Sunny tapped the holographic screen floating in front of his face, his fingers trembling with adrenaline and greed.
"Come on, show me the goods!"
[Ding!]
[System Shop Opening...]
A list populated. Sunny's grin vanished faster than a thief in the night.
[Weapons Tab: LOCKED]
[Beasts Tab: LOCKED]
[Skills Tab: LOCKED]
[Materials Tab: LOCKED]
[Consumables Tab: OPEN]
"What the fuck is this?" Sunny screamed, nearly throwing a punch at the intangible screen.
A notification popped up, mocking him.
[System Notice: To unlock the full Shop, the Host must access the 'Starfall Academy Great Library' to download the World Knowledge Database. Current Knowledge Level: Peasant.]
"Peasant? You calling me a peasant?" Sunny gritted his teeth. "I just killed a Boss!"
[Consumables Available:]
Minor Healing Potion (50 Credits)
Minor Mana Potion (50 Credits)
Stamina Elixir (100 Credits)
Adrenaline Shot (200 Credits)
"Potions. Just potions." Sunny spat. "I'm facing a giant scorpion with two tails, and you offer me glorified energy drinks?"
SCREEEEE!
The Twin-Tail Death Stalker wasn't waiting for him to finish his shopping spree. It skittered over the corpse of the Bear, its multiple legs clicking on the stone floor like a typewriter from hell. Its tails dripped purple venom that sizzled when it hit the ground.
Gorn, the big shield-bearer, stumbled back. He looked like he had gone ten rounds with a truck.
"Sunny!" Gorn yelled, raising his cracked tower shield. "Whatever you're doing, do it faster! It's looking at me like I'm a ham sandwich!"
Sunny quickly bought two Minor Mana Potions and one Stamina Elixir.
[Credits Deducted: 200]
[Remaining Credits: 0]
"I'm broke again. Great."
He downed the Stamina Elixir in one gulp. It tasted like battery acid and lemons.
[Stamina Fully Restored!]
Just as the Scorpion raised its tails to strike, a ripple of water mana distorted the air.
Prince Valerian floated down, hovering between them and the monster. He looked pristine, his blonde hair perfectly styled. He looked at the Scorpion with mild disgust.
"You two are persistent," Valerian said, his voice smooth. "I must admit, watching you blow up the Bear was... entertaining. A bit barbaric, but effective."
He raised a hand, water mana gathering at his fingertips.
"However, this one is ugly. And it's taking too long. Step aside, commoners. I'll wash this filth away so we can end this exam."
Sunny blinked. Finally. A carry.
"Be my guest, Your Highness!" Sunny stepped back, eager to save his own skin. "It's all yours! Fry it, drown it, turn it into sushi!"
He needed the rest. His Obsidian Spike-Stag was still on cooldown.
[Pet Repair Status: 1 Minute 45 Seconds remaining.]
If Valerian killed it, Sunny wouldn't get the EXP, but he would survive. That was a win in his book.
"NO!"
A roar echoed from behind him.
Sunny froze. He turned to look at Gorn.
Gorn slammed the bottom of his shield onto the ground. His face was bloody, his armor was dented, but his eyes were burning with stubborn pride.
"We don't need your charity!" Gorn shouted at the Prince. "This is our fight! I am a warrior of the Stonehead Clan! If I let you save me, I bring shame to my ancestors!"
Sunny stared at Gorn. His jaw dropped.
"What?" Sunny whispered.
"Gorn, are you high?"
Valerian paused, his hand still raised. He raised an eyebrow. "Ancestors? You're about to meet them, big guy. Your shield is cracked. You have no mana."
"I don't care!" Gorn pounded his chest. "A warrior dies on his feet! Step aside, Prince! Or I'll fight you too!"
Sunny rushed over and grabbed Gorn by the collar of his armor.
"Are you stupid?" Sunny hissed, shaking the massive man. "He's offering us a free pass! Who gives a shit about ancestors? We can survive!"
"It's about honor, Sunny!" Gorn shoved him away. "I won't be a spectator in my own life!"
Sunny wanted to fuse Gorn's head with a brick wall. This was the problem with natives of this world. Too much honor, not enough brain cells.
Valerian shrugged. The water mana dissipated.
"Suit yourself," the Prince said, floating backward to a safe distance. "I'll enjoy the show then. Try to die entertainingly."
The Death Stalker, realizing the scary water-man was gone, lunged instantly.
"You absolute moron," Sunny cursed, pulling out his Balanced Iron Shiv (which he had recovered from the bear corpse, miraculously intact but dull). "If we survive this, I'm going to kill you myself."
[Pet Repair Status: 1 Minute 30 Seconds remaining.]
"Ninety seconds," Sunny yelled. "Gorn! Can you hold it for ninety seconds?"
"I can do this all day!" Gorn roared, though his legs were shaking.
The Scorpion struck.
CLANG!
The left tail slammed into Gorn's shield. The impact slid Gorn back three meters, leaving furrows in the dirt.
The right tail aimed for Gorn's exposed head.
"Duck!" Sunny screamed.
He didn't have a weapon that could hurt the Scorpion's shell, but he had speed.
Sunny sprinted forward, sliding under the Scorpion's massive pincer. He jammed the Iron Shiv into the joint of the pincer leg.
It didn't pierce deep, but it annoyed the hell out of the beast.
The Scorpion shrieked and tried to stomp him.
"Role, Sunny, Role!"
He rolled away, dust coating his Shadow-Step Vest.
"Gorn, taunt it!"
"HEY UGLY! OVER HERE!" Gorn banged his mace against his shield.
The Scorpion turned back to the tank.
Another crack appeared on Gorn's shield.
[Pet Repair Status: 60 Seconds.]
"Come on, come on!" Sunny watched the timer ticking down in his peripheral vision.
Every second felt like an hour. Gorn was bleeding from his nose.
The impact tremors were turning his internal organs to jelly.
"I... I can't..." Gorn gasped, dropping to one knee.
The Scorpion saw the opening. It raised both tails high, preparing to skewer the big man.
"Gorn!"
Sunny didn't think. He grabbed one of the Minor Mana Potions from his belt and threw it.
Not at Gorn. At the Scorpion's face.
The glass bottle broke on the Scorpion's multiple eyes. The blue mana liquid splashed into them.
It wasn't acid. It was pure mana. But splashing liquid into sensitive eyes? That worked on any species.
The Scorpion recoiled, shaking its head, blinded for a split second.
"Get up, you heavy sack of potatoes!" Sunny grabbed Gorn's arm and hauled him backward.
[Pet Repair Status: 30 Seconds.]
"It's angry now," Gorn wheezed.
"No shit!"
The Scorpion recovered. Its eyes were glowing redder. It ignored Gorn. It looked straight at Sunny. It knew who threw the bottle.
"Run!" Sunny took off.
He had 8 Agility. The Scorpion had probably 15.
It closed the distance in a heartbeat. A pincer clipped Sunny's back.
[HP: 60/100]
[Armor Durability: 10/40]
The Shadow-Step Vest saved him from being cut in half, but the force threw him face-first into the dirt.
He rolled over, gasping for air.
The Scorpion loomed over him, its two tails poised to strike like executioner's blades.
"Sunny!" Gorn screamed, trying to run over, but he was too slow.
Sunny looked at the stinger. He could see the drop of venom hanging from the tip.
He looked at the timer.
[Pet Repair Status: 3... 2... 1...]
[Ding!]
[Repair Complete. Obsidian Spike-Stag is ready for combat.]
Sunny's lips curled into a bloodied smile.
"Surprise, motherfucker."
He raised his hand palm up.
"SUMMON!"
VWOOOOM!
A tear in space opened directly above Sunny's chest.
The Obsidian Spike-Stag shot out like a cannonball. Its horn gleamed with a deadly, dark light.
It collided with the descending tail.
The Stag's horn was harder. The Scorpion's tail chitin shattered.
The Boss recoiled, screeching in confusion.
A bug? A tiny bug hurt it?
The Stag didn't stop. It buzzed furiously, hovering in front of Sunny like a guardian angel made of nightmares.
Sunny scrambled to his feet, chugging the second Mana Potion.
[Mana Restored: 12/12]
He felt the power return. He felt the connection to his beast.
"Gorn!" Sunny shouted, his voice echoing with authority.
"You wanted a fight? You wanted honor?"
He pointed at the screeching Scorpion.
"Hold its claws. My Stag will take the head."
Gorn grinned, spitting out a tooth. "Now you're speaking my language!"
Sunny's eyes glowed blue.
"System, activate skill: Target Lock."
[Target Locked: Twin-Tail Death Stalker - Weak Point: Eye Cluster.]
"Kill," Sunny whispered.
The Stag vanished.
It moved so fast it broke the sound barrier. It slammed into the Scorpion, knocking the massive Boss backward.
"This," Sunny laughed, wiping blood from his forehead, "is how we pass the exam."
He looked up at the balcony where the teachers were watching.
"Are you watching, Korg? Because I'm about to put on a show."