Still leaning against the wall, Anderson took in deep breaths, focusing his mind and attempting to push away the burning sensation in his abdomen.
Anderson exhaled slowly and shifted his focus inward.
The system responded immediately, the familiar pressure blooming behind his eyes as translucent text layered itself neatly over reality, precise and unobtrusive.
[Alchemist System]
The interface no longer startled him. If anything, it felt expected, like a mathematical constant that had always existed and was simply being acknowledged now.
His gaze moved to the list of available functions, lingering briefly before settling on one he had deliberately ignored until now.
Store.
As he looked at the store, knowing the price of knowledge and equipment would not be cheap, Anderson let out a small sigh, hoping he could find something to aid him in healing the wound.
"Open store," Anderson said quietly.
The air before him shifted, folding inward as if reality itself were being indexed, and the interface expanded, reorganizing into a structured catalogue rather than a chaotic marketplace. There were no flashing banners, no grand announcements, only rows of categorized entries arranged with cold efficiency.
[Materials: Seeds, monster parts, special ore, unique ecessen...]
[Combat Tools: Swords/Dagger/Guns/Spear/Armor/Shield...]
[Knowledge Archives: Tomes/Grimiors/Forbidden Scrolls/Lost Journals...]
[Equipment: Potion Tables/Greenhouse tools/Bottles/Disection equipment...]
Selecting knowledge archives, the listings changed.
Most entries were greyed out and inaccessible, their descriptions obscured behind requirements he had not yet met, but one item remained fully visible, its presence almost understated compared to everything locked away beyond it.
[Tome: The Art of Sigil Weaving — Foundational Principles]
Grade: Basic
Description: Introduces the structure, syntax, and intent theory behind sigil construction. Covers basic sigil theory, recommended novice sigil marks, and Interdimensional Sigil markings.
Cost: 4 Shop Points
Anderson studied the description carefully, reading it more than once, not out of hesitation, but habit. Looking at the price, Anderson hesitated for a moment before calculating that the price was worth the knowledge.
"Purchase,"
Once he confirmed his purchase, the tome materialized in his hands in like particles, collecting and combining in the air.
It was heavier than expected, bound in dark leather etched with faint geometric markings that pulsed once before settling into stillness. The pages were thick, the text dense, written not in florid prose but in concise, almost clinical explanations, accompanied by diagrams that felt less like illustrations and more like instructions carved into thought.
Anderson opened the book.
The moment his eyes passed over the first sigil,
Sigil #1: Basic physical enhancement sigil
Grade: Basic
Effect: While Aether is infused within the sigil, the bearer's physical abilities will be increased by 10%
As Anderson continued to read through the book, he felt as if he was learning primary school maths. His mind easily understood the concepts thanks to memories from both lives.
He would have continued to read all night, but then found what he needed.
Sigil #34: Basic Regeneration sigil
Grade: Basic
Effect: While Aether is infused within the sigil, the bearer's will be healed of all small wounds, cuts, and scratches
Studying the sigil for a moment, Anderson used the blood from his wound and drew the sigil on his chest with a shaking hand. Focusing his laughable amount of mana within the sigil, Anderson was overwhelmed with a sense of relief and warmth as he watched his three cuts slowly mend back to normal without even a scar left behind.
"Incredible...the sooner I can make this a permanent sigil engraving, the better."... "But first I must increase my aether capacity," Anderson spoke as he looked at his almost depleted Aether
[Aether: 80/200]
Deciding to focus on increasing his knowledge of the monsters he could encounter and Sigil weaving, Anderson purchased another basic beauty for one shop point.
Hours passed unnoticed as he read, the night deepening outside while Anderson absorbed every line, every explanation, every warning, and every tip that would aid him in becoming a better hunter.
As his thirst for knowledge grew, Anderson continued to read until he saw the first rays of sunlight through his broken window and into his eye.
Only as the sunlight blinded him for a moment did he put the book down and stand up. Walking to the small bathroom in his apartment, Anderson took a quick, freezing-cold shower that really woke him up and changed into the only other pair of clothes he had before leaving his apartment.
Walking down the streets of London, Anderson got a gauge of the type of people of this time and of a world filled with monsters.
(These people...thier complete reliance on hunters...even police are replaced by hunters) Anderson sighed with a thought as he saw the advertisement and signs promoting hunters.
Continuing his walk, Anderson passed a shop buying monster parts and cores. Taking out the small red crystal that was left from the imps' attack, Anderson entered the store quietly
"Morning...just opened, just give me a moment before I help you, mate," the store clerk said as he moved some boxes around.
"Take your time," Anderson replied as he examined the different monster parts and signs all around the store, especially the prices
(1000 pounds for dire wolf hide...)
As he stared at the hide, Anderson had a moment of surprise as a screen appeared before him.
[Dire Wolf Hide]
[Quality: Moderate]
[Selling Price: 1000£]
(So this is the analysis skill...this will come in handy when looking for monster parts...but if I purchase from the system, the quality might be higher) Anderson thought for a moment
Looking down at the crystal, Anderson looked at the new screen
[Low-Grade Imp Core]
[Quality: Poor]
[Recommended price: 250£]
(250...not bad for such a small crystal...it must have an important resource in this world...but for what energy source, equipment making, potion making)
As Anderson was lost in thought, the older store clerk stood behind his counter and knocked on it twice
"Alright, young man, what can I do for you?" the clerk asked with a small smile that didn't seem to reach his eyes.