The [Skills] menu unfolded before me, lines of text shimmering into view—hovering in the air like panels of green digital parchment.
[Trial Shop – Skills Catalogue]
(Available only during the Ordeal of Ascent)
Dash (Active) – Short burst of movement within 10 meters. Scales with Agility. (Cost: 80 Essence)
Acceleration (Passive) – Increases movement speed by 5%. (Cost: 70 Essence)
Blood Sense (Passive) – Detects nearby living creatures within 10 meters via blood flow. (Cost: 90 Essence)
Quick Guard (Active) – Reduces damage from a single attack by 20%. (Cost: 100 Essence)
Mana Skin (Passive) – Slightly hardens skin, reducing physical damage. (Cost: 85 Essence)
…..
Special Option
[Mystery Skill Card – ???] – A random skill of Uncommon or higher rarity. (Cost: 100 Essence)
Warning: Skill quality and type are entirely random.
I skimmed through the list, my gaze lingering on Dash. It was practical, clean, efficient—exactly what I needed to make up for my lack of mobility in close quarters.
Purchase [Dash]? (Y/N)
"Yes."
A blue-glowing card drifted out from the interface, then shattered into shards of light that sank into my skin, leaving a faint tingle behind.
[Skill Acquired: Dash (Rare)]
[Activation Cost: 5 Stamina | Cooldown: 45 seconds]
The price of a rare skill card outside the Trial Shop would've been around 750 to almost 3000 Essence, but everything here was discounted—even my longsword. Normally around 700 Essence, I'd snagged it for 180. I probably could've sold my shortsword for more on lower floors… but I'd wanted to see the Pawn option myself.
I still had 121 Essence left—enough for one gamble.
My eyes drifted to the final line.
[Mystery Skill Card – ???]
It pulsed faintly, almost alive, as if the system itself were daring me to try.
"Let's see how lucky I am."
Purchase Mystery Skill Card? (Y/N)
"Yes."
The interface dimmed. Every other light winked out, leaving only the spinning outline of a card radiating shifting colors—blue, green, red, and flashes of black.
It began to slow...
until finally, it stopped.
[Skill Grade: Unique]
My heart skipped a beat.
The card disintegrated into red motes that spiraled into my chest, heat blooming beneath my ribs.
[Skill Acquired: Bloodburst (Unique)]
Type: Active (Offensive)
Description: Converts a portion of your vitality into explosive kinetic force. Each use burns 10% of HP for a 50% Strength boost over 10 seconds. Can be channeled through limbs or weapons.
Caution: Excessive use may cause cellular rupture or unconsciousness.
I blinked. "That's... insane."
Predation, Dash, and now Bloodburst—three tools built for aggression and survival.
I couldn't help but grin. "Looks like I just got promoted from prey to predator."
[Proceed to the 9th Ordeal or Enter the 0th Floor?]
Proceed, I thought.
The world flickered.
Shapes began to coalesce before me—three enemies. A Goblin Shaman, flanked by two Archers. Easy enough. I'd already planned this fight out.
Restrict the Shaman first. Cut off his mana before he even starts.
Once the forms solidified, I locked eyes with the Shaman, focusing my will.
"Restriction."
[Target Rank Surpasses Your Own]
[Restriction will Last: 30 seconds]
[Unable to Completely Restrict Target's Mana (25)]
[Choose: Restrict 10 for 20 seconds / Restrict 20 for 10 seconds]
I picked the second option. Shorter, but more crippling.
The goblin began to chant—but the spell collapsed mid-syllable. Confusion flashed across its face.
I crouched low. "Too late."
Then I moved.
Dash.
The world blurred. I surged forward, slicing through the Shaman's wrist before it could react. Its shriek filled the air—cut short as my next strike cleaved through its neck.
[+50 Essence]
The archers fired in panic. Their bolts angled for my shoulders and gut, but I'd fought enough of them to know the pattern. I sidestepped, closed the distance, and finished both in quick, precise slashes.
[+24 Essence]
I exhaled and activated Predation.
Familiar text flickered to life.
[Goblin Corpses Devoured]
[+24 Essence]
Then I frowned.
The Shaman's corpse still lay intact—untouched.
"What… why didn't it devour the Shaman?"