SKILL TREE

Rave's eyes lit up as he activated his new skill, Vital Surge. The energy surged through him upon activation. But this time? It felt different than before. It wasn't like his Swift Steps, which rushed energy through his legs wildly and spiraling to boost his speed.

This was more that Swift Steps. The energy from the skill spreading evenly throughout his body, refreshing him from head to toe.

He narrowed his eyes, curiosity bubbling up in his heart. "So... different skills really do have their own energy patterns." He glanced down at his hands, flexing his fingers that tingled with this new life. "Swift Steps was all about that speed and agility... but this? This feels like I'm just soaking in pure vitality."

As that energy flowed through him, Rave spotted something strange. Tiny, glimmering particles swirled around him, drawn toward him as he activated Vital Surge. They were faint and almost like they were hiding. But he could see them now, little sparks of light that twinkled before vanishing into him.

"What are these...?" he said, eyes wide with wonder. "Energy particles? Like the stuff I read about in those fantasy tales?" murmering to himself he reached out to touch them, but his hand just went right through like they were nothing, just same experience when he tried to touch his system screen.

"I couldn't even see them earlier," he thought while experincing this new scenery. "Is it because of this skill?"

His mind buzzed; excitement was building up inside him. "So, this is the energy in this world. It's everywhere! I've been breathing it in and walking through it, totally unaware of." Rave couldn't help but grin, feeling like he'd just stumbled onto a huge secret of the universe.

"No wonder skills are so powerful... They pull energy from the very world around us."

Then his gaze drifted to the Skill Tree. The icon for Vital Surge was glowing softly, a swirling spiral that seemed to pulse with life. He tapped it, and the system responded in a flash.

[Do you want to upgrade Vital Surge to Tier 2?]

[Requirement: 2 Greater Beast Cores or 64 Lesser Beast Cores]

Rave sighed, scratching his head. "It's kinda something I expected. Not exactly a surprise." He peeked at his inventory, counting the four pale blue crystals he had left. "I barely have anything... Two Greater Cores? That means I'd need to hunt beasts way tougher than those Boulder Boars. I think that was not going to happening anytime soon."

He shook his head and closed the panel. "Well, stressing over it won't help. I'll get there... eventually with the help of this system." Determination sparkled in his eyes. "For now, let's focus on what I can actually do."

His attention shifted to the Quest Panel—he still needed to complete his 10 Lesser Beasts quest, and he was just one away from reaching it. The thought of that Treasure Trove Map made his heart race.

"One more... Just one more beast and that map is mine." A grin spread across his face, excitement bubbling up again. "Who knows what I'll find there... Maybe something that'll speed up my Tier 2 journey."

Feeling light and full of energy, it's all thanks to that Vital Surge now he refreshed. He stretched his body, shaking off any lingering fatigue. "Alright then... Time to wrap up this quest!"

With renewed energy, he took off, his footsteps quick and sure as he scanned the plains for his next target.

After a long time of search.

Rave pushed on, his gaze sweeping over the endless plains. There wasn't a creature to be found anywhere, and, well, that was frustrating, his brows furrowing deeper and deeper with every second.

"Seriously... Where the hell are they?" he grumbled, kicking at a small rock in annoyance. He was aware this was an upgrader Rift—meant to challenge and toughen up those who entered—but he hadn't anticipated it would be this barren.

With a deep sigh, he pushed forward, every sense on high alert. An hour slipped by, and honestly, his patience was fraying—like, really. "Six hours... Six whole hours since I got here," he grumbled to himself. "And just when I need one more kill... poof! They all vanish. Classic me."

But, giving up wasn't in his Dictionary. The quest had him hunting down ten beasts, and here he was, stuck at nine. That treasure map reward? Yeah, it was way too tempting to just walk away from. As he kept searching, he unexpectedly came across this huge sand hill blocking his path.

Rave stopped, got in confusion. "A sand hill... right here? At the middle of the plain." He scanned its towering height, and then his eyes landed on something odd—a hole, big enough for a person, at the base of that hill. He squinted, hearing weird chittering sounds coming from the darkness.

"That... That looks like a burrow... like those rabbit holes back on Earth," he murmured, though this was way too big. He examined the edges of the hole, noticing claw marks and uneven walls. "This is... definitely not natural."

A shiver coursed down his spine as the noises grew louder and unsettling. It's a mix of scratching and distant squeaks. Every instinct told him to turn back. But... without any beasts around, he couldn't afford to waste more time in this barren place.

Rave gulped. "No choice... This Rift is for upgrading. Tougher monsters should be lurking, right?" He inhaled deeply, attempting to steady his nerves. "Alright... Let's do this."

He crouched and squeezed into the hole. The ground sloped steeply, and before he could brace himself, his feet slipped. "Whoa—!" He tumbled forward, the tunnel spiraling downward like a twisted slide. Dirt and debris whipped past him as he was pulled deeper into the shadows.

The air turned cold and musty. Haunting whispers echoed through the narrow passage, sending icy fingers along his spine. "This... doesn't feel right..." he muttered, panic bubbling inside him. "How long is this thing?!"

The chittering grew louder, more distinct, and the atmosphere grew thick. The slide felt endless, the darkness felt suffocating. His heart raced, dread sinking into his bones. "Damn it... This is too deep. How am I supposed to get back up?!"

Just as panic threatened to consume him, he spotted a dim light ahead. Hope flickered within him. "An exit... Finally!" He braced himself as the tunnel expelled him into the open.

Rave stumbled forward, barely managing to keep his balance as he emerged into a vast space. His feet hit solid ground, and he looked up, breath catching in his throat.

What he saw was a labyrinth—a fallen labyrinth. Ancient stone walls fallen around him, cracked and crumbling, their once-grand architecture reduced to mere ruins. The floor was a mess of debris, shattered pillars, and broken tiles, half-buried in dust.

But what truly chilled Rave's blood were the torches. Weathered, ancient torches mounted along the walls flickered with an eerie, unnatural glow.

"How... How are they still burning?" Rave whispered, his voice shaky. The flames danced silently, casting long, sinister shadows that seemed to writhe along the stone. A cold shiver ran down his spine as the chittering intensified.

Turning his head, his heart plummeted. Before him lay a vast chamber, its floor sunken and uneven, like a giant pit. And it wasn't empty. Hundreds of creatures scuttled within it.

Rats—giant rats—were formed their own home in this place, their bodies swaying as they crawled over one another. Their eyes glowed a menacing red, catching the flickering torchlight. Their fur was matted and filthy, claws scraping against the stone floor, leaving deep, jagged grooves.

The fallen labyrinth echoed with their chittering, a ghastly chorus that reverberated through the chamber. The walls vibrated with the noise, and the air was thick with a foul, rancid stench.

Rave's face drained of color, his body freezing in place. "No... No way..." he whispered, barely audible. His eyes dart