Zane's heart pounded as Lysara's cold gaze fixed on him, the atmosphere thick with menace. But before the fight could erupt, his eyes caught a familiar shimmer—his Void system interface flickering open, as if urging him to pay attention.
He blinked, and a translucent panel appeared before him, glowing softly in the dim dungeon light.
Zane's brow furrowed. Attribute points? He had never seen this before.
"Nyx," he whispered, "what are these points? Why didn't you tell me about this?"
Nyx sighed audibly in his mind, a tone of mild embarrassment coloring her usually sharp voice. "Facepalm. I totally forgot, Zane. Attribute points are the rewards you earn when you level up or complete quests. You can use them to boost your physical and mental abilities—strength, speed, intelligence, vitality... all that."
Zane's eyes widened. "So, that's why my strength stayed the same, but I could still fight like I did? The Void just amplified everything for me?"
"Exactly," Nyx confirmed. "But now, since you've got thirty points waiting, you should invest them now. Lysara isn't just any opponent. She's dangerous, and you need every advantage you can get."
Zane's fingers hovered over the panel. His mind raced as he considered his options carefully. Strength for raw power? Speed for agility? Intelligence for tactics? Vitality for endurance?
With a steady breath, he began allocating the points.
Speed: 8 — for swiftness and reflexes
Intelligence: 10 — to outthink and outmaneuver her
Vitality: 6 — to survive her attacks
Strength: 6 — enough to land solid blows
The system accepted his choices with a soft beep. He could feel the subtle but powerful changes coursing through his muscles and mind. The Void pulsed warmly around him, ready.
Zane lifted his gaze to Lysara, determination shining in his eyes.
"This ends now," he said quietly.
Nyx's voice teased in his mind. "Awww, ready to show her who's boss."
With his renewed strength, Zane stepped forward, the dungeon's shadows dancing around him as the battle for survival began.