"!"
The blood in Nael's veins turned to ice. Every instinct screamed at him to run, to flee, to do anything but stand and face the darkness given form before him.
But his feet felt rooted to the spot, locked in place by a primal fear. The Gloom Predator didn't advance. It simply... observed him from its pool of absolute darkness, its featureless face somehow conveying a sense of cold, analytical hunger. It was as if Nael, the prey, was being studied.
His mind, fueled by a surge of adrenaline and his high Focus, raced through options that didn't exist. Fight? Impossible. Flight? Where? This thing moved through shadows. It was faster than him.
The spear? A toothpick against a tidal wave.
Aetheric Infusion. The cooldown had reset. But would it be useful? NO!
His hand tightened on the haft, the rough grain of the wood the only real thing in the terrifying silence.
This was it. This was how it would end.
Not in a glorious battle, but in a silent, lonely chamber, erased from existence by a monster that shouldn't even be here.
'...'
A strange calm settled over him, the analytical part of his mind compartmentalizing the fear. He had nothing to lose, or no one to return to. So, if this was really the end, he wouldn't go down cowering.
He met the creature's void-like gaze and took a single, shuffling step back, bringing his spear up into a defensive stance.
The movement was a trigger.
The Gloom Predator moved. One moment, it was ten paces away, a statue of living shadow. The next, it was simply there, right in front of him, a bladed limb already sweeping in a silent, deadly arc aimed at his neck. There was no wind-up, no warning shriek. Just instant, silent incoming death.
Nael's body reacted, his high Agility and battle-honed reflexes the only things that saved him. He dropped into a low crouch, the icy wind of the passing strike ruffling his hair. He thrust his spear upward blindly, aiming for where a heart should be.
The spearpoint passed through shifting darkness as if it were mist.
'It's incorporeal?!'
The thought had barely formed when the solidifying limb slammed down onto the spear's shaft. The impact was immense, numbing his arms and wrenching the weapon from his grasp.
Whirr-!
It clattered away into the darkness.
"Argh!"
Nael fell back, scrambling away on his hands and heels. The predator continued its advance, each step silent, its form flickering between solidity and smoke.
"Urgh..." Nael felt his whole body trembling.
He was disarmed, outmatched, and out of options.
Desperation clawed at his throat.
'I... I...'
He was going to die.
And then, a chime echoed in his mind, and a familiar, translucent blue window materialized before his eyes, overlaying the terrifying visage of the advancing monster.
[ INVESTMENT #001 - STATUS UPDATE ]
[ Beneficiary: Mireille Solen ]
[ Calculation Complete. Return on Investment: Finalized. ]
[ Distributing Returns... ]
Time seemed to stretch.
"?"
The Gloom Predator stopped, its head tilting slightly as if sensing a sudden, fundamental shift in the air.
Nael's eyes widened, a desperate, wild hope igniting in his chest. The system messages continued to unfold, each one more unbelievable than the last.
[ Investment #001 - Mireille Solen - Has Reached Maturity ]
[ Initial Principal: 2,000 Credits (Awakening Catalyst) ]
[ Return on Investment: 10000% ]
[ Total Return Value: 200,000 Credits & .... ]
[...]
[ Choose your disbursement method: ]
﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌
[Option 1: Full Liquidation]
· Liquidate your stake in the asset (Mireille Solen).
· Receive the full Return Value as a one-time payment.
· Payment Method: Ascend to the Mythic-Grade Class: [Sun Emperor]. All associated skills, attributes, and traits are included.
Note: This will close the investment permanently. Your [Investor] Class will be replaced by the [Sun Emperor] Class.
﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌
﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌
[Option 2: Reinvest & Compound]
· Retain your stake in this asset. Your investment remains active. You will stay as the [Investor].
· Your Class Grade is upgraded by One Tier: [Investor (Uncommon)].
· You may claim ONE (1) Skill from the [Sun Emperor] Class Skill Tree as an initial dividend.
· You receive a one-time attribute bonus commensurate with the ROI.
· This investment will remain in your portfolio, generating continuous returns based on the asset's future performance.
· ...
· ...
﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌
"..."
The Gloom Predator took another step forward, its form rippling with renewed intent. The momentary distraction was over.
Nael's mind processed the choice in a split second.
Option one was a trap. Becoming a [Sun Emperor] would grant immense power, but it was power he didn't know how to wield. He'd be a novice in a master's body, and it would cost him everything that made this return possible. He'd lose [Invest]. He'd lose his future, his unique path. It was a short-term gain for a long-term catastrophe. And he doubted whether he could really survive even if he became a Sun Emperor.
'No.'
His choice was made the instant he understood the terms.
'I choose Option Two! Reinvest!'
He started as an Investor. He would finish as one.
[ Selection confirmed: Reinvest & Compound. ]
[ Processing... ]
[ Issuing Dividend: Skill Selection... ]
A new screen exploded into his vision — the skill tree of the [Sun Emperor]. Abilities that shimmered with the power to command dawn and dusk scrolled before his eyes: [Dawn's Edge], [Solar Flare], [Radiant Aegis].
The Gloom Predator let out a grating growl and lunged, its bladed limb aimed to impale.
'No time!'
Nael's consciousness raced. He needed one thing: a single, decisive, undeniable strike. His eyes locked on the perfect entry.
﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌
[Nova Execution]
· Rank: S
· Cost: 400 Aether, 200 Focus
· Description: Forge a spear of absolute solar annihilation. Unerring. Unblockable. Unavoidable. Purges all lesser darkness. Deals catastrophic Light/Fire damage. Damage scales with Wisdom & Intelligence.
﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌
'That one! I choose that one!'
﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌
[ Skill Acquired: Nova Execution (S). ]
[ Issuing Shares: Class Grade Upgraded [Investor (Common) -> Investor (Uncommon)] ]
[ Distributing Signing Bonus: Attribute Allocation... ]
﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌
'!' Nael's vision whited out, consumed by a searing, golden luminescence. Power flooded his pathways. He hung suspended in the air, a crucible of molten sunlight, his form radiating a light so intense it cast no shadows.
The Gloom Predator recoiled with a grating shriek, scrambling back from the phenomenon.
Through the blinding gold, system messages scrolled in a relentless cascade:
[ Distributing Returns... ]
[ ROI: 50% ]
[ Beneficiary has leveled up! You have obtained: +50 Essence! ]
[ Beneficiary has leveled up! You have obtained: +125 Essence! ]
[ Beneficiary has leveled up! You have obtained: +250 Essence! ]
[ Beneficiary has leveled up! You have obtained: +500 Essence! ]
[ ... ]
[ … ]
[ ... ]
[ Beneficiary has leveled up! You have obtained: +8000 Essence! ]