After unlocking the Character Panel and seeing the breakdown of his attributes and skills, David couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment. Yet, the excitement was quickly tempered by the realization of how much further he had to go. His journey had just begun, and the path ahead was fraught with challenges.

He turned his attention back to the panel, focusing on the skills listed there. Sword Mastery and Earth Affinity caught his eye immediately. He remembered the powerful swings of his Dragon's Fang, the way it cut through enemies with increasing ease. The Sword Mastery skill had definitely been a game-changer. However, as much as he wanted to continue improving this skill, something nagged at him—the fact that he hadn't purchase them from the system shop.

David navigated to the system store and searched for Sword Mastery and Earth Affinity under the available items and skills. He hoped to find a way to upgrade them directly, but to his frustration, neither skill was available for purchase. The system seemed selective about what could be bought, leaving him with more questions than answers. Some items, like basic potions, were easy to acquire. Yet, the most items and other physical items seemed to be behind some invisible barrier, .

David experimented for a bit, trying to figure out what was availavle and what wasn't. After an hour of scrolling and attempting different search terms, he concluded that the system operated on a mysterious set of rules—rules he was far from understanding. He could only hope to uncover more as he continued his journey.

With a sigh, David decided to take a break. He was mentally exhausted from trying to crack the system's code, and the recent battles had taken a toll on his body. However, one thing was clear: he needed to better understand what the store had to offer. His current gear was decent, but if he was going to face tougher opponents, he would need to upgrade his equipment.

Determined, he spent the entire day scrolling through the store’s shop, cataloging what was available. The experience reminded him of idle scrolling on e-commerce sites back home, browsing through items he couldn’t afford. Most of the products in the system store were far out of his price range, including system add-ons, ability upgrades, status enhancements and more.

But then he came across something that caught his attention—physical items that could be bought, albeit in limited quantities. There was a small selection of food items, firearms, and even a rocket launcher. David couldn’t help but chuckle at the absurdity of it. A rocket launcher in a world filled with magic and monsters? It was both ridiculous and oddly comforting to know he had access to such firepower, though the point cost was astronomical.

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However, to his dismay, there were no traditional weapons like swords, wands, or armor available. The system seemed to focus more on his growth through experience rather than simply allowing him to purchase power. That realization both frustrated and intrigued him.

As he continued scrolling, something else caught his eye—every item he had synthesized so far was also available in the store. The Dragon's Fang, the Shadow Cloak— were listed with their respective names. It seemed the system recognized and cataloged every item he made, which made things more convenient but also more unsettling. The system knew too much about him.

The thought of the system’s origins began to gnaw at David’s mind. Who had created it? What was its purpose? The memory of the entity he had seen before reincarnation—the creator of the system—flashed through his thoughts. He couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something sinister behind it all. What if the system was leading him down a path he wasn’t meant to take? and why was he reincarnated in the first place? What if it was all part of some grand, twisted design?

Dark and disturbing scenarios played out in his mind. The system could be manipulating him, using him as a pawn in some larger scheme. What if every choice he made, every point he spent, was feeding into something far more dangerous? The thought sent chills down his spine, but he quickly pushed it aside. He couldn’t afford to lose focus.

David decided then and there that he wouldn’t rely solely on the system. He would use it to his advantage, yes, but he would also seek out other means of growing stronger. The world was full of resources, and he needed to learn how to exploit them. If the system was a tool, then it was up to him to wield it wisely.

With that in mind, he left the mansion and made his way to the courtyard, where the Millennial Nightshades were growing. The dark, mysterious plants had been maturing slowly, and David was eager to see if there were any changes. He used his Item Identification skill on the plants, but the information provided was minimal. The most useful tidbit was that their maturity period ranged from three to seven weeks.

The thought of these powerful plants reaching full maturity filled David with determination. He had originally planned to exchange them for points, but now he was considering using them for his own consumption. They could offer him a significant boost, something he desperately needed. But with that power came risk, and David knew he couldn’t put all his eggs in one basket.

The decision was made: he would allow the plants to mature and use them to strengthen himself rather than trading them in. It was a gamble, but one he was willing to take. As he stood in the courtyard, surrounded by the ominous Millennial Nightshades, David felt a renewed sense of purpose. He wouldn’t just survive in this world—he would thrive, using every resource at his disposal.

And if the system had other plans for him, he would be ready.