Chapter 24: The Temple of War
After quickly finishing his meal, Ethan rushed back home, donned his headset, and logged into Oracle. Time was of the essence, and he couldn't afford to waste it. To get ahead in the game, he needed to outwork everyone else. Rich players with gaming pods could stay logged in indefinitely, so his only option was to grind relentlessly.
Re-entering the game, Ethan found himself still in the Class Hall of Golden Ridge City. His first instinct was to check his inventory. The system rewards included two skill books he hadn't examined yet. Noticing one of the books gleamed with a golden hue, Ethan's breath quickened. His earlier frustrations melted away as excitement took over.
[Immortal Physique]
Unique Passive Skill: For every monster killed that matches or exceeds your level, permanently gain +1 to maximum health.
Ethan's eyes widened in disbelief. "This... This is as good as my talent, maybe even better! And it's unique?" He could barely contain his glee. "Assassins are known for their burst damage, but what if I became as durable as a tank? The despair that would bring to my opponents..."
The thought sent a thrill down his spine. Selling this skill book could fetch an astronomical price, but Ethan dismissed the idea immediately. With trembling hands, he took the book from his inventory and learned the skill. Seeing the new entry in his skill menu made it feel real, and his excitement turned into determination.
Turning his attention to the second skill book, he examined it:
[Voidstep]
Clears all negative effects on the user. The user enters a void state, becoming untargetable for 1 second.
Mana Cost: 100
Cooldown: 5 minutes