Slowly, he reached down and picked the Shadow Element Ability Book back off of the ground. As he did, the same message appeared. After a moment, he decided not to learn the Ability right now. When he did, a new System screen appeared.
[Would you like to place the Level 6 Shadow Element Ability Book in your Inventory?
[Yes] [No] ]
Seeing the message, Quinn's eyes widened.
"What?!" He yelled, baffled. "Why can I put this Ability Book in my Inventory, but not any of the other ones?!"
Although, the answer was pretty obvious when Quinn thought about it. It was because he couldn't learn the Earth Ability. So the Earth Element Ability Books and Skill Books were useless to him.
As he selected the "yes" option, he watched as the Ability Book disappeared into smoke. Now, he had two things in his Inventory, the ten Basic-Tier Rattaclaw Crystals, and the Level 6 Shadow Element Ability Book.
Quinn decided that before he learned the Ability, he wanted to find out more about it, first. Maybe then, he could find out why it was compatible with his System, while the Earth Ability wasn't. Perhaps, there were other Abilities that his System was compatible with. If that was the case, Quinn didn't want to rush into things. Usually, a person was only capable of learning a single Ability over the course of their life. Choosing your Ability was an important decision that could affect the rest of your life.
As Quinn had continued to Level Up and get stronger, he had begun to think more and more about the System. He now knew it wasn't an Ability. Tsukuru was pretty much living proof of that fact. This meant that the strange book that Quinn had gotten the System from, the book left behind by his parents, wasn't an Ability Book.
However, it had completely changed him. He was no longer Human, and was now something else, entirely. It also confirmed Tsukuru's theory about why his Skills worked inside the VR Pod. Like he had said, Quinn using his Blood Skills was no different than someone punching or kicking in the game. And since his System wasn't an Ability, it meant that Quinn could still learn one.
Quinn then walked over back towards the front of the storage container, and pushed the door shut. Locking himself inside. He was starting to feel tired, and this storage container served as a perfect hiding spot. As he knew that none of the Beasts outside were strong enough to penetrate it. Quinn laid down on the floor, and went to sleep.
***
Back in the forests on the outskirts of the shelter, Tsukuru and the Palewalker continued to stare at each other.
Tsukuru's eyes widened in shock.
'An Intermediate-Tier Beast…' He thought.
Suddenly, his mind flashed back to the last few days within his System's "Battle Arena". How that Minotaur, who was as strongas an Intermediate-Tier Beast, and been beating the absolute shit out of him all week.
Tsukuru gulped, and then he tensed. If this "Palewalker" was anything close to that level of strength, Tsukuru was doomed. And unlike in the "Battle Arena", there was no "restarting" out here.
Instantly, the Palewalker went on all fours, and ran towards Tsukuru. Appearing like a spider and moving at impressive speeds.
Seeing this, Tsukuru grit his teeth. Immediately, he equipped his strongest gear. He was already wearing his Intermediate-Tier Knight Gauntlets, but he also equipped an Intermediate-Tier Knight Sword in each hand. A System message popped up in front of him.
[Two Intermediate-Tier Knight Swords equipped. Strength: 32.]
Tsukuru ran towards the Palewalker, arms at his side.
The Palewalker screeched, and leaped into the air.
Seeing the Beast pounce towards him, Tsukuru activated his Video Glitch Skill.
As the Palewalker lashed out one of its arms to scratch at his face, Tsukuru's body glitched out of existence.
The Palewalker his nothing but air.
The next second, the sound of electronic interference could be heard from behind the Palkewalker. Tsukuru reappeared, both arms pulled to his right in preparation of a sword swing. The Palewalker's body twisted inhumanly, due to its segmented body. Its arm lashed out again, scratching Tsukuru's face. He felt a stinging pain, and a System screen appeared in front of him.
[-8 HP. HP: 27/35.]
Tsukuru grit his teeth, and swung both swords in a wide arc towards his right. Putting every single ounceof his 32 points of Strength into the swing. The two swords cleaved through the Palewalker's torso, bisecting it in half. The Palewalker screamed, and black blood gushed out of the wound. A moment later, the two halves of the Palewalker separated, its upper half sliding clean off, and falling to the ground with a thud.
Tsukuru remained there, frozen in his swinging stance, taking in deep breaths. Seeing how easily the Beast had been killed, Tsukuru's eyes widened.
"That…was it?" He asked, stunned. He had been preparing for the fight of his life, his body flooding with adrenaline and in full fight-or-flight mode. He…had not expected this. After a moment, the shock wore off. Tsukuru grit his teeth. "That…was it?!" He roared, now furious. As if to answer him, three overlapping System screens popped up in front of him.
[You have killed an Intermediate-Tier Palewalker. 1000 XP received. You have killed your first Intermediate-Tier Beast. 5000 Bonus XP received. First time killing a Palewalker. First-Time Kill Bonus: 2000 XP. XP: 10636/3200. Level Up. You are now Level 7. XP: 7636/6400.
You have received a Stat Point.
You have received a Summon Point.
Skill Video Creation has Leveled Up. Skill Video Creation is now Level 2. Level 2 Effect: You can now create large creations, and complex compounds. Creations can now be constructed in 20% less time.
Skill Video Summon has Leveled Up. Skill Video Summon is now Level 2. Level 2 Effect: You can now have 3 Video Summons active at once. Video Summons can see and hear the world around you while inside the Video Arsenal. Video Summons will now form in 20% less time.
You have met the requirements to unlock a new Skill.
New Skill Video Exchange - Lv. 1 has been acquired.
Your Elite Pawn Grade Haunted Knight has received 1 Pawn Point. Pawn Points: 4/15
Your Pawn Grade Harpie has received 1 Pawn Point. Pawn Points: 4/5
Your Pawn Grade Dark Elf has received 1 Pawn Point.
Pawn Points: 2/5.
Your Pawn Grade Hobgoblin has received 1 Pawn Point.
Pawn Points: 2/5.
Your Pawn Grade Amazon has received 1 Pawn Point.
Pawn Points: 2/5.
You have received a new Racial Slot. Racial Slots: 3/4.]
[Video Exchange - Lv. 1
Ability-Exclusive Skill
Active Skill
You can swap places with one of your Video Summons.
Requires MC
-20 MC per activation
You can only swap places with a Video Summon within 30 feet of your current location. Skill can only be used once a day.]
[XP: 7636/6400. Level Up. You are now Level 8. XP: 1036/12800.
You have received a Stat Point.
You have received a Summon Point.
Skill Video Stasis has Leveled Up. Skill Video Stasis is now Level 2.
Level 2 Effect: You can now affect objects weighing a maximum of 30 pounds. -1 MC every 10 seconds per affected object.
Your Elite Pawn Grade Haunted Knight has received 1 Pawn Point. Pawn Points: 5/15
Your Pawn Grade Harpie has received 1 Pawn Point. Pawn Points: 5/5
Your Pawn Grade Harpie has been promoted to Elite Pawn Grade. Pawn Points: 0/15
Your Pawn Grade Dark Elf has received 1 Pawn Point.
Pawn Points: 3/5.
Your Pawn Grade Hobgoblin has received 1 Pawn Point.
Pawn Points: 3/5.
Your Pawn Grade Amazon has received 1 Pawn Point.
Pawn Points: 3/5.]
Tsukuru stared at the System screen for the new Skill he had unlocked.
"Huh, I didn't know certain Skills had criteria to be unlocked. "Is it because I just Leveled Up my Video Summon Skill?" He muttered, narrowing his eyes. ''Video Exchange', huh?' He thought. 'Sounds like my Stasis Shift Skill, except for my Summons.'
Tsukuru turned his attention away from the three screens, and stared down at the now bisected body of the Palewalker. As he did, he felt a boiling rage fill him. He ground his teeth in pure anger and frustration. He had gotten all worked up, over nothing.
"You…you…" Tsukuru clenched his hands so tight that his nails cut his skin. "YOU ARE AN INSULT TO INTERMEDIATE-TIER BEASTS!" He roared, his voice echoing throughout the woods.