The cold steel of the "Black Star" in his hand felt like a natural extension of his body, while the matte glow of the blade absorbed the faint purple light of the tunnels. Sebastian moved deep into the bypass path where the air smelled of ozone and something sweet and very ancient. After rising to level seven, his Strength of sixteen units allowed him to barely feel the weight of his overfilled backpack, yet his true focus was centered on another attribute.
He began to notice that the situations around him were becoming strangely favorable, though it wasn't a feeling of physical power or speed. It was something much more subtle. Whenever he passed by unstable collapses, the rocks never fell toward him. Every time he stepped onto slippery concrete, his foot found a reliable foothold at the last moment. Sebastian gradually realized that his Luck of thirty units had begun to work beyond ordinary fortune during loot collection.
His [Mana Resonance] skill caught three targets moving with incredible speed along the walls. These were predators that usually hunted in packs and always attacked suddenly from the darkest corners.
[Target: Pulsating Hunter (Level 10)] x3
The level ten hunters had a significant advantage in strength and speed, yet Sebastian did not intend to retreat. He walked into the middle of the hall, consciously allowing the enemies to notice him. The first monster, a hideous blend of a flexible body and crystalline claws, lunged forward in a lightning leap. Its attack was perfectly timed and should have torn Sebastian's shoulder, yet at the last fraction of a second, the hunter's claw caught on a rusty piece of rebar sticking out from the wall.
The monster instantly lost its trajectory and exposed its unprotected side. Sebastian did not waste this chance and drew the "Black Star" across the soft tissue beneath the creature's shell.
"Just lucky," he whispered, carefully watching the other enemies.
The second and third Hunters attacked simultaneously, trying to pin him in deadly pincers. One should have struck from behind, yet it unexpectedly slipped on a puddle of mana oil it had spilled itself a minute earlier. The third monster, instead of hitting Sebastian, collided at full speed with its disoriented companion.
Sebastian moved calmly and almost lazily, watching this chain of senseless mistakes by his enemies. Their superior Strength or speed mattered none when circumstances constantly turned against them at the most critical moments.
He activated [Stone Skin], preparing for the final exchange of blows. The last Hunter delivered a series of fierce strikes, yet each passed the target or simply slid across protected areas without causing any damage. Sebastian took a short step forward and drove the knife into the beast's throat, twisting the blade for good measure.
[Target neutralized: Pulsating Hunter (Lvl 10)]
[Experience gained: 640 XP]
[Target neutralized: Pulsating Hunter (Lvl 10)]
[Experience gained: 615 XP]
[Target neutralized: Pulsating Hunter (Lvl 10)]
[Experience gained: 622 XP]
Experience flowed into his system in a thick stream, filling the bar almost halfway to the next level. The real spectacle began during the loot collection when Sebastian cut open the chest of the largest hunter. Instead of the expected murky shard, he pulled out a perfectly clear crystal sparkling with a bright inner light.
[Received: High-Quality Mana Core (Rank F+)]
[Received: Skill Crystal: [Shadow Step] (Rank F+)]
His incredible luck had once again worked to the maximum, gifting him a new skill that was considered rare even for experienced scavengers. This became a moment of truth for Sebastian as he finally realized that the path through direct strength was only part of the game, while Luck allowed him to win where Strength was not enough.
He sat on the edge of a concrete block to distribute his gathered strength. Many in Heloplex ignored this attribute due to its perceived instability, but for him, it became the key to survival against stronger creatures.
"If the world wants to play with me, I'll make sure I'm always dealt the right cards," he decided.
He invested all the earned points into Luck, feeling a strange confidence in every next step. Sebastian Amaden had ceased to be just a hunter; he was becoming an anomaly whose luck was more dangerous than any weapon.
Shadow Step [Rank F+] (Active) — Allows a short-range dash through shadows, granting temporary intangibility.