I am the Game's Extra

Without a second thought, Daemon pressed the 'Yes' button. His mind was already set. The reward was too valuable to pass up.

Daemon felt a surge of determination as he prepared to claim the hidden piece. The most frustrating thing about this body was its glaring lack of stats and skills.

It baffled him how someone could have an average stat of 12 while being a hunter. By all logic, anyone who awakened their powers should start with at least one stat reaching 20. Yet here he was, stuck in a body that defied reason.

"Blind anger can only take you so far," he muttered under his breath, shaking his head. His thoughts were sharp, calculating as he refocused on the task ahead.

Without wasting time, Daemon braced himself and began moving forward, weaving through the familiar field of arrows once more. Each step he took was precise and his resolve grew stronger with every movement.

To claim the hidden piece, Daemon needed to repeat the same process he did the first time—ten times in total.

*********************

Swish! Swish!

Two steel arrows zipped through the air, aiming for him. Compared to before, the number of arrows had decreased. This was no coincidence—it was the result of Daemon's careful strategy. By running in a zigzag pattern, he deliberately triggered fewer traps along the way.

Still, the challenge remained. Each arrow came at him from a different angle, moving at unpredictable speeds. Despite the reduced number, he still needed to focus.

After what felt like days of relentless challenges, Daemon finally stepped into the room with the platform for the tenth and final time. His body ached, and his mind was heavy with exhaustion, but he refused to falter.

As he stood on the platform, a soft white glow enveloped him. For a moment, it flickered and turned red, just like before. But this time, something changed. The red light shifted to a serene blue, then gradually returned to pure white.

In an instant, Daemon felt the familiar pull of teleportation. When the light faded, he was standing outside the dungeon at last. Fresh air greeted him, and the weight of his struggles lifted slightly along with a satisfying message.

[You have obtained the passive skill 'Tenacity']

A sharp ding echoed in Daemon's ears, drawing his attention. In front of him, a black-and-white screen materialized out of thin air.

[Congratulations on completing the Quest.

Would you like to claim the rewards? Yes/No]

Without a second thought, Daemon pressed "Yes." A sudden surge of energy coursed through his body, making his muscles tighten and his senses sharpen. He could feel it—his physical abilities had grown stronger. Every fiber of his being felt renewed, as though a veil of weakness had been lifted.

But the rewards weren't finished.

In his hand, a smooth stone glowed faintly—a skill stone, radiating a strange energy. Without hesitation, Daemon clenched it in his fist. The stone shattered under the pressure, releasing a soft orange glow that spread like liquid light. The energy flowed through his arm, traveling up to his chest before settling deep within his heart.

Daemon felt it then—a new skill embedding itself into his very being. The sensation was strange but not unpleasant. A small smirk tugged at the corners of his lips.

"Status" Daemon muttered slowly under his breath. 

[Player: Daemon Gracefall]

Passive Skills:

[Unknown], [Cold-Blooded], [Tenacity]

Active Skills:

[Dash], [Stealth]

Attributes:

Strength: 17 Speed: 19 Agility: 16 Dexterity: 17 Perception: 18 Mana: 15

Daemon couldn't help but examine his updated stats with a mix of satisfaction and determination. His hard work in the dungeon had finally borne fruit, but he knew this was only the beginning. 

Curious about his newfound abilities, Daemon turned his focus to the details of his passive skill, Tenacity.

Tenacity: Each time the user's health decreases, his attack power increases by 10%.

This was the hidden piece he had fought so hard to earn in the dungeon. As he read its description, a satisfied smirk appeared on his face. The skill was straightforward but packed a punch—a perfect fit for someone like him, who often found himself battling against the odds.

Next, he examined the active skill he had obtained from the system: Stealth.

Stealth: This skill allows the user to blend seamlessly into their surroundings, becoming invisible both physically and magically. Even advanced detection abilities cannot counter it.

Daemon's eyes sparkled with excitement as he took in the details. Stealth wasn't just a skill; it was a game-changer. With it, he could avoid detection, strike at the perfect moment, or escape from situations where he would be cornered. 

Eager to test his new ability, Daemon activated the skill in his mind.

Stealth.

In an instant, his body began to fade, blending seamlessly into the environment. His figure disappeared entirely, leaving no trace behind. Even his shadow seemed to vanish into the air.

A thrill coursed through him as he observed the effect. To truly test its power, Daemon decided to approach the guard he had encountered earlier. Quietly and confidently, he made his way back toward the entrance of the dungeon.

The guard was still there, standing stiffly at his post, his sharp eyes scanning the surroundings. But as Daemon stepped directly in front of him—so close he could reach out and tap his shoulder—the guard showed no sign of noticing him.

Daemon waved a hand in front of the man's face. No reaction.

A satisfied grin tugged at Daemon's lips. The skill worked perfectly. With this kind of invisibility, not even the sharpest observer could detect him. It was better than he'd hoped for.

Daemon couldn't help but marvel at the success of his Stealth skill. The fact that it worked against the academy guards made it even more impressive. These weren't ordinary people—every guard stationed at the academy was at least a 3-star Hunter.

By comparison, Daemon's current stats barely put him at the level of a 0-star Hunter. The gap in strength was vast, and yet he had managed to slip past their perception without a hitch.

The Hunter ranking system was straightforward yet daunting. It began with 0-star Hunters, individuals with barely any mana or combat skills, and climbed all the way to 10-star Hunters, beings of unimaginable power. The mana levels of 10-star Hunters weren't measurable, and only a handful of individuals across the world had ever reached that peak.

This system wasn't exclusive to humans. Elves, orcs, demons, and other races followed the same classification. Yet, even among the rare 10-star Hunters, some stood above the rest. These extraordinary individuals were called Rankers, elite warriors whose power dwarfed their peers.

But there was a level even higher—a realm that transcended mortal limits. These were the Monarchs, beings who have achieved godhood. In the world of Hunter's Academy Online, they were the ultimate existence.

Daemon thought back to the game mechanics with a nostalgic smirk. He wasn't just a participant in this world; he was someone who understood its intricacies better than most. Knowing the system's structure, he was confident he could carve his path upward, even from the bottom.

Daemon decided it was time to head back to his room. After putting some distance between himself and the guard, he deactivated his Stealth skill and continued on his way.

Once he reached his room, he quickly changed into lighter, more comfortable clothes. As he settled in, his mind began to focus on his next steps. How should he train his body to make the most progress?

"First, I need to gather ingredients for a training efficiency potion," Daemon thought to himself. In the world of Hunter's Academy Online, it was common for veteran players to brew their own potions. While ready-made potions were available for purchase, creating your own was usually a much better choice. They offered greater precision in their effects, and could significantly boost training.

But the key to making a good potion was knowing which ingredients to use and how they would affect the body. It was a process that took time to learn, but once you understood it, the benefits were undeniable.

One of the biggest drawbacks of potions was that their effectiveness decreased with each use. The more you relied on them, the less they worked the next time.

"However," Daemon thought, recalling memories from the game, "in the later stages of this world, a new type of potion will be introduced. These potions won't have that disadvantage."

He remembered how much his friend had spent on those special potions. They were incredibly valuable, as they could permanently increase a person's stats, making them a game-changer for any player fortunate enough to get their hands on them. 

Daemon already knew which ingredients were needed to create the special potions.

"First, I'll start with Avium Essence," he thought.

He began searching for the ingredients online and ordered them. The Avium Essence was well-known for improving mana circulation while boosting both agility and mana stats—exactly what Daemon needed.

As he glanced at his bank account, he saw only 730 Units left.

"I need to make some money," he mused.

No matter where you were, money was always essential. It was the foundation for everything, especially in a world like this where every step forward required resources.