THE SKILL TREE

[Do you want to learn Basic Spearmanship?]

The words floated before his eyes, shimmering faintly on the system screen. Rave's heart raced. His chest tightened with excitement, but he kept his face carefully blank, refusing to let even a flicker of emotion slip through. He could feel all eyes on him—the fox's piercing blue gaze, Seji's calculating stare, and the soldier's unwavering focus. They were watching his every move, scrutinizing him as he took the spear in his hands.

"I can learn skills… just like that? This system… it's incredible!" The thought alone sent a thrill through his veins. It was beyond anything he had imagined.

He quickly agreed to the prompt in his mind, anticipation bubbling within him. But then—

[16 Lesser Beast Cores required to proceed.]

Rave's excitement shattered. His shoulders slumped, and a wave of disappointment washed over him. "Seriously? I thought it was free. This damn system… if the phrase 'everything needs a price' had a physical form, it'd be this thing!"

He gritted his teeth but agreed anyway, knowing he didn't have much choice. He needed this skill. And as soon as he accepted, the soldier stepped forward, his stance firm, spear pointed directly at Rave. His eyes locked onto Rave, cold and unyielding.

Meanwhile, something extraordinary was happening within Rave.

His mind buzzed as information flooded in—details about the spear's balance, the precise way to grip it, how to shift his weight, when to thrust and when to parry. It was like he had spent months on mastering the weapon, every movement perfectly calculated. But unlike his previous skills, there was no surge of energy, no physical transformation. This was purely knowledge—a download of experience straight into his mind.

His vision blurred momentarily as he focused, absorbing every detail. It was overwhelming, but exhilarating.

Lost in the flow of information, he didn't notice the soldier lunging at him, spear tip aimed straight for his head. The attack was swift and merciless, a strike meant to kill.

The fox watched intently, its eyes narrowing. Seji stood motionless, her face expressionless, but her eyes were fixed on Rave, waiting.

They weren't just testing his skill. They were testing his potential. A Tier 2 skill was no small feat. It was something only achievable at the second level of progression—a full stage above Body Strengthening. Those who could master such power prematurely were seen as prodigies, rare talents with the potential to achieve even greater heights.

To a clan, they were priceless. With just one of them, small territories could expand and enemies could be crushed.

But Rave had no idea. Not about the weight of their expectations, nor the true danger he was facing. He was too busy battling the storm of knowledge rushing through his mind.

Just as the spear was about to strike Rave's head, his body moved instinctively, his head tilting to the side with effortless speed, his eyes still closed. The soldier's expression hardened with surprise, but he didn't hesitate, launching a flurry of strikes aimed at Rave's neck, body, and legs.

Yet, Rave dodged them all, his movements fluid and swift, as if he were dancing around the attacks. He was relying on his skill, Swift Steps, moving solely by the sound of the spear slicing through the air.

From the sidelines, the fox's eyes narrowed with intrigue, while Seji's mouth curled upward, a glint of satisfaction lighting her face.

'I've truly found a treasure for the clan,' she thought, her gaze never leaving Rave. At first, she doubted his claim about possessing a Tier 2 skill at such a low progression level, dismissing him as an arrogant boy boasting without reason. Yet, now she watched in awe. His ability to move like that… it was definitely a Tier 2 skill. Even within her clan, only a select few possessed such power.

Meanwhile, inside Rave's mind, the knowledge transfer completed, and he opened his eyes. The world around him seemed different—eerily calm, almost as if time had slowed. The spear in his hands felt strangely familiar, as if he had practiced with it countless times before.

[Tier 0 Skill: Basic Spearmanship obtained] the system notified.

Rave's eyes sharpened, his stance firming as the soldier continued his assault. But this time, Rave didn't just dodge. He attacked. Using Swift Steps to enhance his speed, he lunged forward, his spear cutting through the air with a sharp whistle. The sheer speed of his movement caused a loud crack to echo throughout the room, a sound so powerful that even the guards outside perked up, their hands tightening on their weapons.

The soldier's eyes widened beneath his helmet as he instinctively gripped his spear tighter, meeting Rave's next strike head-on. A thunderous clash rang out as the two spears collided, the force of the impact reverberating through the room. Rave was stunned. He had attacked with incredible speed, yet the soldier not only blocked it but stood firm, his spear unmoved. This was no ordinary fighter.

The soldier's stance shifted, one foot sliding back, his body lowering into a defensive posture. A reddish aura began to swirl around him, crackling like static electricity, growing denser with each passing second. Rave's eyes widened, his body involuntarily shivering.

'What… what is this power?' he thought, desperately trying to access the system to scan his opponent. But instead, the system flashed:

[Error. Host level is very low]

Before he could process the message, the soldier moved, his speed now terrifying. He thrust his spear forward, the tip gleaming as it shot toward Rave with lethal intent. Panic flooded Rave's mind. 'Is he trying to kill me? Just for showing my skill?' He moved on instinct, but even with Swift Steps, he realized he couldn't escape this strike. Death felt inevitable.

Just as the spear's tip was about to pierce his chest, a commanding voice thundered through the room, echoing within their minds.

"Stop."

The soldier's body froze mid-strike, the red aura instantly dissipating. He straightened, pulling back his weapon with robotic precision. Rave's chest heaved as he gulped for air, his heart pounding in his chest.

"I thought… I was dead," he murmured, a shaky, embarrassed laugh escaping him as he looked at the soldier, who simply nodded, his face concealed by the armor. No emotion was visible, only the cold, disciplined stance of a warrior.

Then, the fox's voice echoed again, its tone calm but laced with curiosity.

"Where are you from?"

Rave's eyes widened, his mind scrambling. Of all the questions, he hadn't expected this. He stared blankly at the fox, his thoughts racing, questions and doubts swirling inside his head. Why did it want to know? What was it planning?