Luke finished assigning Princess Charlie's new skill. With her class evolution into Death Knight, several impressive skills had unlocked, and he had already made his choice.

[Doomblade (Rare)]: The Death Knight's sword becomes shrouded in a cursed aura. Each strike with Doomblade corrupts the target's flesh, dealing necrotic damage. Wounds caused by this blade resist healing, leaving behind searing pain and lingering decay. The more cuts inflicted, the heavier the toll of agony upon the enemy.

"Yeah... that's definitely not a hit I'd want to take."

Charlie raised her sword, and the effect was immediate. A dark aura wrapped around the blade like drifting ash caught midair. She spun it once, testing the weight of her new power, then shot Luke a look, practically shouting: 'I really want to try this.'

Without hesitation, she drove the blade into the minotaur's corpse. Smoke hissed from the wound. The flesh around the entry point blackened and cracked, like charred wood. This wasn't just a weapon; it corrupted. She pulled the sword free, visibly pleased with the result.

As for her race skill... nothing. Even after reaching level 15, there'd been no new gain in that category. Luke frowned, thoughtful. Maybe it had to do with her race. Or the fact she was technically a servant. The system didn't exactly offer clear documentation on edge cases like this.

Now it was his turn. His interface shimmered, presenting five new skill options. He focused on the first.

[Elite Executioner (Rare)]: Your attacks become significantly deadlier against targets marked by [Assassin's Mark], exploiting exposed weaknesses with refined precision. Each strike lands like a verdict, swift and surgical.

A direct evolution of his tracking mark. Luke understood how critical this could be in duels or sudden encounters. Against someone like the Midnight Warden, it might've changed everything. He swiped to the next.

[Basic Shadow Camouflage (Rare)]: While outside direct light, your skin and clothing darken subtly, rendering you far less visible in dim environments. Ideal for ambushes, infiltration, or simply fading into the dark.

He saw the value immediately. This would be a game-changer while searching for the third mechanism, especially if he wanted to avoid running into the Beast Lord again. Traveling at night, this would drastically boost his survival odds. The third skill pulled his attention.

[Quick Hide (Rare)]: Your body instinctively reacts to nearby cover, guiding you toward visual concealment with sharp accuracy. Perfect for vanishing in the midst of chaos.

"Probably highlights good hiding spots... or maybe some kind of automatic evasion instinct," he muttered. Useful, sure. But a bit more situational than he liked. Next.

[Silent Heart (Rare)]: You've learned to suppress your heartbeat entirely for a short duration, fooling enemies who rely on sound or aura detection.

In a one-on-one fight, playing dead is useless. The enemy's gonna be watching for the system notification. But in a crowd, or as a way to hide, it might actually work.

Even so, out of all the options, this one felt the most disposable in a direct fight. Then he slid to the final skill.

[Advanced Stealth (Rare)]: You've refined your natural stealth instincts, tuning your movement, breath, and posture until they operate on instinct alone. Your steps adapt to the terrain, your presence fades into the background, and your body instinctively avoids making noise, emitting scent, or producing detectable signals. Blending into your surroundings becomes second nature, allowing you to observe or approach targets with greater consistency and control.

Luke narrowed his eyes and read the description again. For the first time... true stealth.

"Finally. Real stealth," he muttered with a grin.

Strangely, the system had never offered anything like this before, probably because he'd already learned to move in silence on his own, mimicking feline behavior. But this was something else. Sharper. Cleaner. There was no way he could suppress his scent naturally, not without tools or magic, yet this skill seemed to do exactly that—likely using mana behind the scenes.

[You have acquired the Class Skill: Advanced Stealth]

Perfect. Whether for exploration, assassinations, or simply surviving the night, it matched his style flawlessly. With his skill choices wrapped up, he moved on to the last reward from the battle.

[Forest Minotaur's Axe (Rare)

Description: A sturdy and well-balanced axe, forged by devout followers of the God of the Forge. Though its design appears standard, the craftsmanship and embedded enchantment make it a reliable weapon favored by frontline warriors, especially those who fight deep within the wilds.

Enchantments: [Heated Edge (Uncommon)]: Channeling magic causes the blade to radiate heat, ideal for cutting through armor.]

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He turned the axe in his hands, testing its weight and build. Not exactly his preferred weapon, but a solid piece—simple, reliable, and well-crafted.

"Maybe this is how someone unlocks a forge-based profession," he mused aloud, "or maybe a coin tied to the God of the Forge's legacy."

The system was full of hidden paths. Divine investments. Strange doors disguised as loot. He held the axe out to Charlie. She crossed her arms and shook her head, clearly uninterested. Not her kind of weapon. Luke stashed it in his inventory, already planning his next move.

***

When Luke returned to the cave, Samael was already there, calmly adjusting the lapels of his jacket as if he'd never left. Deeper in the shadows, Kalysto stood silently against the stone wall, unmoving.

"Looks like my time here is up," Samael said the moment he saw him. "You've reached a solid level of mastery with your profession. The system notified me that I'm no longer needed."

Luke watched him carefully. After days of absence, it felt strange seeing Samael again, especially now, on the verge of departure.

"Will I still be able to use this place?" he asked. "Not that I plan on staying. I'm going after the third mechanism. But as a hideout, it's... useful."

"Yes," Samael replied. "This place will remain accessible. Stay here as long as you like. Until you die of old age, if you decide to give up on completing the tutorial."

"Not a chance," Luke said, without missing a beat. "I'll finish it. Even if I have to do it alone."

A faint smile tugged at the demon's lips. Approval, subtle but real.

"This tutorial has hosted all kinds of people," Samael continued, taking a few steps toward him. "Battle-hardened soldiers, factory workers, nobodies. Some stumbled into strong classes, others awakened latent talents. But very few ever dared to go deeper. To truly understand the system, to explore its real branches. Fear, perhaps. Or maybe... comfort."

He stopped directly in front of Luke.

"Remember this, Luke: you weren't given anything here. This cave, these resources—they're system rewards. You earned them. You unlocked the gate. You completed the Special Orb mission. You faced down a Midnight Warden and killed it. You pushed forward into the unknown, alone. Everything that followed... that was you."

Silence settled between them.

"That's Samael-speak for 'good job,'" Artemis said dryly, her voice emerging from the necklace resting on the table nearby.

Luke let out a short laugh. "Right. Well, thanks."

He turned toward Kalysto. "And thank you, too."

The girl stiffened, eyes wide with a mix of discomfort and disbelief.

"Don't thank me," she blurted, almost panicking. "You're putting me in the same category as a god?"

Luke shrugged. "Alright then… thank you, Samael, for bringing her here."

Kalysto stared at him, then looked at the ground. After a moment, she glanced at Samael then froze again, unsure how to respond.

"Kalysto is someone we expect good things from," Samael said. "She's shown real potential as a teacher. And personally, she's one of my investments."

"Me?" Kalysto blinked. "But, sir... I'm just a servant."

"You're saying I made a bad investment?" Samael's voice cooled slightly.

She paled instantly. "Never, my lord!"

He stepped forward, posture easing again. "Then carry a little pride. You work in the central pantheon."

Luke observed the exchange quietly, though curiosity gnawed at him. "I know you can't say exactly what you do, but... what's your profession, Kalysto?"

"I'm a Legendary Herbalist of the Verdant Forest," she answered after a pause. "But I still have a lot to learn."

Luke raised his eyebrows slightly. Her tone was modest, but the title made it clear there was a gulf between their levels.

Yeah... different league entirely.

"Kalysto, I'd like you to leave us," Samael said.

She nodded silently and vanished down the corridor, footsteps brisk and purposeful. Luke had a strong suspicion that some kind of magical barrier snapped into place the moment she left. Samael wasn't the type to leave conversations like this unprotected.

"You've probably realized by now," Samael began, turning toward him, "that trying to make that giant serpent your second servant is a waste of time."

Luke crossed his arms, eyes fixed on the floor for a moment. "The creature would have to agree to serve me... and that's not going to happen. Even if it did, I wouldn't be able to restrain it. First chance it got, it would kill me."

Samael gave a small nod. "Your assessment is correct. And that's exactly why I want to propose something."

Luke looked up, cautious.

"I want you to defeat the Beast Lord. Alone. No help from Charlie. No second servant, even if you manage to get one before then. When the time comes, I want it to be just you."

For a moment, silence filled the cave.

"Alone?" Luke asked, caught off guard. "Why?"

"Because if you do," Samael said, his voice dropping into something quieter, more deliberate, "the next time we meet after you've left the tutorial I'll give you the answer you've been looking for. I'll tell you what happened to your mother."

The words hit like a hammer. Luke didn't respond right away. He didn't need to. He already knew his answer. For his mother... he would face anything. Even the deadliest creature in this world, alone.

Samael extended his hand. "Shake on it, and the deal is sealed."

Luke didn't hesitate. He took the demon's hand. But the moment their hands met, Samael yanked him forward, his face tightening, smile turning sharp, stripped of all warmth.

"There's a rule in our order," he whispered. "We can't kill you. But... an external force? That's fair game."

He leaned in closer. "And now, you've just signed a deal with me. A deal that guarantees you'll walk straight into a fight you might not survive. So, in essence... I've arranged your death without breaking the rules. A clean way to eliminate the child my master should've never passed his bloodline to."

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