Owen crossed his arms, a confident smile on his lips despite the fatigue still weighing on his shoulders. The training hall buzzed with excitement, adventurers whispering among themselves, their eyes locked on the scene. The air was thick with tension, tinged with the smell of sweat and metal warmed by the wall torches. The guild master, towering like a living mountain, nodded with an amused glint in his eye.
"Good. Then we're agreed. I suppose you'll do me the honor of fighting me?" Owen said, his calm voice contrasting with the restless atmosphere.
"Of course. You need to be registered anyway," the master rumbled with a deep laugh.
Mental flashback, just before Laura's fight against the trainer
Owen summoned the shop in his mind, the blue interface hovering like an invisible hologram.
[Shop]
Buy a tip…
[-5 shop points]
[You're contacting me first? What a surprise…]
Shut up. I paid for a tip, so give me one.
[How bold. Still, we've already talked quite a bit. But fine, a tip…]
[Complete the hidden quest by fighting the man to your right. To do that, you'll need to boost yourself so he notices you, so buy the welcome gift. See you soon, my dear Owen.]
…
[Message]
[Owen: Buy me some time, please.]
[Laura: Okay.]
Buy the welcome gift in the shop.
[-20 points]
[Would you like to open your welcome gift?] [Yes / No]
Yes.
[Owen receives: Clairvoyance A+, Predator A-, Skill Upgrade Scroll x10, 30 stat points, Bloodline ???]
Whoa… All this?
Buy another welcome gift in the shop.
[This item no longer exists, there is a monthly purchase limit on this object.]
Fine. I'll put 5 points into Defense, 5 into Luck, 10 into Physical Attack, 10 into Magic Attack. Then, scan the bloodline and upgrade Clairvoyance with 2 scrolls, Martial Arts with 5 scrolls, and my Fire Magic with the remaining 3.
[Analyzing Bloodline ???: ??? ??? ??? ??? Adds 100 Health and Mana. Adds 30 Defense, 20 Speed, 20 Intelligence, 20 Luck, 40 Magic Attack and Physical Attack. Adds skill Aura C+.]
//
[Class: Mage]
[Level: 1]
[Health: 137] [Mana: 170]
[Defense: 50] [Physical Attack: 71]
[Speed: 37] [Magic Attack: 75]
[Intelligence: 39] [Luck: 38]
[Stat points: 0] [Shop points: 50]
[Skills: Scan F+, Martial Arts A-, Clairvoyance S, Predator A-, Aura C+]
[Magic: Fire B, Water D+, Earth D+, Light B, White Magic C…]
//
Scan Aura, Clairvoyance, Martial Arts.
[Aura: At your level, aura can increase your physical abilities by 20 points by using 5 mana/min.]
[Scan F+ → E+]
[Clairvoyance:
Chrono-Vision (Can see past events. Can see 5 seconds into the future.) 2 mana/sec
Enhanced Senses (Can see/hear everything spoken within a 5 km radius.) 20 mana
Psychic Navigation (Can locate a person or object within a 50 km radius.) 100 mana]
[Martial Arts: Dragon Fist (Concentrates force (mana/ki…) into the fist and strikes with it. The more force used, the stronger the blow.)]
All right, I'm ready. The quest will be completed as soon as I fight him anyway. No need to win.
Back to the present
The guild master stepped to the center of the room, his presence commanding silence.
"Today is a special day! You're about to witness an exceptional exam! The young man over there won't be fighting the trainer, but me instead!" he roared for all to hear.
"What?! But… Master, that's my job, isn't it?" the trainer protested, annoyed by the announcement.
"That's not the issue. This man is stronger than you, so you can't rank him. I'll handle it," the master replied in a tone that brooked no argument.
"But—"
Owen walked forward, and the atmosphere grew heavier, as if the air itself were compressing. When Owen and the master took their stances, the trainer, standing too close, almost choked and had to step back just to breathe.
"I hope you're ready. I don't plan on holding back," the master warned.
"Of course I am. I don't plan to hold back either – I'd die if I did," Owen replied, his eyes shining with fierce determination.
[Clairvoyance] [-2 mana]
["At least you're not overestimating yourself.
When the guild master finishes talking, he'll dash at you at insane speed and punch you in the face. The fight will end there."]
"At least you're not overestimating yourself."
Owen tilted his head to the side, dodging the blow that generated a massive shockwave, cracking the floor behind him.
[-15 HP. 122/137]
"You were trying to kill me?" Owen asked, his tone neutral but accusatory.
"HAHAHAHA. Interesting, you dodged that," the master laughed, impressed.
Owen raised his left arm to cast a spell.
"Before you pull your little fire trick, know that I'm not afraid of flames," the master said.
"…."
Owen had no intention of using fire. A burst of intense light flashed from his hand, blinding the master for a few seconds. Owen then focused his strength into his right fist.
[-1 mana]
[-150 mana. Your strength for this blow will be 221.]
Still blinded, the master sensed a minor danger, but nothing alarming. Owen's fist slammed into his ribs, making him spit a thin trickle of blood.
[-9 HP. 422/431]
But the rest of the fight was one-sided. Regaining the advantage with his overwhelming experience, the master knocked Owen out with a precise strike, leaving him dazed on the ground. The room erupted in cheers, the atmosphere electric.
Owen got back to his feet slowly, a strange vibration at his wrist – the luck bracelet he'd bought earlier, signaling a subtle danger or opportunity. A bug? Or something more? he wondered, feeling the invisible karmic cost of his boosts.
POV Maddie (on Earth)
The visions returned, sharper than ever: Owen fighting a giant, his overpowered strength making him almost inhuman. Maddie clenched her fists, jealousy tinged with worry. Next to her, Sarah, newly awake, described portals opening on Earth, monsters pouring out – the beginning of chaos, tied to her return without a system.
Back to Owen's POV
The master helped Owen to his feet, respectful.
"Not bad, kid. You're registered as rank C. But remember this: power has a price."
Owen nodded, feeling that price in every fiber of his being.