In the heart of the Bone Mire, a dull, thunderous boom echoed across the fetid swamp. The stench of blood hung thick in the air, and a deep, mechanical chime—signaling the end of the hunt—resonated in their ears.
[Kill Confirmed: Lv8 Lord-class Beast – Bloodfang Croc]
[Loot Acquired ×2]
[EXP +219]
[Congratulations! Level Up – Lv5]
A burst of pale golden runes flared from Alex's body, flooding his veins with restored life and mana. His aura surged upward like a roaring blaze.
Beneath his boots lay the massive crocodilian that had once thrashed through the mire, nearly tearing them to shreds. Now it lay still, its bloodied hide twitching in death, and from the ruin of its chest floated two crystalline spheres—loot orbs—radiating a tempting, prismatic glow.
Behind him, Lois hummed a cheerful tune, her little leather boots splashing through puddles as she skipped her way over.
Though she only received a fraction of the EXP while in a party, the Mythic-grade [Dragon's Roar Radiance Belt]—a gift from the Academy's old headmaster—granted her the trait [EXP Doubled], allowing her level to nearly keep pace with Alex's.
Besides, before coming here, the two of them had already hunted down over a dozen venomous death-serpents. The mountain of EXP from that spree had pushed them both right to the edge of Lv5.
"Hey," Alex said, eyeing the twin loot orbs, his tone casual but with a hint of challenge. "Feeling lucky today?"
Lois flicked her raven-black hair over her shoulder, slowly pulled a chocolate lollipop from her pocket, and popped it into her mouth. Her cheeks puffed out in smug delight. "Hmph, luck's overflowing today! As you Northerners say—'Nine draws out of ten, all hits!'"
Alex raised an eyebrow, stepping aside with mock doubt. "All right then, your call. But if you pull trash, I'll be laughing at you for the rest of my life."
"Tch. Just watch!"
She stepped up to the glowing spheres, her pale fingers reaching out. In an instant, the radiant shells shattered into motes of light—revealing two gleaming weapons, each exuding a sharp, bone-chilling aura.
Alex's gaze locked instantly on the glowing panels before him.
[Name]: Boots of the Shadow Victor
[Grade]: Silver
[Type]: Leather Armor (Feet)
[Requirement]: Lv5 – Lv20
[Agility]: +32
[Strength]: +27
[Physical Defense]: +329
[Trait]: Increases the damage of Shadow-type Awakening Skills by 1% when equipped
On this continent, armor fell into three major categories: heavy, leather, and light.
Heavy armor boasted the highest attribute bonuses, but weighed like a mountain—only warriors with bodies forged like iron could wield it effectively.
Leather armor was light as wind, offering less defense but vastly boosting strength and agility, making it the favored choice of hunters and assassins.
Light armor lay somewhere in between—well-rounded, with no glaring weaknesses, but lacking the extremes of either side.
Lois was smitten at first glance. Her eyes gleamed like molten silver as she gazed at the short boots. With her [Shadow] talent, this was practically a pair of hunting boots crafted just for her.
Alex, on the other hand, had no interest at all.
He'd always allocated his stats evenly upon leveling, walking the path of "flesh and blood armored in steel." To him, heavy armor was nothing more than an extra, tougher layer of skin.
What truly stole his breath was the second drop—
A jet-black saber, its edge gleaming with a quiet, predatory hunger.
[Name]: Refined Croc-Tooth Saber
[Grade]: Silver
[Type]: Blade Weapon
[Requirement]: Lv5 – Lv20
[Agility]: +31
[Strength]: +47
[Physical Attack]: +211
[Trait]: Each attack has a 5% chance to trigger "Chain Lightning," paralyzing up to 3 targets and dealing bonus damage
At first glance, it looked ordinary—until the fire lit in Alex's eyes.
In his previous life as an adventurer, this Croc-Tooth Saber had been the "white moonlight" in the hearts of countless novices—not for its raw attack power, but for its rare Chain Lightning control effect.
In the black markets, it had once been driven up to a staggering three hundred thousand Gold Lions, and still—one blade was worth more than its weight in gold, never staying on the shelf for long.
In that life, he had cleared the Frozen Abyss a hundred times, yet never once had he seen it drop with his own eyes.
And now—
In the very first hunt of his second life—
It hovered quietly before him, as if it had always been fated.
"Ahem. Alex," Lois said, folding her arms with an air of magnanimity, "Your big sister's in a good mood today. I'll let you pick first."
Alex glanced down at the girl who barely reached his chest, her twin ponytails swaying like little pendulums. He felt a wave of speechless exasperation.
First, he thought, this blade is mine. Second, our party rules say I pick first.
"Hmph!"
Lois' pretty face flushed as her little scheme was exposed. Hugging the short boots to her chest, she stalked off to the side and began studying them with barely-contained excitement.
Alex, meanwhile, reached out and wrapped his fingers around the Croc-Tooth Saber. A faint, otherworldly light flared in his eyes—
Talent — [Infinite Ascension] Activated!
A hollow, draining sensation surged out from deep within him. Divine radiance wrapped around the blade, reforging it before his very eyes. Across the jet-black edge, streaks of deep violet lightning etched themselves like scars of the heavens—marks as if a thunder god had branded the weapon with tribulation itself.
[Congratulations! Your "Refined Croc-Tooth Saber" has been Perfectly Ascended into "Extreme Edge – Thunder Calamity"]
[Grade]: Mythic
[Agility]: +69
[Strength]: +101
[Physical Attack]: +498
[Trait]: Each attack has a 30% chance to unleash "Divine Thunder Chain Strike," paralyzing up to 8 targets and dealing equal physical damage
As the stat window floated before him, Alex's lips curved upward in a slow, satisfied arc.
He hadn't expected it—
But once again, he had triggered a Perfect Ascension.