When Zero's HP and MP eventually recovered to the max, he got up and dusted off his clothes.

"Ugh, here we go again," Zero grumbled.

I don't know if it's a placebo effect, but my body does feel a little lighter and I seem to be faster after I upgraded my AGI. And it looks like my max HP and MP went up after I leveled up. It doesn't seem like the system is trying to harm me, but I can't entirely trust it just yet.

"System, can I look at my list of skills?"

[Yes, host.]

A black window appeared in front of Zero.

Max Number of Skill/Magic Slots: 50

Skills/Magics available: {Piercing Thrust lvl.1}, {Crushing Bite lvl.1}

Fuse

Delete

Zero quickly noticed the "Fuse" and the "Delete" option although both were currently grayed out.

"What are those, system? Care to explain?"

[The "Fuse" is a method of combining two skills or/and magics, although both will be lost after fusing to make either a better or worse one with the properties of both skills and/or magics. There is no chance of a fusion failing, however, you need to be careful with which ones you want to sacrifice as you cannot get them back until you learn it again.]

"And why is the option grayed out?"

[The "Fuse" is currently not available to you yet, host until you have reached a certain level.]

"Mind telling me what that level is?"

[I will alert you when you have reached that level.]

Not telling me, huh? Zero thought as he smiled ruefully.

"And what about the "Delete"? Why is that grayed out too? Don't tell me I have to reach a certain level before I can delete them. After all, the limit cap is fifty, right? What if I want to learn a new skill?"

[You can delete skills/magics when you have reached a number of twenty-five skills and/or magics. And there are also ways to upgrade the limit capacity for your slots.]

"Let me guess. You can't tell me?"

[Regretfully, no. You have to find that out yourself.]

"I figured as much," Zero sighed.

Why is it being so secretive? Is there something else it isn't telling me..?

After five minutes of walking, Zero snapped out of his thoughts as he stared at the wall and the podium.

"One step closer to freedom."

Zero gripped his shortsword tighter and pressed his palm against the podium. The walls slid open to reveal a rift.

"Of fucking course."

The rift had a light orange tint to it.

"I'm fucked, aren't I? Is there any chance that this Room is easier than the last one? This is the 4th Room, right? Surely the 5th Room should be harder." Zero said.

[That is usually true, host. But this Room is a Mini-Boss room. The chances of this Room being easier than the last one is impossibly slim.]

"Looks like you need to get started on finding a new host, system. I'm not even gonna be able to feel the sunshine on my face. I'm gonna die in this dank, dark, depressing place to some hideous-looking monsters."

Zero leaned on the corridor wall and closed his eyes.

[What are you doing, host?]

"I'm mentally preparing myself."

Zero went silent for about a minute before his eyes shot open as he suddenly walked toward the rift with a sense of determination.

After Zero walked into the rift and as the usual sense of disorientation came again, Zero quietly muttered, "Damned system, at least try to cheer me up,"

[I can hear you, host. If it makes you feel any better, you can do this. I have faith in you.]

The system responded in its usual monotone voice.

Zero grit his teeth.

It sounds more like you're mocking me...

As Zero opened his eyes, he found himself in a dense forest with a cluster of trees all around him.

"Well, this is different. Where are all the monsters?"

As if on cue, a bush beside him rustled, and a goblin wielding a wooden spear walked out. It looked alarmed when it saw Zero and snarled as if telling Zero to back off. But then it noticed Zero's shoddy appearance with his chipped shortsword and ripped clothing before cackling in laughter.

Even a goblin is looking down on me? I'll make sure to properly "handle" you. Zero thought in anger.

Zero raised his shortsword and stared intently at the goblin. The goblin confidently advanced toward Zero, as if it was sure of its victory. Its spear suddenly glowed a faint red as it lunged at Zero with its spear. Zero dodged to the side and tried to find an opportunity to counterattack.

It has the longer range with a spear, while I only have a shortsword. What do I do?

Then Zero suddenly had an idea.

This is risky, but it might work.

Zero waited until the goblin came into range again as it raised its spear, ready to attack again. He then suddenly lunged towards the goblin, startling the goblin as it sent a premature attack at Zero. He grabbed at the spear causing it to stab into his hand, but Zero didn't have time to worry about the pain. He quickly raised his blade as it glowed a faint blue and the sword shot toward the goblin's head.

The sword entered cleanly through the goblin's head causing it to lose its grip on its weapon and flop to the ground after Zero pulled his blade back out.

[You have slain a Spear Goblin. +15 Experience Points.]

[Skill Acquired: Enhance Sharpness]

Zero grit his teeth in pain as he pulled out the spear stuck in his hand.

It hurts so fucking bad...

Zero stabbed his sword into the ground and leaned on it as he took a few deep breaths to distract himself from the pain.

[You have leveled up, host.]

"Is that so? Status sheet."

A black window appeared in front of Zero.

0/100 EXP

Name: Zero

Title:

Race: Human

Class:

Level: 3

HP: 75/150

MP: 22/24

STR: 3+

END: 5+

INT: 7+

AGI: 4+

Zero thought for a second and then increased his STR.

I need to be stronger so I can beat the Mini-Boss later on... or so I hope that I can.

Zero sighed and said, "One down, a lot more to go."