Museum - Second Floor

Two heavy breaths echoed through the weapons exhibition hall.

Nova and Xin Hua stood back to back, visibly exhausted as they held their weapons in an offensive stance. In their midst, Frank wore an expression of astonishment at the scene before his eyes.

Surrounding the group was a pile of ice rubble that belonged to all the wolves that had attacked them earlier.

"Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu." Nova exhaled deeply, sitting to the ground and letting go of the mace he had been wielding. "Damn, that was exhausting." His voice carried a mix of relief and satisfaction at having survived the ordeal.

"If you're tired, it just means you need more training." Xin Hua said with a teasing edge. Despite her own exhaustion, she managed to keep her composure to poke fun at the white-haired boy.

"I think I've trained enough for the week," Nova replied with a grin, his recent victory over the wolves giving him a momentary sense of ease amidst the chaos.

A holographic screen appeared before Nova, thanks to his TN device:

⌠You went up 1 Level....

Stats Update...

Calculating...

Nova Hawk Level 7 Achieved

STR: 10

AGI: 10

CON: 15

PSA: 0⌡

"Wait, what?" The young man's surprise caught the attention of his companions, who leaned in to see the screen.

"Congratulations! It looks like you've gained some strength," Xin Hua said with genuine warmth.

"Thanks. Although I didn't realize TN devices had this feature, and I'm curious about what PSA means... mine is at zero..." Nova's frustration was evident, especially since Saito had already made it clear that they were all novices in the agent world. However, the zero in his PSA stat particularly irked him.

"That’s because you don’t have a synchro skill yet," Frank, who had been observing them with admiration, spoke up to clarify. "PSA stands for Power of Synchro Ability. Since you don’t possess this skill, it’s normal for it to be zero." He seemed pleased to be of help.

"I see. But why did the device only notify me? Shouldn't I be the one to adjust my stats?" Nova asked, puzzled.

He had assumed the process would be similar to RPG games from his world and had thought he hadn't been able to access his stats after reaching level 6 due to the lack of a TN device.

"Hmm... That would be useful to know, but I’m not sure how it works," Frank admitted.

"The TN device only shows you how much strength you've gained—essentially, how your power has increased. The Terra Nexus operating system ranks you from 1 to 100 and translates your stats into numbers," Frank explained, clarifying how the TN device worked within the level system.

"If you want to excel in a specific stat, you need to train it. That’s the only way to achieve true strength," Xin Hua added with a kind, yet firm tone. "No shortcuts, Nova Hawk," she emphasized.

"Haha, I see... but shouldn't there be more statistics? All I see is strength, agility and constitution." Nova asked with obvious confusion. "What happened to dexterity, vitality, intelligence, wisdom, or charisma?"

Xin Hua and Frank exchanged uncertain glances before Frank placed a reassuring hand on Nova's shoulder.

"Nova, I think you’ve been playing too many video games," he said, concerned about what he considered to be delusional thinking from someone disconnected from reality.

"You think…?" Nova forced a smile, though he was inwardly frustrated by the pitying look from Frank. "This coming from someone living in a world full of monsters and mindless powers! Are you serious?!"

"To clarify... 'Strength' encompasses all aspects of raw power, including muscle capacity and physical impact. 'Agility' covers perception, speed, and reflexes, while 'Constitution' relates to your damage resistance, pain tolerance, and overall endurance," Frank elaborated, breaking down each stat displayed by the TN device.

Nova soon realized that these stats represented areas for improvement as he progressed through the levels. He could choose to focus on a particular stat or take a more balanced approach to enhance his combat skills.

Currently, his strongest stat was Constitution, likely due to the beatings he had endured from the Alpha or the natural stamina he brought with him to this world. This made him particularly resilient.

"Maybe I should concentrate on one of the other two stats to balance things out... If there's no dexterity or intelligence here, I suppose I should improve my weapon handling. Intellectual ability seems to be something innate, like IQ in my old world..." Nova paused, contemplating the importance of taking this data seriously, especially given his decision to become an agent and his firsthand experience with B-Synchro.

He struck a thoughtful pose, reminiscent of the thinker statue.

His companions watched him in silence, beginning to suspect that Nova might be slow to grasp things.

"Any more questions?" Frank asked, concerned about Nova's tendency to overanalyze.

"Ah, yes," Nova said, snapping out of his reverie and focusing on his companions. "Do you know how to obtain a synchro ability?" His interest was evident, with his fist still resting on his chin.

The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

Xin Hua and Frank shrugged in unison and shook their heads.

"Really?" Nova asked incredulously, surprised that they seemed to know more about the subject than Katya herself.

"This is C-level information, accessible only to agents. Synchrony is widely known, but TN takes great care to keep its details out of the hands of those who might misuse it," Frank explained, displaying his deeper knowledge on the matter.

While Frank spoke, Xin Hua returned to the weapon racks.

"Unfortunately, some obscure online forums claim that, for the right price, you can access this information. But I never had the funds or the desire to deal with such shady people," Frank said with a self-deprecating chuckle, embarrassed by his own apprehension and his inability to provide a concrete answer to Nova.

"Anyway, we’ll find out more once we pass the exam," Xin Hua said, refocusing both Nova and Frank on their immediate task.

"We’ve caught our breath, so let's head to the third level and get those coats," she added, as she gathered the weapons she had collected and stowed them in a leather pouch taken from the display.

"Right, we can tackle those questions later," Nova agreed, then assumed a position to help Frank climb onto his back.

Once everyone was ready and armed, they exited the room and headed for the third floor.

The group moved cautiously to avoid attracting the attention of any ice beasts, conserving their energy to prevent exhaustion, which was increasingly likely after overusing their Synchro Aura.

Suddenly, a tremor shook the building’s foundation, startling the trio and causing the ice beneath them to crack.

"What was that?" Xin Hua, who was leading, asked with alarm.

"He said he’d hold back, you damn dwarf..." Nova muttered, his face a mix of fear and frustration. Frank glanced at him and nearly mirrored his expression, aware that something similar might happen to them, given their shared experiences.

"Do you think something happened to our companions?" Xin Hua asked, now visibly worried. Her concern shifted Nova's focus, realizing his words had only intensified her fear.

"They’ll be fine," Nova reassured her with confidence. "At this point, worrying about them would be disrespectful. They’re determined to become agents and are certainly giving it their all."

Nova's words brought relief to Xin Hua’s face, and a smile blossomed on her lips as she continued walking. "You're right, they are both warriors," she said pleasantly, gaining a renewed sense of confidence.

"Did you know your companion from earlier? It seems you’re quite fond of her," Frank asked from behind Nova’s back as they neared the stairs.

"No, actually, I met her today," Xin Hua replied, surprising both men.

"She reminds me a lot of my little sister. They’re very similar—both are nervous and afraid of everything, yet they possess true courage. Perhaps I have a soft spot for fragile people." Xin Hua’s face brightened with a wider smile than usual as she spoke, clearly enjoying the reminiscence.

Her tone was light and nostalgic, as if reminiscing about fond memories.

"Given that, it’s easy to see why you like her so much," Frank said, appearing relaxed and content. The danger seemed distant, and he relished these moments of casual conversation, appreciating the company.

"And Nova, what’s your relationship with your friend?" Xin Hua asked with a mischievous tone, hinting at the possibility of deeper feelings from the white-haired man towards his companion.

"Well, she’s like a sister to me," Nova answered directly, not catching the underlying suggestion, and leaving both Xin Hua and Frank surprised.

Their opportunity for gossip was cut short by the sounds of fighting coming from the top of the stairs.

They exchanged worried glances. Though conserving energy was sensible, the urgency of the situation compelled them to rush up the stairs.

Upon reaching the third floor, they were shocked to find Sven kneeling, covered in cuts and blood. His arms were numb and blue from frostbite. An ice tiger, also bearing battle scars, stood before him.

"Oh, thank God you’re here!"

John Williams, a short man with black hair and sharp suit, ran toward them, tears in his eyes. He was accompanied by his friend Brennan, a tall man with red hair, also dressed in a suit.

"Please, help Mr. Sven! He’s barely hanging on!" Brennan pleaded, clearly desperate to save his protector.

Before Nova or Xin Hua could respond, Sven raised a hand, signaling them to stay back.

"Shut the fuck up, you fucking maggots!"

Sven roared angrily at the newcomers.

"Don’t you dare interfere in my fight. It would be a damn shame not to finish off this dwarf’s creation," Sven snapped sharply, struggling to his feet. His synchro aura flickered weakly, nearly dissipating.

"See, he’s delusional! Once the tiger finishes with him, it will come after us. Please, take care of him!" John and Brennan pleaded in unison, clearly more concerned about their own safety than the man they had clung to like leeches.

Ignoring the pathetic duo; Xin Hua, Nova, and Frank pretended they hadn’t heard them.

Despite Sven’s threats, Nova took a step forward but was halted by Xin Hua, who grabbed his jacket. "Ah?"

"He said it’s none of our business, Nova Hawk," Xin Hua explained, her expression serious.

"You’ve got to be kidding. At this rate, he’s going to get killed," Nova insisted, trying to move forward, but Xin Hua wouldn’t release her grip. "Xin Hua, this isn’t funny," he said, frustration evident in his voice.

"It shouldn’t be funny. This is a one-on-one fight. If you interfere, you’ll undermine Sven Wagner’s pride as a warrior," Xin Hua said firmly, pulling Nova back and positioning herself in front of him.

"We can’t interfere while he’s still conscious," she emphasized with a stern tone.

Nova began to understand Xin Hua's reasoning. Although it seemed foolish to let the tiger inflict more damage on Sven, he understood the importance of a warrior’s pride from his training with the Alpha. Nonetheless, he struggled with the notion of allowing someone to suffer for the sake of honor.

"Alright," Nova said with a hint of annoyance, lowering his weapon and joining Xin Hua and Frank in watching the fight.

"Well, at least if the tiger kills Mr. Sven, these two will protect us," Brennan whispered to John, who nodded with a relieved, mischievous grin.

As no one intervened, Sven managed a smile. The tiger, deterred by Sven’s imposing presence despite his dire condition, had yet to attack. Cornered prey was often more dangerous.

"Sven Wagner," Xin Hua’s voice cut through Sven’s concentration.

"What?" Sven snapped, his composure slipping.

"The Ice Tiger has an ability that drains energy with every bare-fisted strike. This fight is far from fair," Xin Hua said with a stern tone, as if she were a referee.

"Oh? What does that matter?" Sven replied, both confused and annoyed at being interrupted in the midst of his battle.

"If it’s a fight between warriors, it should at least be as balanced as possible. What weapon will you use?" Xin Hua asked, dropping the leather bag of weapons she had taken from the second floor display.

Most of the weapons were slashing types, which, while not ideal against ice, were practical and easy to carry.

However, when Sven’s eyes fell upon a particular weapon, they lit up and a smile spread across his face.

"Haha, I think taking down that dwarf will be a breeze now... Toss me that katana."

An aura of renewed confidence emanated from Sven. It was as if seeing the weapon had restored his strength and resolve.