NOVEL NEXT Chapter 3: System and Opening Boxes
[Name: Bob
Level: 1
Class: None
Age: 21
Race: Human
Supporter: None
Titles: [Psycho], [First Blood]
HP: 110
MP: 9
Strength: 18
Agility: 20
Intelligence: 9
Vitality: 11
Bonus points: 0
Skills: [Inventory, Level 1]
XP: 210
Coins: 620
Inventory slots enabled: 1/5]
Bob stared at his stats, intrigued. Before he could explore the talents further, the demon's voice rang out, chilling and mocking:
"Everyone gets a random skill box as a bonus."
[You've been given a random skill box.
The random skill box has been automatically saved to your inventory.]
[Inventory slots enabled: 2/5]
Bob smirked. His curiosity burned as he clicked on his titles. The first was familiar:
[Psycho]
The bearer of this title is suffused with psychotic mana, circulating through their veins like a storm. Beware: When your anger reaches its peak, you lose consciousness and enter a berserk state, attacking anything alive in sight. During this rage, your stats triple.
Bob stared at the description, mulling it over. Most would consider this a curse. But Bob? He saw potential.
"This could save my life someday," he thought, his lips curling into a sinister smile.
Satisfied, he opened the second title:
[First Blood]
You were the first to kill human in the apocalypse. When there is blood on your weapon, its damage increases by 10%.
Bob nodded approvingly. It wasn't an overpowered boost, but it wasn't something to dismiss, either.
The demon's voice interrupted Bob's thoughts.
"Now, I'll teach you how to use your inventory. Imagine a grey box in your hand with a meteor icon on it. But don't open it yet!"
Bob and the other survivors imagined the box, and as instructed, it appeared in their hands.
[Inventory slots enabled: 1/5]
"Good," the demon said. "Now, imagine it disappearing back into your inventory."
Bob followed the instructions, and the box vanished.
[Inventory slots enabled: 2/5]
"Now, you can all open your boxes. I wish you the worst of luck. Heh."
A grey box reappeared in Bob's hand, along with those of the other survivors. They stared at the boxes, hesitant.
The demon sighed. "Oh, I forgot to explain. Just imagine the box opening."
Bob and the others complied, and the boxes glowed brilliantly before exploding into sparks. The survivors flinched—except for Bob, whose cold indifference caught even the demon's attention.
[You opened the box with a random skill.]
[You've been given the skill: Eyes of God.]
[Inventory slots enabled: 1/5]
Bob clutched his head as pain tore through his mind. The demon's wicked grin widened as the survivors writhed, their agony evident. But the torment soon passed, leaving Bob breathless but functional.
He opened his status again:
[Name: Bob
Level: 1
Class: None
Age: 21
Race: Human
Supporter: None
Titles: [Psycho], [First Blood]
HP: 110
MP: 9
Strength: 18
Agility: 20
Intelligence: 9
Vitality: 11
Bonus points: 0
Skills: [Inventory, Level 1], [Eyes of God, Level 1]
XP: 210
Coins: 7
Inventory slots enabled: 1/5]
Bob tapped on the new skill:
[Eyes of God]
Rarity: Mythic
The bearer of this skill wields the gaze of divinity. With it, you can view the stats of any organism or object. Upgrading the skill reveals increasingly detailed information.
Bob's eyes glimmered with excitement. Eager to test it, he looked at the demon. A small notification popped up:
[Name: Addak
Level: ???]
Bob frowned. The question marks suggested the demon's level was far beyond his skill's capacity.
"I'll need to upgrade it," he thought.
Next, he remembered the green box he'd earned from Addak earlier. Bob summoned it, noting the weapon icon etched on its surface. He imagined opening it, and the box dissolved in a flash of light.
[Opening the box with an uncommon weapon]
[You've been given the weapon: The Sword of St. George]
[Inventory slots enabled: 0/5]
In his hands appeared a long, two-handed greatsword made of gleaming iron. Bob swung it experimentally, surprised by how light and balanced it felt despite its size. He examined it with the Eyes of God.
[The Sword of St. George
Rarity: Uncommon]
The basic description left Bob hungry for more details, but he knew he'd unlock them as his skill improved. He turned to the bloody hammer in his other hand and used his skill on it as well:
[Hammer
Rarity: Common]
Satisfied, Bob stored the hammer in his inventory.
[Inventory slots enabled: 1/5]
The other survivors eyed Bob's weapon with a mix of envy and fear.
Among them were:
1. Bob himself.
2. A teenager, gripping a bloody kitchen knife, his face pale but determined.
3. A muscular man who resembled a Viking, broad and imposing.
4. A sharply dressed man who looked like a younger, cockier version of Donald Trump.
Bob's gaze shifted past them to the cityscape beyond the subway entrance. The world before him was in ruins: crumbling buildings, shattered streets, and an eerie, smoky sky.
Addak's voice boomed once more.
"From now on, Watchers will observe your actions. If they like what they see, they might reward you with coins—or even choose to sponsor you. Remember, each person can only have one supporter."
Notifications lit up Bob's vision:
[3 Watchers were impressed by your luck]
[They gave you a total of 150 coins]
[Coins: 870]
[4 Watchers want to become your supporter]
[Choose your supporter.
Your chosen supporter will act as your reliable sponsor:
1. Night Whisperer
2. Ruby Ruler
3. Blood Shadow
4. Mysterious Wanderer]
[6 Watchers look on expectantly at whomever you choose]
Bob studied the ominous names carefully. It was clear that his violent actions aboard the train had drawn these dark entities to him.
He smirked. "Let's see who I'll choose to stand at my side."