The silence in the barricaded lab was a thick, heavy thing, broken only by their ragged, gasping breaths. For a long moment, they didn't move, three figures slumped against the cold, chemical-stained walls, letting the reality of their survival wash over them. The heavy packs of scavenged supplies on the floor were a tangible trophy, proof that their desperate gamble had paid off.
"I can't believe that worked," Elara finally breathed, her voice a mixture of exhaustion and disbelief. She looked down at her hands, which were still clutching the hilts of her sabers, her knuckles white.
"The application of a focused, high-decibel auditory assault on a species that primarily navigates via echolocation was... predictably effective," Ben said, though his voice trembled. He carefully set his satchel of remaining bombs on a clear bench. "Still. I would prefer not to repeat the experience."
Kai pushed himself into a sitting position, hissing as a sharp pain lanced through his arm. The sleeve of his lab coat was torn, and a series of four parallel claw marks were gouged into his flesh, bleeding sluggishly.
"You're hurt," Elara said, immediately scrambling over to him. She dug into one of the newly acquired packs and pulled out a pristine first-aid kit. As she opened it, revealing antiseptic wipes and sterile bandages, a wave of new notifications flooded Kai's vision. He had been so focused on the escape he hadn't even registered them.
[You have slain a Level 4 Gnawer.]
[XP Gained: 50]
[You have slain a Level 4 Gnawer.]
[XP Gained: 50]
[You have slain a Level 4 Gnawer.]
[XP Gained: 50]
He'd killed four in total during the desperate stand at the staircase.
[XP: 1025/1000]
[YOU HAVE REACHED LEVEL 8!]
[All wounds healed. All stats increased.]
[You have 5 undistributed stat points.]
Just as Elara touched a stinging antiseptic wipe to the first cut on his arm, the familiar, blissful warmth of the level-up surged through him. She gasped, pulling her hand back as if burned. They both watched, mesmerized, as the bleeding stopped, and the angry red gashes sealed over in seconds, leaving behind nothing but smooth, unblemished skin and the tattered, bloody tear in his lab coat.
"Every time that happens," Ben murmured, staring with wide, fascinated eyes, "it violates at least a dozen laws of thermodynamics."
Kai felt the familiar surge of power, the aches and the exhaustion of the fight melting away like a bad dream. He looked at Elara's own arms, which were covered in shallow scratches and deep bruises. "Are you okay?"
"I'll live," she said, though she was staring at his miraculously healed arm with awe. "It's different now, Kai. Having the skill. I could... feel where to put the blade. It was like I already knew how."
"That's the echo," Kai said, a new understanding dawning. "It's not just teaching you; it's guiding you." He opened his status screen, a sense of purpose cutting through the post-battle haze. His Strength had been lagging behind his other stats. It was time to fix that.
[Strength: 22 -> 27]
He felt a new solidity in his muscles, a deeper well of physical power. He stood up, feeling stronger than ever before. "We did good. More than good. We have food, water, medical supplies. And you have a skill now."
He walked over to the bench where the Tome of Echoes lay. Ben was already there, gently wiping a smudge of ash from its ancient leather cover.
"The question is, what's next?" Ben said, looking up. "We can't manifest another Swordsmanship skill without a second saber Echo. So, am I to be relegated to the role of 'bomb-thrower' indefinitely?"
It was a fair question. Kai placed his hand on the Tome, a thought striking him. The System had said he could extract skills from Echoes of Power. The saber was one, but what about the Tome itself? It was an artifact, a legendary Echo in its own right.
He focused his will, activating his Skill Manifestation ability, but this time, he didn't target the saber. He targeted the Tome itself.
A new set of notifications appeared, different from before.
[Skill Manifestation Activated.]
[Target Echo: The Tome of Echoes (Artifact)]
[The Tome contains latent knowledge. Manifesting a skill directly will be more costly.]
[Select a Skill Category to View:]
[> Basic Analysis]
[> Basic Elementalism (Locked)]
[> Basic Enhancement (Locked)]
His heart hammered in his chest. This was a game-changer. The book wasn't just a tool; it was a source. He focused on the only available option.
[Category: Basic Analysis]
[Available Skills:]
[- Skill: Insight (E-Rank) | Cost: 400 XP]
[- Skill: Identify (F-Rank) | Cost: 200 XP]
He read the descriptions that appeared in his mind. Identify was a simple skill that gave more detailed information about non-hostile objects. But Insight...
[Insight (E-Rank): Allows the user to perceive subtle weaknesses in enemy structures and attack patterns. Passively increases critical hit chance against observed targets.]
It was perfect. It was Ben's analytical mind, weaponized.
"Ben," Kai said, his voice filled with a quiet, fierce excitement. "I think I just found your first lesson."
He explained what he saw. Ben's eyes widened behind his cracked lenses, a slow, predatory smile spreading across his face. "To turn observation into a quantifiable, tactical advantage... yes," he said, his voice hungry. "Yes, I'll take that."
The cost was immense—400 XP. It would take at least eight more Gnawer kills, or a bigger, more dangerous monster. But for the first time, they had a clear, achievable goal. Their path forward was no longer just about running or surviving. It was about building their arsenal, strengthening their team, and preparing for the war ahead. One skill at a time.