Chapter Nine: Determining the Alteration

“Kariel, may I ask you a question?” Ember suddenly paused at the edge of the snowy trail, reaching out to tap the window as if testing the glass’s strength.

Unaware of the danger approaching from behind, Kariel’s face twisted into a sly grin as he crept closer, responding in a way meant to lull his opponent into a false sense of security.

“Of course, ask away!”

“Could you describe in detail what it felt like to plunge into the snow? When the overwhelming snowflakes turned into flames, wouldn’t that have been like stepping into a furnace? Yet you still managed to come back alive—truly, you have been blessed with great fortune!”

Ember’s words drew a venomous gleam to Kariel’s eyes. He exhaled a plume of black smoke and glared fiercely at Ember. “You really want to know?”

“Yes, is there a problem?”

Oblivious to Kariel’s approach, Ember crossed the corridor along the snow trail and entered the classroom’s back door. Inside, desks and chairs were neatly arranged, but the room was empty. Kariel thought Ember was carefully observing the classroom while holding onto the doorframe, but in truth, Ember was pushing his five-point perception to its limit.

[Alert: Five-point perception detects a change in temperature behind you.]

This was the game’s way of revealing Kariel’s slip.

[Alert: Five-point perception senses a malicious gaze fixated on you from behind!]

Ember deliberately provoked Kariel with this.

“I think if you really want to know, you should experience it firsthand!” Kariel’s voice suddenly roared like a blazing demon, filled not only with intense heat but also a coarse, threatening tone. His palm turned to charred coal, burning with deep red flames. Before finishing his words, he struck hard, as if trying to pierce through Ember.

[Warning: Fierce attack incoming from behind!]

Could he even predict the attack’s direction in advance?

Five-point perception reaching this level immediately reminded Ember of the encounter with the living embodiment of the forest in the forbidden zone. That figure had repeatedly defied danger by fighting against many, almost as if endowed with precognition. Ember had once thought it was a special ability, but now realized it was likely perception at work.

At the instant he received the perception warning, Ember also sensed the fiery wind rushing in. Without hesitation, he stepped forward, flinging his hand off the doorframe and, while dodging the attack, clamped down hard on Kariel’s forearm.

Smack!

The fierce blast of the door’s wind whipped Ember’s hair. He spun sharply and pressed his shoulder against the door, trapping Kariel’s arm firmly.

“Ah!!”

Kariel let out a miserable scream as his arm was squeezed. His entire body was covered with damaged skin, as if he were a blackened charcoal figure torn apart—this very transformation allowed the doorframe, despite being subjected to Ember’s level six strength, to deform violently but not break Kariel’s arm.

“It hurts! Let go!”

Kariel, overwhelmed by pain, struggled to pull back his arm, but Ember held firm against the doorframe, refusing to release. From the prompts, Ember saw Kariel was taking continuous crushing damage. Though the numbers were modest, it was an effective way to wear down a boss. Additionally, through this contest of strength, Ember learned how power levels were assessed.

[Alert: You used environmental elements to inflict 8 damage on the basic-level boss “Burning Kariel”!]

[Alert: Target’s strength level is 5, within 20% of your strength (level 6), giving it a certain chance to break free.]

[Alert: You will undergo a strength check. A natural number between 1 and 6 will be drawn at random. If the result is 6, the target successfully escapes.]

[Alert: Result is 4. Target failed to escape and suffers 8 more damage. Next strength check in 2 seconds!]

After the official game launch, strength would no longer guarantee absolute dominance; if the difference was within 20%, there was a chance to resist strength effects.

Seeing this, Ember decisively raised his strength to 7 to prevent Kariel’s escape and increased the door’s crushing damage to 13 points. At least until Kariel’s stamina ran out, escape was impossible. Meanwhile, Ember activated his Eye of Inquiry and glimpsed Kariel’s true attributes.

——

Name: Burning Kariel (Basic-level Boss)

Health: 121/150

Attack Level: Average (25)

Defense Level: Average (12)

Attack Speed: Fast

Alert Range: Normal

Skills: Fire Fist (Damage x 2.5), Camouflage (Perception Resistance x3)

Attributes: Strength 5, Agility 3, Perception 2

Description: This is the embodiment of Kariel’s malevolent will buried beneath the snow. The snowflakes imbued with dark energy grant it special power. Over time, this malevolent entity absorbs more of the dark energy, breaking through its limits and growing stronger.

[Alert: Skills or items with freezing effects will have additional impact.]

——

Compared to before, the biggest difference in scouting was the ability to see the boss’s key attributes. Also, the detailed effect of the “Camouflage” skill made Ember realize that if he raised perception to 6, he might detect Kariel’s true nature. Or, by using a strength check combined with five-point perception to activate Eye of Inquiry, there could be a chance to see through the disguise.

“This change means that although attributes still matter, the requirements aren’t as harsh as before.”

Ember understood this clearly. Ignoring Kariel’s pained curses, he continued applying crushing damage. Seventeen points of stamina could hold out quite a while. Yet Kariel wasn’t without countermeasures. Upon realizing Ember’s determination to wear him down, his bloodshot black eyes suddenly ignited with scarlet flames. He infused his left arm with fiery energy, causing his fist’s flames to surge violently. Finding Ember’s approximate position, he threw a punch that shattered the classroom door.

However, five-point perception worked its magic again, allowing Ember to dodge in time. A flaming arm broke through the door but failed to find its target to vent its rage. Furious, Kariel wildly swung his arm, using his fiery power to melt and tear apart the steel door. His hateful glare locked on Ember, as if he wished to burn him to ashes immediately.

Yet Kariel overlooked something crucial: his life stage remained basic. Maybe in a minute or two, he could truly defeat Ember, but certainly not yet. Comparing the two, Ember resembled more of a boss himself. Not even considering any unknown ice or water attacks, he simply charged forward with lowered shoulders toward Kariel.

[Alert: You launched a “Charge” attack against the basic-level boss “Burning Kariel,” dealing 18 direct damage. (30-12)]

[Alert: Judging... Success! Target’s strength level is 5, not exceeding your strength level +1. “Charge” effect triggered. During the charge, the target will suffer double damage upon colliding with any object.]

[Alert: Basic-level boss “Burning Kariel” suffers an additional 20 collision damage!]

The conditions and effects of the charge remained unchanged. Unsurprisingly, Kariel was slammed backward, crashing into the corridor, smashing through glass with half his body sticking out the window. Ember wasn’t about to let such a minor boss escape so easily. His enhanced, bio-engineered soft arm, fused with the tip of an octopus tentacle, swung through the air and caught Kariel’s right leg. Ember pulled with full force, yanking Kariel back from falling out the window and slamming him against the classroom’s outer wall.

This finally snapped Kariel to reality. Seeing Ember approach with a sinister grin, his hateful glare dissolved into terror...