17 part

The shaman goblin began chanting a spell at Tom. A second later, a purple beam shot toward him.

Tom, ever prepared, dodged the spell and charged at the shaman.

The shaman threw a punch. Tom activated his ability to slow time, narrowly avoiding the blow.

In response, Tom slashed at the shaman, and the goblin howled in pain. Furious, the shaman used his own blood to cast a retaliatory spell on Tom.

It seemed as though this spell had drained the shaman, but he was certain it was worth the sacrifice. There was nowhere for Tom to run.

"System message: Curse of Pain—server suffers exponentially increasing pain from needle-like pokes until the battle ends."

The system's special abilities activated, and the time limit was set to 10 minutes.

The more Tom fought, the more he endured, but the goblin had unwittingly helped him. As Tom struggled, he grew more focused, as though nearing a breakthrough.

Tom heard a cracking sound, his senses sharpening with each passing moment, his awareness expanding as the battle raged on.

The shaman goblin noticed Tom's increasingly erratic movements, sensing that Tom was becoming more dangerous. Deciding to cast another spell, the shaman prepared to use his blood once more.

But Tom was ready. Sensing the shaman's forceful activation of the spell, he decided to try something new.

With only 25 mana left, Tom transferred it all into his time manipulation ability. In an instant, time seemed to stop. Tom drew his katana and, in the stillness, severed the shaman goblin's head with a clean strike.

Using all his remaining mana, Tom had slowed time to 120%. But the cost was great—he vomited blood, weakened from the exertion.

Approaching the dungeon boss, Tom looked at the rewards.

Essence of the Shaman Goblin: Increases intelligence and mana by chance.

Congratulations! You have earned an expert-level chest. Normally, this prize would be split among party members, with novices and high contributors receiving their own chests. But since Tom cleared the dungeon alone, the reward was consolidated into a single piece.

Tom opened the chest, and a faint light glimmered as an earring appeared in his hand.

Amethyst Earring: When activated, it creates a shield that absorbs the next attack 100% (1-hour cooldown).

Tom grinned; it was perfect for him, and he could think of numerous uses.

Curious, he used the shaman essence and checked his stats.

Tom Wan

Title: None

Power: 24

Speed: 34

Structure: 20

Perception: 28

Attractiveness: 8

Intelligence: 17

Mana: 40/5

Unique Abilities:

Eyes of the Beast: You can see vulnerabilities that invalidate any cheat. Increases your reflexes and enhances other sensory organs.

Active Abilities:

Time Slow: Slows time by 60% (5 mana per second)Monster's Gaze: Depending on the opponent's level, it can freeze, slow, or distract them.

Passive Skills:

Killing Expert: You can learn any combat-related technique at Beast level.Excitement (Passive): The more adrenaline you feel, the sharper your senses become. (Unlocked)Gunsmithing (Expert) (Limit): Fear the person with a firearm.Aerobatics (Normal) (Expert) (Limit)Knifemanship (Advanced)Assassination (Entry) (Normal): You're not stealthy enough to sneak up on a fly, but you're getting better.Demon Steps (Normal) 20%: Increases your speed by 300%, and your footwork becomes unpredictable, confusing enemies.Katana Mastery (Expert) (Limit)

Tom noticed that his Excitement ability was now active, having been unlocked by the goblin's curse of pain. Previously gray, it now pulsed with power.

His Demon Steps had leveled up too, explaining why his movements had become faster and more disorienting during the fight.

Standing tall, Tom walked toward the dungeon exit. He had to turn in his quest rewards and then head for the wolf dungeon.

Once back in the city, he went to the quest distribution building, handed over the goblin ears to the receptionist, and received 300 points.

Then, with a thoughtful expression, Tom pulled out the Gotblin Heart, which immediately caught the receptionist's attention.

"Gotblin Heart, we can buy this from you for 500 points. It's the main ingredient for high-level healing potions," she said.

Tom agreed, and she transferred the points into his account.

Tom's gaze shifted to the art for sale:

Intermediate Katana Art (800 points)Intermediate Fist Kick Art (1200 points)Intermediate Sword Art (1200 points)

He bought the Intermediate Katana Art. Immediately, a series of katana techniques flowed into his mind, displayed on his skill chart.

Intermediate Katana Art (Beginner):

You have mastered the katana. Once you reach the expert level, you can use the Quick Slash technique.

Quick Slash: A technique that allows you to perform 20 attacks simultaneously.

Tom understood that the katana arts would progress from the lowest to the highest levels, all part of a single system. He wondered what would happen when they were fully combined.

Tom then accepted the Wolf Tooth Quest and prepared to sleep, exhausted from the day's trials. He set up some warning traps around his tent for safety and drifted off to rest, knowing he needed his strength for the dungeon ahead.