Apocalypse Baby

Ding!

[You have reached Level 75]

[You are now a B-rank]

[+10 to all stats]

[As a result of ranking up, you now have the option of choosing a new skill]

Alex's grin widened.

Another skill.

Since he had already gained three skill choices from reaching Level 50, Level 60, and Level 70—this new selection brought his total to four.

Alex's grin stretched wider.

Time to get even more broken.

With a flick of his hand, he opened the skill selection menu. A list of available choices appeared before him, glowing faintly with power.

His eyes scanned the options.

[Skill Options Available]

Steel Skin (B)

Effect: Temporarily hardens the user's body to the density of metal, significantly reducing physical damage taken for a short period. The user becomes more resilient to blunt, piercing, and cutting attacks.

Cost: 20 Mana per activation.

Duration: 30 seconds.

Cooldown: 1 minute.

Discern (B)

Effect: Grants the ability to instantly determine whether a statement is true or false, allowing the user to detect lies or falsehoods with perfect clarity. This skill works in real time and is not affected by magic or illusions.

Shadow Step (B): Grants the ability to momentarily merge with nearby shadows, becoming invisible and moving silently. The user can travel short distances within shadows without being detected, making it ideal for stealth and evasive maneuvers.

Cost: 15 Mana per activation.

Duration: 5 seconds per use.

Cooldown: 20 seconds.

Alex tilted his head, weighing his options carefully.

Steel Skin was a solid defensive ability. He could already picture himself standing there, tanking sword strikes like they were nothing. Even arrows and claws would probably bounce off. And if he upgraded it? He'd be a walking fortress.

But… did he really need it?

His durability was already high, and when it came to defense, he had Aegis Arcane—his trusty, magic-based barrier. If anything, stacking too many defensive skills might just be overkill.

Now, Shadow Step?

That was tempting.

The thought of blinking through darkness, vanishing into thin air, reappearing behind enemies before they even realized what happened?

That had a certain cool factor.

He could be an assassin. A specter in the night. Untouchable. Unseen. A nightmare to his enemies.

His grin widened. Yeah… this one was a real contender.

But then again…

Alex wasn't one to sneak around.

He didn't do subtle.

Stealth kills? Silent takedowns? Hiding in the dark? Not his style. If he was going to take someone down, he'd do it head-on, loud and overwhelming.

That left Discern.

A passive skill.

His eyes lingered on the description.

A skill that let him detect lies.

A slow grin tugged at the corner of his lips. Now that was something useful.

He wasn't naïve, but even the smartest people got tricked sometimes.

Deals, negotiations, interrogations—nobody could lie to him ever again.

He'd know when someone was bluffing. When someone was hiding something. When someone was about to stab him in the back.

No more deception. No more manipulation.

Just the cold, hard truth.

With a decisive tap, he made his choice.

Ding!

[Skill Acquired: Discern (B)]

Alex exhaled slowly, a sense of satisfaction settling in.

"Another skill added to the ever-growing list."

But he wasn't done yet.

His eyes flicked to the next selection, scanning the choices that appeared before him.

[Skill Options Available]

Blazing Fist (B): Envelops the user's fists in searing flames, enhancing their physical strikes with fiery damage that scales with the user's strength. The flames can burn through armor and leave lasting burns on enemies.

Cost: 15 Mana per activation.

Duration: 10 seconds.

Cooldown: 30 seconds.

Subzero (B): A cold-based ability that freezes anything the user touches, turning surfaces and objects into solid ice. This ability can immobilize enemies or freeze the environment for tactical advantages.

Cost: 20 Mana per use.

Duration: 5 seconds per target.

Cooldown: 45 seconds.

Wind Dash (B): Summons a powerful gust of wind that propels the user forward at high speeds, enhancing movement and granting an evasive edge in combat. This dash allows the user to quickly close distances or avoid attacks.

Cost: 10 Mana per activation.

Duration: Instant movement (5 meters).

Cooldown: 20 seconds.

Alex tapped his chin, weighing his options carefully.

Wind Dash? Speed was always useful. The ability to burst forward like a gale, dodging attacks or closing distances in an instant—it definitely had its appeal. He could see how it would be handy in tight situations.

But… did he really need it?

His agility was already insane. With [Godspeed Rampage] and [Surge]—both S-rank skills—he was already stupidly fast. Adding another movement skill felt unnecessary.

Blazing Fist? Now this one was tempting.

The image of his fists igniting with flames, punching through enemies like a walking inferno—yeah, that was cool. No question. But aside from the raw damage and flashiness, he couldn't think of a real reason he needed it.

Then there was Subzero.

Alex smirked.

The ability to freeze anything with a touch? That was different. That was control.

Alex's mind raced with possibilities.

He imagined gripping a sword, watching as ice crept up the blade, coating it in a deadly frost. A single slash could leave an enemy half-frozen, their movements sluggish, their limbs stiff with cold.

Or better yet—grabbing someone by the throat and watching them turn into an ice statue in seconds.

Now that? That was power.

With zero hesitation, he made his choice.

Ding!

[Skill Acquired: Subzero (B).]

Alex flexed his fingers, eager to test it out. He snapped his fingers.

Instantly, a thin layer of frost crackled over his fingertips, shimmering under the light. It spread across his skin like creeping veins of ice—before quickly melting away.

His grin widened.

Nice.

Alex's eyes sparkled as he moved on to the next skill selection, his curiosity piqued.

He was ready for whatever came next.

[Skill Options Available]

Echo Strike (B): Imbues the user's attacks with a delayed aftershock, causing the strike to deal damage twice—once upon impact and again a moment later as the shockwave reverberates.

Cost: 20 Mana per activation.

Duration: The aftershock triggers within 2 seconds of the initial impact.

Cooldown: 30 seconds.

Gigantify (B): Allows the user to enlarge small objects to gigantic sizes, increasing their mass and durability. The user can turn everyday items into massive weapons or obstacles, though the effect is limited to non-living materials.

Cost: 25 Mana per use.

Duration: Lasts for 1 minute or until dismissed.

Cooldown: 1 minute.

Iron Grip (B): Grants the user immense grip strength, allowing them to crush objects, weapons, or even armor with unbreakable force. This skill is particularly effective in grappling or disarming opponents.

Cost: 15 Mana per activation.

Duration: 10 seconds.

Cooldown: 30 seconds.