《Valhalla Leveling System》


 Chapter 1: Martyn the impure

    "Hey, lackey, hurry up. We don''t have all day to deliver a simple soup," an authoritative voice resounded from the restaurant. "If you keep taking longer, I''ll throw you out on the street, Martyn," the boss threatened, his tone relentless.


    "Right away, sir," Martyn responded instantly, his voice filled with urgency. Getting this job had been tough, and he couldn''t afford to lose it.


    "Good, take that soup to the woman over there," the man ordered, showing a smile of authority as he pointed to the customer in question.


    "Here you go, ma''am. I hope you enjoy it," Martyn said, handing over the soup with a forced smile, though his displeasure was evident.


    "Well, it''s about time my food arrived. I thought I was going to starve. For an ''impure,'' you have a lot of nerve making me wait," the woman responded disdainfully.


    The comment hurt Martyn, but he knew he had to stay calm. Discrimination was a constant in his life.


    (Ungrateful bitch, people like you should be happy to eat something like this, we barely have enough to survive.)


    Disgusted, Martyn decided to return to the kitchen.


    "Hey, what''s wrong, Martyn? Was that customer really bad?" his coworker, Victor, asked as soon as he entered the kitchen.


    "You don''t say, Victor. The ''blessed'' think that being chosen by the gods means they can look down on everyone else," Martyn replied as he headed to wash the dishes.


    "You know how things work here. We ''impure'' must help those chosen by the gods. After all, no god wanted us," Victor said, bringing Martyn back to reality.


    "Yeah, I know, but it''s stupid. Just because we weren''t chosen, we have to be less? Besides, these marks are annoying," Martyn retorted, showing his two marks to Victor. People with double marks were considered the lowest in society, the most inferior of the ''impure.''


    "Hey, less talking and more action. Martyn, go serve soup to the customers who just came in and keep a smile," their boss interrupted, entering the kitchen and ending the friends'' chat. It was time to work.


    "Understood, boss," Martyn replied, leaving through the door with two bowls of soup.


    "Here you go, sir. I hope you enjoy it," Martyn said with a forced smile.


    "What is this? Why on earth is an impure serving me soup?" the customer spoke angrily, clearly disgusted by Martyn''s presence.


    "Sir, our soup is good. Being served by an impure has nothing to do with its taste," Martyn said, lowering his head. He was already used to this kind of treatment.


    "Good? Is this a joke? You''re an impure. The gods will punish me if I take something served by you," the man responded angrily. "I don''t want your dirty soup," he said as he threw the bowl to the floor.


    "I want someone else to serve me soup! Don''t you know who I am? I''m a hunter of Olympus affiliated with the Egyptian gods. I''ve completed the great aspirants'' trial, I''ve had missions and everything," the man boasted, showing his medal to demonstrate his status.


    *whispers: "Wow, does that guy have no shame? Why is he serving food to a hunter, doesn''t he know his place?"


    The whispers of the other customers reached Martyn''s ears, making him angrier, but he didn''t have the strength to confront the man.


    (Shit, he''s a fucking hunter. They''re the worst when it comes to the impure.) Martyn clenched his fists, angry at hearing the man. It was well known in the city that you should never confront a hunter of Olympus.


    "What''s the matter, sir? Do you have a problem?" After several minutes of hearing the man''s complaints, Martyn''s boss approached to speak to him.


    "Do I have a problem? Of course I do. Why the hell is an impure serving me food?" the angry man responded, pointing at Martyn.Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.


    "My apologies, sir. This impure here is only supposed to clean, but it seems he came to serve you, great hunter, without my permission. Come on, Martyn, apologize to the man," the boss ordered while Martyn could only listen.


    "But you were..." Martyn tried to tell the truth, but seeing the faces of the two men intimidated him. "I''m sorry," he said, angry inside.


    "What? Are you a wimp? I can''t hear you at all. I see what''s happening, you want to mock me, don''t you?"


    The man, with a smile, approached Martyn. "Do you want a beating?" Martyn slowly backed away, seeing his intentions.


    (Shit, I see what''s happening. He wants to show off his hunter skills to everyone.) "No, I''m sorry, I just..."


    Before he could finish speaking, Martyn received a punch in the face. His weak body fell to the ground instantly.


    "Do you think you can mock a hunter and get away with it?" The man prepared his next punch, but it was stopped by chains holding his arm.


    "What the hell? Who dares to touch me?" With rage in his eyes, the man turned around, but found no one.


    "Looks like someone is looking for me," to everyone''s surprise, a girl with long silver hair stood behind the man without warning.


    "Who... who the hell are you?" the man asked, clearly scared.


    "I''m a hunter of Olympus just like you. I was enjoying my meal, but your shouting and fighting bothered me," the woman said, while her chains began to sprout steel thorns.


    "This energy... you''re a hunter affiliated with the Greek gods. I''m so sorry, I didn''t know," the man changed his expression completely and knelt before the woman.


    (A Greek hunter here? I can''t believe it.) Martyn looked at the woman in amazement. Hunters affiliated with the Greek faction were known as the strongest in Neo Tyran. The only way to join was if you were very talented.


    "Alright, just don''t make any noise and leave," the woman said with a cold look. The man didn''t hesitate for a second and left.


    "Alright, are you okay, kid?" The girl''s face changed to a smile as she offered her hand to Martyn to help him up.


    "Yes, thank you," Martyn replied, getting up on his own. He couldn''t show himself as too weak.


    "Apologies, hunters have a lot of ego sometimes. Oh, right, take this," the girl gave Martyn a coin. "It''s compensation for the soup earlier." After saying those words, the girl turned and left the place. Martyn wanted to thank her, but the words didn''t come out.


    (Shit, it''s a silver coin. I''d have to work a whole month to get something like this, but I don''t like it at all. I won''t use it,) Martyn thought as he put the money in his pocket.


    ***


    "Hey, why are you only paying me 3 bronze coins for a day''s work?" Hours had passed, and it was payday. Every day Martyn received 5 bronze coins.


    "That''s your pay for today. A customer was upset with you, so be grateful I paid you. For an impure, you''re very lucky," Martyn''s boss responded, getting ready to leave.


    (Shit, but with this amount of coins I can''t even pay for the house.) Although he wanted to complain, Martyn held back and left the place with such a miserable pay.


    "Shit, all this because I''m an impure. It''s not my fault I have no talent," Martyn said angrily as he kicked a trash can and started his way home. Although Neo Tyran was a city with a lot of technology and quite large, the impure lived in the lower parts of the city where they barely had electricity. And in one of those places lived Martyn.


    "I''m hungry. I should see what I have in the fridge to eat," he said as he opened the door of his house, dropped his bag on the table, and went straight to the fridge. His physical condition was quite weak because he couldn''t eat much.


    "I only have bread, cheese, and some water. It''ll do until tomorrow," he said as he prepared to eat. Martyn lived alone since he was very young. His parents died in one of the "great ascents" the city suffered.


    (Shit, today was worse than the others. I even got hit.) Martyn thought as he prepared to eat. "I wish I wasn''t an impure. I wish I was as strong as the hunters and could teach them a lesson."


    "Hello? Is anyone there?" Martyn''s fantasies were interrupted by someone knocking at the door.


    (Who the hell could it be at this hour?) After hearing the voice, Martyn went straight to the door to see who it was.


    "Good evening, young man. Do you have anything to offer this old man?" To Martyn''s surprise, he found an elderly man, quite small.


    "Hello, sir. I really have little food, but here you go," Martyn took out the coin the woman had given him earlier. He really didn''t want to see that coin; it only reflected his weakness.


    "Thank you, kind young man. Thank you very much," the man said, holding the coin with both hands, revealing something hidden in him.


    (He has three impurity marks? It must have been even harder for him than for me,) Martyn thought as he saw the man''s mark. People with three impurity marks were those without talent and who also didn''t believe in the gods, so that was their punishment.


    "Alright, young man, I''ll be leaving now


    . See you later," said the old man before leaving instantly.


    "See you later? I hope he doesn''t come here every day asking for money," Martyn said, still doubtful, as he closed the door to eat and prepare to sleep.


    (Alright, another day is over. Time to sleep.) As always, Martyn lay on his couch, since he couldn''t afford a bed, ready to rest. Tomorrow he had to work without fail.


    [Welcome.]


    "What happened? Did the alarm already go off?" But as soon as Martyn opened his eyes, he found himself in a place different from his home. "Where am I? Is this a dream?"


    Unsure of what he was seeing, Martyn asked, sitting in a large and beautiful garden with a big tree in the center.


    "A dream? Is my kingdom a dream to you?" But to cut off his doubts, a voice spoke to him from behind, making the boy turn his head.


    "Thank you for the coin earlier, boy. I am Odin."


    "Wow, this dream is really weird," Martyn murmured.

 Chapter 2: Talk with Odin

    "Wait, wait, are you Odin?" After hearing the man''s words, Martyn couldn''t help but be shocked. Maybe he had gone crazy from suffering so much and was imagining things, but this dream felt too real.


    "Yes, just as you heard, I am Odin, the supreme god of the Norse faction. I believe you have heard of us in your city," the one-eyed man replied to Martyn with a smile.


    "Yes, of course, I''ve heard of you. The Norse gods, a group of gods with so much power that they can rival the Greek gods. But when humanity went through the ''First Great Ascension,'' you abandoned humanity. From that moment on, talking about Norse gods has been a crime in Neo Tyran."


    Martyn''s words did not leave a great impression on Odin, who seemed to have known what the boy was going to say. "Yes, young man, it is just as you say. We Norse gods thought there would be no salvation for humanity, but the other gods did not think the same and must have given abilities to mankind in exchange for honor. You must have seen many abilities."


    "No, actually, I''ve seen few skills other than ordinary ones for living." Martyn exposed his situation with a look of embarrassment. It was rare for an impure to see high-level abilities since they are only seen in places close to the city center. "But there''s no way I''m facing a god. From what I''ve heard, the pressure they emanate is brutal for an ordinary human like me."


    "That''s easy to explain. You are here in soul, but not in body. We just have to lower our power so you can stand in front of us," Odin explained to Martyn without hesitation.


    "I see, but why am I here?" Determined to cut the conversation short, the boy wanted to get to the end of the mystery.


    "Sure, of course, I haven''t yet explained what you are doing in my kingdom. That is simple to explain: the Norse gods have chosen you." The god was clear and concise with Martyn after hearing his question.


    "You''ve chosen me? Don''t give me that bullshit. No faction of gods would be interested in an impure like me." Contrary to what he might expect, the boy got defensive instead of happy about the man''s words.


    "Yes, that''s a fact. If you are an impure, you have no considerable talent. But what if I told you that we have a way to give you the talent you don''t have?" The one-eyed man said those words with a mischievous smile.


    (Become stronger? The only people who can become stronger are the hunters of Olympus because of the prizes they get in battle. A normal person like me can''t do that.) Although the man''s words were tempting, Martyn didn''t fall for them completely.


    "I sense doubt in your heart, boy. Don''t you trust my words?" asked the god after seeing the boy''s doubt. "No, I don''t trust what you say. It is very strange that gods who abandoned humanity would want me to join them."


    Martyn took a few steps away from Odin after realizing this. He had heard of some famous dark gods, with whom you should never affiliate yourself. "Yes, that is a fact. We Norsemen abandoned humanity at its worst, but that can change."Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.


    "But of all people, why an impure one like me? There are more talented people in Neo Tyran." Martyn was trying to get to the bottom of all this. It was quite rare for a god to be interested in an impure.


    "Two reasons. The first, being an impure, you are an empty canvas on which we can work. You will become stronger, and the world will see the power of the Norse. And the second," after saying those words, Odin took out a staff which hit the ground, transforming into a figure that Martyn already knew.


    "Wait a second, you were the old man?" Martyn was shocked to see that the man he helped before was a powerful god. "No, actually, we gods need a lot of energy to go out into the world. That''s why I used this old man I found over there," Odin explained to avoid confusing Martyn.


    "I see, so you chose me just to give you money?" Martyn asked the god.


    "You ask too many questions and take too few actions. Come on, trust us. It''s time to change your life." Odin was returning to his original form while Martyn looked thoughtful.


    (Shit, I''m so confused. I can''t understand what he''s really up to. But at the same time, this may be my last chance. Ever since I got this damn mark at age 10, my life has been one hell after another.)


    "Okay, I''m going to accept. What should I do?" Somewhat hesitantly, Martyn decided to accept the man''s proposal. "Good, I knew you would accept. Then let''s start with your initiation test."


    As soon as he finished speaking, Odin''s staff hit the ground again, changing the nice and elegant garden to a smaller and dirtier one.


    "Wow, you used teleportation?" Martyn asked upon seeing the god''s demonstration of power.


    "Welcome to Valhalla''s training area," Odin explained to Martyn as he assimilated the change of space.


    "Training area? What am I supposed to do here, go through a workout?" After hearing Odin''s words, Martyn felt better. When he heard the word test, he thought it would be something dangerous.


    "Hahaha, something like that. But this test won''t be given to you by me, it will be given to you by him." Odin pointed back, causing Martyn to turn his gaze around and see another god.


    "This is the guy who is going to represent us? Don''t make me laugh. You could have at least brought someone with some muscle." The god walked up to Martyn, watching him closely.


    (Who the hell is this guy? Just by appearing, my body feels a huge pressure. Odin did too, but he knew how to control himself. This is going to kill me.) Martyn thought as his body felt heavy. The man''s arrival was too much for him.


    "Hey, calm down. You''re going to make him faint." Odin corrected his partner, who instantly lowered his power to the point that Martyn felt comfortable.


    "Shit, was that necessary?" Martyn, fatigued, asked the man who was still glaring at him, but he was used to such looks by now.


    "Let me introduce you. Martyn, this is the god who will test you. His name is Tyran, and he is in charge of this training camp," Odin explained to the young man, who still had a little trouble breathing.


    "Less complaining and more action. Follow me, boy," Tyran didn''t seem very happy with Odin''s presentation and decided to pass him. Following him, Martyn started to follow until they reached a place with several aiming targets.


    "What will I do, practice with arrows or something?" Somewhat doubtful, Martyn asked the man in charge. "Shoot arrows? Don''t make me laugh, kid. Here," showing a smile for the first time, Tyran handed an object to Martyn which appeared to be a knife.


    "A knife? Am I going to throw it or something?" Still not knowing what to do, Martyn asked again. "Do you like throwing things or something? No, kid, your test will be simpler than that."


    After speaking, the man snapped his fingers, making a wolf appear, a little bigger than Martyn. "You are so weak you are at level zero. You must earn the right to start so we can lend you our power."


    "Wait, you''re not going to want me to face that thing, are you?" Martyn asked as he saw the wolf in front of him.


    "Face you? No, you must kill it."

 Chapter 3: Welcome to Valhalla

    "Wait, you want me to kill that thing? Look at my body, I''m a wimp compared to that beast," Martyn instantly protested, feeling like his first test would be the end of his road.


    "Come on, I gave you a knife. The hunters of the land kill beasts from the ''great uprisings'' with them. This is just a normal wolf," Tyran responded, dismissing Martyn''s complaints.


    "Yes, but I''m not a hunter," Martyn continued to resist. The wolf hadn''t moved since Tyran summoned it, likely because of the gods'' presence.


    "Come on, Martyn, it''s just a wolf. If you don''t defeat it, we won''t be able to trust you to represent us," Odin added, seeing the boy''s hesitation.


    (Shit, I''d really hate to have to face this thing. I''ve never fought a beast in my life, but this is the only chance I have to change my life.) Still with doubts, the boy held his knife with determination while looking at the beast.


    "Fine, I''ll do it. I''ll kill it," Martyn said, filled with conviction and ready for combat. "Perfect, then good luck, kid. Let''s hope you don''t die here."


    After saying those words, both gods disappeared, leaving Martyn alone with the beast. "Well, I can''t lose. Come at me, you bastard."


    The young man invited the beast to fight, which, no longer afraid of the environment, showed its fangs. (Shit, they''re pretty sharp. I really wish this was a dream, but I must do it.)


    Still with doubts, Martyn lunged at the beast. He knew nothing about fighting, but he knew he had to slit its throat to kill it instantly. "Got you, motherfucker!" As fast as he approached, the young man tried to stab the wolf, but it responded by cutting Martyn''s arm with its claws.


    "Shit! Why does it hurt so much? This isn''t my physical body," Martyn almost dropped the knife from the pain, but he took courage and tried to attack again, managing to graze the beast''s fur.


    (Come on, it''s just a little blood. I can make it. No, I must make it.) Although Martyn''s hand hurt, he didn''t back down. The beast didn''t back down either and pounced on Martyn this time.


    "Damn, I must cut its throat now. I can''t waste any time," Martyn thought with some hesitation as he tried to attack the wolf, but it bit him instantly. "Shit, my leg! This test sucks!"


    In defense, Martyn picked up a stone from the ground and hit the beast in one of its eyes until he managed to break free, the wolf falling to the ground. "Fuck, I can''t get up and that thing is coming towards me. I''m going to die for real." Martyn watched the wolf with fear as it slowly approached.


    "No, I don''t want to die. I had to live a miserable life because of some damn gods who gave me a damn mark, and now I have to die just when I''m going to change it? I don''t think this shit is fair at all." Martyn grabbed more stones from the ground, held his knife with what little strength he had left, and watched as the beast slowly approached.


    "Come on, you bastard, I''m waiting to kill you," Martyn said, standing up with all the strength he had left. He lunged at the wolf again, this time throwing the stones to distract it and preparing his cut.


    "Well, I got you, damn dog. Get ready to die," Martyn said, stabbing the beast''s neck with force. In defense, the wolf bit his shoulder.


    (Hold on, hold on, you must hold on!) Although the pain was unbearable, Martyn didn''t let go of the knife. Little by little, the wolf''s bite lost power.


    "I, even if I''m an impure, I''ll show them what I''m made of!" Using the last of his strength, Martyn pushed the beast until it stopped breathing.


    "Shit, I did it for real. I did it¡­" After confirming his victory, Martyn lost consciousness. Before he could fall to the ground, he was caught by Tyran, who had a grin on his face.


    "Hahaha, I must admit it was fun watching you fight, kid. Even though it was a very easy wolf to beat, I never expected you to do it," the god laughed, apparently enjoying the show.


    The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    "I told you he could do it. After all, he is that man''s son," Odin said as he appeared second, implying that choosing Martyn was not pure chance.


    "Well, he''s bleeding out. What should we do with him? Do you want to lose your only fighter?" Tyran sneered at Odin, who instantly healed Martyn completely.


    "That''s enough for now. He has proven himself worthy of us lending him our power," Odin said with a smile, ending Martyn''s journey for the day.


    "Well, all yours. Welcome to Valhalla, boy," Tyran said, welcoming Martyn, who wasn''t hearing anything. Apparently, Martyn''s life was about to change.


    ***


    "Uh? Is it time to wake up already?" When Martyn opened his eyes, instead of encountering a magical world like last time, he found himself in his usual house with an alarm blaring incessantly.


    "Shit, I had a crazy dream." After turning off the alarm, Martyn got up and got ready to go to work. Even though he worked early, he could only earn 5 bronze coins a day.


    "Okay, time to go." As soon as he finished changing, Martyn headed towards his work. (Shit, I''m sure that dream was very real and I''m sure I won, but I don''t feel any kind of power or anything.) Although the young man concluded that the dream wasn''t real, he couldn''t help but feel some hope of getting stronger.


    "Good morning, sir. Good morning, Victor." As was customary, as soon as Martyn arrived, he greeted his companions. "Good morning, Martyn. We are going to sell a lot today."


    Victor, as usual, flashed a smile at his friend as he carried a large box. "No good morning and greetings. Go to the market to get more vegetables and remember to put on your hood."


    But to cut the good mood, the boss gave an order to Martyn, who instantly went to do it without protest.


    (Shit, I hate having to go get vegetables. This field is too hot.) Because good quality vegetables are only sold in the market, Martyn must be hooded, since impure people are usually sold at a higher price or simply not sold to.


    "Good morning, do you have any carrots?" After a few minutes of walking, Martyn arrived at the market. It seemed he was only supposed to buy carrots and tomatoes today.


    "Yes, we have the carrots by the beech." The lady tending the store spoke warmly to Martyn. If she knew he was an impure, the treatment would be different.


    (These people treat blessed people quite well. I wish I could always live like this, but I can''t hide my mark forever.) Martyn thought with some sadness as he looked for the best foods.


    "You pieces of shit, you think you can steal from me!" But Martyn''s tranquility was interrupted when he heard a man shouting in the distance.


    "You impure shits came to my place to rob me, didn''t you?!" Apparently, the man was accusing three children with impure markings.


    "That''s not true, sir. We paid you!"


    "Are you calling me a liar?!" One of the girls tried to explain, but her words were cut off by the man''s fury.


    (I would like to help, but what can a weakling like me do? He is a blessed one, he must have an ability, even a basic one.) Martyn ignored the situation. He didn''t have the necessary power to help the children.


    [First test]


    (What was that?) To Martyn''s surprise, a voice was heard in his head.


    "Excuse me, did you say something to me?" Surprised, the young man asked a shopper near him. "I''m sorry, it seems you got confused."


    [First test]


    (Voice heard again. What''s going on?)


    [Welcome to Valhalla. Initiation test completed]


    [Test number one: Hero]


    [Stand up to the man and help the children]


    [Reward: 10 experience points]


    (Valhalla? The dream was real?) Martyn''s mind raced with the realization. If the dream was real, this was his chance to prove himself. He clenched his fists and took a deep breath, feeling a surge of determination.

 Chapter 4: Welcome to Valhalla (2)

    (Have I gone crazy? I''m sure I''m hearing some kind of voice in my head.) Skeptical of what he hears, Martyn decides to close his eyes.


    [First test]


    [Help the children]


    [Reward: 10 experience]


    (Shit, it seems like that dream wasn''t as unreal as I thought. But how the hell do you want me to help the kids? I don''t have enough strength.) Martyn knew more than anyone what his limit was. When he got two marks at age 10, he tried to fight the other children, but their blessed abilities were too much for him.


    [Warning]


    [If you fail the test, the Norse gods will not lend you their power.]


    (Holy shit, are you serious? I don''t seem to have any other choice.) Somewhat hesitantly, Martyn decides to approach to help the children.


    "Hey, mister, what''s going on?" With his typical fake smile, Martyn approaches the center of the scene.


    (I just have to calm him down and give him some money. That''s enough to accomplish this mission.) Thinking his plan in his mind, Martyn prepares to fulfill his first test.


    "What''s going on? These impure fucks were stealing from my store, that''s what''s going on!" The man was looking angrily at the kids.


    "I see, but I don''t think you should make a fuss in town, sir. People are watching you." Intending to calm the man down, Martyn gives him a choice.


    "Hey, you''re defending these kids a lot. Who are you? Are you even a hunter? From your physical build, it''s obvious you''re not." The man notices Martyn''s tricks and decides to ask.


    "No, I was just passing by and..." Martyn was taking several steps backward due to nerves, but to his bad luck, a tall man stopped him in his tracks.


    "Hey, do you think you can fool us? This guy here is an impure and not just any kind of impure¡ªhe''s of the lowest category. He has no talent at all," spoke the man. Apparently, he was also an impure but of a different level than Martyn.


    "No, I just want them to leave the children. That''s all." Martyn was getting defensive, but it was too late. The store owner was preparing an attack.


    "I was blessed by the Roman gods. I''m not going to be fooled by an impure." The man''s eyes began to glow, showing that he was ready to use his powers.


    (Shit, those Norse gods are crazy. They just want me to get my ass kicked.) Martyn took a combat stance. He was used to this kind of situation¡ªhe just had to hit him first and run away.


    "Sorry, but I won''t stay." Martyn threw a punch at the man, but it was stopped by a wall of water. The man was using his abilities.


    (Shit, he has defensive abilities. This is the end of me.) Nervously, Martyn tried to move away but got hit in the stomach by a water-formed punch.


    "Hahaha, this imp really thought of beating me? Don''t make me laugh." The man was preparing more of his power to punish Martyn.


    (Shit, where are the kids?) Martyn, still on his knees on the ground, noticed that the kids had fled during the commotion.


    [First test: Hero]


    [Completed]


    [Claiming reward]Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    [You have gained 10 experience points]


    [You have leveled up]


    (Is the voice in my head telling me I leveled up? Is this some kind of Norse gods joke game?) Martyn angrily listened to the voice in his mind.


    [You have earned two additional rewards for leveling up.]


    [You''ve unlocked stat points]


    [You have earned an item: Lucky Coin].


    "Prepare to receive my fury, impure shit." The store owner was changing the water wall into a giant fist, ready to punish Martyn. No one did anything; some even enjoyed the scene.


    [Looks like the rep is in trouble. Want to use the Lucky Coin?]


    (What the fuck? Is this for real? Yes, I want to use it.) As a last resort, Martyn decided to trust the voice in his head for the first time.


    [You have used the item: Lucky Coin.]


    "Hey, what''s going on here? You know that fights are not allowed in the cities." As soon as Martyn used the item, a guard hunter arrived.


    "Excuse me, sir guard, it''s just that this imp was challenging me." The man decided to stop using his powers, while glaring at Martyn.


    "I see. Hey, you impure piece of shit, get up, get your stuff, and leave." The guard slapped Martyn, who instantly got up and left.


    (Shit, what was that all about? Was it really the work of that miracle coin or just a coincidence?) Unable to believe it himself, Martyn went back to his work.


    The day went by as usual. Martyn worked until late only to receive five miserable bronze coins. During the day, he tried to call or listen to the voice, but it didn''t appear again.


    "Looks like earlier was just a coincidence. I was hoping I could use the voice again." With a regretful expression, Martyn returned home, ready for dinner and sleep.


    (Thanks to today''s coins, I was able to buy more food. It looks like I''ll be able to have breakfast tomorrow.) Happy for his small achievement, the boy got ready and went to sleep. He just wanted to rest after such a hard day.


    [Welcome, representative]


    [Welcome to Valhalla]


    "Uh, am I here again?" But just like the night before, upon closing his eyes, Martyn woke up in a beautiful garden with various flowers. "What''s wrong? You don''t seem very happy about being here."


    Just like last time, Martyn was surprised by Odin, who was up in a tree enjoying the apples of the kingdom.


    "Hello, Odin. No, it''s just that I find these things hard to believe," Martyn replied to the god while looking at the landscape intently.


    "What can''t you believe, young man? Can''t you trust us to lend you our power like we did today?"


    "Wait a second, how do you know that?" After hearing the god''s words, Martyn instantly got defensive.


    "Hahaha, did you seriously think we wouldn''t know what our representative does?" With a mocking laugh, the god spoke to Martyn. It seemed that his good luck from before was not pure chance.


    "I see, but what does that whole leveling up system have to do with this? And especially, what is that voice in my head?" Martyn asked the god, still confused. He was intrigued by that voice all day.


    "That voice is a gift from the Norse gods to you. But you are not supposed to listen to it; you must see it." Odin came down from the tree, and as his words spoke, it seemed it was time to go.


    (See the voice? This is getting weirder and weirder.) Martyn decided to follow the god until they both reached a large door.


    "Hey, you could have just used teleportation like the other time. I don''t see the need for so much walking," Martyn complained as he wiped away his sweat. Even though his soul was the one in Valhalla, he could still feel the exhaustion.


    "A good exercise never hurts, my young Martyn. Instead of complaining, you should open the door and see the reward for such a hard walk." The one-eyed man invited Martyn to open the doors.


    "Wow, it''s beautiful. Is this what big cities look like?" Opening the gates of the city, the young man was amazed. The scenery was even better than that of the garden.


    "Welcome to Valhalla, boy. In this place, you will become stronger. Let''s go inside." Odin, with a smile, guided Martyn through the whole city.


    (It seems that all this is not a joke. Really, the gods have chosen me. Someone notices my abilities.) Martyn walked with a smile, seeing everything with great curiosity.


    "Hey, where are we going?" Martyn asked the god.


    "We are going to a place where you can train. You must become stronger. You still have a long way to go, but for that, we must prepare you to meet the challenges we will give you." A few seconds after starting the walk, Odin stopped at a place with a great structure.


    "This is the temple where you will have your second test. You must become stronger, and I think this is the best way." Listening to the man''s words, Martyn entered the place as fast as he could. (If I am going to become stronger, I must do it right.)


    Excited to become someone better, Martyn failed to notice the doors of the place closing.


    (Well, what am I supposed to do here?) Martyn asked, but since he received no answer, he realized he was alone.


    [Second test]


    Martyn heard the voice again, the one that had guided him before. He knew that it only appeared when there was trouble.


    [Test number two: Clean the temple]


    [Defeat the four spirits tormenting the temple]


    [Reward: 20 experience points, random skill]


    "Finishing off spirits? That''s a hunter''s job." Martyn sighed, but he knew there was no turning back now.

 Chapter 5: First hunt

    "They want me to kill some spirits? But I''m not a hunter," Martyn grumbled, seeing what his second test would be about. He didn''t have the required gifts for that.


    ["What are you worrying about, kid? This test is at a comfortable level for you."]


    "That voice... Tyran, is that you?" The boy recognized the voice instantly; it was the god who put him through his first test.


    ["Yes, boy, it is me. In this test, you will also be in my care. But I asked Hela for some help, and she lent me several of her low-ranking spirits. I thought you might like this better than fighting more of my wolves."]


    The god''s reassurance gave Martyn a bit more confidence.


    "I don''t really like scary stuff, but it''s better this way. I don''t want to get bitten again," Martyn replied with a satisfied face. "But as I said before, I have no idea how to win. I''m not a hunter."


    ["That''s why you don''t have to worry, kid. You still have one of my knives, remember?"]


    "Yes, I had it, but I lost it when I ran out of consciousness yesterday," Martyn replied to the god in an embarrassed manner.


    ["No, boy, you didn''t lose it. It must be in your inventory."]


    The god''s words confused Martyn. "What inventory are you talking about? I don''t have any inventory."


    ["Wait a second, didn''t Odin teach you? I thought he did. Well, listen to me, we gave you a power like a game class."]


    "Yeah, I knew that. At first, I thought it was weird, but it was you," Martyn was slowly understanding what the god wanted to tell him.


    ["Well, that system was planned by us for your comfort because this way it will be easier for you to understand it. Now I will teach you how to use it. Focus on your right hand."]


    Martyn followed the steps indicated by the god and focused his attention on his right hand.


    ["Good, now concentrate all your energy on that hand. It doesn''t matter if you don''t feel anything; just do it."]


    Following the god''s instructions, Martyn imagined an energy in his hand, which for a strange reason formed a kind of tattoo on his hand.


    ["Well, it''s already active. Now your eyes will see something amazing."]


    "Something amazing? What do you¡ª"


    Martyn was going to ask him about the mystery, but his eyes saw it for himself. In front of him appeared a system window as if it were a video game. "Hey Tyran, what is this?"


    ["Hahaha, I told you you were going to be surprised. That right there is our gift to you. You can become stronger with this. Come on, use it."]


    With a mocking laugh, Tyran invited Martyn to play with the window.


    "Well, let''s see..." With some hesitation, Martyn touched the window, managing to get into something that displayed his information and other options.


    [Martyn Tryggvason]


    [Level: 2]


    [Race: Human]


    [Age: 21 years old]


    [Rank: None]


    [Stat Points]


    [Skills]


    [Inventory]


    [????]


    [????]


    "Wow, it looks like a video game. This is supposed to help me get stronger, isn''t it?" Martyn spoke with a smile. If he could get stronger this way, maybe he could take the hunter wannabe test in the not-too-distant future.


    ["Yes, boy. You have already gained several stat points, and in the inventory is the weapon I gave you yesterday. Good luck."]


    After saying those words, Tyran''s voice disappeared from Martyn''s head.


    "Okay, I think I''m getting a bit of an understanding of all this. You said I had several stat points. Should I try using them?" With interest, Martyn touched the stats option.


    [Rep Stats:]


    [HP: 30/30]


    [EXP: 0/50]


    [STR: 3]


    [AGI: 5]


    [STA: 4]


    [VIT: 3]


    [INT: 2]


    "Wow, I knew I was weak, but this is absurd." After looking at his stats, Martyn couldn''t help but feel disappointed with himself. His best stat was agility, and it was only 5 points.


    "I have 10 stat points. I think I should raise strength and agility so I can complete this test better."


    [You have added 5 stat points to strength]


    [STR: 3>8]


    [You have added 5 stat points to agility]


    [AGI: 5>10]


    "Well, I guess I should test the difference." As soon as he read the information, Martyn dropped to the ground to do several push-ups, managing to do more than he normally could.


    "Good, I feel much better. Time to comply with the test."


    [You''re using the item: normal knife]


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    "Time to hunt." Full of conviction and new confidence, Martyn delved deeper into the temple.


    ***


    "I don''t see any ghosts around here." The search for spirits had started several minutes ago, but Martyn hadn''t found any.


    "I really wanted to test myself." Martyn complained as he went down some stairs.


    "I''d like to just¡ª"


    [Warning.]


    Martyn, who was just complaining, was taken aback by the message on the window.


    "Danger? That just means something''s nearby." Martyn looked for the source of the threat and found a one-eyed creature with a round body, which floated in front of him.


    "Are you supposed to be a spirit? I thought you''d be scarier." Martyn teased the spirit a bit as he held the knife.


    "You don''t seem to be talking, so I''m coming for you, you bastard." Without wasting a second, the young man lunged at the spirit, which dodged every attack attempt and spat out some kind of stone.


    [HP: 25/30]


    (Did that thing seriously take 5 life points off me? The worst part is that it hurt. I can''t imagine what kind of stuff hunters face.) Angry with the specter, Martyn tried to stab it again without success.


    (There must be something else. Wait a second, I know what to do.) Surprisingly, the boy threw the knife at the specter, managing to hit it in the eye.


    [You have defeated an enemy]


    [Experience gained: 10 points]


    [EXP: 10/50]


    "There you go, you son of a bitch!" Martyn showed a bright smile as he saw the specter fall to the ground. It was the first time he defeated something without getting hurt so badly.


    "Alright, let''s get on with it." Lifting his knife off the ground, Martyn began to scan the entire temple.


    "Great, there goes another." After searching for several minutes, Martyn had defeated two more wraiths of the same caliber as the first.


    "I noticed two things about this mission. One, it seems like it''s a mission for me to level up and gain confidence."


    [EXP: 30/50]


    [Wraiths defeated: 3/4]


    "The second thing I noticed is that if I manage to dodge their attacks, I can pick up this kind of slimy bullet." Martyn took from the inventory what the wraiths used to attack.


    [Item: Yoke bullet]


    [Info: Your level is too low to use this function]


    "I''d really like to know what it''s for, but for now, let''s finish this test." Martyn decided to close the window and look for the last wraith.


    "You give off a different air." Martyn didn''t have to look far to find his next target, as it was waiting for him in the center of the temple.


    The specter in question was a floating skull with three eyes. It looked like he''d have to stab each one if he wanted to win.


    [You are facing a low-rank boss]


    (I see, it''s a kind of boss, but that doesn''t matter. I''m going to kill it.) With self-confidence, Martyn lunged at the spirit, but to his surprise, it opened its mouth and threw a bigger kind of rock at him than the ones thrown by the wraiths before.


    "It''s coming too fast." Martyn was stopped by the rock''s blow, which made him bleed a little.


    [HP: 12/30]


    (It''s more complicated than I thought. I must do something.) Martyn took distance from the spirit while thinking of what to do.


    (Let''s see, I can''t throw the knife at it because it still has two eyes left. If I had something else to¡­ Wait, it will be possible.)


    [You have taken out the item: Yoke Bullet X2]


    As if a light bulb had turned on in his mind, Martyn came up with the idea of using the collected items to win.


    "Okay, let''s try it." Concentrated on the combat, the young man rushed back against the specter, throwing three stones at it. Two of them hit it in the eyes.


    "There''s only one left." The wraith, in defense, made its own attack, so Martyn had to think fast.


    "There is no choice, all or nothing." Martyn threw the knife at the specter and decided to cover himself with his hands, receiving the specter''s attack to an even greater extent than before.


    [HP: 2/30]


    [Enemy defeated: 4/4]


    [Experience gained: 20 points]


    [You have gone up a level]


    [Reward will be given after leaving the place]


    "I sure had a hard time defeating him."


    Martyn spoke while still on the floor, looking at the window.


    [Congratulations!]


    [You have defeated your first boss. It will be added to the achievement room]


    "Great, but the best of all comes now." With some effort, Martyn stood up, smiling at the last message in front of his eyes.


    [Test Two: Temple Cleansing]


    [Completed]

 Chapter 6: Hunter Test

    "Well, I already did it. What''s supposed to happen now?" Martyn spoke quizzically. He had completed the test several minutes ago, but he still couldn''t get out.


    "Do they want me to see the rewards for completing my mission?" Somewhat puzzled, Martyn decided to claim the test reward. He hadn''t done so before, as he wanted to keep it to himself.


    [Test Two: Temple Cleansing]


    [Reward earned: 20 stat points, a random skill].


    "Well, it''s best to start with the stat points." Knowing what he should do, Martyn opened the stats tab in his window.


    (I must think carefully. I have 20 points and I must know how to spend them. I think I should start with vitality. In the last fights, I kept losing health quickly and feeling tired.)


    [You have added 10 stat points to vitality]


    [VIT: 3 > 13]


    "Now I feel much better. Let''s see how much health I have now." Feeling less tired than before, Martyn decided to check his improvements.


    [HP: 10/130]


    "Great, I increased it to 130 points. Now I''ll be able to last longer in combat."


    "Now for the other stats. I think I should invest 5 points in agility and strength like last time."


    [You have added 5 stat points to strength]


    [STR: 8 > 13]


    [You have added 5 stat points to agility]


    [AGI: 10 > 15]


    "There, that''s it for the stats section. Now let''s look at this..." Somewhat anxious, Martyn decided to check his next reward.


    [Skill: Precise Cut]


    "Precise Cut? I was hoping for something more magical like the blessed abilities, but at least a skill is a skill. I should see what it''s all about." With some disappointment, Martyn decided to check the details of his new skill.


    [Precise Slash: When using this skill, every attack he launches with a weapon will target the opponent''s weak points] - [Mana per use: 100]


    "Wow, this is a great skill. It takes hunters a lot of training to learn this skill, and I just got it as a gift." Martyn spoke excitedly as he watched the temple door open.


    "Well, it''s time to go." Martyn said those words as he got up to leave.


    "Well done, our representative. I knew you could make it, even though the last one gave you several problems, didn''t it?" As soon as he left the temple, Odin spoke to Martyn.


    "Yes, it was a bit tricky having to face him, but the important thing is that I won." With an air of pride, Martyn spoke to the god, who in response could only smile.


    "Where is Lord Tyran? I thought he would be here." Martyn asked about the other god''s whereabouts to Odin. After all, it was Tyran who had helped him quite a bit inside.


    "Tyran is somewhere else right now. If you heard his voice, it means he spoke telepathically." Spoke the god, as he prepared to leave.


    "Telepathically? I didn''t know you could do that." That explained to Martyn the voice in his head earlier.


    "Yes, we can do that. Did you like our gift? I think you already know how to use it." Odin asked the boy as they approached the exit door.


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    "Yeah, I like the video game look of it. I have a question. Will I be able to use the window after I get out of here?" Martyn asked the god. It would be pointless to have all those upgrades here and not outside.


    "Sure, if you wish, you can check it out for yourself when you get out." After saying those words, Odin and Martyn approached the door.


    "Well, then it''s time for me to go, isn''t it?" Already understanding what was going on, Martyn left the city. It looked like the real change in his life started after today.


    "Well, it''s time to wake up." Just like the previous days, the sounds of the alarm woke Martyn up. But instead of waking up as usual in a slow and tired way, today, as soon as he heard the alarm, he started doing push-ups on the floor.


    "Good, I''ve beaten my numbers out of Valhalla too. Now I should confirm." With doubts in his mind, Martyn focused all his attention on his right hand.


    [Window active]


    "It seems to be working perfectly outside of Valhalla as well. I''ll have to start changing." With a smile, Martyn prepared himself for the day ahead.


    "Good morning." As always, Martyn was early for his work. "Good morning, Martyn. Hope you''re well." With a smile, Victor welcomed him.


    "Where''s the boss? He always comes to scold us at this hour." Martyn asked; his boss was usually putting him under pressure at that time.


    "The boss is outside. His son will apply for the hunter applicant test to be held today." Victor resolved his friend''s doubt while preparing some vegetables.


    (Hunter applicant test? I had no idea there was one today. I''d like to enter, but I still need to improve more.) Martyn started washing the dishes while thinking about a future as a hunter.


    [New test]


    (A test now?) Martyn''s concentration shifted when the window appeared in front of him.


    "Hey, Victor, look over here, do you see anything strange?" Until now, Martyn had never used the window in front of someone else, so he decided to confirm if Victor could see it.


    "Anything strange? No, I don''t see anything. You mean the damaged noodles? If so, it''s the boss''s fault. He left them outside." Victor apparently couldn''t see the window, so he responded without knowing what Martyn was referring to.


    "Yes, I meant the noodles. Thanks for responding." Knowing that his friend couldn''t see the window in front of his eyes, Martyn took the opportunity to see what his next test would be.


    [Test Three: Open Doors]


    [Objective One: Go to the wannabe hunter test]


    [Objective Two: ???]


    [Reward: 30 Stats Points, a random weapon, a random skill]


    (You want me to go to the hunter wannabe test? It''s weird, I don''t have the strength to apply, but the test says I should just go. It doesn''t say anything about getting involved. Besides, this is a pretty good reward: a weapon and a new skill. Olympus hunters have to work hard to get weapons if there''s no blacksmith.) Although he had doubts, Martyn figured the best way to get stronger was to do the mission.


    "Hey, Victor, are we missing some vegetables?" Martyn asked his friend.


    "Yes, we''re missing several tomatoes and carrots. We''re also missing garlic and onions." Victor replied cheerfully; they seemed to have used up most of the vegetables.


    "Okay, I''ll go to the market to buy more." After saying that, Martyn put on a mask and his hood; after what happened last time, he had to tread more carefully.


    "Good, remember to bring everything." In a good way, Victor watched as Martyn walked out the door.


    "Okay, carrots, garlic, onions, and tomatoes. I got it all!" Fifteen minutes had passed since Martyn''s departure, and he was already returning from the market.


    "Now that I have everything, let''s see what the test is all about." Martyn entered a large temple surrounded by people. This was the place where the tests for aspiring hunters would be held.


    (I''m surprised that this time it''s being done in a Roman temple. Normally the Greek gods dominate these trials.) Martyn watched the place without much amazement; he was quite a fan of coming to watch the trials.


    "Hello everyone, welcome to this month''s hunter wannabe trials!" In the center of the temple, an imposing man spoke. He was one of the representatives of the Roman faction.


    "As you all may know, after the first great assertion of the land, humanity has had to struggle to fight the beasts of the shadows!" The man was giving a tour of the various


    events that had befallen humanity after the "first great assertion," leaving everyone in a bit of awe.


    (I know this show. It puts fear into people and then tells the benefits of their faction, so they take the best wannabes.) Martyn already knew what this was all about, so he didn''t make a big deal out of it.


    "Yes, it was a great loss to humanity! We had to come and gather all of us on a single continent known today as Neo Tyran!" The man kept talking as he explained the origin of the city.


    "But don''t worry, my friends! Humanity has had lows, but it has also had highs. To fight those creatures, we are here."


    The man propelled himself upward as he displayed several stars. This was the spectacle of the Roman faction, the universe.


    "Pluto, Venus, Neptune, all the gods we take have lent us their power, and on this occasion, you should lend them yours! So, if you think you have the necessary gifts, I invite you to be part of the Roman faction. The power of the stars will bless you!"


    (Well, looks like now the real show begins.) Martyn prepared for the hunters test.

 Chapter 7: Hunter test (2)

    (The hunter aspirant test is usually very different between factions, and the Romans are no exception.) Martyn, a fan of these tests, already knew a bit about what the test involved.


    "Yes, my friends, I know you are excited for this month''s trials, and I am too. Here you will be able to show off the skills the gods gave you when you were 10 years old!"


    The crowd became euphoric thanks to the man''s words. It seemed that most of them were eager to show their skills. Who knows, maybe a great talent would appear.


    [You have completed objective number one of the test.]


    (Wow, that was easy? I thought they would ask me for more things.) Martyn smiled at the window. Everything seemed to indicate that this mission would be easier than he thought.


    "Alright, easy, easy. I know many of you are already looking forward to being tested, and I''m looking forward to seeing you in action. But first, you must sign up for the first phase!"


    After saying these words, the man took out several sheets of paper and handed them to each person in the crowd. "These are the registration forms. All those who want to aspire to be hunters, fill them out with the required information. If you have only come to watch, fill it out with the corresponding information."


    (Well, I just came to watch then...) As usual, Martyn planned to fill in the spectator information.


    [The second objective of the test will be revealed]


    (Looks like the second objective is here. Let''s see what it is.) Excited to see what the Norse gods had for him, he decided to confirm what it was.


    [Objective Two: Sign up for the hunter test as a participant.]


    (Wait, what? I''m still not strong enough to join a hunter trial. What are Odin and the others thinking?)


    Martyn showed an uncomfortable face as he read the message. He was supposed to complete the test, but he didn''t want to participate in the hunter wannabe test.


    (Shit, but there''s no other way. I have to do it, even if it''s kind of annoying. I must trust the Norse gods.) Although he was still scared, Martyn decided to fill out the information as a participant.


    "What am I supposed to fill in the part that says affiliation? This is so annoying." While Martyn was filling in his sheet, someone next to him was doing the same but seemed confused about a part of it.


    "What''s wrong? What do you need help with?" Martyn decided to help the boy, so he walked over to ask.


    "Oh, hi. I need help with the affiliation part. It''s actually my first time coming to one of these tests." The boy explained to Martyn with an embarrassed smile.


    "I see. In the affiliation part, you put which faction blessed you when you were 10 years old." Thanks to his knowledge, Martyn was able to help the boy.


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    (Although it may seem like a simple box to fill in, it''s not as simple as it sounds. Each faction is required to attend the purity election held every year. There, the gods choose who they bless. Those with talent are blessed with different abilities given by a specific faction. But for those who do not, it is different, as they receive a mark of impurity.)


    Martyn continued filling in the relevant information as he thought about it. He was quite knowledgeable.


    (What the factions are looking for is applicants with great potential. If you were blessed with great abilities, you are more likely to be chosen.)


    "Thank you. Thanks to you, I filled out this information. I was blessed by the Japanese gods." The boy thanked Martyn while looking at his finished sheet of paper.


    (The Japanese? How strange. They are known for blessing and recruiting few people, but most of their members are quite strong.) Martyn finished filling in his sheet. In the affiliation section, he only wrote the word "impure."


    "What is your name? My name is Boris." The boy introduced himself to Martyn, wanting to start a conversation.


    "My name is Martyn. It''s a pleasure to meet you, Boris." Martyn replied to the boy without making a big deal out of it.


    "I hope we can both be hunters, showing our worth on the battlefield against those monsters." Excited, the boy threw several punches in the air. It seemed his desire to be a hunter was no joke.


    "I hope so too." Martyn replied to Boris without much enthusiasm. He didn''t feel confident about passing the test.


    "Good. I hope you all filled out your sheets correctly. Now go through this door. The sheets have some of my skills to cross the door. You will be automatically divided into your selected group!" With excitement in his words, the man opened a large door at the back.


    "Looks like it''s about to start. I think we should go, Martyn." Excited by what was happening, Boris invited his friend to come through the door with him.


    (It''s really happening. My heart is beating too fast, but for some strange reason, I feel excited.) Martyn began to feel a mix of excitement and fear as he approached the door.


    "Get out of the way, you bastards. I''ll be the first one in!" But just as they were approaching the door, Martyn and Boris were stopped by a guy with a big presence.


    "Hey, what''s wrong with you? You think you can come in here and do whatever you want?" To stop the boy, a man of large physical build stood in their way.


    "Yeah, and I''d like you to get off." The boy didn''t show a hint of fear in front of the man. Apparently, he was quite confident in his abilities.


    "I like bastards like you. They think that by getting a good blessing, they can look down on others, but they''re just bullshit." The man made the boy feel small.


    "And I love fuckers who think they look cool defending others." But in response, the guy answered with a murderous look. It seemed a fight was about to break out.


    "Hey, hey, no fighting inside the temple. If you have a dispute, you can do it inside the test." But before the situation escalated, the host of the event stopped them.


    "Fine, whatever. I''ll go first. I hope I don''t see you, bastard." After saying those words, the troubled boy entered through the door.


    "I swear if I find you, I''ll kill you." Also angry, the man walked through the door.


    "Looks like things have gotten a little intense." Boris said these words. If it wasn''t for the man, a fight would have happened.


    "Yeah, I think we should go in." After saying those words, Martyn took the lead, with Boris behind.


    (Okay, here we go.) With different emotions in his heart, Martyn entered through the door.


    [Test Three: Open Doors]


    [Completed]


    "This is being inside a test?" The moment he walked through the door, Martyn encountered an incredible forest. Apparently, Boris was put somewhere else on the map, as he was alone.


    "Well, what should I do?" Martyn looked at the area with some anticipation. He had seen a lot of these trials, but living them was another story.


    [Warning]


    (Warning? What''s going on?) But Martyn''s tranquility was undermined when his window warned him of something, so he decided to turn back.


    "What the heck?" To his bad luck, Martyn found himself up against a spider-like monster.


    interacciones con Martyn.

 Chapter 8: Hunter test (3)

    (This... this is crazy. I understood that the hunter''s test was a little difficult, but...) Martyn thought as he cautiously observed the giant spider.


    The giant monster, on the other hand, was eyeing its next prey, its long legs capable of intimidating anyone.


    [Warning]


    [You are against a monster that surpasses your level.]


    [It is recommended to escape. If you manage to defeat the monster, you will receive an additional reward.]


    The system''s orders confirmed what Martyn was thinking: if he fought that monster, he might die. "Alright, little buddy, I''m off."


    Without much hesitation, Martyn started running in the opposite direction, but the monster didn''t seem to like it and chased after him.


    (Shit, I thought it was a passive type monster because of the way it looked at me, but it''s a hunter type monster.) Martyn thought while hiding in the forest.


    In Neo Tyran, there are several types of monsters. There are passive types that are mostly not aggressive; some hunters use them as pets or mounts. But on the other hand, there are hunter type monsters, which are aggressive and enjoy killing their prey. It is recommended to eliminate them quickly.


    "Shit, it''s still following me. I must do something." After grumbling, Martyn turned around and decided to confront the monster.


    [Inventory]


    [You are using the item: Normal knife.]


    Ready for combat, Martyn drew his dagger. He had to survive this monster if he wanted to be a hunter.


    The spider stopped a few steps in front of Martyn after seeing his action. It seemed ready for combat too.


    "Well, it''s time to try it out," Martyn whispered as he got into a combat stance.


    [Skills:]


    [Precise Slash]


    As soon as Martyn activated the skill, he lunged at his enemy. The spider, in response, took several steps back but wasn''t fast enough, allowing Martyn to slash one of its legs.


    Martyn''s cut was extremely precise and direct. The legs of monster spiders are known to be normally hard, but between their strong armor lies a very soft part that allows them to move quickly. Although this is beneficial for them, it is also their weakness. Experienced hunters can easily exploit this vulnerability. In Martyn''s case, his skill allowed his eyes to pinpoint that weak spot directly.


    Showing its anger, the spider quickly moved one of its legs toward Martyn, sending him flying. If he had been closer, he would have been stabbed.


    [VIT: 100/130]


    (Shit, it was only one hit, but that was enough to send me flying.) Martyn thought, wiping the blood from his lips.


    "I should be able to beat that thing. My slashes hurt it, but I''m not strong enough yet. Wait a second¡­"


    With a confident face, Martyn decided to run back toward the spider, which was preparing to defend itself. But as soon as it noticed the change of stance, Martyn ran the other way at high speed.


    Feeling cheated, the monster took a little while to return to its original stance to follow Martyn, who had hidden.


    "I forgot I had this," Martyn whispered as he saw the window given by the gods.


    [Test Three: Curtains Out]


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    [Completed]


    [Reward received:]


    [30 stat points, one random weapon, one random skill.]


    "Perfect, let''s not waste time and start with the stats." With a proud smile, Martyn started distributing his stat points.


    [You have added 10 stat points to strength]


    [STR: 13 > 23]


    [You have added 10 stat points to agility]


    [AGI: 15 > 25]


    (Good, now I feel somewhat light. Surely I have a power similar to that of blessed low-powered people.) Martyn thought as he threw punches in the air and clenched his fists.


    The moment of peace had come to an end with the screams of the spider, which had found Martyn and was angry with him.


    "Well, just in time!"


    According to his words, Martyn held his dagger tightly and lunged at the monster at a totally different speed than before.


    [Skills:]


    [Precise Slash]


    Even though the spider tried to defend itself, it was unable to do so. Martyn''s slashes destroyed each of its legs. In a matter of seconds, it was simply an immovable body.


    [Congratulations]


    [You have defeated the monster]


    [Experience gained: 25 points]


    [EXP: 25/100]


    [Due to the increase in statistics, the representative will not be able to receive the last reward].


    [Due to the increased stats the user will not receive the special reward].


    "Shit, I really wanted that skill, also the special reward but surely it''s only granted if you defeat an enemy stronger than you really are!".


    Feeling disappointed, Martyn started to walk, but his attention was stopped by a large screen that appeared in the sky.


    {Wow, what a wannabe. Looks like they liked my initial gift!}


    The person speaking on the screen was the representative of the test, one of the executives of the Roman pantheon.


    {There were a total of 200 participants, but only 98 are left. Don''t worry; it''s normal. Not everyone can be a hunter.}


    The representative''s attitude was a little more aggressive as he spoke. Apparently, the monster Martyn faced was no mere chance.


    {Well, since you have passed the first test, it''s time for me to explain what the test is all about.}


    Following the man''s words, the screen changed, showing a map. It depicted rocky places, forests, large masses of ice, and even an area covered by lava.


    {You will have to last a full day in this place blessed by the gods. No matter how you do it, your number one priority is to survive.}


    The man''s words made Martyn''s stomach tingle. He had heard before that the test for aspiring hunters was far from easy, but this was insane.


    {Those who manage to survive will be able to get a hunter''s license. Don''t feel bad for the others. Those who die here, we do you a favor.}


    (His words are harsh, but he is right. If they let anyone hunt, it will be a waste of resources. But this is¡­) Martyn thought as he watched the screen. He used to come here a lot to watch the trials, but he didn''t think it was something like this.


    {With that clear, I will give you some hope. We have decided to leave a celestial-grade weapon in the center of the map. The person with the highest number of casualties will get it. I wish you luck.}


    Leaving his last message, the screen disappeared. "Well, if I stay here for a whole day, I should have food."


    Martyn approached the lifeless body of the spider he had eliminated earlier. "Well, I guess I can get it in here, can''t I?"


    [Inventory]


    After opening his inventory, Martyn held the spider''s body and managed to get it into his inventory, becoming an item he could use later.


    "Well, I''m in the forest area. The best thing I can do is get out of here. It''s not a good place," Martyn muttered as he walked out of the forest.


    Minutes passed, and Martyn was still wandering through the forest. His sense of direction was pretty good, but for some strange reason, he couldn''t get out.


    (There''s something strange here.) Martyn thought as he walked, but he stopped when he heard a branch break behind him.


    "Hey... Hello. Are you lost?" Contrary to what he thought, Martyn met a girl approaching from a distance.


    "Hello, are you?" Hiding his impure mark, Martyn decided to answer the girl, who looked a little scared, surely because of the ordeal.


    "I''m Alicia. I''m here to fulfill the aspirant test, but my weapon broke," the girl replied with some regret.


    "I see. Answering your question from before, yes, I''m also lost. It feels like


    the forest is infinite," Martyn said as he started walking in another direction.


    "This forest isn''t real. This forest is a¡­"


    [Warning.]


    "My hunting ground."


    Turning his gaze, Martyn watched as the girl''s body transformed into wood and began to disintegrate.


    "What the hell was that?" Drawing his dagger, Martyn prepared himself for any future attack.


    (Surely it''s a Leshy.) Martyn thought, maintaining his concentration.


    Leshy was a weak kind of monster, but one that made its prey fall into illusions, locking them in a mental maze until it could kill them. That explained why Martyn hadn''t been able to escape.


    "Easy. It wouldn''t be fun to kill you now. Let''s play a little." As if it were an echo, a voice spoke cruel words.


    [New Test]


    (A test just now? I hope it''s important.) Martyn couldn''t help but get angry at the system. Thanks to such tests, he was in this trouble.


    [Test Number Four: Spirit of the Forest]


    [Finish off the spirit that haunts this forest]


    [Reward: 30 stat points, two necklaces of life, a random skill.]

 Chapter 9: Hunter test (4)

    "Hey, this isn''t funny at all. I swear I''m going to kill you," Martyn muttered as he wandered through the forest. Minutes had passed since his last encounter with the Leshy.


    (There must be a way to hunt that son of a bitch down. Wandering around this forest is no fun at all.) Martyn thought as he used his dagger to cut through the leaves and bushes.


    (For now, the best I can do is not fall for his game.) Martyn decided to stop and rest by a tree. "Come out wherever you are."


    Attempting to dialogue with the monster, Martyn called out, but the Leshy didn''t show itself.


    "Well, we''ll do it your way then, you bastard." Angrily, Martyn opened his system to see what he could use.


    (I still have some stat points left. Let''s see what I can spend them on.) Martyn started to analyze the best investment for his stat points.


    [You''ve added 10 stat points to intelligence.]


    [INT: 2 > 12]


    [Mana: 200 > 1200]


    After several minutes of thought, Martyn decided to allocate his stat points to intelligence. After all, skills are used with mana.


    "Now I''ll be able to fight better. I think it''s time to¡­" Reflexively, Martyn moved his body, pulling out his knife and slashing backward.


    Thanks to his increased stats, his body had become more attuned to the environment. "Holy crap, that was close." Martyn, having moved away from the spot, looked at what appeared to be a claw-like branch.


    "Looks like someone has come to play. You''ll have to do more than that to catch me." Martyn decided to run through the forest, using the claw as a starting point.


    (One of the Leshy''s weaknesses is that they can''t create physical attacks in their illusions. If we take that as a reference, I''m 100% sure he should be nearby.)


    As if his suspicions were confirmed, several wooden stakes shot at high speed appeared in front of Martyn.


    [Skills:]


    [Precise Cut]


    Using his knife, Martyn managed to cut all the stakes in half, continuing on his path. He thought to hide behind one of the trees, but the Leshy could control them and use them against him.


    As he caught his breath, several wood foxes began to chase Martyn. "Looks like you''re desperate." Ready to take them on, Martyn stopped, letting himself be surrounded.


    (There are three of them. I can do this, and I have things I wish to try.) His roguish grin was evident. Martyn was confident as he pulled out a weapon seemingly out of nowhere.


    [Inventory]


    [Saex Dagger: Low level dagger used by the Vikings of Valhalla. It is used to hunt or kill low level enemies.]


    [Weapon Rank: D]


    (This is a common weapon for hunters, even blessed ones, but for an imp like me, it''s quite useful. Plus, it has a special effect.)


    [Special effects: Breaks armor level 1.]


    [Armor Breaker: This skill allows a percentage chance of invalidating the enemy''s armor or defense. Depending on the level, your percentage will be higher.]


    [1%]


    After confirming all the details of his weapon, Martyn got into a combat stance and prepared to hunt. "This won''t stop me, Leshy."


    [Skills:]


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    [Accurate Cut]


    In an instant, Martyn approached one of the foxes and slashed it with his dagger. The blow might have been effective, but another fox pushed Martyn, pulling out its sharp stake fangs as it did so.


    [VIT: 87/130]


    (Shit, I forgot I hadn''t healed from the previous fight. I must be more careful.) With more caution, Martyn kept a better distance.


    "Grrrrr!" Not satisfied with the last move, one of the foxes lunged at Martyn, but only received a slash from Martyn.


    [You have defeated a monster]


    [Experience gained: 15 points]


    [EXP: 35/100]


    "Well, there goes one. You¡­" Without finishing his sentence, Martyn lunged at the nearest fox. "You''ll be next."


    [Skills:]


    [Precise Cuts]


    Martyn''s hand waved in several directions, cutting the beast in multiple parts simultaneously. Its companion tried to defend it but was surprised by a perfect slash from Martyn.


    "Grrrr!"


    A final grunt escaped the fox as it fell to the ground, its head completely severed.


    [You have defeated a monster]


    [You have defeated a monster]


    [Experience gained: 30 points]


    [EXP: 65/100]


    (I must admit that working in the kitchen pays off. I''m pretty good at chopping.) Proud of himself, Martyn looked at his dagger like a child with a new toy.


    "But this isn''t over yet." Without wasting a second, Martyn started running toward where the earlier attacks came from.


    "Hey, I''ll let you out. There''s no reason for us to fight."


    The echoes from earlier were heard again in the illusive forest. Apparently, the Leshy was willing to let Martyn escape, but Martyn had no such intentions.


    Upon hearing such a pitiful offer of escape, Martyn quickened his pace. "Do you think I''m a fool? You say that just because you''ve run out of mana!"


    Martyn shouted while not stopping his pace. Surely, the Leshy had used a lot of mana creating the beasts from before, which is why he could no longer fight.


    "Anyway, you''re in my territory. You won''t be able to¡­"


    The echoes stopped being heard in the distance and began to be heard in front of Martyn, who had found the Leshy.


    A body made of wood from the trees, with leaves like hair covering its back. There stood the Leshy, who instantly got up.


    "Youuuu!"


    The forest spirit rushed at Martyn at full speed, but Martyn wasted no time and did the same.


    [Skills:]


    [Precise Cuts]


    [Active: Breaks armor ]


    It only took one exchange for the battle to have a winner. The Leshy had been cut in an instant by Martyn''s dagger.


    [Congratulations]


    [You have defeated a spirit monster]


    [Its soul will be stored in Helheim.]


    [You have obtained the skill: Analysis].


    "A new skill, what''s that all about?" Excited, Martyn decided to check the information about his new skill.


    [Analysis: By using this ability, you will be able to see the characteristics of opponents, monsters, or objects. The higher the level of the skill, the more information you can get.] - [Mana per use: 200].


    "Wow, this is a skill that only a few mages and supports use. Who knew I had it?" With a smile, Martyn decided to look at the other rewards.


    [Experience gained: 40 points]


    [EXP: 95/100]


    As the messages appeared, the forest that had seemed immersive before began to disappear, revealing a large mountain around Martyn.


    "Oh, I was on a mountain. That explains how hard it was to get around sometimes." Martyn enjoyed the scenery as he made his way down the mountain.


    "I think I should cook something." Feeling somewhat hungry, he decided to take out the body of the spider monster from earlier and start cooking.


    Since he didn''t have much to use, he grabbed water and used various branches and rocks to make a fire. Several minutes later, he had a purple-colored soup.


    "This soup is sold quite a lot in middle-class restaurants in Neo Tyran. Surely, it must taste delicious." With great expectation, Martyn took a sip of the juicy soup.


    "Wow, it''s really good!" Although cautious at first, Martyn could taste for himself the flavor of a monster.


    The taste was somewhat sour like a lemon, but as it dissolved in his mouth, Martyn gradually felt a rather taut flavor.


    For some, such a heavy taste would have been difficult to ingest, but for someone like Martyn, who was used to eating poor-quality food, this was a treat.


    "Hey, what are you supposed to be doing!" Martyn''s moment was interrupted by a voice heard from the right side.


    (I''m sure I''ve heard that voice before¡­) Intrigued by the shouting, Martyn walked over to see who was responsible.


    "Well, well, if it isn''t my old friend. Didn''t I tell you if I saw you again, I was going to kill you?"


    The one responsible for the mayhem was the troubled boy from before, who had the bodies of several wannabes at his feet. "This is no big deal. I just took something I needed."


    "No big deal? They''re dead." The big burly man was confronting the boy.


    Apparently, the guy attacked a group of wannabes, taking their stuff. Everything would have gone perfectly if the other man hadn''t figured it out.


    "So what? If they were too weak to be hunters, I did them a favor. Hahaha!" Showing no remorse, the boy taunted them, but in between his taunts, a punch was thrown.


    "Scumbags like you shouldn''t be hunters. I''ll have to stop you here." The man''s fist was stopped by the boy.


    "Great, I was already looking forward to killing you."


    After declaring war, the troubled boy kicked the man, pushing him back. He held his snow-white hair and pulled back. Due to the blood on his hands, his hair started to have crimson hints.


    (This is a real battle between two aspiring hunters. I should watch.) Martyn decided to walk away, preparing to enjoy the fight.

 Chapter 10: Hunter test (5)

    "You feel like visiting the tomb, don''t you?" the troubled boy reluctantly looked at the man planning to teach him a lesson.


    In Neo Tyran, it is common to find people like that; people with very good blessings who take advantage of others who don''t have that power.


    "I''ll have to stop you now. Take it as a favor I''m doing you; you don''t have what it takes to be a hunter anyway."


    The exchange of words was rather quick. With that last statement from the man, the white-haired boy was on top of him.


    "Speed? I trained hunting sea beasts on the frontier; this is nothing to me." The big man threw a punch at the boy who, in response, used his hands to glide.


    Water beasts are known for their incredible speed. If you can fight in their area, which is the sea, it could be said that you are quite fast.


    (The white-haired boy is still faster, but the man uses his strength to his advantage. They haven''t used their blessings yet.)


    Martyn watched the fight, analyzing every point. Now that he was going to be a hunter, he needed to gain some experience in fighting. Watching would be the best option.


    (Could I use my new skill on them?) Martyn thought as he activated his new ability.


    [Skills:]


    [Analysis]


    [Error]


    [The power difference is too great; you cannot analyze.]


    (Damn, I feared something like this...) Feeling disappointed, Martyn turned his attention back to the fight.


    "You''re just a braggart. While you were fighting silly beasts, I..." The boy changed the shape of his hand to a black one.


    "I killed people."


    The sharp nails were entering the man''s skin. He decided not to be intimidated and threw the boy to the ground.


    "Claws? That''s a blessing I''ve never seen around here before. What god chose you as a child?" the man asked.


    "That information shouldn''t interest you. You''ll be dead in a few seconds anyway." According to his words, the boy pounced on the man, changing his legs and arms as well.


    (Wow, he''s gotten faster. My gaze is lost trying to follow him.) Martyn thought as he took a break from the fight.


    "Hahahaha, what''s the matter, big guy? Can''t keep up with me?" The big man was taking several cuts but decided to stand still in the center.


    Crack!


    Minutes later, what sounded like metal breaking could be heard. Following the source of the sound, Martyn watched the fight again.


    Focusing his gaze, he managed to see the troubled boy with a completely broken fingernail, while his opponent''s body looked beefy and hard.


    "Turning your body to steel, are you serious?" the boy complained as he returned his hand to normal.


    "Vulcan gave me this ability. According to him, I have a noble heart. You should learn." Replied the man whose body was made of steel.


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    (Vulcan, eh? If I''m not misinformed, he is a god of the Roman pantheon. That would explain what that man is doing in the test.) Martyn was analyzing everything from a distance.


    "Shit, this is a clear disadvantage. I could still kill you, but I don''t want to waste energy. There should be between 13 to 15 hours left then..."


    The boy moved into a runner''s stance and gave a simple but powerful start that allowed him to pass by the man, who did nothing in response.


    "See you next time." With words that already seemed to echo, the white-haired boy disappeared.


    "You can come out now. I know you''re there."


    To Martyn''s surprise, the man looked in his direction. He already knew Martyn was hiding there but didn''t want to say anything.


    "Sorry, I really didn''t mean to look." Coming out of hiding, Martyn accepted his defeat.


    "Relax, you wouldn''t have been able to do anything against that monster. I could stand up to him thanks to my defensive blessing." The big man accepted Martyn''s apology.


    "I see. If what the boy said was true, there shouldn''t be much time left before the end of the test. Do you think we should cooperate?" Martyn asked.


    Martyn didn''t trust blessed people at all, but on this occasion, he thought it was for the best. He had already had two encounters with monsters; it was better to be accompanied for now.


    "Yes, it''s surely been several hours since the message from the representative, but I can''t settle for this..." The man started walking.


    "Ah, what do you mean? I thought just surviving was enough." Martyn followed the man.


    "You heard the message too. The representative of the Roman pantheon left a celestial grade weapon in the center of the map. I''ll go get it, I think I''m batsnate close." William would say confidently, if he hurried he would have no competition in taking the weapon.


    Celestial-grade weapons are some of the most complicated to obtain. They can only be obtained in hunting expeditions that fight against high-grade monsters.


    They are considered among the strongest weapons of mankind, second only to omnipresent and divine-grade weapons.


    "Now that you mention it, I am also interested in it." Martyn''s face showed reluctance to share.


    If someone who is an impure like Martyn managed to get a celestial-grade weapon, combined with his increasing strength, he could have a huge advantage.


    "I don''t plan on sharing the weapon with you. Let''s make a deal: whoever gets to it first keeps it." The man extended his hand to Martyn.


    "Deal. By the way, what''s your name?" Martyn shook the man''s hand and then asked.


    "Hahahaha, of course, I haven''t introduced myself yet. My name is William. And you?" With a beaming smile, William introduced himself to Martyn.


    "I see. It''s a pleasure, William. My name is Martyn. I hope we can work together." Martyn replied.


    After that little exchange of information, the duo continued walking around the map. They were in an area quite close to the center of the map, so it was easy to get there.


    "Well, I think we''re getting there," said William as he saw what was supposed to be the center of the map.


    It wasn''t very striking. It was simply a part that could be said to be there by mistake, as if a fragment of space had descended from the sky and fallen in front of them.


    "Is this what they call a break? This is the first time I''ve ever seen one," Martyn asked in amazement.


    Ruptures are created by the gods. When humans must seek resources or become stronger, they create ruptures so that they enter a totally different dimension than the one they know.


    It is as if the world of the gods is combined with the world of humans temporarily.


    "If as you see things can be dangerous now, then be careful." After saying those words, William walked a few steps forward, disappearing from Martyn''s sight in an instant.


    (Well, it''s time to look for my celestial weapon.) Martyn thought as he slowly approached the gap.


    As if by magic, it only took Martyn a blink of an eye to change everything his eyes perceived. In front of him were golden-colored columns, each with a dragon on top.


    "Well, we''re here now, but it looks like someone got here before us." William pointed ahead where a figure could be seen fighting a large glowing snake.


    Focusing his gaze, Martyn noticed that it was Boris, whom he met before entering the trial. Boris was using a katana while fighting the monster.


    "It looks like the snake is guarding the weapon. We have two options: either we help the guy to kill it, or we wait."


    Both options given by William had their merits. If Martyn and William helped Boris hunt the monster, it would be easier, but it would be problematic deciding who would keep the weapon.


    [Test Five: Celestial Serpent]


    [Defeat the snake guarding the celestial weapon]


    [Reward: 30 stat points, Skill: Stealing, Skill: Flow].


    A system message given by the gods appeared in front of Martyn, so he knew what to do.


    "Let''s hunt it down."


    With predatory eyes, Martyn looked at the snake. He wanted to test his impure strength.

 Chapter 11: Celestial Serpent

    "We need a plan before we hunt it down. That guy won''t last much longer," said William as he stretched.


    "I don''t really know, maybe we''ll figure something out while we fight," replied Martyn, watching Boris struggle with the serpent.


    "I''m not much for improvising, but what the heck, let''s do it!" exclaimed William, charging at the serpent. Martyn followed immediately.


    [Skills]


    [Precise Cuts]


    Taking advantage of the serpent being distracted, Martyn attempted several cuts, but none seemed to have any effect.


    "Oh, Martyn? Glad you''re still alive!" exclaimed Boris upon noticing Martyn, his voice strained with effort.


    "Watch out!"


    The serpent seized the distraction to strike Boris with its body. The impact sounded like thunder, but instead of a cry of pain, only the metallic sound of a cushioned blow was heard.


    "No time for chit-chat, kid," said William, who had rushed to defend Boris, his body completely armored in steel lighting up the battlefield.


    "Sorry, it''s stronger than I thought," said Boris before launching an attack at the serpent, whose cuts did manage to hurt it.


    "Looks like you can hurt it, kid! I don''t plan to share the weapon with you," said William, raising one of his arms.


    "Quick Forge!"


    With that loud shout, William''s arm transformed into a hammer, part of Vulcan''s blessing.


    "The celestial weapon will be mine!" declared William, brutally smashing the serpent''s body and crushing several of its scales.


    The serpent writhed in pain, thrashing its tail at everyone nearby. Boris, recovering, observed the situation and decided to act.


    "Not so fast, Mr. Tank, I can fight too," said Boris with a smile, swinging his katana in various directions without an apparent target.


    "Let''s cool things down!" exclaimed Boris as he moved away.


    A set of clouds formed above everyone, something quite strange since there usually aren''t any changes in the preset climate of the breaches.


    ("It must be some kind of ability, but what''s it about?") thought Martyn, who, along with William, tried to keep the serpent at bay.


    As if it were lightning, Boris approached the serpent at inhuman speed, his body immersed in a bright light aura.


    The serpent, sensing the danger from the boy, quickly tried to devour him with its gigantic mouth.


    "Hey, that''s disrespectful," but Boris disappeared in front of the serpent, positioning himself behind it to prepare his attack.


    "That''s a field-type ability. It seems the kid is extremely fast while those clouds are there. Few gods can give a blessing of that attribute," explained William, letting Boris shine.


    William''s explanation made sense; field-type abilities altered the laws of reality, giving the user an advantage. It takes a lot of power to do something like that.


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    "I''ve got you!" shouted Boris, delivering a cut to the serpent which, though precise, didn''t do much damage due to his skill, which increased speed but lowered attack power.


    The beast, enraged, thrashed its tail towards Boris, but it was stopped by a resounding blow followed by several cuts.


    "All that bragging for nothing?" said Martyn, who, along with William, stopped the attack.


    (The scales of this monster put me at a disadvantage. Will Analysis work on it?) thought Martyn, activating his skill.


    [Skills]


    [Analysis]


    Quickly, Martyn''s eyes could perceive the entire environment, but he decided to focus on the serpent.


    [Complete Analysis]


    [Celestial Serpent Rank D]


    [This type of serpent only appears in luminous caves. Its eyes are vital sources as they are the only part of its body not protected by scales]


    "The eyes, huh..." Martyn whispered, focusing on the creature''s crimson eyes.


    "We can win, but we need to work as a team. Whoever lands the final blow gets the weapon, understood?" said Martyn, having devised a plan based on the information.


    Without wasting time, he ran to the opposite side from where they were and then spoke: "I''m going to create an opening, when I say ''now,'' attack all at once."


    "No other choice, separately no one is at the level of that thing," agreed William, though somewhat begrudgingly, launching himself at the serpent.


    Using his quick forge skill, William''s left hand transformed into a large shield while he kept the hammer in the other.


    "I''m running low on mana, make it quick!" shouted the man, pushing the beast, which defensively thrashed its tail.


    "Boris!" shouted Martyn, taking a leap.


    "I think I get what you want to do," as if the plan transferred to his mind, Boris held onto Martyn and then quickly moved with him, positioning him in front of the serpent''s face.


    "Now!"


    [Precise Cuts]


    Using Boris''s enhanced speed, Martyn managed to stab the beast''s eyes several times.


    "Let''s finish this," said Boris, removing the clouds from the field. With his original strength, he delivered a perfect cut to the serpent, creating another opening.


    "And now it''s my turn," said William, whose body covered in steel transformed both arms into broad swords, directing them at the opening created by Boris.


    Displeased by this pressure, the serpent opened its mouth, revealing a great source of light from its body.


    "Watch out!" shouted Boris, pulling Martyn away from the spot.


    Seconds later, a great ray was launched by the serpent, destroying the beautiful dragon-shaped columns.


    (I''m not losing the weapon!) thought Martyn, attacking the serpent again with "Precise Cuts."


    Following this, William and Boris attacked alongside Martyn, managing to significantly damage the serpent, which fell to the ground.


    [You have defeated a celestial enemy].


    [As the monster was created by a human, you will receive no experience].


    "Victory!" shouted Boris, excited.


    [Test Five: Heavenly Serpent]


    [Completed]


    [You have received 30 stat points].


    [You have received the skill: Steal]


    [You have received the skill: Flow]


    "Don''t celebrate too soon, but I must admit that was great. How did you know about its eyes?" asked William, returning to normal.


    "Ah... I just used my intuition," replied Martyn, somewhat nervous. Really, it was all due to his new skill.


    "I see, but let''s get to the important part, who gets the baby over there?" said William, pointing to a weapon that formed where the serpent''s body should have been.


    It radiated a beautiful bright light, its gleaming blade inscribed with different runes, demonstrating its magnificent power.


    [Skill]


    [Analysis]


    [Celestial Sword]


    [A legendary weapon with runes that grant divine powers to its bearer. Only those deemed worthy can harness its full potential]


    [For more information, level up the skill]


    "We all landed the final blow at the same time, but before we decide that, I think we have to deal with some company," said Martyn, looking back. He used his analysis skill and sensed the presence of other hunters hidden among the debris.


    "Oops... you found us," a voice came from the rubble, and then they revealed themselves.


    Apparently, it was a group of aspirants who had been waiting for the opportunity to steal the weapon. Martyn had been able to sense them earlier thanks to his skill.


    "What? They were there the whole time? That''s unethical," said William, clearly angry.


    "What''s the problem, big guy? This is about survival, and you guys already did the work for us," the leader of the aspirants spoke, drawing their weapons. It seemed they had no good intentions.

 Chapter 12: Test completed

    "I think you guys should relax. You''ve already seen what we''re capable of," said Boris, trying to defuse the situation.


    "Yeah, we''ve seen what you can do, but it''s not like you have much mana left, right?" said the gang leader, drawing his sword with a confident grin.


    (Damn, he''s right...) thought Martyn as he checked his mana level.


    [Mana: 500/1200]


    He had recovered some mana on the way to the rift with Boris, but he had spent a lot in the battle against the celestial serpent.


    "You don''t have to die if you don''t want to. Just hand over the celestial weapon and that''s it," said one of the gang members with a sly smile.


    "Not a chance... This weapon is ours," replied Martyn with a serious look, finding a solution to his lack of mana.


    [You have allocated 20 stat points to intelligence]


    [INT: 12 > 33]


    [Mana: 1700/3300]


    "Wow, the kid''s got guts. He might be worthy of being a hunter. Too bad you''ll have to die here," said the gang leader, lunging at Martyn. But William stepped in his way.


    "I don''t have much mana left, I hope you know what you''re doing, kid," grumbled William, throwing a punch that was blocked by another gang member who stepped in between.


    ("Let''s confirm their power level.")


    [Skills]


    [Analysis]


    Martyn''s eyes began to see a strong flame in the gang members'' chests. He couldn''t see the exact information, but he saw certain letters.


    [C]


    [C-]


    [D]


    [E-]


    [D]


    Each letter represented one of the gang members. His system analyzed them like a video game.


    ("I see, they''re not that strong. We can win.") With more confidence, Martyn lunged at the weakest one.


    "You''re too cocky, kid. You''ll be better off in the grave," said the gang member, swinging his sword at Martyn''s face, but Martyn was ready.


    [Skills:]


    [Precise Cuts]


    Martyn launched several slashes, taking down the gang member instantly.


    [You have killed a human]


    [Unfortunately, Loki does not recognize you]


    [You have gained 1 experience point]


    [EXP: 96/100]


    (Damn, what does Loki have to do with this?) thought Martyn, grumbling, focusing his attention on the next weakest one.


    "Shit, they still have energy! Be careful!" shouted the gang leader, still being held back by William and Boris, who had recovered some mana.


    "You should worry about yourself," said Boris, swinging his katana rapidly. Each move unleashed a blue lightning bolt.


    "Don''t make me laugh. Those cuts won''t do anything," said the gang leader, healing each damaged part, like a plant rejoining after being cut.


    (A healing blessing? I need to end this quickly,) thought Martyn, attacking another gang member.


    "You think that just because you took down my friend, you can take me on?" said the gang member, biting Martyn. For some strange reason, his teeth were metal.


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    [HP: 60/130]


    [Warning: your HP is below half]


    "Shit," Martyn quickly tried to stab the gang member''s neck, but it wasn''t effective since it was also metal.


    "Let go of me!"


    [You have allocated 10 stat points to Strength]


    [STR: 23 > 33]


    With the increase in strength, Martyn struck with the knife again, this time managing to damage the gang member.


    [Precise Cuts]


    "Shit!" The gang member screamed in pain but didn''t let go of Martyn.


    [HP: 48/130]


    Without wasting time, Martyn attacked again, this time using his ability.


    [Armor Breaker effect activated]


    With that final message, Martyn managed to free his hands and defeat the gang member.


    [You have killed a human]


    [Loki respects you a little more]


    [You have gained 2 experience points]


    [EXP: 98/100]


    Not entirely satisfied with his reward, Martyn focused on William and Boris, who were handling the remaining three gang members well.


    ("This isn''t working out...") After signaling with his fingers, the gang leader leaped back, followed by the others.


    "Fine, you win. The weapon is yours, but don''t think we''ll forget this."


    With those final threats, the gang members left the rift, leaving the three boys exhausted.


    "Damn, now I''m really done," said Boris, collapsing to the ground.


    "Tell me about it, but now''s not the time to rest. Let''s grab the weapon and decide who gets it later," said William, walking toward the center, ready to take the weapon. The closer he got, the more power he felt.


    "Alright, come here..." William reached out his hand, but before he could touch the weapon, chains grabbed it.


    "What the...?" Surprised, Martyn and Boris watched as the weapon was pulled back until it stopped as if someone had grabbed it.


    "Thanks for that, guys," said a female voice that was invisible. Apparently, she had a blessing of invisibility.


    (Is this another bandit? I should see...) Martyn activated his skill towards the floating weapon.


    [Skills:]


    [Analysis]


    [Error]


    [Your level is too weak compared to the target]


    Martyn received the same message as with William and Boris. This wasn''t just any bandit.


    "Shit, again? Show yourself!" shouted Boris, angry.


    "Sorry, but I don''t plan on sticking around, so..." The chains began to glow with a bright light, blinding the three boys.


    "Here''s a little gift, goodbye," said the voice, which seemed to disappear.


    "Shit!" shouted William, angry.


    When the effect of the chains ended, the three boys noticed that the rift had vanished. The beautiful place from before was now just a memory.


    "Damn, who was that girl?" asked Boris, frustrated. He had worked hard for nothing.


    "Nobody knows. She could make herself invisible," responded William, also angry.


    "For now, the best thing is to get out of here. If we stay, the other aspirants will think we have the weapon."


    Explaining the situation, Martyn prepared to leave. He didn''t want to get involved in another unnecessary fight.


    "You''re right. It was a pleasure fighting with you guys, but I''ll take my own path," said Boris, putting away his katana.


    "I think it would be better to cooperate, don''t you?" William hesitated.


    "I''m not really one for teamwork, but thanks for the offer. See you," said Boris with a bright smile, starting to walk away.


    "Alright, I guess we should do the same," said Martyn, beginning to walk.


    "Fine," replied William, following him.


    After that great effort, Martyn and William managed to survive several hours.


    [You have killed a monster]


    [You have gained 20 experience points]


    [EXP: 45/200]


    "Wow, Martyn, are you some kind of genius? You get better with every fight," said William, wiping the sweat from his brow.


    "Not really, I''m just good at spotting weak points," replied Martyn, a bit nervous.


    His continuous improvement was due to constantly hunting monsters, allowing him to level up and improve his stats.


    He decided to allocate 5 points to strength and 10 points to agility, now having:


    [STR: 38 points]


    [AGI: 30 points]


    "I wanted to allocate more points, but..." Martyn looked dejectedly at the message on the screen.


    [The representative has not completed more trials, he cannot become stronger until then]


    The Norse gods had put a limit on his power.


    "I see... I guess I need to improve too," said William with a smile.


    {Wow, it looks like they''ve made it}


    Interrupting their conversation, the large screen reappeared in the sky.


    {"Of the 98 that were left, only 30 remain, so you should be proud. You''ve passed the hunter''s test!"}


    The representative of the test began to speak. It seemed the hunter''s test had come to an end.


    "It''s strange, the allotted time hasn''t passed yet," said William, puzzled.


    "They probably ended it because of the number of participants left," replied Martyn, not taking his eyes off the screen.


    It made sense. Although the hunter tests follow strict rules, it''s known that they don''t always stick to them precisely.


    {"Now you''ll all be returned. It''s time for you to become real hunters"}


    Following the representative''s words, a portal identical to the one they used to enter appeared in front of William and Martyn.


    "Alright, it''s time to go," said William with a proud smile, stepping into the portal.


    (Wow, did I really pass the hunter''s test? This is incredible,) thought Martyn, who couldn''t believe what had just happened. This was only the beginning.


    Savoring the excitement, Martyn stepped into the portal, returning to the initial room.


    Around him were several people who had also completed the test. Among them, Martyn recognized Boris, the troublesome white-haired boy, and the bandits who had escaped.


    "Well, I''m surprised, there are more than last time."


    With a mischievous and somewhat insensitive voice, a different representative entered, accompanied by several bodyguards.


    "Congratulations to all of you. Passing the Roman faction''s hunter test is an achievement you should be proud of."


    The man began to congratulate everyone with a charismatic smile.


    "Without a doubt, you are ready to be hunters, but I''d like to give a special congratulation to the girl who managed to get the celestial weapon. Please come forward."


    Following the man''s call, a girl with completely white hair stepped in front of everyone.


    "Hi, I''m Selene, the next number one hunter."