Slowly opening my eyes, I found myself propped up against a tree, my vision adjusting to the surroundings. Notifications buzzed incessantly, but I pushed them aside for the moment, focusing on my immediate situation. Glancing down, I noticed bandages covering the area where my left arm had been severed. The pain coursing through my body as I attempted to move was excruciating, but I managed to stand up, careful not to put too much strain on my left side.
"What do you think you're doing, Atlas? You can't be wandering around in your condition!" Ella scolded me from off to the side.
Turning to her I attempted to protest, stubbornly insisting that I could manage a few steps, but the pain coursing through my body betrayed my optimistic claims. With a sigh of frustration, I reluctantly surrendered, easing myself down beside her, emitting a groan of discomfort as I settled in.
Ella's concern was palpable, her eyes searching mine as if trying to gauge the extent of my injuries. "You need to take it easy, Atlas. We can't afford to have you aggravating your wounds," she said, her tone a mix of authority and genuine worry.
With a sigh, I conceded, "Alright, alright. I get it. I'll take it easy. But we can't ignore the fact that we're in a tight spot here."
I turned to Ella, my concern etched across my face. "How's everyone holding up, Ella? Henry, Amelia, Benjamin... are they okay?"
Ella met my gaze with a wearied expression, the aftermath of the intense struggle evident in her eyes. "Henry's stable, luckily. The blow missed his vital organs, but he's in rough shape. Amelia, though, she pushed herself too hard with her powers and passed out. She's resting now, trying to regain her strength."
My mind raced with worry for my friends, and I pressed for more details. "And Benjamin? How's he doing?"
Ella's gaze turned somber as she shared the grim reality. "Benjamin didn't fare well. He lost both his legs just below the hips. The strike narrowly missed bisecting him. It's a tough blow for all of us."
The weight of the injuries hit me like a ton of bricks, and I sighed, realizing the challenges that lay ahead. Lost in my thoughts, a subtle buzz tugged at my attention, drawing my gaze towards a dense part of the forest. Hidden behind a tree, a shadowy figure stood, the same one that had guided us earlier. But before I could focus on it, the figure faded into obscurity.
“Hey, are you even listening?” Ella's voice broke through my reverie, her hand waving in front of my face.
“Oh, sorry, I got lost in thought,” I replied, shaking off the distraction.
“Were you checking your stat screen?” she asked, a hint of concern in her voice.
“No, just zoned out for a moment,” I admitted, refocusing on the present.
“Well, I'm going to go check on everyone else,” Ella announced, placing a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "We'll make it through this, Atlas. We always do. We've come this far, and we're not giving up now."
After Ella left to help Emily, I found myself alone with my thoughts. I glanced back at the tree line, but there was no sign of the elusive shadow. It's always like that, never in the same place twice. I should remember the direction it disappeared in, I mused, before shifting my focus away from the forest.
Opening my stat screen, I was taken aback by the flood of notifications. Twelve level-ups and numerous skill advancements greeted me. What really caught my attention, though, were the titles I'd gained, each one promising unique enhancements to my abilities.
The first title that caught my eye was "Apocalypse Slayer Rank 1," earned for defeating an apocalypse-class creature during its incubation stage. A 5% boost to all my stats is nothing to sneeze at. But wait, incubation stage? I mean, seriously? A creature that powerful was just getting started? I shuddered at the thought of facing it fully grown. It's a good thing we caught it early.
Brushing aside those unsettling musings, I moved on to the next title, eager to see what else I had unlocked.
"Level Defier Rank 1," recognized my achievement in slaying a creature that was ten levels above my group's average with fewer than five people. This title granted a bonus of +5 to my stats.
More impressively, I had also earned "Level Defier Rank 2" for taking down a creature twenty levels above my group's average with fewer than five people. This title came with an even greater reward: a +10 bonus to my stats. It was clear that the intense battle against the colossal monster had yielded substantial rewards.
With these titles and the additional stat points from leveling up, I reviewed my stat screen, after distributing all my points, and it was indeed impressive:
Name: Atlas Mercer
Level: 15
Strength: 14+2
Health: 16+2
Speed: 20+3
Stamina: 13+1
Intelligence: 15+1
Dexterity: 12+1
Skills:
Lightning Enhancement Rank 2
Lightning Control Rank 2
Lightning Resistance Rank 1
Unique Skills:
Void Creation Rank 2
Multilingual Rank 1
Astraheim's Inheritance: 1-6 (Unknown)
Titles:
Primordial Inheritance: +10% to all stats
Apocalypse Slayer Rank 1: 5% boost to all stats
Level Defier Rank 1: +5 Stats
Level Defier Rank 2: +10 Stats
With these new powers and abilities, I couldn't help but wonder about the possibilities they held. Still, the weight of our current situation bore down on me. I thought about the loss of my left arm, wondering if there was any way to regain it. Moreover, the condition of our group members, especially Benjamin and Henry, concerned me deeply. We were far from safe in this strange world.
Exploring my newfound abilities and the recent upgrades kept my mind busy for a while. As I delved into my Void Creation skill, I noticed that the rank-up had significantly improved its potency. The objects I created were now more durable and effective than before.
As I practiced summoning objects, I realized that my limit had increased. Originally, I could only summon around five spears, but now I could conjure up to eight at once. This newfound capacity had exciting implications for our battles and strategic planning. However, my attempts to create armor using Void Creation failed. It seemed that there were still limits to what I could achieve with this skill.
Deciding to push the limits of my abilities, I delved into experimentation. Could I, I wondered, create life itself? It seemed absurd yet intriguing. With a mix of curiosity and caution, I focused my energy, conjuring up an image of a living being in my mind. To my astonishment, it materialized—a small, ethereal snake hovering before me. But just as quickly as it appeared, it dissipated into nothingness, leaving me drained from the effort.
Huh, so it is possible. That's pretty amazing. Granted, it's beyond my current grasp, but the potential is mind-boggling. Imagine what I could achieve once I've honed my skills further. Lost in thought I eventually moved onto my next power.
Exploring my Lightning Control skill yielded promising results. I found that I could charge my lightning abilities, storing more energy for a more potent release. This newfound control allowed me to adjust the size and intensity of my lightning blasts. The demonstration unintentionally startled Ella and Emily, who rightfully chastised me for recklessly using my abilities, given our current condition.
As the day progressed into night, no creatures came to threaten us. We decided it was best to rest, considering the injuries and exhaustion we had endured. Emily volunteered to keep watch as we lay down to get some much-needed sleep…
Over the next couple of days, the forest around us slowly began to regain its former liveliness. The once eerie silence was replaced by the sounds of creatures chirping, unknown animals moving through the underbrush, and the soothing rustle of leaves in the wind. It was as if the world around us was recovering from the catastrophic battle we had endured.
During the second day of healing, Benjamin woke up. his recovery was a relief to us all, though his injuries were severe. Amelia's new power, Volcanic Dominion Rank 1, astonished us. She now had the ability to summon and control lava, and her already formidable earth manipulation had reached a higher rank. Her newfound control over the elements was terrifying, making the rocks and terrain she summoned even harder and more resilient.
As we discussed our experiences and the battle we had endured, it became apparent that we had all received the same titles, "Apocalypse Slayer Rank 1," for defeating the monstrosity during its incubation stage. This revelation left everyone in a state of shock. The idea that the creature had been so formidable even in its early stage of development was unsettling. We could only imagine the horrors it might unleash once it had fully matured.
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