The soft glow of the sun began to dim as the days turned into weeks. A rhythm emerged from the darkness, and Alex found himself wrapped in a routine that had the familiarity of his well-worn cloak. It was a pattern carved from the challenging tasks of hunting and harvesting monster parts, tasks that, despite their danger, became points of stability in his life. Each beast defeated, each part harvested, lent a sense of accomplishment, quantifiable proof of progress in the form of points. It represented its total progress toward reaching the second floor.

Alex found solace within the rustic charm of a local inn. It was a humble abode, no different from the many others in the town, but it served as a sanctuary for him. A room to rest his body, a place with the warmth of a fire, and a table laden with food to fill his aching stomach. Morning and evening, he would partake in the simple meals prepared by the innkeeper, a man of few words but vast culinary talents. At night, he would retreat into the comforting embrace of sleep, recharging for the next day's battles.

His days weren’t just filled with hunting, though. Alex had begun to master his unique skill: echolocation. It was a sensory ability that he found himself relying on more and more, not just for its initial use but as a versatile tool that, when combined with his pair of daggers, transformed him into a ranged predator. His confidence grew with each successful strike, and as he faced easier targets, his curiosity led him to experiment with other possible applications for his skills.

Deep within the heart of the forest, where the shroud of night rendered everything invisible, Alex was still at home. He would emit an electric pulse, completely inaudible to the creatures of the forest. It was a silent call, traveling through the darkness, bouncing off objects, and returning to him as a myriad of signals. These signals would form a complex map in his mind, giving a detailed representation of the environment around him. Every tree, every rock, every scurrying creature, painted in his mind's eye with an unseen brush. It was a skill he had homed in the darkness of the Gavros caves, where he battled monstrous beasts with nothing but his skill and courage. The darkness was no longer a hindrance, but a facilitator, allowing him to extend his hunting hours into the night.

He also discovered that he could tune into the natural electric fields of the living beings around him. Each creature's heartbeats, muscle twitches, and nervous system pulses created distinct patterns. By sensing these electric signals, he could determine their emotional state - whether they were calm, agitated, or even aware of his presence. This helped him further his search for creatures, even those that tried to hide.

In a moment of introspection, Alex recognized that what he had once referred to as 'mage sight' was, in fact, an inferior version of his echolocation ability. By reducing the input from his other senses, he could concentrate more on the electrical signals, both from himself and his surroundings. He became an observer, tracking the movements of other beings and the electrical impulses emanating from their brains. The language of these signals was still an enigma to him, but he began to notice patterns. When he provoked or scared them, certain signals would spike, rising prominently above the rest. This discovery opened up a world of possibilities for Alex, further deepening his understanding of his abilities and the world around him.

During his time in the forest, he found himself hunting sneakier creatures. Large chameleon-like creatures waited in trees using their abilities to mask their presence. They even shaped themselves into other objects so Alex would not notice them immediately. With the evolution of his powers, however, he could sense them sooner and faster. The normally docile creatures became vicious when provoked by Alex.

When Alex started fighting the monsters he was able to see their full forms behind their color-shifting scales. The chameleons had grown larger with longer and stronger legs and tails that could be used to grab more firmly and hang from respectively. Alex was quick to attack, and his knives glanced off their hardened scales.

Alex knew he had to adapt his strategy. These creatures had scales that were akin to armor, but they were not invincible.

Focusing on his echolocation, he sent out a higher-frequency pulse. This allowed him to see the more delicate and vulnerable parts of the chameleons. He noticed their underbellies, softer and more susceptible to his blades. He also saw the joints where the scales met, tiny weaknesses in their formidable defenses.

One of the creatures lunged, its massive jaw open, ready to take a bite. Alex twisted, narrowly avoiding the gaping maw. His blade flashed in the darkness, slicing the tender flesh of the beast's underbelly. The chameleon shrieked, recoiling in surprise and pain.

Another creature moved, its color shifting with the forest background. But Alex was already one step ahead. He could sense the electric signals of its muscles twitching, preparing to strike. He sidestepped and plunged his other dagger into the creature's side, hitting a vital spot.

Alex kept himself calm and worked through the motions he had practiced and honed even on these new enemies. His body was a blur, each step calculated, each strike precise. He danced with the chameleons, his blades becoming an extension of his arms, and his powers, an extension of his senses.

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Despite their camouflage and size, the creatures were quickly losing ground. Alex's ability to read their electrical signals made their surprise attacks useless. He sensed every muscle twitch, every heartbeat, every rise in their agitation. He was no longer just a man in a forest full of monsters. He was the predator, and they were his prey.

A third chameleon lunged at him from the side. Alex spun around, his blade finding its way into the joint of the creature's scales. It hissed in pain and surprise, but Alex had already moved on to the next target. One by one, they fell.

He targeted their weak points and pushed his arms to dig his knives into the openings he made. Alex harvested them for points as he had done for every other monster he had slain. Their outer coating of scales was especially valuable he realized at the armorer. Their scales could be gathered and grafted onto the outside of specially-made armor and enchanted to regain some of their camouflage properties. Those on the ranger path found them to be especially valuable because, on the first floor, many Rangers had weak stealth capabilities that were better trained with the scales’ abilities.

In the course of his routine practices, Alex began to unfold the impressive scope of his special skills. He found that he had the power to tamper with the electrical signals of other beings, causing interference in their normal operations. A significant event that stood out was when he ingeniously caused chaos within an approaching collection of insects that were sensitive to electrical impulses. By releasing a series of complex electrical pulses, he managed to sow confusion among the swarm. This forced the insects to disperse in all directions, effectively providing Alex with a safe path through what would have been a threatening horde.

Over time, Alex honed this method and eventually devised a new kind of attack spell, which he fittingly named 'Disruption.' When engaging in combat with various creatures, he kept one hand free. With this hand, he would touch the creature he was fighting. After activating his mana, or life force, Alex would concentrate on manipulating the electrical signals that he could detect through his special ability he referred to as 'electricity sight.'

The outcome of his spell was not always the same. It varied greatly and was heavily influenced by how intensely he used it and the nature of the creature it was used against. If Alex was not swift in applying his spell, the effect on the creature was less potent. This led the creature to thrash about violently until he lifted his hand. However, if he was quick in using his spell or if it was used on smaller creatures, they often became immobile, swiftly dropping to the ground.

Throughout all these encounters, Alex consistently observed the changes that took place in the bodies of the creatures. In most cases, their legs would become stiff, and there was a high likelihood that their hearts would stop working shortly after. They could not recover from these effects. With this powerful technique at his disposal, Alex became even more efficient at dealing with the creatures he came across.

One surprising benefit of his abilities was his capacity for electromagnetic echolocation, which allowed him to locate water. Water conducts electricity in a way that is different from air or earth, and he noticed minor changes in the return signals when water was close by. This skill was invaluable for survival. It ensured that Alex never ran out of fresh water, even when he was deep in the thick forest.

With a reliable source of fresh water, Alex found himself spending more of his time in the wilderness, away from the village. He decided to get some camping gear and found a small cave that he could use as a shelter. His trips to the village became less frequent. The trips were mostly to drop off resources every couple of days. For his meals, Alex decided to cook the less valuable parts of the meat, while the remaining portions were taken to the village. This contributed to an ever-growing pile of points in his inventory.

Alex checked on his total on occasion calculating what he would need for the second floor. First, he needed an upgrade to his daggers. While he had replaced his armor his daggers weren’t given that treatment yet. His level 10 bone daggers still did the trick on the first floor but wouldn’t for much longer.

Alex had from his inception in the Tower had the abilities of a lightning mage. However, this power was not without its limitations. Unlike the effortless flow of electrons through a copper wire or the wild, reckless abandon of a lightning storm, Alex's gift was not self-generating. He couldn't conjure up electricity from anything. His powers were not like a clear and endless river but more akin to a reservoir. Once the reserve was depleted, he was left defenseless and powerless, and his reservoir was extremely small. This reality was a constant reminder that he was tethered to the finite, to the mundane, and it often left him feeling frustrated and limited.

This predicament left him to seek an alternative, a way to augment his abilities. The solution, he found, lay in the construction of a battery, a device capable of storing electrical energy for him to harness at will. It was not just a want, but a need. It was the key to unlocking the full potential of his power, increasing the magnitude of his attacks, and ensuring his survival.

The second floor was a challenging territory, a proving ground where his current abilities would be tested and found wanting. Without a battery, his stay there would be ephemeral. His ability to manipulate electricity, though impressive, would not suffice in this new environment. He would be like a starved lion in a jungle full of well-fed beasts, desperate and vulnerable.

Alex knew he needed more than just a battery. He needed a generator as well – a source from which he could draw electricity continuously. He yearned for a perpetual engine, a device that could keep him powered up, ensuring his reservoir was never depleted. It wasn't just about survival anymore. It was about thriving in a world that didn't fully understand him or his abilities.

The struggle was real and daunting. Every day, he found himself staring at the blueprints of a device that was his only hope for survival. The complexity of the task was not lost on him. Building a generator was not as simple as piecing together Lego blocks. It required knowledge, patience, and resources that were scarce. He needed the skills of a crafter.