Reward
**Chapter 4: Skill Upgrade Token**
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Hae-Won stared at the glowing notification in front of him, his heart pounding in his chest. *Basic Skill Upgrade Token (x1)* shimmered in the air, pulsing with energy. He'd never earned a reward quite like this before.
"This could be it," he whispered, almost in disbelief.
As he contemplated the token, memories flooded back to his days behind the bar. Customers would sometimes pull out a shiny tip or a coveted drink recipe, but nothing compared to the feeling of power radiating from this small, ethereal item. It felt like a game changer.
*What do I even want to upgrade?* he thought. He closed his eyes and visualized his abilities: Shadow Manipulation, Nightmare Aura, and that explosive Infernal Strike he had just unleashed. Each had its merits, but he knew he had to be strategic.
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"Maybe Shadow Manipulation could give me better control over the shadows," he pondered, his brows furrowing in concentration. "Or maybe I should go for Nightmare Aura and really mess with my enemies' heads. I mean, who doesn't want to scare the pants off their foes?"
He chuckled softly at the thought. He could imagine a gaggle of monsters trembling in fear at the sight of his terrifying aura. *"Boo! You thought you could beat me? Well, guess what? I'm here to ruin your day!"*
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With a smile creeping onto his face, he decided that upgrading *Nightmare Aura* might be the most fun. If he could amplify the fear he caused, it would not only help him in battles but also let him embrace the villainous persona he was learning to love.
"Alright, let's do this," he declared, his confidence bubbling up. He reached out towards the glowing token, ready to absorb its power.
*Ding!*
The world around him shimmered, and he felt a rush of energy surge through him. It was as if he had consumed a shot of adrenaline mixed with pure darkness. His senses heightened; he could feel the shadows stretching and writhing around him, responding to his command with newfound power.
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*Nightmare Aura (Upgraded Level 1):*
- *Increased range of effect.*
- *Enemies within range experience heightened fear, reducing their attack speed and making them more susceptible to psychological effects.*
*Cooldown reduced to 30 seconds!*
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"Ha! Now we're talking!" Hae-Won couldn't help but laugh. The thought of spreading dread like confetti made him giddy. He imagined a horde of opponents freezing in their tracks as a wave of panic washed over them. "I can just picture their faces! This is going to be epic."
With a newfound sense of purpose, he took a moment to appreciate the power he had gained. He felt lighter, almost free. The darkness that had once weighed him down seemed to shift, transforming into an ally rather than a burden.
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After relishing in the moment, Hae-Won decided to move forward. The quest had been a success, and he was ready for more challenges. He stepped away from the remnants of the defeated Troll, scanning the dark landscape of the VillainVerse for his next opponent.
As he walked, something on the ground caught his eye. It was small, glinting faintly in the shadowy gloom. He knelt down to pick it up, brushing aside some dirt and debris. His fingers closed around a sleek, black device — a smartphone.
"What the…?" he muttered, turning it over in his hands. It looked completely ordinary, yet it felt so out of place in this world. "How did this even end up here?"
He pressed the power button, and the screen flickered to life, illuminating his face with a soft glow. To his surprise, it booted up normally, displaying a home screen filled with apps. But the most interesting thing was the notification bar, which was rapidly filling with messages.
*1 New Message from: ???*
Curiosity piqued, he opened it.
*"Welcome to the VillainVerse, Hae-Won! Your journey has only just begun. Use the smartphone to access the hidden features of the game world. Your potential is limitless! Don't let the darkness consume you; instead, harness it!"*
"What the hell is this?" Hae-Won muttered, bewildered. "I can access features? What features?"
As he explored the phone's apps, he felt a mix of excitement and apprehension. Could this be a game-changer? A way to gain an edge over other Masters?
His mind raced with possibilities. There might be forums, tips, maybe even a direct line to other players — who knew what kind of secrets lay hidden within this tiny device?
He chuckled again, his previous worries melting away. "can i call it?
App icon popped up /Phone/
-Missed calls 74