Chapter 45: Stats
Jin returned to Jinho's office, his bloodied shoes leaving faint prints on the floor. The air was thick with the metallic stench of blood and the faint scent of alcohol Kang had left behind. His cold eyes scanned the room, locking onto the large iron safe embedded into the wall.
He walked toward it with calm, deliberate steps. The safe was heavily fortified, its thick iron door screaming of the dong paranoia. "They really think this can stop me?" Jin muttered under his breath.
Placing his hand on the cold metal surface, Jin pulled his arm back, focusing the strength of his body into a single point. Without activating any skills, he delivered a precise critical strike. The impact reverberated throughout the room, causing cracks to form along the edges of the safe.
Not satisfied, Jin grabbed the weakened section with both hands and ripped it apart with brute force. The groan of bending iron filled the office as Jin exposed the contents of the safe: a lot bundles of cash, a few documents, and a couple of odd trinkets.
"Figures they'd hoard this much." Jin murmured. He grabbed the money and documents, shoving them into a bag he found nearby. With one last look at the destroyed safe, he slung the bag over his shoulder and walked out of the office, leaving the wreckage behind.
....
Jin stepped into his house, the sight before him making his jaw tighten. The front door hung loosely from its hinges, and the living room furniture was shattered into unrecognizable pieces. Evidence of the earlier attack was everywhere.
He closed the door as best he could, letting out a heavy sigh. The silence of the house, once comforting, now felt oppressive.
Jin walked to his room, dropping the bag in a corner. Sitting on his bed, he pulled up his status window. The familiar blue glow illuminated his face as he assessed his current condition.
---
[CHARACTER INFORMATION]
Name: Jin Lee
Class: Reaper
UPDATED STATS
HP: 9,563/11,120
MP: 3,400/5,000
Attack Power: 384
Defense: 357
Agility: 328
Mentality: 490
Credits: 0
---
Closing his eyes, Jin exhaled slowly. The rage that had burned so brightly within him earlier began to subside. His pitch-black pupils returned to their natural dark hue as he calmed himself. "Focus." he muttered. "This isn't over."
Opening his system log, Jin scrolled through the recent notifications. The first panel caught his attention:
---
[Quest: Eliminate Bongcheon-dong]
Objective: Go to the construction site on XXX Street at night and defeat Bongcheon-dong's forces.
Reward: ???
Penalty: None
---
The rewards panel opened next, revealing his earnings from the night's events:
- 15,000 credits
- New active skill: Merge
- ** Copper Keys {A/N: too lazy to spend 30 minutes calculating}
Jin accepted the rewards, watching the credits increase before turning to the second panel.
---
[Quest: Revenge]
Objective: Go to the ones who endangered your parents and have your revenge.
Reward: ???
Penalty: None
---
The rewards appeared again:
- 20,000 credits
- +100 points to all stats
Jin allowed himself a small smile before redeeming the credits. He scrolled further, noting the accumulated stat points he had yet to use.
"100 for every four stats tonight." Jin muttered. "And the hidden rewards…"
---
Hidden Quest Completed: Earn Gun's Respect
Rewards:
- +200 points to all stats
- HP Increase: +10,000
- MP Increase: +1,500
---
"Three hundred to all stats, plus the health and mana boost." Jin calculated. The sheer growth was staggering. He looked at the copper keys, deciding to use them first to balance out his stats.
---
[CHARACTER INFORMATION]
Name: Jin Lee
Class: Reaper
UPDATED STATS
HP: 9,663/11,120
MP: 3,560/5,000
Attack Power: 404
Defense: 407
Agility: 408
Mentality: 500
Credits: 35,000
---
Satisfied with the even distribution, Jin redeemed the remaining stat points. A faint blue aura enveloped him, the energy coursing through his body. His muscles tensed, growing tighter and stronger.
But with the power came pain.
Jin gritted his teeth as his muscles expanded, tearing and healing in rapid succession. His tendons felt like they were being pulled apart, only to knit themselves back together even tougher than before. The process lasted a few agonizing minutes before the aura faded.
Jin collapsed onto his bed, his chest heaving as sweat drenched his body. After catching his breath, he opened his status window one last time.
---
[CHARACTER INFORMATION]
Name: Jin Lee
Class: Reaper
UPDATED STATS
HP: 19,963/21,120
MP: 5,000/6,500
Attack Power: 704
Defense: 707
Agility: 708
Mentality: 800
Credits: 35,000
---
Jin exhaled deeply, flexing his hand as the new strength coursed through him. His already ruined suit gave way entirely as he moved, the fabric shredding from his body's growth.
Scratching his head, Jin muttered to himself, "Looks like I'll need a new wardrobe."
He stood, looking at his reflection in the mirror. The man staring back was far from the boy who had been thrown into this chaotic world.
"It's not enough." Jin thought, his fists clenching. "I still have so much to do."
Jin sat back on the edge of his bed, his gaze returned to the system log again, his finger hovering over the merge skill reward. "Let's see what this is about." he said quietly before selecting it.
---
[New Active Skill: Merge]
Description: Combine two or more existing skills to create a new, advanced skill.
Limitations: One time use, auto activation.
Credits cost: Varies depending on the merged skills.
---
Jin's lips curled into a faint smile. The potential of the skill was limitless. "Another tool for the arsenal." he murmured.
....
The Next Day at Jihan's House
The sun streamed through the large windows of Jihan's mansion, casting a warm glow on the well-decorated interior. In the sitting room, Se-hoon sat opposite Jihan, a steaming cup of tea on the table between them. The maid had just left after serving them, and the faint aroma of the brew filled the air.
Across the room, Jin's parents were seated on a plush couch, their relaxed demeanor a stark contrast to the intensity brewing between Jihan and Se-hoon. They had taken some weeks off from work, finding solace and safety in Jihan's home. Jin's father was flipping through a magazine, while his mother smiled softly, occasionally glancing over at the young men.
Se-hoon leaned forward slightly, his elbows resting on his knees. "Are you serious about this? You know someone who can help me get stronger?"
Jihan nodded firmly. "Yes. My instructor has trained me in the past. If there's anyone who can help you reach the next level, it's him."
Se-hoon's gaze sharpened. "What's the catch?"
Jihan sipped his tea, his calm eyes meeting Se-hoon's. "No catch. Just be respectful. He's... peculiar. His temper is not something to trifle with."
Se-hoon processed the warning silently. After a moment, Jihan slid a small piece of paper across the table. "Here's the address. Show up prepared. Don't waste his time."
Se-hoon took the paper and stood, bowing slightly out of respect. "I'll make sure not to disappoint."
Jihan nodded. "Good luck."
----
1185 words.
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