22 Amidst these developments, a glimmer of hope emerged as reports surfaced of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) taking custody of the missing people for further inquiries.

Chapter 22 - Tutorial (Hunter) - 8

General Information and Attributes

Name: Vesper Pallas

Chosen Difficulty: Terror (Drop Rate X 2)

Strength: 3.7

Dexterity: 2.71

Vitality: 3.55

Stamina: 2.5

RUNE STATUS

APTITUDE LEVEL: 10

HEAD

Left Eye Slot: Eye of Tarnished Saint (1st Grade) (Cursed)

Right Eye Slot: Empty

Forehead Slot: Empty

BODY & LIMBS

Left Chest Slot: Scardy Cat (3rd Grade)

Right Chest Slot: Empty

Crotch Slot: Empty

Left Hand Rune Slot: Rune Scanner (1st Grade)

Right Hand Slot: Empty

Left Foot Slot: Empty

Right Foot Slot: Empty

INTERNAL ORGANS

Brain Slot: Empty

Heart Slot: Empty

Liver Slot: Empty

Lungs Slot: Empty

Spleen Slot: Empty

Spine Slot: Empty

SOUL

Head Slot: Empty

Chest Slot: Empty

Crotch Slot: Taboo of Three Worlds (10th Grade)

Legion Status

Rank: Trainee (Black)

Contracted Soldiers: 0/1

Legion Strength: 1,052.46

Rune Skill List

- Rune Scanner (Active)

(Survivor) Upon touching the Altar of Sacrifice, you can see the total value of runes inside the facilities.

(Hunter) Cannot use.

- Scardy Cat (Passive)

(Survivor) You can feel the presences of hostile entities. You can see their aura if they are looking toward your direction.

(Hunter) You can senses hostile intent from fellow hunters and survivors.

- Eye of Tarnished Saint (Passive) (Cursed)

(General) You can see hidden details in your status screen. You can only upgrade the Eye of Tarnished Saint by committing the same taboo or consuming an elemental talent rune.

(Survivor) You can see the auras of hunters, guardians, traps, treasures, and runes in the stage. You can see through walls.

(Hunter) See through walls, hidden survivors, and traps. Injured survivors leaves behind glowing red mist trail for you to track and follow.

(Cursed) You must sacrifice one skill rune to this eye once every day. Otherwise, one of your equipped skills will be sacrificed to the eye instead. If you fail to sacrifice a skill rune, it will consume your status attributes by five instead.

(Element) None (Upgradeable)

- Taboo of Three Worlds (Passive)

(General) Allowing you to equip multiple elemental aptitude runes. Increase your elemental aptitude to 10. Your aptitude level can only be raised by enhancing the Eye of Tarnished Saint.

(Survivor) Every Sunday's midnight, you will be sent to a survivor's campfire to join a trial of mankind. When the session ends, you will be sent to the hunter's campfire as a hunter. You retain all items, runes, status attributes, and equipment.

(Hunter) Every time a hunter's mission ends, you will be sent back to Earth as a human. You retain all items, runes, status attributes, and equipment.

(Taboo) If you perish as a survivor or a hunter, you will return to Earth and undergo the trials anew. If your demise occurs on Earth, you will find yourself at the survivor's campfire. The effects of this taboo cannot be lifted without the Tarnished Saint's approval. Your soul is eternally bound to these three realms, condemned to repeat the trials until the end of time.

This is what Vesper has been searching for. He carefully studies his skill details twice and reviews his status attributes.

While his overall strength and basic skills appear lackluster, the taboo and the cursed eye seem to offer valuable benefits. Vesper is puzzled by why they are labeled as curses or taboos when their perks surpass normal skills.

However, when Vesper reads the effects of the taboo, he inhales sharply, feeling a chill run down his spine.

At that moment, the severity of the situation dawns on him.

Feeling nervous and shocked, Vesper gazes at Xenokaz, hoping for assistance. He tries to approach the topic indirectly.

'Sir, can you see my status screen?'

The lich snorts, "All status screens are private by default. Only Lord Supreme Judge have access to them. And a word of advice from your senior: you mustn't divulge your skill details and legion strength to anyone!"

Vesper is taken aback. Initially seeking help from the lich, he now keeps the information to himself as instructed.

'Understood, sir.'

"That piques my curiosity. I recognize that your eye harbors a powerful cursed rune, but its identity eludes me. What's that rune's name and effects?"

Vesper offers a bitter smile.

'But you cautioned against disclosing such details to anyone.'

"Oh, I'm stupid. Why did I mention that first? Kekekekeke!" The lich chuckles playfully. "That's the right approach. You've passed! Keep your secrets guarded, even from me, your peers, or higher-ranking officials. Now, moving on. Were you aware that after completing a stage, any remaining runes will be automatically absorbed? It's a mandatory process."

'Wait, what?' Before Vesper can inquire further, all the runes in the vicinity begin to glow and float towards him, disappearing into his body.

*DING*

Everything unfolds so fast. Vesper's slender arms and legs grow slightly larger, and his shoulders broaden. He no longer resembles a malnourished, skinny figure but rather a more robust individual.

Vesper examines his arms beneath the thin black cloak, running his hands over them with delight. He then turns his attention to the available choices.

'Sir, the system is prompting me to choose a skill.'

"Ah," Xenokaz acknowledges with a nod. "Every hunter possesses something known as an 'Aptitude.' Upon completing a tutorial stage and acquiring the hidden rune for the first time, you get to select which aptitude you want to specialize in. Keep in mind that you can only choose one element, and it will remain your specialization for eternity."

'So, which element is considered the strongest here, sir?'

"Are you inquiring about which one is the best? Usually, newcomers are presented with only two options at most. A lot of them choose a fundamental element like fire or wind since they can only master one of them."

Vesper offers a wry smile as he reassesses his options, realizing he has eight to choose from, contrary to what Xenokaz mentioned.

'Why can't we choose more than one, sir?'

"Don't be greedy. The elemental aptitude rune can only be attached to your soul, and your soul can only accommodate one slot. Equipping two or more aptitude runes will result in your demise. You see, your soul will go BOOM!"

Once again surprised, Vesper reviews his status and focuses on the "Taboo" skill he possesses. He realizes he can equip more than one elemental aptitude runes.

Observing Vesper's deep contemplation, Xenokaz prompts, "What elements are available to you?"

Under pressure from the lich, Vesper discloses two common elements and one unique one. He chooses not to reveal the Light Element option.

'I have, fire, water, and gold.'

"GOLD?!" Xenokaz's eyes widen, and he laughs heartily. "You've struck gold, junior! Choose that one! That's a game-changer!"

'…What abilities does it grant, sir?'

"The Gold element is the most versatile among the options. Fire leans towards offensive magic, while Water focuses on support abilities. Gold, on the other hand, excels at enchanting and transmuting materials… and lifeforms into gold! In combat, it can petrify survivors into gold statues or grant unique blessings to the user and allies. In essence, it's a well-rounded element!"

'…Wow.'

"Just go with that. I once faced a gold knight in a trial as a hunter. Oh, boy, he was a tough nut to crack. I was killed that round, and he ultimately triumphed in all the trials. We also had a gold element specialist before you arrived, but she chose to retire. What a pity."

Vesper ponders about Alanna, wondering if Xenokaz was referring to her.

With his decision made, Vesper selects the gold aptitude as his primary element, intending to pursue the holy element later if circumstances permit.

DING

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