ℭ𝔥𝔞𝔭𝔱𝔢𝔯 𝟟: 𝔏𝔢𝔰𝔰𝔢𝔯 𝔖𝔱𝔞𝔪𝔦𝔫𝔞 𝔉𝔯𝔲𝔦𝔱 ⓇⒺⓋⒶⓂⓅⒺⒹ

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Jay moved cautiously, heading westward through the dense undergrowth, each step taken with deliberate care. Every rustle of leaves or snap of a twig sharpened his senses, keeping him attuned to the unseen dangers that might be lurking in the shadows.

As he continued his trek, his eyes darted across the landscape, seeking any signs of sustenance. The trees, tall and imposing, their leaves forming a dense canopy that allowed only a soft, greenish glow to filter through.

The air was thick with the scent of earth and vegetation, a reminder of the wild environment he was navigating.

After covering a considerable distance, something unusual caught his attention—a tree that defied the uniformity of its surroundings. Standing about three meters tall, it was dwarfed by the towering giants around it, yet its appearance was undeniably striking.

The tree resembled a peach tree in bloom, but its foliage was not the gentle pink one might expect. Instead, its leaves were a vivid red, a startling splash of color amidst the muted greens and browns of the forest.

With its unusual coloring and relatively small stature, the tree stood out like a vibrant splash of color on a dull landscape. Yet, what truly captured his attention wasn’t the tree itself but the fruits dangling from its branches.

Bright-red and plump, they shimmered in the dappled light, their surface glistening as if freshly washed by morning dew. They looked impossibly juicy and ripe, their allure undeniable.

His stomach tightened, a gnawing reminder of the hunger that had been his constant companion. But with hunger came caution. In this unfamiliar world, appearances could be deceiving, and he knew better than to trust the tempting allure of the unknown. The fruits might offer sustenance, or they could harbor something far more dangerous.

With a focused mind, he activated║Inspect║, hoping it would offer clarity on whether these fruits were a blessing or a potential threat.

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﴾║Lesser Stamina Fruit║⧼Common Grade⧽ ﴿

Type: Consumable

A small, glossy fruit with a bright, inviting appearance, often nestled within thick vegetation. The fruit's smooth skin emits a faint, refreshing aroma, and its flesh is both tender and juicy, offering a sweet and tangy taste.

* Upon consumption, restores 25 Stamina.

* Highly valued for its quick energy replenishment, making it essential for long journeys and intense physical exertion.

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The discovery of a food source sparked a quiet satisfaction within him. Those fruits, with their vibrant hues and smooth skins, promised not just nourishment but the added benefit of stamina restoration—an invaluable find.

The only thing tempering his excitement was the presence of a cave nearby, its dark entrance nestled too close to the red tree for comfort.

He approached the cave with measured caution, each step felt heavier than the last, the air around him thick with an unsettling tension.

Faint clicking noises reached his ears, distant at first but becoming more defined as he closed the distance. The sounds were peculiar, but he didn’t let them unnerve him.

The clicking carried an odd rhythm, and the occasional hiss that accompanied it hinted at something within the cave, something unknown.

A sense of unease settled over him, not quite fear but a heightened awareness of potential danger. He could feel the weight of the unknown pressing in. Part of him considered turning back, leaving the cave and the strange noises behind. But another part recognized the importance of the fruits—and the opportunity they represented.

Sustenance was crucial, and the stamina boost could prove vital in the days ahead. The sounds from the cave were unsettling, but not enough to deter him. There was a necessity in pressing forward, a determination to claim what could be an essential resource, despite the unease lingering in the air.

As he stood at the cave's threshold, weighing his options, a sudden movement caught his attention. From the shadows, creatures began to emerge in droves, their numerous legs scuttling across the ground with eerie precision.

They resembled spiders, a species he had always detested, but these were unlike any he had ever seen before. Their legs were unnervingly sharp, almost blade-like, and each one of them was the size of a large dog.

It was a sight that could unravel the nerves of even the most seasoned warrior, a nightmare made real by the sheer number of them closing in. Yet, as his eyes took in the advancing horde, the fear that had been gnawing at him moments ago dissipated entirely. It was strange—these creatures, though grotesque and unnerving, didn’t inspire the terror he might have expected. Maybe it was their resemblance to something familiar, or perhaps it was the undeniable fact that he had changed, no longer bound by the limitations of an ordinary human.

The fear of the unknown was gone, replaced by a calm, almost clinical focus. Whatever the reason, he knew that embracing this new version of himself was his only path forward.

With that acceptance came a new resolve. The creatures, though daunting in their numbers and size, were just another challenge to overcome. The smallest among them reached his knees, while the largest stood almost to his waist. There was no room for hesitation. Survival demanded action, he activated║Inspect║, focusing on the most eye-catching of the spiders, intent on gathering any information that might give him an edge.

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﴾ Lv.10║Poisonous Spider║﴿

* A member of a lesser race within the Arachnid species, they are known for their venomous bite and formidable physical traits.

* As the Spider Matriarch, this creature commands its brood with primal instincts, making it a relentless predator. Its venom, delivered through dagger-like fangs, can paralyze or kill smaller prey.

* The Matriarch's robust exoskeleton offers protection against physical attacks, while its agile legs allow for swift, unpredictable movement. Despite its lower rank in the arachnid hierarchy, this creature is a dangerous foe, driven by a fierce survival instinct.

║SKILLS║

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Due to the low Skill level of║Inspect║, the information gathered was sparse, but it was enough to give him a sense of the situation. The spider before him, a hulking creature among its kind, was clearly the leader—the Spider Matriarch. Its eerie, skin-crawling purring sound echoed through the cave, and the entire swarm of poisonous spiders responded instantly, rushing towards him as if driven by a primal hatred.

Reacting swiftly, he channeled the Cyan-colored Sword Aura into the Rusty Short Sword, the blade shimmering with lethality. The front line of spiders launched themselves at him with terrifying speed, their movements blurring as they closed the distance.

Their sharp, blade-like legs and venomous fangs aimed directly for him. He realized immediately that there was no time to swing at each attacker individually; their numbers and speed made that impossible.

But as the confrontation unfolded, he adapted to the onslaught. Rather than attempting to strike each spider with a swing of his sword, he realized that all he needed to do was hold his ground and position the Aura-coated blade in their path.

With their trajectory set, the spiders couldn’t change course in time. They impaled themselves on the blade, their bodies slicing cleanly as they met the Aura’s sharp edge. One by one, they fell, their severed forms dropping lifelessly to the ground, scattering like leaves caught in a gust of wind.

While the Rusty Short Sword proved to be an efficient weapon, the Kitchen Knife in his left hand was a different story. It wasn’t a Spirit Weapon, and without the ability to channel Aura into it, the knife could only serve as a defensive tool, deflecting the spiders rather than cutting through them.

Jay wielded it out of necessity, parrying the attacks that slipped past his sword, but its limitations were clear. Attempting to infuse the knife with Aura would have caused it to shatter, rendering it useless in the heat of struggle.

As the fight progressed, he found his rhythm. The swarm’s relentless assault began to falter as more and more of the spiders fell to his blade. The unease that had lingered earlier was gone, replaced by a focused determination.

He moved with precision, his strikes calculated and efficient, each one reducing the Spider Matriarch’s forces. What had started as a desperate defense quickly became a controlled offense.

With his Stage-2║Sword Mastery║, every movement of the blade was seamless, a testament to his honed skills. Each swing of the sword flowed effortlessly, precise and efficient, as if he had spent a lifetime mastering the art.

The foot soldier spiders, though numerous, posed little challenge under his practiced hand, especially given that the poisonous spiders attacking him were all Lv.3 and below.

He noticed something peculiar about these creatures—they were weaker than they should have been for their level. Their stats didn’t align with what he expected from a typical Lv.3 entity.

It didn’t take long for him to deduce that these spiders hadn’t fully matured, likely still developing after being birthed by the Lv.10 Poisonous Spider Matriarch.

Individually, the spiders were no match for him, but their true strength lay in their overwhelming numbers. That forced him to remain cautious, unable to go on the full offensive as he had to guard against their venomous bites. He couldn’t afford to be reckless, knowing that one mistake could turn the tide against him.

However, that didn’t mean he was at a disadvantage. With every passing moment, he cut through more of the spiders, his movements steady and controlled.

As he fought, notifications from the System began to flash before his eyes, marking each kill with a brief alert. But these notifications didn’t distract him; the information flowed directly into his mind, allowing him to stay completely focused on the task at hand.

The constant updates were more like background noise, barely noticed as he continued to carve through the swarm.

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﴾ Lv.2 Poisonous Spider Killed ﴿ x 16

﴾ Lv.3 Poisonous Spider Killed ﴿ x 11

﴾ Lv.4 Poisonous Spider Killed ﴿ x 5

﴾ Congratulations! You have reached Lv.2 ﴿

﴾ 5 Undistributed Stats are available ﴿

﴾ Congratulations! You have reached Lv.3 ﴿

﴾ 5 Undistributed Stats are available ﴿

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Everytime he leveled up, he decided to allocate his Undistributed Stats into the Spirit Attribute. With each use of║Sword Aura║, his Spirit Energy drained at a rate of 25 points per minute, making the enhancement of his Spirit Attribute crucial for sustaining his abilities in battle.

However, he knew that adding all 5 Stats at once could momentarily destabilize him, potentially leaving him vulnerable to the poisonous spiders' attacks.

A lapse in defense, however brief, could be fatal, especially with so many enemies surrounding him. To avoid that, he opted for a cautious approach, increasing his Spirit Attribute by 1 Stat every 10 seconds.

As his Spirit Attribute gradually increased, the effects became immediately noticeable. Once the Stats in his Spirit Attribute surpassed 10, a remarkable change occurred.

Jay’s senses sharpened, becoming more acute than ever before. The world around him seemed clearer, more defined, as if a veil had been lifted. The speed at which his thoughts processed accelerated, allowing him to analyze the situation and react with greater precision.

But the most significant improvement was in his perception of time. It felt as though the movements of the poisonous spiders had slowed down, giving him the advantage of reacting quicker to their attacks.

The spiders, which had seemed relentless in their speed and ferocity, appeared slightly sluggish, their every move easier to predict and counter.

The newfound clarity and heightened perception gave him the upper hand. With each increment in his Spirit Attribute, he felt more in control.

After his senses sharpened, the rate at which he killed the spiders increased dramatically. Every strike of his sword became more precise, each movement more calculated.

The battle, once a chaotic flurry of attacks, unfolded before him in slow motion, allowing him to dispatch his foes with newfound efficiency.

Building on that momentum, he decided to add 3 Stats to his Agility Attribute, following the same cautious method he had used with his Spirit Attribute. As his Agility gradually increased, he didn’t feel an immediate boost in speed, but something subtler and more profound occurred.

The control over his body’s muscle movements improved significantly, enhancing his overall balance, flexibility, and reaction speed. Each muscle seemed to respond with greater precision, allowing him to move with fluidity and grace.

As his Agility climbed from 13 to 16, the change wasn’t about raw speed but about the refined control over his actions. His footwork became more stable, his dodges more fluid, and his attacks more synchronized. The newfound balance between his body’s movements and the sword in his hand made every action feel smoother, more natural.

With two Undistributed Stats remaining, he decided to allocate them to his Strength Attribute. The moment he did, a distinct feeling of balance washed over him. Both his Strength and Agility were now at 16, and this symmetry created a unique harmony within his body.

Jay could feel the untapped potential in his muscles, as if his body had been fine-tuned to operate at peak efficiency.

This harmony translated directly into his combat effectiveness. The synchronized power of his muscles and the heightened agility allowed him to move and strike with a level of precision that exceeded anything he had experienced before.

The poisonous spiders, already struggling to keep pace with his enhanced senses, began to fall even faster under the relentless assault of his sword. Each swift strike cut them down with precision, yet this rapid onslaught came at a heavy cost.

The intense expenditure of his Spirit Energy and stamina grew more taxing with every swing, the weight of the battle pressing down on him as he fought to maintain his momentum.

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