It was possible for variants to appear during the Ascension. If a monster felt intimidated by the strength of the challenger, it could evolve under pressure.
But I was relatively weak—how was I intimidating it?
Sure, I'd killed the boars and the other wolf, but that was because of my skills. It even managed to bite me. I was hardly a threat—just your average person.
Average?
A thought flashed through my mind.
Was it possible that I wasn't normal anymore?
Could being half-vampire make me seem threatening to monsters?
Well, I couldn't be sure. The Shade Dire wasn't much of a threat to me anymore—I'd faced it before. But with my low HP, I felt lightheaded. I couldn't risk a drawn-out fight or any more wounds. I had to end it quickly.
"Restriction," I thought, focusing on the wolf. I imagined its skill being sealed.
> [Target Exceeds Your Rank]
[Skill will be Sealed for 20 seconds]
[Proceed?]
I confirmed. Then I charged, using Dash to close the distance.
The wolf flinched at my boldness and leapt toward a tree's shadow to escape—but it couldn't enter.
In that moment, I swung my blade down and activated [Bloodburst] x2.
Its head was severed cleanly, landing with a wet splat.
> [+140 Essence]
I spread my shadow forth—Predation. It connected to the fallen monsters.
> [Corpses Devoured]
[+300 Essence]
Total essence: 735.
> [You have Completed the 13th Ordeal (+)]
[You have Exceeded Expectations]
[Title Granted: Challenger (1/3)]
A challenger—someone who doesn't back down. Surpass the limits placed before you to complete this title and earn its full reward.
[+1 Vitality]
[Optional: Exempt from the 14th Ordeal (+500 Essence)]
I took the exemption. The 14th ordeal was notorious—a tag team of Forest Serpents and Venomous Moths. I'd planned to buy a detox potion and poison resistance skill to pass it, but skipping it sounded even better.
That put me at 1235 Essence.
Honestly, I didn't think I'd see this much at this stage of my Ascension.
Time to level up.
LV 6 – 200
LV 7 – 200
LV 8 – 200
Level 8. 635 Essence left.
Then I unsealed my mana.
> [Unseal Mana Stat]
[Additional 3 Stat Points will be Deducted]
[Proceed?]
Proceed.
A wave of fatigue passed through me as my body rebalanced. I redistributed my stats immediately, storing my old sword for resale on a lower floor and buying a replacement.
Stats:
HP: 60
MP: 50
Attributes:
Strength: 8
Agility: 6
Stamina: 9
Constitution: 6
Vitality: 5 (+1)
Mana: 5
The bonus in vitality came from my new title, Challenger.
I browsed the shop until one item caught my eye — Black Steel Bastard Sword
> [+2 Strength, +1 Stamina, +1 Constitution]
Cost: 330 Essence
That left me with 305 Essence.
Curiously, I opened the [Cards] tab again.
Another Mystery Card from the [Skills] section.
"I feel it… I could pull a Legendary this time."
The familiar mirage of lights swirled before me until it stopped—blue again.
[Skill Acquired: Evasive Motion (Passive)]
Adds a mild speed boost during dodging actions.
You might think I have a problem, but every card's worth it. They sell for more than 100 Essence anyway.
The next ordeal—15th—was against a Horned Hog, an evolved version of the Horned Boar.
It had three horns instead of one, and could fire them as projectiles.
That was what I'd Restrict.
Then I'd close in with Dash and finish it with my new sword.
This time, I was ready to cut through its hide.