Kairo stood up and thought, That was close.
The skeleton boss roared, dragging its colossal sword free from the ground.
Kairo tightened his grip on his short sword. He launched forward using [Sonic]. He slashed across its chest, again and again, but every strike barely scratched the armor.
The boss retaliated with monstrous strength, its massive blade cutting through the air like a storm. Kairo twisted beneath the first swing, ducked the second, rolled past the third. His movements blurred, feet barely touching stone.
But then the skeleton's knee twisted.
Its foot came crashing forward.
The kick landed square on Kairo's chest. Air exploded from his lungs. He flew backward, weightless for a heartbeat, before slamming into the far wall. His ribs cracked due to this.
"Kairo!" Kaya's scream echoed through the lair.
Eric took a step forward, shield raised. "I'm going in!"
Kairo raised his hand weakly, blood dripping from his lip, "I can handle it."
Eric froze mid-step, eyes wide.
Before either could react, Kairo reached into the air. His hands closed around something unseen, something that shouldn't exist.
Two vials shimmered into existence.
Eric's jaw went slack. "What the—"
Kairo popped both open, one green, one blue, and downed them without hesitation. The potions burned down his throat, then spread warmth through his chest. His body soon healed.
Eric blinked hard. "Wait, what? Where did those potions come from?"
Kaya gasped softly, hand covering her mouth.
Kairo didn't answer. His focus locked on the boss, which had begun its slow advance.
He bent his knees. Drew a deep breath and vanished.
He dashed across the lair in blinding arcs, a streak of motion barely visible. Slashed at the monster's legs, dodged a downward swing that cratered the floor. Ran up the wall, defying gravity for three steps, and leaped high above it.
As he fell, he hurled his short sword.
"[Gravitas]!"
The air warped around the shory and the gravity increased around the blade. Suddenly, its speed spiked, tearing through the air.
The sword struck the skeleton's right arm with earth-shattering force. The limb exploded into fragments, ancient armor scattering across stone.
Kairo landed hard, panting. Missed the core.
Eric's eyes widened to saucers. "He threw his weapon! What's he going to do now?"
Before the thought finished, Kairo extended his hand toward the embedded blade.
"[Gravitas]."
The short sword ripped free from rubble and hurtled back toward him. He caught it mid-spin, fingers closing around familiar leather.
His lips curved into a faint grin. Throwing works better than close combat.
He darted forward again, slashing in quick succession. Each exchange brought him closer, testing, learning its patterns.
Finally, when the boss lifted its sword overhead, Kairo seized his chance.
He rolled backward, gaining distance, then hurled his short sword again with everything he had.
The boss shifted, anticipating now, and moved its massive frame just slightly.
The weapon struck its chest, not the core, but the armor cracked. Spiderweb fractures spread outward, pieces falling away to reveal the glowing orb beneath.
Before it could recover, Kairo leaped, but he was empty-handed this time, with his hands looking like holding a weapon.
Kaya's breath caught. "What is he doing—"
Before she could complete, in mid-air, an axe materialized in Kairo's grip.
"Die."
He brought the axe down as he used [Gravitas] on himself for boosting his speed. The blade cleaved through the exposed core, piercing it.
The giant skeleton let out a hollow, earth-shaking groan that rattled teeth. Then it shattered, crumbling into dust and cascading light that dissolved into nothing.
Eric and Kaya stood frozen, mouths open.
Eric had been seconds from charging in. Now all he could do was stare at the settling dust where a boss-level monster had stood moments before.
He muttered, voice hoarse, "He… killed it."
A faint light shimmered on the ground. From the ashes, a glowing orb dropped, the boss's loot.
Kairo fell to one knee, chest heaving. Sweat dripped from his chin. The axe vanished from his grip, returning to the inventory.
Eric and Kaya sprinted across the chamber.
Kaya dropped beside him, hands hovering uncertainly. "Kairo, are you okay?"
Kairo looked up, "I… leveled up."
Eric skidded to a stop. "Wait—what?"
Kairo nodded, still catching his breath. "I'm level three now."
Eric's jaw dropped so far it might've unhinged. "How? I heard from Serin that you just became level two before the escort mission last month! How could you level up so fast?"
Kaya gasped softly, both hands covering her mouth now.
Eric shook his head violently. "That's impossible! The fastest in our kingdom's history was Azrael, who reached level three in six months! You did it in two!" His voice rose. "If word gets out, it'll be big news!"
Kairo said simply, "My system seems to be helping me. It gives me… bonuses."
"Bonuses?" Eric looked ready to tear his hair out. "That's so unfair! It took me a year and a half to reach level three from level one!"
While Eric ranted, Kairo opened his system interface.
[1800 XP Gained]
[500 XP Gained] – Solo Kill Boss Bonus
Quest Completed – Kill 1 Boss-Level Monster
Rewards: 1000 XP, [Healing Full Potion ×3], [Mana Full Potion ×4], +20 Free Attribute Points
You have Leveled Up!
+30 Free Attribute Points Reward!
New Skills Unlocked:
– [Infernal Edge]
– [Mirror Step]
– [Oblivion Burst]
[Infernal Edge]: Allows the user to imbue a weapon with flame that would increase damage, costs 5 mana per second, no cooldown. (Upgradable)
[Mirror Step]: Create a physical clone and control it freely, costs 10 mana to activate, duration until it's destroyed or cancelled by the user, no cooldown. (Upgradable)
[Oblivion Burst]: Opens a tear in space that fires a column of destructive energy, costs 40 mana to activate, no cooldown. (Upgradable)
[Gravitas] Upgraded! (Can Control Multiple Targets Now)
[Sonic] Upgraded! (Increased Speed)
[Gravitas]: It can control gravity at the user's will, can control multiple targets, costing 1 mana per second and enemy resistance (higher level = no effect), no cooldown. (Upgradable)
[Sonic]: Allows the user to move at extreme speed, costs 5 mana to activate, duration 10 seconds, no cooldown. (Upgradable)
He stared at the screen, barely breathing.
Kairo scrolled through each skill description. Every single one sounded more destructive than the last.
His eyes flickered as he distributed his fifty free points evenly across all attributes.
---
[Status Screen]
Name: Kairo
Age: 16
Race: Human
Level: 3
Experience: 348 / 12,000
Class: Unbound
Sub-Classes: –
+++
Health: 170
Mana: 145
Stamina: 155
+++
Attributes: Strength 50, Agility 31, Vitality 34, Magic 29, Dexterity 34, Luck 0
Free Attribute Points: 0
Skills: [Refuse to Die], [Sonic], [Gravitas], [Infernal Edge], [Mirror Step], [Oblivion Burst]
---
"I got three new skills," Kairo said finally, closing the interface.
Eric looked like he'd been slapped. "What? The system usually gives skills based on your potential and your effort, but still—" He threw his hands up. "I've never heard of someone getting three skills at the same time!"
In this world, the system varied for everyone based on potential and effort. It granted skills when it deemed someone worthy. But multiple skills simultaneously? Unheard of.
Kairo met his eyes. "I know. But I think that soul affected my system. From that day, it seems different."
His system operated by rules this world didn't recognize.
"Even now," Kairo continued, "for killing the boss, it gave me 1300 XP as a bonus."
Eric shouted. "BONUS? What! How!"
Eric paced, gesturing wildly. "The system never does this! Even if I soloed that boss, it would barely give me four hundred experience based on my potential. There's no such thing as bonuses!"
Kairo shrugged. "I'm trying to understand it too."
"It's insane!" Eric looked ready to explode. "I can't believe this!"
Kaya's soft voice cut through. "Where did the axe and potions come from?"
Both turned to her.
Kairo answered simply, "I can store things in the system inventory."
Eric's eyes bulged. "What? Your system has inventory?"
"Yeah."
Eric threw both hands skyward. "I want your system!"
Kairo smirked, something dark flickering behind his eyes. "For that, you'd have to die first. If you're lucky, maybe you'll get it."
Eric blanched, color draining from his face. "No thanks!"
Kaya laughed quietly.
Even Eric cracked, laughter bubbling up.
For the first time in weeks, Kairo felt warmth. Small, fleeting, but real.
They stood together in the dim light, dust still settling around them. Eric stretched, joints popping. "Alright, Mr. Miracle System." He groaned.
"Let's get out of this graveyard before your soul buddy decides to wake up again."
Kairo walked over to where the boss had fallen. The glowing orb pulsed faintly, warm to the touch. He picked it up, "Yeah. Let's go."
As they walked toward the dungeon's exit, Eric kept grumbling about unfair systems and impossible bonuses.
Kaya walked between them, quietly smiling at their bickering.
And for just a moment, Kairo let himself feel it, this fragile, precious thing called companionship.