Chapter 9: The Shop Shuffle
Mike's heart raced with excitement as he opened the shop interface. His fingers hovered over the screen, ready to explore the new possibilities unlocked by his recent battle and system upgrade.
The shop was filled with a dizzying array of options, but it wasn't long before Mike's eyes were drawn to the high-ticket items.
Skill: Ultimate Firestorm (Price: 100,000 Evolution Points)
Description: Unleash a cataclysmic wave of fire, obliterating anything in its path. Range: 50 meters. Only usable once per day.
Mike's mouth dropped. "100,000 points?! That's insane. It'd be awesome to have, but how in the world am I supposed to get that much?" He quickly scrolled past it.
Skill: Eternal Regeneration (Price: 50,000 Evolution Points)
Description: Fully regenerate health every 10 minutes. Can be used during combat.
Mike rubbed his chin. "That sounds amazing, but I'm a long way from being able to afford that."
He kept scrolling, each expensive skill more mind-boggling than the last. Some were clearly designed for players far stronger than him, and Mike couldn't help but laugh at the thought of even attempting to save up for them.
Skill: Void Manipulation (Price: 200,000 Evolution Points)
Description: Control space itself, or teleporting at will. Cooldown: 24 hours.
Mike blinked. "200,000?! I can't even imagine what it'd be like to use that. But I don't have that kind of cash."
After seeing a few more of these jaw-dropping skills, Mike quickly realized that he needed to focus on something more practical for his current level. He looked at his available Evolution Points—236.29—and sighed. "Well, looks like I'm not getting any of those anytime soon."
But then, as he scrolled further down, something caught his eye.
Skill: Predator's Sense (Price: 200.32 Evolution Points)
Description: Enhances your vision, allowing you to see Monster for distances. The more you use it, the clearer the images become.
Mike's eyes lit up. That sounded like something he could actually use. The price was reasonable, and the description seemed straightforward. It wasn't game-changing, but it definitely offered a practical benefit.
"Okay, this is more like it," he said, tapping the Long Sight skill. "Could be useful for spotting enemies or finding resources in the distance. It's not flashy, but it's definitely a smart choice."
Mike chuckled as he thought about the more outrageous skills. "Firestorms, black holes... maybe when I'm level 1000 or something."
He confirmed the purchase of Long Sight, and as the skill activated, he immediately noticed a slight change in his vision. His eyes glowed a faint light blue for a moment, and when he looked into the distance, things weren't drastically clearer, but he could spot objects much farther away than before.
"Well, that's pretty neat," he said with a satisfied nod. "It's not a game-breaker, but it'll definitely help."
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[Skill Purchased: Long Sight (Lv.1)]
Effect: Increases vision range slightly. Ability to see farther as the skill grows.
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Mike looked around, admiring the new clarity in his vision. He could now make out shapes and details at a much greater distance, though it wasn't as if he could see across the entire landscape in perfect detail.
"Better than nothing, right?" Mike chuckled, shaking his head. "Now let's see what's next."
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Mike then checked his updated status window, proud of the new skill he'd gained, and ready for whatever came next.
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Updated Status Window:
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Mike, Baby Allosaurus
Height: 2.0 meters
Strength: 13/10 (Surpassed original max)
Endurance: 12/10 (Surpassed original max)
Intelligence: 10/10
Agility: 12/10 (Surpassed original max)
Evolution Points: 236.29/1,000 (next upgrade)
Skills:
Primitive Bite (Lv.4) – Increased damage and speed.
Quick Sprint (Lv.3) – Even faster bursts of speed, more efficient.
Fire Ignition (Lv.2) – Ability to generate more intense flames for cooking or combat.
Hardening (Lv.1) – Temporarily increases defense and durability by hardening the skin.
Predator's Sense (Lv.1): Detects creatures within a wide radius.
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Mike smiled at his progress. It wasn't anything too flashy, but each step forward brought him closer to becoming stronger. "Alright, I've got some new tricks. Time to see what else this world has to offer."