In a hidden corner of Lesotte's cemetery, far away from danger and unwelcomed prying eyes. Midnight scratched his neck and stretched his stiff limbs. He was about to check his profile and notifications when his mana stirred.

It was a strange sensation. It felt like the fluctuations of a thin, invisible membrane. These hardly noticeable waves were instantly transferred directly to his psyche. Through this medium, they bore inside his brain and churned his thoughts. Instantly, vague information appeared in his mind. He realized a fact and came to a conclusion.

I just gained a skill. So this is what the dev team meant before. We can gain new skills depending on our behavior and actions both inside and outside of Euclex. However, most skills will be invisible. They won't appear in our profile information. We will only vaguely sense their appearance or disappearance. Yes, the same applies to changes in their status...

This new skill is considered rare and it's passive. It makes undead and ghost-like creatures feel a certain sense of curiosity towards me. To put it simply, I attract the ghosts...

But, why? What have I done to receive this strange ability? Isn't that entirely out of the blue? It has nothing to do with my recent actions. What I killed was definitely not a ghost or zombie. It was a snake of flesh and blood.

Just as he understood a thing, he found himself confused again. It wasn't possible for a skill to pop up out of nowhere. There was a cause.

He closed his eyes and concentrated. He used his potent memory and senses to scoop the tiny bits and pieces of this bizarre new information and arrange them. Like piecing a puzzle, he made the tidbits stick together. They slowly formed the answer to his question. But he didn't feel that pleased.

That skill was born because I often visit this same cemetery...Shitty AI! If you will slap me with a strange ability just because I sleep outside, then you should have given me more money from the start!

In Euclex, when a player logged out, their character would fall asleep and wouldn't disappear. This left the player vulnerable. Be it theft, injury, rape, or murder, everything was easily attainable. In the first few days, countless players suffered on this side. Of course, this indirectly pointed out that even in this day and age humanity still sucked. There were plenty of people with dubious morality and values.

To escape this harm, the best solution was to rent a room inside an inn or rent a cottage in the village. This way, your body would receive the protection of the system, and uninvited people couldn't enter.

But, with only 10 scops in the beginning, this was easier said than done. Gathering information, feeding yourself, or preparing for an outside exploration. There were too many matters with higher priority levels. No one sane would spend a fortune just to sleep in bed.

Therefore, the second-best choice was much more popular. It was to seek a hidden place. Cuddle there, cross your fingers, and prey that when you logged again your meager possessions would remain intact.

Midnight wasn't an exception. He used his brain and ultimately chose the cemetery. Not many players visited this place, especially at night. The reason was simply psychological. It was fear and repulsion deeply ingrained in their mind from a young age. Cemeteries were not meant for living people, they were the home of the deceased.

Today marks the eighth day since I have been using the cemetery as my temporary dwelling. I could have left it long ago, but I had to save more coins to buy the bag. In the end, my haste and cheap-state nature slapped me in the face...

Indeed, my knowledge of this skill is insufficient. I don't know if it's good or bad for me. I can only feel that I attract the dead. Is the 'curiosity' they have benevolent and pure, or will they be malicious? Or, it depends on the particular attracted entity. This needs further observations...

One is certain, now, I have one more reason to fork out cast and get a room. Cemeteries tend to draw such creatures. I have already seen a ghost or two. But at the time, they didn't pay me much attention. The next time I meet one, it won't be the same.

However, this skill is not too difficult to get. Likely cemetery guards, grave diggers, and priests will have it too. I can find someone and inquire for details, or take my time and study its effects. There is no hurry...

A flurry of thoughts passed through his head and he shelved away the problem. It wasn't anything urgent, nor did it change his future actions. Then muttering his name, he accessed his information.

|Midnight:

Race: Half-Ling

Titles:

Origin - Vespertin Scholar

Pupil of Change

The First to Slay a Monarch

Skills: Lucky Encounter (Legendary)|

Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

Color me surprised. I more or less expected to get a random title, but I even have a skill! And it is fucking Legendary grade. This makes it equal to my Nightwatcher!

Suddenly, he felt amused and worried.

Judging by the system's behavior and public speech, the title was expected. However, the same couldn't be said about the skill.

Unlike the Cemetery Dweller, for ease, he decided to name his ghost-attracting skill as so, he didn't feel a stirring when he got this skill. This already exposed a problem. Not to mention, the skill was one of the rare happenstances that were visible inside his profile. This made him even more unnerved and apprehensive.

With a sense of trepidation, he naturally chose to first observe the unexpected. It was hard to tell the details otherwise. At the same time, he quipped inside his head.

This reminds me of Schrodinger's cat. It can be dead or alive. No one knows until the box is opened. And this creepy skill is too. It can be beneficial, or it can bring me harm. Let's hope it is the first...

Ping.

With a tiny sound, a new imaginary window appeared in the air.

|Lucky Encounter (Legendary)

Type: Kismet, Passive

Acquisition Criteria:

1. Stumble upon three lucky encounters in a short period of time.

2. Turn an unlucky encounter into success.

3. Acquire The First to Slay a Monarch title.

Luck is a type of strength. Lucky Encounter increases the chance of fortune befalling you.|

Ha

He scoffed and wanted to bury the AI in a pile of pungent guts. This skill was such a nasty trap. Luck was an incomprehensive and subjective matter. At first glance, the effect looked great, but in fact, it wasn't so.

Fuck them all! What 'increases the chance of fortune befalling you'? Are you kidding me? No, mocking me!

Pa

He slapped his thigh and his expression crumbled. Just as the acquisition criteria mentioned. He had to turn his unlucky encounters into a success! Only then would he be seen as a winner, and receive the rewards in exchange for the efforts.

Jumping to his feet, he nearly forgot to check his title. He paced around in thought.

From the name and explanation, this skill obviously affects encounters. It doesn't point to the end result.

To put it simply, I will often cross powerful enemies and will have to balance on a thin rope. One wrong step and I will sip some tea with Death.

If I win, then fine. It is considered lucky. But what happens if I don't? Will I get a written apology or something? Like: 'Sorry to inform you, but you didn't stretch yourself enought. Please try again the next time'...

Heh. I shouldn't have expected anything. Now, I have to sleep with open eyes!

A couple of seconds later, he exhaled and closed the window. He didn't even want to see this skill or think about it. It was just a honey-scented poison to a relatively weak half-ling like himself.

And about the first acquisition criteria, he had some guesses. One of his 'lucky encounters' was the Bloody Enigma. Another was the snake. The last one was likely the sole rare material he had found inside the forest - the Fairy Object. In a newbie location like Lesotte, finding a rare ingredient in such a huge forest was undoubtedly a form of luck. They were deemed rare for a reason.

With a swipe, Midnight pulled the title window. He wouldn't be surprised if the next moment he became a snake. After so long, he began to feel numb toward this game. Euclex often gave you something small, and then demanded great compensation in return. Nothing ever came for free.

Ping

|Title: The First to Slay a Monarch

You are the first Player in the Southern Continent to kill a local boss. As the one who perished was the Slithering Lord, her death cries were heard by all reptiles.

Skill: Reptilian Nemesis - All reptile creatures feel a certain sense of fear when they see you. This primordial emotion will cause the weaker ones to evade you like the plague, and the stronger ones will be enraged.

Note: Congratulations! You will never be bitten by a common snake!|

Phew

He exhaled and rubbed his temples. His scalp felt itchy beneath his short black hair. Unsurprisingly, this was once again a double edge. Especially, for craftsmen.

Another second later, he changed his point of view and this improved his mood. The bitter taste inside his mouth lessened quite considerably.

At least it's better than the other one. It will make it difficult to gather materials from weak reptiles, and stronger ones will salivate at me. But, the rage felt by them is beneficial. Blinded by anger, they will act on instinct. I can use this point to flee or form a crafty hunting plan.

Next, he fidgeted with his bag and the system windows and sorted his loot according to his plans. He made a list of the materials he would sell to Anna and Bernard and kept the rest for himself.

Some, like the Ilargia Dew, already displayed their usage, while others, like the Slithering Lord's loot, he couldn't sell. The system notified not only the players but the natives too. Bringing out the loot would instantly expose him as the hunter. Besides, the Lord's leather and poisonous fangs were graded as Unique.

As a craftsman, he had to keep the best and use it later. Trading it away was fooling and a nearsighted action. Without a doubt, if he used them in his crafts and succeeded, he would earn a bigger profit.

I wonder when I will be able to craft my first item. I guess, one first needs to walk before they run. I can't be rash. I don't even have the tools or practical skills.

Yes, I have to read more books. I have quite a good grasp of different fields of science and materials, but it is not enought. Learning, practicing, and then learning more from the mistakes. Only step by step, I can reach proficiency and earn a profit. Meanwhile, I will have to waste plenty of materials. And I need to choose an expertise. I don't want to be a jack of all trades, master of none...

While dreaming of the future, he finished with the boring tasks. And he was finally ready to check his true reward. The title and the skill were only secondary.

He put a hand inside his bag and pulled a tiny metal chest. It was the size of his palm and was rusty crimson without embellishments. Simple, bizarre, and horrifying. Just like the death it came from.

|First Blood Reward Chest

It is a special reward for the first slayed boss monster on each continent. Please choose a category.

Categories: Weapon, Armor, Skill Book, Tool, Recipe, Money

Friendly reminders:

1. Excluding the monetary price, the grade of the pulled-out item is Legendary or Epic.

2. The item is randomly generated.

3. Besides the monetary price, all other options will be bound to the player.

4. This chest is untradeable.

When you are ready, verbally proclaim the option.|