Beside the skill book, the Bronze-tier boss had dropped two pieces of equipment, but Silas didn't even glance at them yet. His focus was entirely on the "Arbiter's" potential.
"I had 1 Evolution Point left, and the Boss gave me 2. That's 3 total." Silas looked at the new skill book. "This is a rare utility. In my past life, anyone who mastered this became a cornerstone of their guild. But its ceiling was always Bronze... until now."
He visualized the evolution.
[Consumed 1 Evolution Point. Hand of Greed: Bronze -> Silver]
Effect: Chance to obtain additional loot from corpses increased from 20% -> 40%.
"Double the odds already," Silas noted, his eyes gleaming. "Again."
[Consumed 2 Evolution Points. Hand of Greed: Silver -> Gold]
Effect: Chance to obtain additional loot from corpses increased from 40% -> 70%.
The jump was staggering. In the original game logic, reaching a 70% double-drop rate was unheard of for a Level 1 player.
"If I evolve it one more time, it hits 100%," Silas calculated. "Guaranteed double loot. But even at 70%... this isn't some rigged lottery. This is a gold mine."
He didn't waste time. Maintaining his Shadow Cloak, he stood over the Breeder's dissolving remains and activated the skill. Twelve spiderlings scuttled mere inches from his boots, oblivious to the "Arbiter" in their midst.
As he spoke the command, a spectral, golden hand manifested from the ground, reaching into the corpse of the giant spider.
[Skill 'Hand of Greed' Success!]
Gained 2 Evolution Points!Gained 46 Days of Tradeable Lifespan!
"It works," Silas breathed, a predatory grin crossing his face. "It can even extract Evolution Points."
The total haul from one boss was now 4 Evolution Points and over three months of life. Three more items tumbled out, mostly gear Silas couldn't use, but one caught his eye:
[Corrosive Dagger (Bronze): Attack +35, Agility +4. Requirement: Level 1.]
He immediately swapped his scrap blade for the bronze weapon. With his Level 2 stat gains and the new dagger, his base Attack hit 50. But in the shadows, with his bonuses, he was now a walking tactical nuke.
"Time to clean up the trash," Silas whispered. He stepped out of the veil for a split second, his blade flashing through the abdomen of a spiderling, killing it instantly. Before the brood could react, he had vanished back into the void.
The Real World: The Aurelian Republic
At the Aurelian University of Education, the morning was proceeding with deceptive normalcy. Lucia sat in her lecture hall alongside her friend Chloe (formerly Chu Yan).
Suddenly, a commotion erupted near the front.
"Marcus? Hey, Marcus, wake up!"
A student was slumped over his desk, fast asleep. But as his roommate tried to shake him, his hands passed straight through Marcus's shoulder. The boy's body had become translucent, a shimmering, ghostly image that existed but couldn't be touched.
The lecturer stopped mid-sentence, his face pale. Students crowded around, gasping as they realized they could see the wood of the desk through Marcus's chest.
"Lucia, look at Marcus!" Chloe whispered, her eyes wide with terror.
Lucia stood up, her white dress catching the light. She was beautiful and accustomed to being the center of attention, the "Ice Queen" of the campus. She frowned, watching the scene with a mix of curiosity and rising dread. She stood on her tiptoes, catching a glimpse of the boy's ethereal form.
"Check the forums," Lucia commanded, sitting back down and pulling out her phone.
The internet was already screaming. Chat groups were flooded with images from across the Great Federation: people in subways, offices, and parks falling asleep and turning into ghosts. No one was waking up. No one knew where they were.
Lucia's thumb hovered over her contact list. For a split second, she thought of calling Silas. But then she remembered her words from that morning. I'd be perfectly fine without him.
She locked her phone, her jaw set in stubborn pride. She didn't need him. She had Fabian. And soon, everyone would see that she was meant for more than a brother's protection.