[Chapter 5. Skills and Abilities]

  In one fluid motion the window opened, the rubber seals of it protested slightly after a long time of disuse. One Hand stretched out the Window Searanox focused on the Summon Air Drone skill. He could feel the knowledge, the instinct of how to do it, but the actual execution was something else. A faint, shimmering light began to coalesce in his outstretched palm. The air around it seemed to thicken and distort, as if a tiny piece of reality was being rewritten. A faint, high-pitched whine filled the room, growing in intensity as the light solidified, taking on a metallic sheen.

  Before he knew it a small, spherical drone hovered silently in the air, its polished surface reflecting the dim light of the room. A single, glowing blue lens on its front swiveled to focus on him, then on Iris.

  `Go Fly out, shoot and kill an Animal that is the size of you. Afterwards kill something above 30cm then half a meter, then a meter. Finally kill a Human that is not in any contact to me, preferable as far away as possible.′

  The drone's blue lens blinked once in acknowledgment, then shot out of the window with a soft, almost silent whir. Searanox watched it go, a tiny speck of light disappearing into the urban jungle. He could still feel a faint connection to it, a mental tether that allowed him to perceive it even from a far. The drone flew over the rooftops, its advanced sensors scanning the world below.

  He didn't have to wait long. The drone spotted a stray cat, its heat signature a bright spot in an alleyway. The drone swooped down, its built-in laser weapon firing a silent, precise beam of energy. The cat collapsed, its life extinguished in an instant.

  The feeling was strange, a surge of energy that was both alien and exhilarating. He could feel the experience flowing into him, a tangible reward for the kill.

  `That was, fast...′

  The thought came while he closed the window.

  A bluish green translucent window popped up in his Vision.

  "Second... Iris tell me about this reward I just got, it said I was 2nd."

  Iris turned her attention from the window to him, her amber eyes analyzing him with a calm, assessing gaze.

  "Progenitor, 'All Stats' refers to a permanent increase to all of your base attributes: Strength, Dexterity, Constitution, Intelligence, Agility, and Willpower. This is a significant and rare reward, typically reserved for achieving unique milestones or demonstrating exceptional prowess. As for being 'second,' it implies there is at least one other Progenitor who has already begun their journey and has achieved a similar feat before you."

  Her explanation was clear and concise, delivered with a tone that was both informative and reassuring.

  "That's what I expected; I didn't think I'd land anywhere on the first attempt... Come to think of it I did Order my Drone to kill an Animal as big as it, its not very big itself. Does any Animal give exp?"

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  Iris tilted her head, her expression thoughtful.

  "Based on my administrative knowledge, yes, Progenitor. However, the experience gained is directly proportional to the challenge. Mundane animals, like the one your drone just dispatched, offer minimal experience. The System's purpose is to foster growth and strength through overcoming adversity. Therefore, it incentivizes facing more formidable threats. You will likely find far greater rewards in hunting the mutated fauna and corrupted beings that will soon emerge."

  `Status.′

  With just a thought his Status appeared, in his vision the same bluish green window as the other times. But this time it had his information's on it.

  Searanox nodded, a grim understanding dawning on him. The System wasn't just a game; it was a crucible. It was designed to forge them into weapons, to push them to their limits and beyond.

  "Good, good that is what I expected."

  He looked at Iris she was more than just a bodyguard; she was a source of invaluable knowledge, a walking database of the very rules that now governed their existence.

  "Iris, what are your Stats."

  `I see so both of us have 40 in Total.′

  "Iris, tell me about your class and Skills and your Stats."

  Iris, who had been standing silently in the corner of the room, her amber eyes following the drone's departure through the window, stepped forward.

  "My class is Eldritch Knight, Progenitor. A fusion of martial prowess and arcane power. I am designed to be a frontline combatant, capable of dealing significant damage and withstanding heavy punishment."

  Her voice was calm and informative, a stark contrast to her predatory appearance.

  "I have access to three skills at my current level: Arcane Strike, Mystic Ward, and Blade Step."

  She raised her left hand, and a shimmering, ethereal blade of dark energy materialized around her sharp claws, extending them into deadly-looking weapons.

  "Arcane Strike allows me to imbue my attacks with arcane energy, increasing their damage output."

  She then raised her right hand, and a faint, blue, magical barrier appeared around her forearm.

  "Mystic Ward creates a protective barrier that can absorb a limited amount of damage."

  She then took a quick step forward, moving with an unnatural speed and grace.

  "Blade Step allows me to teleport a short distance, leaving a trail of arcane energy behind me."

  She explained each skill with a clarity and precision that was both impressive and a little unsettling.

  With a boop on her snoot Searanox asked her

  "and how much of your Mana have you just wasted? and stop calling me Progenitor."

  his eyes flicked to the side as if looking at something only he can see. The drone had found another stray Animal, and with another silent shot, it had killed it.

  The feeling was becoming familiar, a pleasant tingle as the experience points added up. Iris looked at him for a second, her amber eyes meeting his, a flicker of something unreadable in their depths.

  "I have used 15 Mana, Searanox." she said, her voice a little softer this time.

  "I will not call you Progenitor if you do not wish me to."

  `What a relief.′

  he thought, the constant drain on his TP was a concern. He'd need to find a way to manage it, or to increase his TP pool.