Monsters in Etheron rarely possessed skill cores, but those that did were considered highly valuable.
These cores contained the distilled essence of an ability, and if absorbed, they could grant the user the corresponding skill.
Skill cores were ranked from F to SSS, but no one had ever discovered a core above S rank. Most skill cores found were C-rank or lower, while B-rank and above were almost exclusively from boss-class monsters.
For centuries, scholars had debated the existence of an SS-rank and SSS-rank skill core, but despite relentless hunts, no one had laid eyes on one.
Some even theorized that they could only be found in forbidden dungeons, or perhaps within monsters yet to be discovered.
Alex, however, wasn't thinking about any of this. Instead, he stared at the corpse of the Shadowfang Leader, the monstrous wolf he had slain after a brutal battle.
With an exhausted sigh, he pulled out his cheap Ether Extraction Dagger, a tool used by adventurers and researchers to harvest ether cores and rare materials from monsters.
His initial plan was to simply collect its fangs and pelt, but he decided to try his luck.
"Alright, old buddy, let's see if you've got anything special for me," he muttered, pressing the dagger against the creature's chest.
A faint hum resonated from the blade as it detected the presence of something unusual. A few seconds later, the dagger vibrated, and a small, dark purple crystal rolled out from within the Shadowfang Leader's body.
Alex's eyes widened. "No way... did I actually hit the jackpot?"
Grinning, he quickly retrieved his cheap appraisal device, a low-grade gadget used to identify common magical objects. Holding the crystal up to the scanner, a small holographic screen flickered to life:
Skill Core Identified
Description: A movement skill derived from the Shadowfang species, allowing the user to momentarily blend into shadows, increasing agility and movement speed in short bursts. The skill has potential for growth, evolving as the user's strength increases.
Alex whistled. "A growth-type skill core, huh? Those are pretty rare even at lower ranks."
Growth-type skills were unique because they could evolve under the right conditions. Most skills were fixed in strength upon acquisition, but growth-type skills could improve, potentially reaching high-tier ranks if nurtured correctly.
Without hesitation, Alex pressed the Shadowfang Step skill core against his chest. The moment he did, the crystal dissolved into pure ether energy, surging into his body.
A sudden cold sensation spread through his limbs before vanishing, leaving behind an exhilarating lightness in his muscles.
A soft chime rang in his ears, and a translucent blue screen appeared before him:
Name: Alex Dragonheart
Bloodline: [Unawakened]
Physique: [Unawakened]
Talent: [Dual-Soul Resonance]
[Basic Swordsmanship (F)]
[Basic Mana Control (F)]
[Shadow Step (D) - Growth Type]
Alex clenched and unclenched his fists. His body felt noticeably lighter, and he had the distinct feeling that, if he concentrated, he could activate the skill instinctively.
The battle against the Shadowfang pack had been exhausting, but this reward made it worth it.
"Not bad," he muttered, a grin forming on his lips. "Looks like my luck isn't so bad after all."
Still, he had no time to celebrate. He retrieved a low-rank healing potion from his pouch, uncorked it, and downed the bitter liquid in one gulp. A warm sensation spread through his body as minor wounds began closing at an accelerated pace.
"Alright... time to find that dungeon."
With his body feeling lighter and a new skill in his arsenal, Alex turned toward the deeper parts of the forest, where an ancient ruin awaited him.