The metallic, visceral sound of blades tearing through rotten flesh echoed through the final chamber of the Abandoned Coal Mine.
CRUNCH!
Diana drove the black steel dagger straight into the eye socket of the largest creature on that floor: The Elder Necrophage, a Level 5 monstrosity twice the size of ordinary necrophages, with hardened bone plates covering its chest.
The beast thrashed noisily, letting out a final spurt of black blood before collapsing onto the floor of coal dust, dissolving into particles of dark light that were promptly absorbed by Diana's right hand.
A few meters away, Rhea wiped the blade of her iron dagger on the shoulder of another fallen necrophage. The hybrid girl was free of serious injuries, her 14 points of Agility having allowed her to move like a ghost around the mine boss, severing the monster's leg tendons so Diana could deliver the blow of mercy.
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[BATTLE CONCLUDED!]
[Enemy Defeated: Elder Necrophage (Level 5 - Lesser Elite)]
[Experience Gained: 350 EXP]
[Shared Experience: Diana +175 EXP / Rhea +175 EXP]
[SYSTEM: YOU LEVELED UP!]
[Diana: Level 4 -> 5!]
[Rhea: Level 3 -> 4!]
An intense golden light enveloped both of them simultaneously. Combat fatigue evaporated instantly, and the sensation of power strengthening her muscular frame made Diana let out a long sigh of satisfaction.
Level 5. In less than 24 hours in Hell, she had reached Level 5.
[BOSS LOOT AND TOTAL MINE CLEARANCE]
- Direct Bronze Coins: 60 Bronze.
- Direct Silver Coins: 1 Silver (Rare Elder Drop).
- Reusable Necrophage Claws: 6 Units.
- Infernal Coal Crystals (Rare Ore): 2 Units.
Diana gathered every coin and item off the ground, stashing everything into her reinforced pouch.
She was about to open her attribute window to distribute her new points when, suddenly, the System interface flashed violently. The default golden color of the screens shifted for a second to a dark, almost reddish hue, emitting an electric buzz in her head.
[SYSTEM ALERT!]
[Special Condition Met: Resource Accumulation and Abnormal Efficiency.]
[PREMATURE UNLOCK: PERSONAL SKILL TREE ACTIVATED!]
Diana froze mid-stride, furrowing her brows.
"Skill Tree…?" Diana murmured aloud, catching the attention of Rhea, who approached quietly. "Hold on a minute. From what I saw in the market guides, the Skill Tree is only unlocked when a hunter reaches Level 10 or takes the class advancement test at the Guild."
—Yeah… well… er…
The System's voice resonated in her head. For the first time since she waked up in this world, the entity seemed to stutter ever so slightly, the text lines appearing with a slight lag.
—Congratulations, brat! Looks like you're one in a million! The System decided you're so impatient that it unlocked the skill shop early to save my precious time! What a great honor, right?
Diana didn't smile. Her gaze turned heavy, calculating, and deeply suspicious.
You're lying. Diana thought back, without voicing it to Rhea. Systems don't have 'favoritism'. Systems are code and rules. If a Level 10 lock broke at Level 5, it means something in my structure is forcing the system to bend.
—Calm your paranoia down, girl.
The System tried to pivot quickly, the screen shifting to the new tab.
—Just enjoy the gift. Your options are limited because you're weak, but it's better than nothing. Take a look.
[SKILL TREE - LEVEL 1 (AVAILABLE OPTIONS: 1 POINT)]
1. [Voracious Throw - Active (Level 1)]: Allows throwing any short weapon or object with 150% of Strength stat. If the attack kills the target, the thrown item automatically returns to your hand. (Cost: 8 MP).
2. [Eye of Greed - Passive (Level 1)]: Increases visual perception of structural weak points, hidden items of value, and minute environmental details by 20%. Reveals the approximate coin value of analyzed items.
3. [Brutal Impact - Active (Level 1)]: Gathers strength in the arms to unleash a single heavy axe or sword strike, dealing 200% physical damage. (Cost: 15 MP).
Diana observed the three options.
The first option, [Voracious Throw], directly solved one of her biggest current limitations: Her lack of ranged attacks.
The second option, [Eye of Greed], appealed directly to her obsessive need to never let any value slip past unnoticed.
She didn't hesitate for long. Like a cold strategist, she knew that long-range utility and weapon recovery were essential to her survival.
"I choose [Voracious Throw]." Diana confirmed mentally.
[Skill Acquired: [Voracious Throw - Level 1]!]
[Skill Point Consumed.]
A subtle surge of practical knowledge flowed into Diana's brain, fine-tuning the muscle memory in her shoulders and wrists for the precise calculation of trajectories and throwing force.
She stared at the System screen for a few seconds more. Suspicion still burned in the back of her mind. There's something deeply wrong with this interface… But for now, I will use every advantage this anomaly gives me.
"Diana?" Rhea called softly, sensing the girl's silence. "Is everything alright?"
"It is." Diana sheathed her dagger. "We cleared the entire mine. Let's go back to the market and sell everything we gathered."
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Central Market - Malakor's 'Steel & Hide' Shop
Malakor, the four-armed demon, looked down at the counter where Diana and Rhea dumped the haul from the Coal Mine.
The merchant's yellow eyes widened slightly upon seeing the two Infernal Coal Crystals and the six intact necrophage claws.
"You two cleared the east gallery of the Mines alone…?" Malakor asked, his four arms crossed as he appraised the batch. "These crystals are difficult to extract without shattering."
"Just give us the price, Malakor." Diana said, leaning on the counter with composure. "No runaround."
Malakor calculated quickly:
- 6 Necrophage Claws, 5 Bronze each = 30 Bronze.
- 2 Infernal Coal Crystals, 25 Bronze each = 50 Bronze.
"80 Bronze Coins for the entire lot of materials." Malakor said, placing the exact sum in gleaming coins onto the counter.
Diana gathered the money and stashed it in her pouch, carrying out a rigorous mental audit of all her accumulated wealth up to that moment.
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[FULL FINANCIAL AUDIT]
Previous Balance (Beginning of Chapter 6): 1 Silver, 55 Bronze (155 Bronze).
Direct Mine Loot (Monster Drops + Boss): +1 Silver, +60 Bronze.
Sale of Materials to Malakor: +80 Bronze.
GRAND TOTAL:
1 Silver + 1 Silver = 2 Silver.
60 Bronze + 55 Bronze + 80 Bronze = 195 Bronze -> (1 Silver and 95 Bronze).
[NEW ABSOLUTE POCKET BALANCE: 3 SILVER COINS AND 95 BRONZE COINS (395 Bronze!)]
Nearly four silver coins.
Diana stared at the sum with a flicker of icy pride. She had doubled her capital in a matter of a few hours.
Back in their room at The Abyss Anchorage inn, Diana sat down on the wooden chair, spreading out note papers she had bought for 2 bronze to analyze her overall profile as well as Rhea's.
Rhea sat on the edge of the bed, meticulously wiping her iron daggers with a dry cloth, attentive to every movement from her leader.
Diana opened her full Status Panel:
[OVERALL STATUS PANEL - DIANA]
Name: Diana
Level: 5 (45 / 800 EXP)
Class: None
Title: NONE
[BASE STATS (POINTS DISTRIBUTED FROM LEVEL 4 AND 5)]
Strength: 9 (+2) -> 11 (Physical strength of a trained soldier)
Agility: 9 (+2) -> 11 (Fast reflexes and efficient dodging)
Vitality: 6 (+1 from points) (+2 from Armor) -> 9 (Reasonable durability)
Intelligence: 8 (Unchanged)
Luck: 2 (+1 Absorbed from Vex)
HP: 90 / 90
MP: 40 / 40
[SKILLS]
- [Basic Analysis Vision - Level 1]
- [Predatory Strike - Level 1]
- [Voracious Throw - Level 1]
Diana tapped her fingers on the table at a measured pace, staring at the screen's numbers for several long minutes.
She was stronger. Strength 11 and Agility 11 put her well above the average of any ordinary human newcomer to Hell. She could fight head-to-head with Level 5 monsters without breaking a sweat.
Yet her analytical mind, accustomed to the top of school rankings in her past life, found several grave flaws in that sheet.
And the first flaw that bothered her deeply was her Intelligence 8.
Eight. Diana thought, her forehead creased in pure dissatisfaction. Eight Intelligence is a fucking joke. In my previous life, I was number one in logic, mathematics, and strategy. Here, this piece of shit System treats me like I'm an ignorant warrior who only knows how to smash things with a slab of iron.
Intelligence in the System governed maximum MP, magic regeneration speed, spell perception, and the ability to learn complex utility or magic skills.
Currently, with only 40 MP, Diana could use the skill [Predatory Strike] (5 MP) eight times or the new [Voracious Throw] (8 MP) just five times before being completely drained and helpless in combat.
That was unacceptable.
Furthermore… Diana continued her analysis in thought, listing her weaknesses on paper with an ink quill. I have zero support or utility skills. No area-of-effect magic. No trap detection skills. No healing capability that doesn't rely on expensive potions.
All she and Rhea possessed was short-range, direct physical combat. If they faced a mob of monsters with long-distance magic attacks or flying creatures, they would be reduced to sitting ducks.
—My, such drama…
The System commented, its interface popping up right in the middle of Diana's notes.
—For someone who started out as a squashed pancake in an alley a day ago, you're pretty picky, don't you think? Want me to give you a magic wand and a witch's hat too, my dear strategist?
"Shut your mouth." Diana hissed mentally. "Mediocre people settle for what they have. I want total efficiency. If I don't fix these flaws now while I'm low-level, I'll hit a brick wall as soon as we leave this shitty district."
She looked over at Rhea, who was observing her in silence.
"Rhea."
"Yes, Diana?" The wolf girl raised her head instantly.
"Where in this district can someone get magic skill tomes or scroll rolls without paying fifty silver coins at the Mages' Guild?"
Rhea thought for a few seconds, her ears twitching as she retrieved memories of conversations overheard among merchants back when she was trapped in the cages.
"In the Lower Zone of the Market…" Rhea said softly. "Near the Underground Arenas. There's a black market for discarded tomes and used scrolls. It's where low-level gladiators buy imperfect or incomplete spells for much cheaper prices."
The Underground Arena Black Market.
Diana's eyes lit up. Imperfect spells. Unconventional skills. That was precisely where someone with little silver and massive ambition would find golden opportunities.
"Tomorrow we go to the Underground Arenas." Diana said, putting away her paper and quill. "It's time to buy something that expands our combat options."
With 3 Silver and 95 Bronze in her pocket, Level 5 reached, a new throwing skill in her arsenal, and an increasingly loyal ally by her side, Diana was ready to take the next step in conquering the First Circle of Hell.
Final Notes:
Not much to say today, but I hope you're all enjoying the chapter! :>