Precognition flashed the red ape's next move a heartbeat before it even twitched, while Red Lightning Reinforcement gave me what I needed to do something about it.
And a beat later
-Woosh!
A massive punch tore past me before I shoved the red lightning–reinforced spear straight into its gut, and with a side step, I pulled it out in a wide arc, creating a gash big enough to spill its guts out.
-Roar!
The ape screamed, clutching at its stomach, trying to hold on to the insides that slithered out as it crouched in a fetal position.
But I wasn't done.
Pushing through the last of my MP, I jumped onto its shoulders before shoving the spear straight through the back of its head.
Both blood and brain slushed down onto the ground, and a beat later, the beast did too, its body collapsing with a dull thud.
-Ding!
{Tier 1 Late-Stage Crimson Ape Slain! 300 EXP Received!}
"Man… I'm really steamrolling these," I muttered as the last of the lightning faded while I jumped off its body.
Yeah, no point denying it.
As far as I understand things, a Tier 1 Late-Stage magic beast should've taken at least a squad of practitioners of the same stage as it.
Sure, I got Precognition… but it still didn't make sense.
After all, according to the system, I'm a Tier 1 Mid-Stage dude.
"It's gotta be the red lightning," I muttered before popping open the status.
[Protocol: Chronos]
Name: Arlen Hale
Race: Human
Circuits: 2
Affinity: Time, Red Lightning
Level: 7 (Tier 1 — Mid-Stage)
XP: 1,642 / 1,708
Status: Normal
Stat Points: 0
Stats
STR — 1
AGI — 1
EDU — 1
DEX — 1
MP — 0.6 / 36
MP Regen — 0.1/sec
LCK — 1
Magic
Red Lightning Reinforcement (Epic) (Active) (Min. 5 MP/sec) (7 Circuits for Optimal Function)
Skills
Precognition (Legendary) (Active) (Min. 2 MP/sec) (2 Circuits for Optimal Function)
Gear: Crossbow (Heirloom), Partisan Spear (Rare), Laro's Sword (Common)
Credits: 420
Tabs: [Shop] [Inventory] [Map] [Crafting]
"I mean, what else could it be except red lightning… That'd also explain why it costs so much to use." I spoke to myself before a gust of wind blew past me, as if agreeing.
I've seen Laro and Brann, the captain of Windket's Guard, spar before.
And I distinctly remember them not running out of steam in just a few seconds.
[Burning bright but fast only looks good on paper…]
I shook my head as I sent the ape's body into the inventory, and a burst of blue sparkles later, only its spilled blood and brain remained on the ground.
And as I popped open the Sell tab, a thought came.
[Maybe I should buy a cheap affinity… you know, something classic like fire… or maybe healing… high-grade healing potions are expensive as hell.]
"Might as well peruse," I muttered as a big yawn escaped my mouth.
I hadn't slept since yesterday.
Tried for two hours last night, but no way in hell I could've gone to sleep after accepting that quest and figuring out the details of my plan to resurrect my mother.
So I just left for the forest and began walking in the direction the system had marked for the wyvern's location on the map, all the while killing every Magic Beast I came across.
The compass bar at the top of my vision now showed an orange dot whenever I looked in the direction of the quest, with 19 KM written below it.
After selling the Crimson Ape's body for 15 credits, I popped open the shop and searched for 'affinities between Common and Rare rarity'.
And a beat later, a list popped open…
{
Fire (Common) — 1,200 Credits
Water (Common) — 1,400 Credits
Wind (Common) — 1,800 Credits
Earth (Common) — 1,700 Credits
Ice (Common) — 2,500 Credits
Light (Common) — 4,000 Credits
Dark (Common) — 5,000 Credits
Lightning (Rare) — 15,000 Credits
Metal (Rare) — 18,000 Credits
Sound (Rare) — 27,000 Credits
Gravity (Rare) — 65,000 Credits
Healing (Rare) — 80,000 Credits
Illusion (Rare) — 95,000 Credits
.
.
.
}
My eyes flicked to the corner of the screen — [Credits: 420].
"Right… I can't even afford basic fire."
-Ding!
{Insufficient Credits for Purchase.}
"I didn't even click anything," I muttered, sighing as I dismissed the window.
[But still… if I kill and sell that wyvern, I should at least have enough to buy fire. It's just 1,200 credits.]
Another yawn hit me mid-thought, the kind that starts small but ends up stealing your whole face.
"God, I really should've slept last night…" I muttered, rubbing my eyes as my gaze drifted around the forest.
Tall trees, grass everywhere, and the soft rays of spring sun.
Yeah. Prime real estate for a nap.
"Hey, System… you got an alarm clock or something?"
-Ding!-
{No. But I can wake you up after the time you designate.}
"That was basically a yes," I mumbled, already walking towards a tree while I sent the spear back to the inventory.
"Anyway, wake me up after two hours."
The forest was quiet, save for the chirp of birds and the soft crackle of insects doing whatever forest insects do.
My eyes grew heavier the moment I sat and leaned against the base of the tree.
And with that, I let the exhaustion take me, slipping somewhere between thought and dream.