[Awakened Power: Pocket Dimension (Rank C)]
[Allows the user to create a pocket dimension with a capacity of 1000 liters]
[You can use your dimensional cube to store attacks inside, be they from people or monsters, and use them at any time you want against your enemies. A total of 10 different attacks can be stored]
[You can shift your cube into different shapes, using it to attack and block]
My power was rank F before, so with just those 10 crystals, which were pretty rare, I managed to get it to rank C. That was an awesome upgrade. I’d never thought I would see my power at that rank.
As for my current attributes, they were decent. I saw online that a rank D hunter usually had stats in the 100-120 range. My body was close to it in strength.
In fact, my stats for my plan to join the academy were well above average. It would be much easier to pass the entrance test.
But the entrance test would start in one month, and without someone hiring me, I couldn’t enter the dungeon anymore. A hunter ID was needed for that. So upgrading my stats even further would be quite difficult, not to say impossible.
I didn’t want to seek Mike out again, so my only option was to do other things for the next month.
The very first thing I had to do was buy myself a better weapon, something I could use in my future adventures.
Early in the morning, after a good night’s sleep, I headed straight to a shop where I could sell the remaining monster crystals I had with me. They were safely stored in my pocket dimension, which could now hold a lot. The slime was there too.
I took a train to the central district. That was where all the reputable hunter shops were. It wasn’t a good idea to sell the crystals to just anyone, since they might be illegal. Only shops approved by the Hunter Order could trade crystals.
The shop I went to was called Threshold Goods. It had a neon sign at the front, instantly catching my attention. The place already had customers coming in and out at that early hour.
I looked up, checking the whole building. It had three floors. I’d read online that only the first floor was open to the general public. Only those with valuable items could go to the other floors.
Someone bumped into me while I stood in front of the shop, admiring the place, a young man in a hurry. With my high stats now, my body didn’t even move.
The man looked to the side, staring at me. Beside him stood an older man with a thick grey beard, probably his grandfather.
He looked at me too, and maybe he sensed I wasn’t that weak. Before the young man could say a word, the older man stepped forward, extending his hand to me.
"I’m sorry for my grandson. We’ll talk later about this lack of respect."
I shook his hand.
"It was nothing. He’s just excited to visit the shop, that’s all," I said with a light chuckle, trying to make things less awkward.
"Why are you here, young man? Let me guess, preparing for the academy exam next month?"
That old man was clever, a real fox. With just a glance, he’d figured out what I was up to. Could he read minds, or was it just obvious? How did he know that?
I tried not to look surprised.
"Actually, I’m selling and buying some stuff."
"We are doing the same. I think you might meet my grandson in the exam." The old man smiled. "That is, if you’re trying to enter The New Order. Are you?"
His grandson clearly didn’t want to waste his time talking with me. He elbowed the older man.
"We should go."
I didn’t answer the old man’s question. Why should I? They headed into the store first, and I followed right after.
The store was huge, with towering walls and shelves packed with all kinds of items. Armor, weapons, potions, crystals, you name it. And that was just the first floor. The more expensive items weren’t even out here to begin with.
Because that shop was one of the most famous in the city, lots of people came to trade what they’d found in the dungeon. To keep up with demand, I counted at least 10 vendors inside, ready to talk to customers.
One of them came toward me. I wasn’t exactly well-dressed, and I noticed the look the vendor gave me. Hunter or not, people judged you on sight.
"How can I help you today?" she asked.
I went straight to the point.
"I wish to sell 500 monster crystals."
Hunters usually used crystals to boost their own power, but I had so many I figured I could use some and sell the rest. She looked shocked when she heard the number. It wasn’t every day someone sold that many crystals at once.
"500? If you’re lying to me, we’re going to have a problem."
Security was already watching us.
"Why would I lie? Can you buy them or not? I can always go to another shop."
Faced with the idea of losing a sale, the vendor’s attitude changed instantly.
"No, no. Please, follow me. For an amount like this, we’ll need the second floor."
I noticed how everyone stared as I climbed the staircase with the vendor, even the old man and his grandson. Not everyone got to go up there.
Was that a good thing, or would it come back to bite me later? I wasn’t keen on drawing that much attention.
Security let us through, and we reached the second floor. It was a different world up there.
Fewer items, but the ones on display were far more expensive. A man sat at a table, sipping tea. We approached him.
"Sir, this man wants to sell 500 crystals. I’ll let you handle it."
She left. They needed her downstairs to deal with the customers still pouring in.
"Sit, please," the man said, gesturing at the chair across from him. "Tea?"
"I’d love some," I said.
It wasn’t every day I got treated that nicely.
"So, where are these crystals you mentioned?"
He didn’t see any on me, so naturally he had his doubts. I activated my pocket dimension. The metallic cube floated above the table.
"Where do you want the crystals?"
"On the ground is fine."
I emptied the crystals from my pocket dimension. They scattered across the floor near us.
The man wasn’t surprised by the amount, but by my ability.
"I’ve never seen an ability like this," he said. "Interesting."
For some reason, I hated the look he gave me.
Still, he counted the crystals and offered me a fair price. 5000 dollars. Not bad. I could finally eat like a person instead of living on noodles.
"Deal," I said. "Do you have a sword for sale? Something decent for rank D and C rifts, nothing too expensive."
I was ready to pay, but the man insisted on giving it to me for free.
"I can give you one," he said. "I like helping out promising talents. Wait here."