Han narrowed his eyes, staring at the unfamiliar stat on his status screen.
"Spirit?" he muttered. "I've never heard of something like this… A stat besides Strength, Intelligence, Dexterity, and Stamina?"
Curiosity prickled at his mind. He reached out mentally, tapping on the [Spirit] entry.
Another window popped up immediately.
[Spirit]
[A rare and powerful stat that amplifies the effectiveness of all other attributes. Those with Spirit possess an innate resonance that transcends the limits of their physical and mental potential. It is said that the true power of a hero lies not in their strength, but in the soul that drives them.
Effects:
+20% effectiveness to all physical stats by just having the Spirit stat.
+100% effectiveness to Intelligence by just having the Spirit stat.
Each additional point of Spirit grants:
— +1.5% effectiveness to all other stats
— +3% effectiveness to Intelligence]
Han's eyes widened as he absorbed the information.
"This…" he whispered, breath catching. "This is completely broken!"
He clenched his fists as adrenaline surged through his veins. His heart thundered in his chest from sheer excitement.
"A twenty percent boost to all my physical stats, just like that?! And my Intelligence is doubled? That's insane!"
His mind raced. "And every single point in Spirit I gain from now on further increases that boost?"
He staggered a step back, practically trembling now—not from fatigue, but from the overwhelming realization of what this meant.
"Did this Spirit stat come from ranking up to 1 Ethereal-Star?" he asked himself. The pieces started clicking together in his mind. "Yeah… that must be it."
He looked down at his hands—hands that had deflected arrows, clashed against Shay's blade, and pushed through pain that would cripple most others.
"So that's why I felt physically stronger than Shay, even if her stats were still higher… One point in Strength for me isn't the same anymore."
He took a breath, steadying himself.
"One point in Strength for me… is like 1.2 of hers. Even more if I raise this stat."
He stared at the now-quiet system screen, his mind spinning with possibilities.
For the first time, it felt like his potential wasn't just ahead of him—
It was exploding open.
Han's gaze lingered on the rest of the status window. There was still something odd there—something else unfamiliar.
"And this… Indomitable Soul skill?" he muttered aloud. "I've never heard of this as well."
Curious, he tapped on it. Immediately, another glowing window unfolded before him.
[Indomitable Soul]
[A powerful skill born from the merging of two souls, granting the user unparalleled resilience and strength on a spiritual level.
Effects:
Soul Reinforcement – Greatly strengthens Han's soul, making it resistant to spiritual attacks, mind control, and soul-related abilities.
Spiritual Regeneration – If Han's soul takes damage, it slowly heals over time, reducing the risk of permanent harm.]
Han exhaled slowly as he read through the description. His brow furrowed in thought.
"This skill…" he murmured, tapping his fingers against his arm.
He was already thinking ahead, mapping out possibilities.
"In higher floors…" A small grin curled his lips. "It'll come greatly in use."
He let the system windows vanish, the glowing light fading from his eyes.
Now he understood—his encounter with the original Han hadn't just changed his fate. It had elevated him.
Just as Han dismissed the last system window, a new notification appeared.
[Welcome to Pick Me Up!]
A soft pop echoed beside him, and a tiny figure zipped into view like a spark of light.
"Lookiiii!!" Iselle's familiar voice rang out as she appeared beside Han, her wings fluttering rapidly as she dove toward him.
She hugged his neck with her tiny arms, her soft cheek pressing into his skin. Her glow shimmered with excitement.
"I'm back! Did you miss me?" she asked, beaming up at him with sparkling eyes.
Han gave her a flat look. "Not even a little bit."
Iselle's wings twitched as her cheeks puffed out in frustration, her smile vanishing. "Meanie."
But then her face sobered, the playful glow in her wings dimming slightly. "Han..." she said quietly, her tone serious now. "Master wants you guys to raid the third floor..."
Her expression twisted with concern, her hands wringing together in front of her tiny chest.
Han just sighed, unfazed. "I guessed so." He ran a hand through his hair and looked up at the lobby's ceiling. There wasn't anything he could do about it, and honestly, deep down, he wanted to go. He wanted to test how far he'd come.
"Why are you so worried, Iselle?" he asked, his voice softening slightly.
She fluttered in front of him, her glow dimming even more. "Well... last time you nearly died, so—"
Flick.
Han gently flicked her forehead.
"Owww!" she yelped, hands flying to her head. She glared at him, floating back with her lips trembling.
Han looked down at her and raised his pinky finger. "I won't. I promise you."
Iselle blinked, her anger vanishing for a second. Slowly, she floated forward and wrapped her tiny arms around his pinky, hugging it close—her own finger far too small to reach across.
"Then you better keep it."
Han gave her a faint smile. "Okay. Let's go tell the girls."
With Iselle fluttering beside him, still hugging his finger for a few moments longer, Han started walking toward the training grounds.
In the distance, chaos reigned.
Shay was still chasing Tess and Jenna around the field, her sword swinging wildly in exaggerated arcs.
"Still at it, huh..."
He walked forward, the sound of laughter and shouting growing louder as he approached, ready to break the news.
He cleared his throat with a sharp "Ahem."
No one noticed.
He coughed louder this time. "AHEM!"
The girls froze mid-chase. Tess peeked out from behind a training dummy, Jenna skidded to a halt, and Shay, with her sword raised mid-swing, turned to face him.
Han stood calmly with Iselle on his shoulder, his expression serious.
"Girls..." he said, his voice firm and resolute. "Get ready."
Their playful mood vanished in an instant.
"Another floor awaits us."
To be continued...
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Okay, so how was this chapter? What do you think of the Spirit stat? Too OP?
Also, I have thought of some ways to make even the other characters stronger.