'So this is what titles do'
keep his expression calm while examining the new title.
[Skull Crusher.]
It seems the Hero has a fascination with crushing skulls. As a result, any attack, regardless of type, will have its Strength increased by 40% if it strikes an enemy's head.
This meant his punches to the head would now be even more devastating.
'System, I got this title because I kept smashing my enemies' heads, right?'
[Correct.]
'Then what's the difference between a title and a skill?'
He had been punching constantly, which resulted in earning the skill Knockout Mastery.
[skills]
Knockout Mastery – Level 1
Increases Strength by 1% when the hero uses punch-type attacks.
[The difference between skills and titles:]
[Skills can be leveled up, while titles are fixed.]
[A skill cannot be acquired at a high level initially, unlike a title, which is granted after the hero becomes proficient in a specific action.]
[The hero did not receive the title 'Skull Crusher' until he had truly earned it.]
[Similarly, the skill 'Knockout Mastery' didn't appear until the hero surpassed Level 0 in punching.]
'Wait, what about attacking? I've been attacking consistently, so why haven't I received an attack skill?'
[Attacking is a general action, whereas a skill is something specialized.]
The distinction was evident but still a foggy concept that wouldn't clear up until Vio delved deeper into the subject.
'Alright, let's take things one step at a time.'
Vio indulged in his favorite pastime—looting corpses—to add to his stash of transparent stones.
A faint buzzing occupied his mind.
'What now?'
[Mission: 'Conquer Death']
Type: Permanent
Requirements: Surpass Level 1.
Restrictions: None.
Description:
The worlds have witnessed countless heroes—who overcame challenges without surrendering or succumbing to defeat. But now, the era no longer craves their kind. Instead, it demands heroes capable of surpassing the impossible.
Objective:
Simple. Save yourself from certain death.
Optional Rewards for Mission Completion:
Mind Chest, Save Chest, Points Chest, Resources Chest, Currency Chest, or XP Chest.
Penalty for Failure: The hero will be already dead. What punishment remains after that?
'What are these chests?'
[The hero must discover them for himself.]
'Man, where was this mission when I was already saving myself earlier?'
Unable to vent his frustration, he let out a deep sigh and pushed himself up from the ground, observing the soldiers' clothing.
He tried his best to mimic their attire.
'I think this will do.'
He wasn't satisfied with their choice of clothing. It wasn't lined, despite their living atop cold mountain peaks, and was overly flamboyant for soldiers.
'Man, what's with all these feathers?'
The soldiers wore cloaks draped over their shoulders, extending down to their waists, made from massive white feathers, each the size of Vio's forearm.
'Are the birds in this world gigantic?'
Something he had previously ignored now caught his attention.
"What is that thing?" Vio muttered, curiosity drawing him closer.
The soldiers were gathered around a peculiar object: an ice cube set atop a wider wooden base. On top of the cube rested the thigh of a bird Vio couldn't identify.
Frost formed on the thigh, forcing it to release steam as though on fire. The frost then melted into water, trickling down the edges of the ice cube and pooling at the base, which, for some reason, never overflowed.
'Is this how they cook their food? Haven't they discovered fire? Well, not that fire is more advanced than this, but still...'
[The system advises the hero to consume the item.]
'What? Why? I'm not hungry. Wait, I'm a cyborg now. Do I even need to eat?'
[The hero's body still contains organic components that require nutrients and water.]
Vio felt his new body was more of a burden than anything else. He needed to monitor EP, HP, and many other factors.
'So, how many meals do I need per day?'
[The item will suffice for two days, along with a cup of water daily.]
He grabbed the thigh and bit into it.
'Not bad, not like I care.'
He decided to continue onward, following the system's guidance while contemplating how to allocate his remaining points after tossing aside the bone.
[Stats]
Strength: 16
Stamina: 11
Agility: 16
Intelligence: 11
Perception: 11
Endurance: 7
(Available points to distribute: 9)
His decision remained unchanged regarding Stamina, Endurance, and Intelligence.
This left him torn between Perception, Strength, and Agility.
The effect of increased Strength was clear—it allowed him to finish off enemies with a single strike. However, focusing too much on one attribute would inevitably result in imbalance.
A question that had previously crossed his mind, Why wasn't Agility simply called Speed? He realized the answer during the fight. Agility encompassed flexibility, while speed alone did not.
Take the leader, for instance. He was fast, capable of closing the distance to Vio with a single leap. However, his turns failed to align with his momentum—an issue stemming from a lack of flexibility. Agility enabled one to dodge and attack regardless of an awkward stance.
As for Perception, it was the reason Vio had detected the soldiers before they noticed him. In fact, he had been ahead of them by a second or two. If his Perception had been higher, he could have sensed them even earlier. It had also allowed him to notice the horn, preventing the soldiers from summoning reinforcements.
'I'm really torn. What do I need most right now?'
The terrain began to shift slightly as the snow dunes became less dominant. Though still present, they no longer completely dominated the landscape. It was a clear sign that Vio was descending.
He came across a few dilapidated stairs, followed by some sharp bends and other challenges posed by the mountainous terrain.
Eventually, Vio steps were forced to stop when distant voices reached his ears.
Cautiously, he moved toward the sound, finding a high rock he could hide behind to take a closer look.
'Another camp.'
This wasn't just any camp—it was large, with about ten tents spread along the slope. Soldiers moved freely, some playing in one area while others trained elsewhere.
[Discrepancy detected with the external data image.]
Vio frowned and scanned the area again. He found no sign of any side paths, and there certainly hadn't been one on his way. It was impossible that the robot had missed this route while climbing.
'Can you remove the tents and compare the scene with your data?'
[Command is being executed...]
Relief washed over him when the system didn't repel as usual. No matter how much he thought understood the system, something would always happen to remind him that he didn't fully grasp it.
'Is it really just programmed for specific tasks, or is this part of the old man's whims?'
[Analysis complete. Match detected. The tents were not there previously.]
This was bad news. In other words, these soldiers were roving, not stationary. They could appear anywhere, anytime, and if necessary, they could hunt him down.
Taking a deep breath, Vio adjusted his clothes and confidently strode into the camp.
"Haha," laughed a soldier sitting beside his tent.
"You don't believe me! I swear I felt The Jinn," said the soldier next to him, clearly irritated by his companion's mockery.
"Alright, alright, I get it. Now stop saying that unless you want the Nafith to show up," the first soldier said, trying to stop him.
The second soldier shivered at the mere mention of the Nafith and quickly clamped his mouth shut.
As Vio moved deeper into the camp, their voices faded behind him.
Information was present beside him, yet Vio couldn't grasp any of it. As someone who valued information greatly, he found this feeling deeply unpleasant.
Vio kept his eyes low, avoiding walking too close to anyone in hopes that no one would focus on him. Attention or suspicion could end him, especially since he was surrounded by about thirteen soldiers.
'If one of them has the strength of the leader from before, I'm done for.'
His goal was to get past the camp, but at the far end, four soldiers sat, effectively blocking the way.
Vio hesitated, catching sight of a partially obscured area off to the side that wasn't sealed off by the high rocks.
'What's over there?'
The thick fog made it impossible to see anything clearly.
"You! What are you doing there?" a high-ranking soldier called out, snapping Vio out of his thoughts.
As soon as the soldier addressed him, all eyes turned toward Vio—front and back. Any mistake would be impossible to overcome now.
Pulling himself together, Vio approached the seated soldier.
"I don't recognize you. Show me your insignia and state your current position," the soldier demanded.
Vio studied the soldier's face, recalling the same words spoken by the leader earlier. Of course, he didn't understand their full meaning, but why were the same words being repeated every time someone spoke to him?
'They're soldiers. Either they're suspicious and draw their swords, or they ask for your identity.'
Checking himself, he found something that might serve as a solution. Vio produced the insignia he had taken from one of the corpses.
The soldier took it, inspecting it carefully. After a moment, he nodded and handed it back to Vio.
'What now?'
"What's your purpose—" the soldier began, but his question was cut off by a loud sound.
"Voooooo!"
The sound of a horn blaring for an alarm. Every soldier dropped what they were doing and stood up.
"Rats! There are rats!" yelled the leader standing near Vio, charging toward the front of the camp.
In the chaos that overtook the camp, Vio's attention locked onto a mission that appeared in front of him, one that carried a notable change.
[Mission #1: 'The Hero Must Survive']
Type: Story Mission
Requirements: Activate story mode.
Restrictions: One week.
Description:
The hero awakens to find himself in a hostile place. Since the hero is still weak and pathetic, he must do what pathetic people do: run away.
Objective:
Save your skin boy—or should I say, save your metal.
Rewards for Mission Completion:
100 EXP
22 Plastic
20 Metal
5 Steel
Item: The Unseen Eye That Sees All.
Side Missions and Their Rewards:
1 point for every life taken by the hero.
Earn a special weapon if no alarm is triggered.
1 EXP for every 1% of battery recharged.
Penalty for Failure: Moderate punishment: The hero will see what he does not wish to see.
'Shit, special weapon is gone now'
He really wanted to know what it was, but now wasn't the time to dwell on such things. There was a much bigger problem at hand.