TUTORIAL REWARDS

Luis's sword cleaved through the massive slime with an explosive force that left the entire battlefield awestruck. As the blade made contact, a wave of energy surged from the impact, painting the surrounding grass a vivid shade of purple. The once vibrant green was now drenched in a royal hue, marking the site where Luis had delivered his devastating blow.

The students who had been engaged in a grueling struggle with the slime stood in stunned silence. Their faces were a mixture of disbelief and admiration. They had fought relentlessly, pouring every ounce of their strength into the battle, only to watch in amazement as Luis dispatched the creature with a single, effortless strike.

One student, unable to contain his astonishment, broke the silence. "Did you all see that?" he exclaimed, his voice echoing with both shock and awe.

Jack, leaning casually against a nearby boulder and rubbing his nose, gave a knowing smile. "That's Luis for you," he said, his tone filled with a blend of pride and admiration. "His power is simply unmatched."

A few students began to voice their concerns openly. "Did you see how they were acting just before the battle?" one student said, glancing pointedly at Ethan and Grace. "There's something off about them."

The murmurs grew louder, and an uneasy silence fell over the group. Ethan and Grace exchanged troubled glances; their once-steely resolve now shaken by the mounting distrust. It seemed that their actions and demeanor had made them targets of suspicion, casting a long shadow over their once-solid reputations.

Samuel watched all this scenario from far, helpless to aid Grace. Then the system screen, glowing softly in the dim light of the clearing, flickered to life. A message appeared in bold, congratulatory text:

"Congratulations, #BR101! You have successfully completed the trial."

As the words settled in, the screen shimmered, and a prompt appeared: "Collect Your Reward."

A small, glittering icon materialized on the screen, symbolizing the reward awaiting them. The students leaned in, curiosity piqued, as the icon pulsated gently.

"Will we get guns this time?" one of the past students asked eagerly, their eyes gleaming with anticipation.

The group had gathered in the usual clearing, their attention fixed on the system's latest offering. This time, it wasn't the usual assortment of gear or trinkets. Instead, a handful of peculiar stones, each adorned with intricate runes, had materialized before them.

Some students instinctively recoiled, their eyes narrowing with suspicion. "Is it a bomb, perhaps?" one muttered, their voice laced with anxiety.

"Maybe not," another student said, squinting at the stones. "The system mentioned it's a reward."

"So why don't you just claim it?" someone prodded, their tone challenging.

A brave volunteer stepped forward, his heart pounding as he reached out. His fingers brushed against the cold surface of one of the stones. As he made contact, the runes glowed a faint gray, casting eerie shadows on his face. The stone seemed to pulse with an otherworldly energy before it began to dissolve, the gray light fading into nothingness.

A collective murmur rippled through the group. The stone had vanished, leaving only a lingering sense of anticipation in its wake. What had just happened? The air crackled with an unspoken question: what had the system really given him?

The student who touched the stone looked around, bewildered. "It's safe guys, you can do it" he said, his voice tinged with pride and confidence.

"Maybe it's really safe," someone suggested, the group's curiosity now fully piqued. "We should do it too".

Different colors floated, as stones faded. On the other hand, Samuel who was still hesitant, finally touches the stone, the initial color fades away leaving behind only colorless crystal, and slowly it also shimmered. And the system prompt says, "you got Seofon (unknown)." 

Samuel says to himself, "What does unknown means? No! what does even Seofon means"

A new screen appears to his face stating, "Do you wish to activate Seofon, once activated you can not learn other skills from role and runes."

Samuel's frustration reached a boiling point. He stared at the skill icon on his interface, his patience worn thin. "What isn't it a debuff?" he seethed. "If I activate this, isn't it just a step backward?" His shoulders slumped, the weight of his dissatisfaction palpable.

With a heavy sigh, he clicked the activation button, bracing himself for the inevitable letdown. The system prompt flashed on his screen:

"You have activated Seofon."

"You have been granted the Fable 'Leech' of Seofon."

"Leech? What's that supposed to mean?" Samuel grumbled, frowning at the new message:

"Leech: Enables the player to siphon life force from others."

"Damn system, no help at all," he muttered, feeling more disheartened.

Samuel sighed deeply, his breath escaping in a plume of frustration. "Can things get any worse? My luck's always been terrible. I just hope I make it through this," he muttered under his breath. His gaze swept over the crowd of students, noting the contrasting expressions—some faces were alight with excitement, while others were marked by sullen discontent.

"Hey, what did you get?" one student called out, breaking the murmur of voices around him.

"Something called Haste," replied another, his tone brimming with a hint of pride.

"I got Strength," a third chimed in, "It boosts my strength by 100% for a short time."

"Whoa, that's impressive!" the first student exclaimed.

"Can't say so," the Strength user shrugged modestly. "It's only E-rank."

"Yeah, mine's E-rank too," another student joined in, sounding somewhat deflated.

"Same here," echoed a few more voices in agreement.

As the conversation flowed, Samuel observed the scene with a mix of curiosity and apprehension. Some students flaunted their newfound skills, their faces aglow with the thrill of their potential. Others, however, kept their abilities closely guarded, their eyes darting around as if wary of judgment or envy.

In the midst of the chatter, Samuel felt a pang of unease. He was acutely aware that while some reveled in their apparent fortune, others were quietly grappling with their perceived shortcomings. The balance of luck and skill, it seemed, was as uneven as the light and shadow cast across their faces.

As the crowd's energy fluctuated between exhilaration and resignation, Samuel couldn't help but wonder what his own hidden skill might be. Would it turn the tides for him, or was he destined to continue his streak of misfortune? His heart raced with both hope and trepidation, a silent prayer that this time, luck might just swing in his favor.