused such a disturbance?The Temple gates, the target of Ryoshu's raid the day before, emitted waves of Mana disruption, signaling an imminent calamity.Just as abruptly as it began, the disturbance ceased, replaced by an unsettling stillness.Moments later, the Temple gates burst open, crashing to the ground i
As the sword pierced through the slime creature, the pressure of its immense strength caused the blade to recoil slightly. Yet, in the very next moment, something unexpected occurred. Despite its appearance, the rusted sword accomplished a feat beyond their expectations. And suddenly, Ryoshu could perceive the sounds of his surroundings. The first voice he discerned was that of the System."You've delivered a Critical Strike! Damage dealt increased by one and a half times!"Miraculously, the blade transformed, becoming razor-sharp. It steadily advanced towards the core of the massive slime, slicing through it as effortlessly as cutting through a ripe, juicy apple."You've defeated a normal E+ rank Slime!"The slime exploded into a pile of goo, a stark announcement of Ryoshu's victory rather than blood."You've accomplished the impossible with your current strength!"Thus, Ryoshu was bestowed with the title "Survivalist"!---Ryoshu sought refuge atop a towering tree in the forest's he
"Alright, I'll extend my stay here for another couple of days. If things get dicey, I'll resort to it then. After all, I still have the luxury of making a swift exit if danger rears its head. Or perhaps... venturing into the Temple wouldn't be such a bad idea. At the very least, I should be able to lay my hands on that Treasure Chest, right?" Ryoshu mulled over his options, a nagging feeling telling him it might not be the wisest decision. Despite the internal warning, his hand instinctively sought out the teleportation scroll, snatching it up hastily.However, Ryoshu made a concerted effort to rationalize the benefits of prolonging his stay and engaging in further combat, securing more resources for the future. "Just consider the gains from my narrow escape just now," he mused. Ryoshu's injuries have been downgraded from dir thanks to the bestowed Title. With a recovery rate of C-, his wounds would mend swiftly. "With a C- recovery rate, a night's rest should see my bones mend. But w
As the "Imminent Death" skill surged to full power, time seemed to elongate like a stretched-out movie reel. Faced with its colossal magnitude, Ryoshu absorbed every ounce of available Mana from his surroundings, channeling it into his body to bolster his defenses. In a swift motion, he leaped aside, his senses alert to every detail in his surroundings. Even his seemingly useless ears became invaluable tools in battle, attuned to the faintest sounds."Two more shots... but where are those acidic orbs?" Ryoshu paused, scanning the area until one orb gradually materialized within his line of sight. With reflexes honed by necessity, he dodged and sought the remaining threat."Where's the other one? Show yourself!" His query hung in the air momentarily until, from the rippling surface of the acid pool, Ryoshu caught a glimpse of his reflection, twisted in determination. Behind it lurked another acidic projectile, closing in at a sluggish pace.Reacting swiftly, Ryoshu evaded both orbs in
Ryoshu acted swiftly, channeling Mana into his weary legs until they felt disconnected from his body. If anyone had observed from the outside, they would have witnessed a spectacle reminiscent of a scene from a sci-fi action movie, where the protagonist effortlessly dodges bullets in a fraction of a second.With a sense of urgency pressing upon him, Ryoshu disregarded the cold tone of the System. He couldn't afford to waste time, especially not now. Summoning every ounce of strength, he propelled himself towards the Gate, which loomed just a couple of hand spans away.The bullets drew nearer, menacingly encroaching upon him with each passing moment. Being airborne only compounded the difficulty of controlling his movements.A barrage of acid bullets struck Ryoshu once more, this time fired by Slimes ranked E and higher. The corrosive projectiles hastened the destruction of his body, eating away at his flesh until raw wounds were exposed.Yet, fortune seemed to favor Ryoshu on this fat
As Thursday approaches, I must prepare for the tiered assessment. Only a fleeting span of less than 48 hours remains for me to conquer this challenge. Failure to appear would mean forfeiting my chance at admission to the school.While this trial may be classified as a mere C-level challenge, considerably lower in rank compared to the A+ Hidden Temple I faced previously, it's crucial to note that it's not a test of intellect but rather a test of combat prowess."And that implies the final adversary will be at level C. Damn it... level C is perilous territory when an E+ Slime could inadvertently end me."However, in the recent prolonged skirmish, I unlocked several new skills. Despite noticing that my skin still showed signs of decay, I may have acquired yet another skill.Seating himself against the backdrop of the newly formed temple entrance, Ryoshu summoned the System."System, display my status board."Status Board-Name: Amemura Ryoshu-Race: Human-Tier: Unranked-Stats+Mana: 21
"Is this just a random coincidence or something more... suspicious?" Ryoshu pondered, his eyes fixed on the ominous path ahead. The darkness emanating from the cave's depths felt like it was piercing his soul. An eerie sensation crept through the cavern, causing a chill to run down his spine."Now, it's all about survival," he muttered, his throat tense.Attempting to steady his nerves, Ryoshu reevaluated his strategy for navigating the Hidden Temple. He contemplated launching a long-range sneak attack to assess his proficiency with the bow. It was a skill that the Spiral Academy would undoubtedly scrutinize.He wanted to gauge the effectiveness of this stealthy approach. However, he knew it would require a significant investment of time, potentially diminishing his chances of uncovering additional rewards. Yet, speed and efficiency weren't the sole criteria for success in these trials.Each challenge within the Hidden Temple assessed the Awakened on diverse skills and attributes. Whi