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Chapter 7 - Ch.7

[Name: Ain Richter

HP: 100% - MP: 100% - Stamina: 100%

Level: 1 (0/10)

Title: [Player - Fourth Natural Disaster (Equipped)]

Awakened Attribute: [Characteristic of Ant]

Skills: [Extreme Computing Power—Lösen Algorithm] [Skill: Construct Arsenal]

Combat Strength: Mortal]

This is the fixed panel, the previous panel won't be used any longer, you might find something missing on the panel but it will be added when Ain's gained that thing

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Ain stepped into the test area, his heart pounding with anticipation. The arena was massive, an indoor coliseum bathed in artificial light. The walls were lined with rows of seats, and although it was early in the day, a sizeable crowd had gathered to watch the tests. Most of them were young people, just like Ain, but some were older, perhaps here to support or evaluate the new adventurers. As he walked towards the center, Ain noticed the crowd's eyes following him, especially the girls who couldn't seem to look away. He couldn't blame them; his looks had always drawn attention, but now, with the added confidence of his newly awakened powers, Ain moved with a self-assuredness that made him even more captivating.

"Next up, Ain Richter!" the announcer's voice boomed through the arena.

At the sound of his name, a murmur rippled through the audience, and more people gathered to watch. Ain could feel the eyes on him as he walked into the center of the arena, but he kept his focus forward. The combat test was simple in theory: defeat the automaton, a mechanical opponent designed to simulate the strength of a peak beginner warrior. In practice, however, it was a test of skill, precision, and composure under pressure.

Ain stepped into the ring, his mind already running through possible strategies. The automaton stood at the opposite end, its cold, metallic form exuding an intimidating presence. It was humanoid in shape, with a sleek design that suggested both speed and power. Ain knew that underestimating it would be a mistake.

He took a deep breath, and with a subtle mental command, he summoned the Kriss Vector from his Arsenal. The sleek, futuristic submachine gun materialized in his hands, and for a brief moment, the crowd fell silent. Then, whispers erupted among the spectators.

"Did he just pull that out of a space ring?" someone near the front whispered in awe.

"Isn't that a Kriss Vector?" another added, recognizing the weapon.

Space rings—pocket dimensions for storage—were incredibly rare and expensive, usually owned by only the wealthiest or most powerful individuals.

Ain ignored the whispers, focusing instead on the task at hand. He'd never actually fired a gun before, and though the Lösen Algorithm had given him the theoretical knowledge, the practical application was still untested. His heart raced as he raised the weapon, aiming at the automaton.

"Here goes nothing," he muttered to himself, and then squeezed the trigger.

The gun roared to life, spitting out bullets at a rapid pace. But Ain's inexperience showed; his first shot went wide, and the recoil sent a sharp jolt of pain through his shoulder. He winced, lowering the gun slightly, and he could hear laughter erupting from the crowd.

"Looks like the pretty boy isn't so perfect after all," someone jeered.

But as the laughter echoed in the arena, Ain felt a sudden shift in his perception. The Lösen Algorithm kicked in, analyzing the trajectory of his shot, the angle of his arm, the stance of his legs—every inch of detail. In less than a second, the Algorithm provided a full breakdown and correctional advice. It was like having an experienced marksman whispering in his ear, guiding his every move.

Ain adjusted his posture, tightening his grip on the gun. The pain in his shoulder was already fading, and with the Algorithm's help, he could almost feel the correct movements in his muscles before he even made them.

The automaton began to move, closing the distance with surprising speed. But Ain was ready this time. He raised the Kriss Vector again, his stance solid, his aim true. The crowd held its breath as Ain squeezed the trigger.

This time, every bullet found its mark. The automaton staggered back, sparks flying from the impact points as Ain unleashed a controlled burst of gunfire. He didn't stop, each shot landing precisely where it needed to, chipping away at the automaton's defenses until, with one final shot, it collapsed in a heap of smoking metal.

The arena was silent for a moment, the crowd too stunned to react. Then, the whispers started again, but this time in tones of disbelief and amazement.

"Did he just…?"

"He was toying with it before!"

"He's incredible!"

Ain lowered the gun, breathing heavily but feeling exhilarated. The Lösen Algorithm had done its job, turning him from a complete novice into a sharpshooter in the span of a few heartbeats. He glanced up at the crowd, offering a small, confident smile before turning and walking out of the ring.

The combat test was over, and he had passed with flying colors. But there was still one more hurdle to clear: the survival knowledge test.

The next room was quieter, filled with long tables where other participants were already taking their tests. Ain sat down at an empty table, the holographic screen in front of him lighting up as soon as he did. The questions were multiple-choice, ranging from basic survival tactics to complex scenarios involving hostile environments and limited resources.

Thanks to the original Ain's memories, this part was a breeze. Ain's fingers flew over the screen, selecting the correct answers almost automatically. How to find water in a desert? Check. The best way to start a fire in damp conditions? Easy. What to do when faced with a venomous snake bite? No problem.

In less time than he expected, Ain had completed the test. The results flashed on the screen immediately: a perfect score. He smiled to himself, pleased but not surprised. After all, with the combination of his inherited knowledge and his own analytical abilities, this was nothing more than a formality.

Standing up, Ain made his way to the front counter to receive his adventurer card. The teller from earlier was there, giving him an approving nod as he handed over the sleek, permanent card.

"Congratulations, Ain Richter. You're now a registered adventurer," the teller said, his tone warm. "Welcome to the Federation."

Ain took the card, feeling its weight in his hand.

As Ain turned to leave, the teller suddenly called out to him. "Wait a moment, Ain."

He stopped and looked back, curious. The teller, who had been so professional and encouraging just moments ago, was now holding a small piece of paper. With a solemn expression, the teller slid it across the counter towards Ain.

For a moment, Ain was confused. The paper looked oddly formal, almost like an official document, but when he picked it up and read the first few lines, his eyes widened in disbelief.

It was a suicide note template.

Ain blinked, stunned into silence. The words on the page seemed to blur as he tried to process what he was seeing. It took him a few seconds to realize what this was all about—adventuring was a high-risk occupation, after all. The Federation was simply being practical. If something went wrong out in the wild, it would be easier to settle affairs if there was a clear record of final wishes.

The teller cleared his throat awkwardly, as if he could sense Ain's discomfort. "It's standard procedure for new adventurers, especially those with no known next of kin. You don't have to fill it out now, but it's strongly recommended."

Ain hesitated, staring down at the paper. The thought of writing out his last words felt surreal. He had barely begun his journey, and here they were, asking him to consider the possibility of his death. But after a moment, Ain shook his head.

"I'm good, thanks," Ain replied, handing the paper back. "I don't have anyone left to send it to, anyway."

The teller looked at him sympathetically but didn't press the issue. "Alright, just know that you can request one at any time."

Ain nodded and quickly exited the building, feeling a bit more rushed than before. The encounter had left him with a strange, unsettled feeling, like a reminder of how precarious his new path could be. But he didn't have time to dwell on it. He had a plan to put into action.

Pulling out his phone, Ain checked the map for the nearest forest outside the city. With a few taps, he located a spot—a beginner's forest where new awakeners often went to practice their skills. It wasn't too far, just about an hour's drive. He set the coordinates and then summoned a GT from his Arsenal.

The sleek sports car materialized beside him, its polished surface gleaming in the sunlight. Ain hopped in, revved the engine, and sped off towards the forest. As he drove, he let the Lösen Algorithm make subtle adjustments to the car's performance, optimizing it for the rougher terrain he was about to encounter.

Even though the road started out smooth, it quickly deteriorated as he left the city behind. The asphalt gave way to gravel, and then to a dirt path that twisted and turned through the countryside. But Ain's modified GT handled it all with ease, the Algorithm ensuring that every bump and dip was absorbed with minimal impact.

After about an hour, Ain arrived at the edge of the forest. It was nearly noon, the sun hanging high in the sky. He pulled the car to a stop at a small clearing, then sent it back into his Arsenal with a thought. The forest loomed ahead, dark and dense, with a narrow path winding into the trees.

Ain took a deep breath and started walking. The forest was quiet, with only the occasional rustle of leaves or distant bird call breaking the silence. It was exactly what he was looking for—a place where he could test his skills without interruption.

He hadn't gone far when he spotted his first target: a massive snail, at least two meters tall. Its shell was thick and heavily armored, glistening with a faint, metallic sheen. The creature moved slowly, leaving a trail of viscous slime in its wake. It was the perfect opponent for Ain's first real test.

Ain couldn't help but chuckle to himself as he observed the snail. The creature was reminiscent of the ultimate tank build in a game—high defense, low everything else. Its defense was impressive, almost at the level of a peak warrior, but its strength and speed were practically non-existent.

"This is what happens when a monster copies Maple's build," Ain muttered, recalling the infamous character from a game he used to play. She was known for building an absurdly high defense at the cost of everything else, turning her into an unkillable fortress.

Ain took a moment to plan his approach. The snail might be slow, but if he wasn't careful, he could end up in a drawn-out battle of attrition, and he wanted to test his new powers more efficiently. Summoning the Kriss Vector from his Arsenal again, Ain took aim at the snail's vulnerable underbelly, where the shell offered no protection.

He fired a few shots, but the bullets bounced harmlessly off the creature's slimy hide. Ain frowned—he had expected as much, but it was still annoying. The Lösen Algorithm quickly analyzed the situation, suggesting alternative strategies in rapid succession.

One idea caught his attention. Instead of relying on brute force, why not use the snail's own weight against it? With a smirk, Ain holstered the Kriss Vector and summoned a set of explosives from his Arsenal—compact charges that he had recently acquired. He quickly set them up in a semicircle around the snail, careful not to disturb it.

Once everything was in place, Ain retreated to a safe distance and triggered the charges. The explosions were loud, sending shockwaves through the ground. The snail's shell rattled violently, and for a moment, it seemed like the creature might topple over.

The snail wobbled, its massive form swaying precariously. Ain held his breath, watching as the creature's own weight finally became too much for it to bear. With a slow, inevitable crash, the snail fell to its side, exposing its soft underbelly.

"Gotcha," Ain muttered, raising the Kriss Vector once more.

This time, the bullets struck true, tearing into the snail's vulnerable flesh. The creature let out a low, mournful sound before it finally went still.

Ain exhaled, lowering the gun. The battle had been more of a puzzle than a true test of combat skill, but it had served its purpose. He had successfully used his new abilities to overcome an opponent that would have been a nightmare for any ordinary adventurer.

Feeling satisfied, Ain checked his surroundings, making sure there were no other threats nearby. As he did, a notification appeared in his vision:

[Congratulations! You have defeated a Level 12 Iron Snail!]

[Experience Gained: 1,800 XP]

[Level Up! You are now Level 4 (200/2000 XP)]

Ain blinked in surprise. He hadn't expected to gain so much experience from a single battle. The Iron Snail was tougher than he'd thought, but the reward was more than worth the effort. He felt a surge of energy course through his body as the level-up took effect, his muscles tightening and his senses sharpening.

"Level 4 already?" Ain muttered, a satisfied grin spreading across his face. "At this rate, I'll be hitting double digits in no time."

He brought up his status panel to check the details. Stamina had fully restored with the level-up, and he noticed a slight increase in his base stats. He wasn't sure what the exact numbers were yet, he might need to upgrade his player title to be more detail, but it was clear that leveling up made a tangible difference in his strength.

"Well, this is turning out to be more fun than I thought," Ain said to himself. He closed the panel and took a deep breath, feeling the thrill of progress. This world was starting to feel more and more like a game, and Ain was determined to play it to the fullest.

With a renewed sense of purpose, Ain continued deeper into the forest. The thrill of leveling up and gaining new abilities had only whetted his appetite for more. He knew that the forest held even greater dangers, but he was eager to test his newfound power against whatever came his way.

The sun was beginning to dip towards the horizon, casting long shadows across the forest floor. Ain's footsteps were light, his eyes scanning the surroundings for any sign of movement. The forest was alive with the sounds of rustling leaves and distant animal calls, but Ain's [Augmentation senses], picked up nothing that posed an immediate threat.

After walking for a while, Ain spotted something that made him stop in his tracks. Ahead, in a small clearing, was a group of goblins, about five in total. They were clustered around a makeshift camp, chattering in their guttural language as they roasted some kind of meat over a fire.

Ain's eyes narrowed as he analyzed the situation. The goblins were weak individually, but in a group, they could be dangerous, especially if they had a leader. The Lösen Algorithm quickly calculated the best approach, and Ain's mind was filled with tactical suggestions.

"Let's see how this upgrade handles group combat," Ain murmured, summoning his Kriss Vector again from his Arsenal. He loaded a fresh magazine and took a deep breath to steady his nerves.

[Author Note: The Lösen Algorithm in this fanfic will work a bit differently from the original]

Moving quietly, Ain positioned himself just outside the clearing, where he had a clear line of sight to the goblins. He aimed at the largest one, which he assumed was the leader, and prepared to fire.

Just as he was about to pull the trigger, the goblins suddenly stopped talking and sniffed the air. Ain froze, realizing too late that the wind had shifted, carrying his scent towards the creatures. The goblins turned towards him, their beady eyes narrowing in suspicion.

"Guess there's no sneaking up on them now," Ain muttered, before pulling the trigger.

The first shot rang out, hitting the goblin leader square in the chest. The creature let out a pained yelp and crumpled to the ground, but the others immediately sprang into action, brandishing crude weapons as they charged at Ain.

Ain's heart raced as he fired off more shots, each one guided by the Algorithm's precise calculations. The bullets found their marks, taking down the goblins one by one. Despite their numbers, they were no match for Ain's superior firepower and enhanced reflexes.

Within moments, the clearing was silent again, the goblins lying motionless on the ground. Ain lowered his weapon, breathing heavily but exhilarated by the quick, decisive victory.

[Congratulations! You have defeated Goblin Group (Level 5-7)]

[Experience Gained: 600 XP]

[Level Up! You are now Level 5 (800/2500 XP)]

Ain grinned as he received another level-up notification. "This just keeps getting better," he said, feeling the familiar rush of energy as his stats increased once again.

With the sun now fully set and the forest growing darker by the minute, Ain decided it was time to head back to the city. He summoned his GT once more, the car appearing with a soft hum as it materialized from his Arsenal.

Sliding into the driver's seat, Ain set the GPS for home and started the engine. The day had been a huge success, and Ain couldn't wait to see what tomorrow would bring. As the GT sped down the winding forest road, Ain's mind buzzed with anticipation. He was just getting started, and the world was full of endless possibilities.

For now, though, he was content to drive through the night, the road ahead illuminated by the car's headlights, as he headed back to the city to plan his next adventure.

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