Another copper skeleton exploded into several parts after being hit by my arrows in the blink of an eye. I smiled when I saw a piece of copper and a mana core side by side in the next moment. Not having to process the bodies of the monsters was quite satisfying, but it was even more satisfying to see the monsters being killed so fast.

‘If I only could see the damage caused by numbers and then having a pet to attack after every single shot, then my nostalgia would come at full force.’

I played a game with the archer class in the past and doing that was always relaxing… even though I spent hours and hours hunting monsters, most of the time solo, just like now.

I guessed that around a day had passed since I got in the labyrinth and I was about to reach the second boss chamber. I probably could reach the third boss after another day. I could run, but that would limit the number of copper pieces I would get. It was better to take it easy for a while and enjoy the labyrinth for myself.

While I was walking, I wondered how I could use Hawk’s Vision… before, I used some conclave lenses to create binocles and similar things, but with that skill, I probably could make a scroll and attack on something and then make it a lot more powerful.

‘No one had this idea before? Probably because mages, enchanters and those who make scrolls usually won’t get this kind of class and skill in their lifetime.’

I wondered how I could make an amulet with that kind of effect… I probably will have to make the amulet first to see. With some luck, my eyes will automatically get improved while it has a mana core. If that isn’t possible, I will have to make some adjustments.

The amount of copper pieces was starting to accumulate in my magic bags. It would be a good idea to make some useful items, but even with the Smith and Weaponsmith class, the amount of things I could do was limited. I also just had basic knowledge when it comes to forging things.

‘I suppose I need to get used to it… better start sooner than later.’

I might not have someone to help me, but I was skilled enough to pull out a lot of things with my high dexterity. It reached a point where my speed with the bow was quite insane… Thanks to my Dexterity, I could easily pick an arrow, nock, aim and then fire in less than half a second.

I suppose I should test that joke skill that I created as well, against the boss it will be a good practice. Not like defeating the second boss of a place like this would be a real accomplishment, even if I do it in record time.

‘My dexterity increased, but it isn’t to the point that I can control a lot of things aside from physical actions. Perhaps if I increase my magic, controlling my mana will come easier than well.’

While I was thinking about that, I reached the boss chamber, or at least the entrance of the place. There were no grand door or impressive designs around. It was just a staircase.

Speaking of which, that made me wonder. The labyrinth had such a thing, but there was no natural guardian defending the place… unless that weird kraken was really the final guardian, and that asshole managed to control a monster like that somehow.

Still, we got our classes when that moron died, not when the kraken died, so I still had a lot of questions in my head. In any case, I began to climb the stairs, wondering what kind of enchantments I could use to make the amulets made of copper last longer. The skeletons didn’t use any magic, after all.

Considering their nature, they probably would come in handy with debuffs or poison. I had no idea how to use them offensively like that, though. Another thing that I would have to test soon enough.

Eventually, I reached the boss chamber and then I saw a creature there sitting on the ground. The creature got up and then showed a towering figure of menace and raw power, standing nearly 10 feet tall with a frame that exuded a battle-worn presence. Its body was forged entirely of copper, its surface tarnished with streaks of verdigris that creep over its joints and edges, adding to its eerie, timeworn appearance. Its jagged bones were unnaturally thick, fused in places to resemble crude armor plating, while its ribcage houses a fiery, molten core that glows faintly through the cracks.

The skull is elongated, cracked, and filled with fissures that glow with molten light, while its hollow eye sockets radiate a fiery brilliance that seems to pierce into the soul of any who dare meet its gaze.

In its massive hands, it wields a colossal copper halberd, the blade chipped and worn from countless battles, yet retaining its deadly sharpness. Despite its hulking size, the Copper Skeleton moved with alarming dexterity and precision, its heavy footfalls resonating like hammer strikes against an anvil. Jagged spines protrude from its back, giving it a silhouette of predatory menace, and its clawed fingers gleam with a sharpness that suggests they could tear through steel.

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The creature assumed a fighting stance, but I didn’t wait for it. I just tossed ten silver arrows above me and then began to grab and shot them as they came toward the monster. I saw three of them flying in the air and following the same route… the second and third flew faster than before, probably because the first arrow opened the path with its speed and pushed away the air.

The beast moved its halberd and blocked the first arrow, but soon the weapon was blasted away to the side and the monster was also pushed away… I forgot about it, but somehow the skeleton was an undead creature too, so of course silver arrows would cause more damage. They were still burning my hands, after all.

The second arrow hit the head of the monster, and so did the third, the fourth, and the fifth. The sixth didn’t since the head of the monster exploded… at least I confirmed that I could use my silly technique without using any real skills. It was almost as good as Rapid Fire, and it didn’t consume energy.

You received 600 experience points.

You completed a trial. Please choose between the classes: Sorcerer (Blood Mage), Viking, and Acolyte (Dark Acolyte).

My heart began to beat faster when I realized that two of my options were making me turn to the dark side more and more. The chances of all three classes being of my vampire side were a bit more than three percent, but knowing my luck, it was bound to happen several times. In any case, I made my choice since even though it wouldn’t increase my main parameters, it would unlock a very important one.

You obtained the Viking class.

You unlocked the Health Regeneration parameter.

You unlocked the Aptitude: Warrior’s Endurance.

You unlocked the skill: Battle Cry.

You unlocked the skill: Ax Throw.

WARRIOR'S ENDURANCE - GAIN 1 POINT OF EXPERIENCE PER SUCCESSFUL BLOCK OR HIT DEALT WITH MELEE WEAPONS.

BATTLE CRY: LET OUT A FIERCE BATTLE CRY THAT INCREASES YOUR ATTACK POWER BY 20% AND REDUCES INCOMING DAMAGE BY 15% FOR 15 SECONDS. ALLIES WITHIN EARSHOT GAIN HALF OF THE BONUSES. COST: 30 STAMINA

Ax Throw: Hurl an ax at an enemy, dealing damage equal to your strength and dexterity. The thrown ax has a chance to stagger or knock down the target. Cost: 25 Stamina

I finally could improve my health regeneration, now I could take some more risks even when I don’t have enough mana to use Dread Enchantment. In any case, I felt the changes in my body… I assumed that nothing would happen, but as I began to increase my health regeneration, I began to feel my body getting hotter and then my hunger began to increase. I stopped and then it got a lot weaker, but it was still there. My body cooled down as well…

‘What the heck is going on?’

I stopped to think for a moment and find an explanation. Increasing the health regeneration of a vampire probably can make them feel hungry because their healing process would consume more energy and resources, primarily derived from their primary sustenance: blood. I wasn’t a total vampire, but I was starting to awaken some traits… even though I wasn’t injured, the healing effect still began to affect my body somehow.

Health regeneration involves repairing damaged tissues, replenishing blood cells, and revitalizing the body. For vampires, blood is the primary source of energy and fuel for these processes. Enhanced regeneration would accelerate these biological activities, increasing the demand for blood. That made sense… and that made me realize that I was in a bind. It wasn’t all…

If a vampire’s health regeneration is heightened, their metabolism would likely speed up to support the process. A faster metabolism would deplete their stored energy reserves more quickly, making them feel hungry to replenish what has been consumed. I could only assume that my metabolism had been enhanced, even though I was supposed to be a half undead.

‘I guess I will have to eat a lot more meat to avoid getting thirsty for blood. The idea of seeing other people as a snack or an ingredient of a juice really makes me shiver.’

I should try to find solutions for this problem… Many other types of solutions for my problems come from my vampiric heritage, but they aren’t as simple as inventing sunscreen in this world, since even inside a dungeon, my stats decrease during the day.

It was almost like I was hated by the day and was slowly being embraced by the night, but that embrace made my skin crawl. Being hated for not doing anything vampire-like was also pretty annoying, but I knew it better than wasting time doing things that wouldn’t help me like hating anything.

I let out a sigh and then decided to head to the next section of the labyrinth. Nothing good would come from thinking of ideas with my current mood.