VIP System

Leo looked up at the sky and marveled at the clean cleave his attack had made. The clouds were split, revealing a clear path through the heavens. Raising his sword, he turned to Roxanne, his voice filled with awe. "That was incredible, Roxanne. You're so powerful."

Roxanne replied telepathically, her voice calm and reassuring in his mind. I was merely manifesting your power, Leo. My strength alone could not achieve such a feat.

Leo looked down at the Bloodmoon Blade, still glowing softly in his hand. "But how did I suddenly know a move like that?" he asked, referring to the skill he had just maneuvered.

As he spoke, the sword began to disperse into a swarm of crimson butterflies. They danced around him, their wings shimmering in the light, and gradually reformed into Roxanne's human shape. Her transformation was mesmerizing: the butterflies converged, their light blending into her figure, and soon she stood before him, fully materialized.

As the last of the crimson butterflies merged to form her dress, Roxanne couldn’t help but feel a sense of liberation. For so long, she had hidden behind her tattered robes, isolating herself from a world that had deemed her a failure. But now, standing before Leo, she felt different—stronger, more whole. This was who she truly was, and for the first time in centuries, she allowed herself to embrace it.

Her new appearance was stunning. Gone was the tattered robe she once wore. Instead, she was adorned in a Moonlight Dress—a flowing, sleeveless gown made of shimmering fabric that seemed to glow with an inner light.

This dress hugged her figure, accentuating her curves, with a fitted bodice that highlighted her chest and a flowing skirt that gave her an elegant, almost otherworldly appearance. Her hands rested gracefully in front of her, and she exuded a refined and elegant stature befitting her legendary status.

Leo's eyes widened in surprise at her transformation. "Roxanne, you look... amazing."

Roxanne noticed his reaction and smiled softly. "I can conjure my clothing too, Leo. My old robe was my way of isolating myself from the world before. Now, I choose to reflect who I truly am."

Leo nodded, still taking in her new look. "And about your question on the skill...", she continued.

"Whenever an adventurer unlocks a skill, all the needed actions for it are immediately ingrained into that adventurer. That's why you can use it as soon as it is unlocked."

Leo gaped as he remembered how he was able to use his skills from the dungeon with ease. "That explains a lot," he murmured, nodding to himself. "I always wondered how it felt so natural."

Roxanne nodded. "Yes, it's a gift that comes with unlocking your potential. The more you grow, the more skills you'll acquire, and each one will feel like second nature."

Leo introduced Roxanne to Ai, gesturing warmly towards his system companion. Roxanne nodded politely, her eyes filled with curiosity as she took in Ai's presence. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Ai," she said, her voice gentle yet commanding.

Ai responded with a slight bow, her tone carrying a hint of arrogance. "The pleasure is mine, Roxanne. I am Ai, Leo's system companion. I ensure everything runs smoothly for him," she said, her eyes sparkling with a knowing confidence.

Leo smiled at the interaction, but as he was about to introduce the white cats that had been aiding him, he noticed they were nowhere to be seen. Puzzled, he scanned the area, looking for the little helpers. "Where did they go?" he muttered, his eyes darting around the clearing.

Suddenly, a notification appeared before Leo's eyes:

1 Infernal Black Os core received.

Leo's gaze snapped back to the fallen monster. He saw the white cats emerging from the dissipating light around the beast, their small forms carrying a faint glow as they approached. "There they are," he said, relief and curiosity mixing in his voice.

Leo watched as the cats trotted back towards them, their eyes reflecting the fading light of the sunset. "Good job, you two," he praised, reaching down to give them a gentle pat. The cats purred in response, clearly pleased with their contribution.

As Leo conversed with Ai and Roxanne, a realization dawned on him. "Wait a minute, I didn't receive any experience from that monster," he said, a hint of confusion in his voice.

Ai explained, her tone patient and instructive. "That's because of the level gap between you and the monster. You can only receive experience points if the monster's level is within plus or minus ten of your current level."

Leo nodded, understanding the logic behind it. "That makes sense," he replied, turning his attention to the dead monster lying a few feet away. The Infernal Black Os, once a formidable and terrifying presence, now lay motionless on the ground, its energy dissipating.

As he watched, the body of the Infernal Black Os began to light up, glowing with an eerie, ethereal light. He remembered the first time he had seen a monster disappear on Ranna's farm, the same process of disintegration unfolding before his eyes.

The beast's black, shiny scales seemed to dissolve into particles of light, the fiery red eyes dimming until they were no more than faint embers. Its multiple tails, once a source of deadly power, shimmered and vanished, leaving behind a sense of finality.

The name on top of it, confirming his observations: "Level 40: Infernal Black Os." Leo's eyes widened in shock as he recalled the first monster he had seen, the Black Os, at Ranna's farm. The similarities were unmistakable, yet this Infernal Black Os was a far more advanced and dangerous version.

"An Infernal Black Os," Leo muttered, shaking his head in disbelief. "I never thought I'd see one, let alone defeat it."

As they conversed, a group of adventurers approached them, their faces a mix of disappointment and curiosity. They watched the Infernal Black Os's remains disappear and pulled out a scroll, scrutinizing it before exchanging nods of disbelief. The woman holding the scroll stepped forward, her armor gleaming in the fading light.

"I am Elara, the vanguard of our party," she introduced herself with a confident nod. She had short, fiery red hair that framed her determined face, and her eyes held a sharp, calculating look. Her armor was well-worn, a testament to her many battles, and a large shield was strapped to her back.

She gestured to her companions. "These are my party members: Markus, our priest, and Thorne, our swordsman." Markus, a tall man with a calm demeanor, wore simple white robes adorned with golden symbols. His kind eyes and gentle smile gave him an aura of tranquility. Thorne, on the other hand, was rugged and muscular, his dark hair tied back in a no-nonsense style. He carried a large, well-used sword on his back, his stance alert and ready for action.

Elara continued, her voice steady. "We had a kill quest for that Infernal Black Os you just defeated. The reward is substantial, and it would be a waste to report that someone else killed it before we did."

She handed the scroll to Leo, who took it and scanned the contents. Before he could respond, Thorne stepped forward, his expression angry. "That's not right! You did a kill steal! We should still get the reward!"

Leo remembered how frustrating it had been in his gaming days when someone swooped in and stole a boss kill he was working on. In many online games, "kill stealing" was a common annoyance. Higher-ranked players, often those who spent more money on the game, would overpower others and take down the bosses, claiming the rewards for themselves. It was an inevitable part of the pay-to-win environment he was all too familiar with.

Leo smiled as he returned the scroll to Elara.

He remembered the countless times he had been robbed of hard-earned kills in his gaming days—those frustrating moments when a stronger player swooped in to claim the final blow, leaving him with nothing but resentment. He understood where Thorne’s anger came from. But this world wasn’t a game, and he had no intention of souring his relationship with these adventurers. "We just happened to be in the right place at the wrong time," he said with a calm smile.

Thorne, having just noticed Roxanne, froze in place, completely captivated by her beauty. His eyes widened, and he seemed to forget his previous frustration. In an attempt to impress her, he quickly tidied himself, straightened his posture, and cleared his throat as he walked towards her.

Upon reaching Roxanne, Thorne kneeled down, took her hand with exaggerated gentleness, and kissed it. "How are you, my lady?" he asked, his voice suddenly filled with a gentlemanly tone. "I apologize for our incompetence."

Roxanne blinked in surprise, not entirely sure how to respond to the sudden display. Before she could say anything, Elara, clearly annoyed, stepped forward and smacked Thorne on the back of the head with enough force to make him collapse unconscious to the ground.

Markus sighed deeply, covering his face with his hand in embarrassment. "Not again," he muttered, walking over to his fallen comrade. Grabbing Thorne by his feet, Markus began to pull him away. Despite the evident struggle on his face, he continued to drag Thorne across the ground, grumbling under his breath about the weight and the situation.