Chapter 26
Rhys held the newly formed profession core in his palm. The core was dull grey, and it felt cool to the touch.
It was a polished sphere, a stark contrast to the rough, jagged fragments it had been born from.
He had done it. He had forged his first profession from the dust of his slain enemies.
With a simple thought, the core dissolved into a stream of energy.
It entered his body, finding a position inside his dantian where the concepts of his other lifeskills floated like nascent stars.
The new energy settled among them, solidifying his instinctual command over the ash.
'System, show my status screen.'
[Host's status window is adjusting as per the recent knowledge obtained...]
[Status]
Host: Rhys
Trait: Ageless Body
Cultivation: Body Tempering (Peak)
Foundation: Void-Tempered Immortal Body (Transcendent)
Lifespan Remaining: Infinite
Skills
Innate Skills:
Advanced Movement (Perfection) -> (Combined: Basic Walking, Sprinting, Dodging, Climbing, Crouching, Jumping, Swimming), Basic Butchering (Perfection) , Basic Navigation (Perfection), Basic Herbology (Perfection), Basic Alchemy (Perfection), Basic Blacksmithing (Perfection), Basic Formations (Perfection), Basic Tanning & Leatherworking (Perfection)
Ash Veil (Perfection) -> [Linked to Profession Core]
Profession Cores:
Apprentice Ash Veil
Quality: Ordinary
Name: Ash Walker
About: Allows for the basic manipulation and shaping of ash for combat and utility. Can be upgraded with Feral-Grade fragments.
Acquired Skills:
Spark Fist (Low Mortal-Grade) - Perfection, Viper's Kiss (Mid Mortal-Grade) - Perfection, Basic Stealth (Low Mortal-Grade) - Perfection
Skill Cores: None
As Rhys finished reviewing his updated status, the System chimed in, providing the context he needed.
[The grade of a Profession Core is determined by the quality of the fragments used to forge it. The quality is directly linked to the bloodline of the monster from which the fragments were obtained.]
[The known hierarchy of grades is as follows: Ordinary, Feral, Elite, Boss, Tyrant, Lord, Titan, Apocalyptic, Harbinger, and Divine.]
His eyes widened. So, the core he had just formed was at the absolute bottom of the ladder. But the fact that it could be upgraded was a game-changer.
'So, I can evolve this core by collecting fragments from stronger monsters of the same type?'
[Correct. The chance of a monster dropping a core fragment in the outside world is exceedingly rare, dependent on both its bloodline and sheer luck. The creator of this Labyrinth has altered its laws.]
Rhys understood immediately. The creator had designed this place as a perfect grinding spot. Every monster was a guaranteed drop.
This wasn't just a trial; it was an unprecedented opportunity for someone like him. He was excited.
'What are the requirements to evolve my Apprentice Ash Veil core?'
[Collect 100 Feral-Grade Ash Veil Fragments.]
He was stunned. A hundred? That seemed like a monumental task. If the Ordinary wolves were this troublesome, how much harder would the Feral ones be?
Either way, he was already committed. This also meant that there were Feral monsters deeper in this labyrinth. He was more than excited to face them.