"[Notice: Thank you for your purchase! 7,000 Coins have been deducted!]"
"[Congratulations! You have obtained C-Rank Item Set 'Traditional Parka'!]"
I didn't hesitate to pull the heavy, fur-lined garment from my inventory. The hood was extra-wide, reminiscent of the traditional Inuit gear, and the moment I pulled it over my head, the biting chill of the forge receded into a manageable hum. I stood in the center of the crystalline haze, watching the violet 'Gate' behind me snap shut and vanish into nothingness.
The cathedral-like space was a geologist's dream, or a mage's goldmine. Massive mana crystals jutted from the floor like jagged teeth, glowing with a pure, high-density ice property that made the very air sparkle with frozen particles.
"[Activating 'Sword Demon's Technique: First Form: Faint Steps' Lvl 2!]"
Crr-ack!
A series of ice projectiles, sharp as diamond-tipped needles and traveling at subsonic speeds, shattered the spot where I had been standing a millisecond prior. I blinked several yards to the left, my boots sliding slightly on the frosted floor.
"[Notice: The Owner of the 'Ice Heart' has awakened from its hibernation!]"
From the shadows of the massive crystals, the legendary beast emerged. It was a creature of prehistoric majesty, a Mystic Beast that had likely slept through centuries of human history. It was highly sensitive to its domain, and my intrusion had turned its peaceful sanctuary into a battlefield. It let out a low, vibrating growl that made the crystals around us hum in resonance.
"[Activating 'Red Demon's Eye' Lvl 2!]"
"[Warning! Due to the level difference, only part of the information is available!]"
"[Personal Information]"
- [Name: Unnamed Beast]
- [Species: Mystic Beast]
- [Rank: ??? | Level: ??? | Gender: Male]
- [Skills: 'Frozen Steps' Lvl ???, 'Ice Breath' Lvl ???, 'Absolute Authority' Lvl ???, 'Fear' Lvl ???... (List Truncated)]
- [Copy Condition: The Ice Beast is currently irritated from being disturbed. You will be able to copy one of its skills if you can pacify the beast.]
"Heh, this just got interesting," I muttered.
The beast lunged, its movements a blur of white fur and frost. I began a deadly dance, weaving through its attacks and using every near-miss to farm my [Gap] stat. Whenever it got too close, I countered with a rapid-fire combination of [Ice Element] to redirect its breath and [Fire Element] to create steam screens. The beast's frustration was palpable; every time it thought it had me cornered, I was already gone.
"That beast has an incredible amount of Mana, Arthur," Melchior's voice rang out from the ring, sounding uncharacteristically tense. "Be careful. If you truly piss it off, you won't escape alive. My 'Seals' are still in place— I can't bail you out of this one."
I smirked, dodging a swipe of a claw that could have leveled a building. "You worried about me, Melchior? How touching."
"H-hey! I'm only saying this so you won't beg for my help later! Don't get emotional!" Melchior's mini-projection pouted within the ring's glow, looking surprisingly adorable in his indignation.
But he was right. If this beast went all-out, I'd be red mist on the ice. However, as I was calculating my next move, the beast suddenly stopped. It huffed a cloud of freezing vapor, gave me a long, judging look, and then, to my surprise, turned its back on me and began to curl up again.
It had sensed no killing intent. In its eyes, I was just a particularly fast, annoying gnat that wasn't worth the energy of a full fight. Even as the Tower's reality, its lazy personality from my 104 VR accounts remained intact.
"Huh... and here I was looking forward to watching you struggle," Melchior sighed, sounding disappointed.
I smiled. I didn't want to harm the beast; it felt like seeing an old friend. But I still needed that Skill.
"[Activating the Exclusive Skill: 'Fusion']"
"[Fusing: C-Rank 'Hive Mind', D-Rank 'Mental Fortitude', D-Rank 'Track', and D-Rank 'Pact'...]"
"[Congratulations! You have obtained a rare A-Rank Skill: 'Brand of Tribulation'!]"
"[Usage: Engrave a Stigma on a target. The target must absolutely obey orders. Actions harming the caster are prohibited. Requires the target's permission.]"
"[Brand of Tribulation]? What are you cooking up now, Arthur?" Melchior asked, his curiosity piqued.
"Be ready, my friend," I grinned, reaching into the System shop once more. "You're in for a ride as long as you're with me."
"I'm not your 'friend'!" Melchior barked back, but I was already busy with my latest purchase.
"[Notice: Thank you for your purchase!]"
"[Notice: You have obtained a C-Rank Skill-Book! 4,000 Coins deducted.]"
"[Congratulations! You have learned the C-Rank Skill: 'Otherworldly Kitchen'!]"
I pulled out a set of high-end cooking utensils and a slab of premium monster meat I'd harvested from the 1st Floor. If the beast wanted to sleep, it was going to do it on a very full, very satisfied stomach. It was time to show the Tower that the way to a Mystic Beast's heart, and its skills, was through its stomach.