Chapter 5: Poop Talk and Luck Games 

With the recent battle against the Undead Wild Wolves behind them, Alex couldn't help but glance at his ghoul companion, who now sported a comically mischievous grin on its decaying face. Something had changed, and it wasn't just the taste of victory lingering in the air.

"Uh, did you just say something?" Alex asked hesitantly, his thoughts projected mentally.

"[Yes, poop, poop!]" replied the ghoul, its newly acquired intelligence expressed in phrases that all seemed to include the word 'poop.'

"Well, this is a delightful development," the Glowing System chimed in, its virtual voice dripping with sarcasm. "Looks like Mr. Ghoul has learned to speak. And, uh, he's quite eloquent, wouldn't you say, Alex?"

Alex groaned inwardly. He had expected something different when the ghoul gained the ability to communicate. Instead, he was treated to a constant barrage of phrases like "[Poop power!]" and "[Poop-tastic!]."

"At least it's not '[Brains]'* like a typical zombie,*" the Glowing System quipped.

As they continued their journey through the mysterious land of Asteria, the ghoul couldn't resist adding "[Poop-a-doodle-doo!]" every now and then, much to Alex's chagrin. He sighed, resigned to the absurdity of his new existence.

The Glowing System chose this moment to interject with a sardonic comment, "By the way, Alex, have you noticed anything about your status points lately?"

Alex furrowed his brow, his mental gears turning. "What do you mean?"

"Your Luck stat," the system clarified. "You've probably noticed that it can't be increased with attribute points. It's one of those quirky things about Asteria. You'll need to find other ways to improve it. Just thought you'd like to know."

"Great," Alex mumbled to himself, "stuck with a maxed-out Luck stat that can't be boosted."

"You could always try making deals with leprechauns," the Glowing System suggested. "I hear they're quite keen on luck-related negotiations."

Shaking his head at the absurdity of it all, Alex decided to focus on something more productive. His ghoul's incessant "[Poop]" commentary was starting to wear on him, and he needed a distraction.

"Hey, System," Alex began, "can I use my attribute points to increase my ghoul's Intelligence? Maybe that'll help with the, uh, poop situation."

"Oh, by all means," the Glowing System replied, "you can certainly try. It'll be quite entertaining to watch you allocate points to a ghoul's Intelligence."

Undeterred by the System's sarcasm, Alex put a point into his ghoul's Intelligence, bringing it up to 4. The change was immediate.

"[Poop?]" the ghoul exclaimed, suddenly more articulate.

"Well, congratulations," the Glowing System remarked, "you've turned your ghoul into a philosopher."

Ignoring the system's jests, Alex continued experimenting with his attributes and eventually put another point into the ghoul's Intelligence, raising it to 5.

"[Poop! Poop! Poop!]" the ghoul exclaimed, its newfound eloquence overwhelming.

"And now it's a poet," the system quipped.

Despite the oddity of the situation, Alex couldn't help but grin. His ghoul companion, while still fixated on the word 'poop,' had become more expressive and, dare he say, amusing.

As they continued their journey, the ghoul's quirky phrases provided a strangely endearing backdrop to their adventures. And amidst the bizarre humor, Alex discovered something else—a new skill.

[Identify]

Description:

Skill Type: Active

Activation Cost: None

Cooldown: 10 seconds per use

The [Identify] skill allows the user to gain insights into the status, abilities, and attributes of a target. By focusing their attention on a specific entity, the user can retrieve detailed information about the target's level, rank, status, and unique traits. The skill is particularly useful for assessing the potential threat posed by enemies, identifying valuable loot, and making informed decisions in combat or exploration.

Please note: The skill's effectiveness may vary depending on the user's Intelligence attribute and the target's level of concealment or resistance to identification.

Alex couldn't contain his excitement. "This is amazing! I feel like the main character in an Isekai novel with this skill!"

"Oh, absolutely," the Glowing System replied, its sarcasm reaching new heights. "You're the hero of your own fantastical adventure, identifying monsters and treasures with your newfound power. Just try not to let it go to your head, Poop-Master."

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With the ghoul's newfound ability to communicate, or rather, incessantly use the word "poop" in various phrases, Alex couldn't help but feel a mixture of exasperation and amusement. Their bizarre banter continued as they journeyed through Asteria.

"[Poop-pocalypse!]" the ghoul cheerfully chimed in.

"You know," Alex began, "I can't decide if this is an improvement or not. At least it's entertaining."

"I see you've found the silver lining in our poop-tastic situation," the Glowing System commented, its text flashing playfully.

As they traveled, Alex decided it was time to check on his own status, just to see if anything had changed.

Alex's Current Status:

Level: 5

Strength: 6

Agility: 4 (+1)

Dexterity: 5 (+1)

Vitality: 5 (-1)

Intelligence: 3

Luck: 50

"Hmm," Alex thought aloud, "I think I'll put a point into Agility. It might help us maneuver better."

"A wise choice," the Glowing System remarked. "I suppose you're one step closer to becoming the greatest agility-focused pooper in all of Asteria."

As the point was allocated, Alex felt a subtle shift in his agility. It wasn't a drastic change, but he hoped it would make a difference in their future encounters.

The ghoul, always keen to join the conversation, added "[Poopception!]" to the mix.

"I have to admit," Alex chuckled, "having a companion who only says 'poop' does have its moments. It's like a never-ending comedy show."

"Glad to be of entertainment service," the ghoul replied with a mock bow.

As they walked, Alex couldn't help but think about their bizarre situation. In this strange land of Asteria, he had become the main character in a comical adventure, complete with quirky skills and a talking ghoul with a penchant for poop-related phrases.

"Speaking of skills," the Glowing System interjected, "have you checked out your [Identify] skill yet? It's not just for show, you know."

"You're right," Alex replied, "I should give it a try."

Focusing his attention on a nearby tree, he activated the skill.

[Identify]

Target: Enchanted Oak Tree

Level: 8

Rank: D

Attributes: Nature, Wood

Abilities: Forest Regeneration, Bark Skin

Status: Healthy

"Whoa," Alex exclaimed, "I can see the tree's level, rank, attributes, abilities, and status! This is incredible! I feel like the protagonist of an Isekai novel."

"I was wondering when you'd catch on," the Glowing System teased. "Just remember, you're the 'poop-tagonist' of your own unique story." 

As they continued their journey, Alex couldn't deny that despite the weirdness and the constant poop-related phrases, he was enjoying himself.