Oh, holy hell..." she whispered, physically feeling her body grow lighter and her mind sharper.
These numbers were gargantuan! The increase in charisma alone made her feel as if she could bring anyone who looked at her to their knees. Before the message could fade, Lilith waved her hand in the air, summoning her full status window. She had to see this in black and white.
[ STATUS MENU ]
NAME: Lilith
LEVEL: 2
RACE: PRIMORDIAL SUCCUBUS MONARCH (Rare Demon King Race)
[ BASE STATS ]
HP: 600
MP: 600
Strength: 30
Agility: 80
Stamina: 50
Charisma: 160
[ SKILLS ]
Human Mask
Succubus Endurance
Succubus Desire
Origin Aura
Beginner Anti-Magic
ANALYSIS
[Succubus Charisma] (Inactive)
[Primordial Succubus Monarch Body] (Inactive)
[Succubus Devour] (Inactive)
[Succubus Hellfire] (Inactive)
[Medium Anti-Magic] (Inactive)
[ POINTS & TALENTS ]
Skill Points: 7
Talents: [Exhibitionist]
Lilith stared at the translucent status window glowing in the gloom of the altar chamber. The data she saw made her head swim.
"I'm only level two, and my stats are this inhuman?" she whispered in disbelief. "I'm a succubus, yet I have 80 agility and 50 stamina... Only strength looks somewhat normal, though a jump from 10 to 30 is still a massive gulf. I won't even mention MP and HP."
Lilith let her eyes drift lower, stopping at the inactive skills. Curious about her new power, she clicked on the proudest-sounding name: [Primordial Succubus Monarch Body]. A notification popped up before her eyes:
[Unlocking this skill requires: 100 Skill Points]
Lilith froze. Her face took on a completely blank expression. Without a word, she clicked the next one: [Succubus Hellfire].
[100 Skill Points]
One after another... the same message repeated with merciless precision. Lilith slowly closed the system window. She stood in absolute silence for a full minute, before her scream tore through the silence of the castle:
"HOW FUCKING MANY?! ONE HUNDRED points?! Do you understand this, system?! That's nearly several dozen first-level heroes! Where am I supposed to get them? Am I supposed to breed them in cages like rabbits?! Who is responsible for balance here?! I have massive complaints!"
Her fury was triggered by simple math. A Level 1 Hero offered a measly 3 points. She would have to orchestrate a true holocaust of weaklings to unlock even one of these skills. However, after a moment, her breathing grew calmer. She understood the hidden intent when she remembered the Wolf's Soul.
"Since that Wolf hero gave me 20 points, it means the system wants me to hunt bigger game," she muttered, furrowing her brow. "To activate a talent, I only need to kill ten like him. Is this a way to discourage powerful Demon Kings from bullying novices? At higher levels, a measly 3 points will be so insignificant I won't even want to lift a finger to kill them."
Lilith sighed heavily, massaging her temples. "Fine, for now I'm too weak to argue with the creators of this world and their sick imagination regarding balance..."
Despite this "minor" inconvenience, she smiled, feeling new energy flowing through her body. Thanks to activating all five basic skills and advancing to Level 2, her combat potential had increased incomparably.
In addition to the mountain of gold and precious souls, Lilith noticed one more item in her inventory that had dropped from Verial's carcass. She reached into the depths of her system space and pulled out a smooth artifact pulsing with crimson light.
"A skill stone?" she murmured with interest, bringing it close to her eyes.
Skill: Call of the Blood Covenant (Rank D)
Description: Allows the user to emit a powerful roar that unites and motivates members of their own race. Increases the Strength and Health Points of all allies of the same race by 30% for the duration of the battle.
Lilith whistled in admiration, her tail twitching enthusiastically. "Quite a powerful skill..."
She already imagined her army of a thousand skeletons suddenly becoming a third more powerful, crushing everything in its path. But as she read the description a second time, her gaze stopped on one specific phrase: "members of their own race."
Lilith froze. She repeated the word slowly, as if trying to get used to the sound of it: "Race... My race..."
Suddenly, her face contorted in a grimace of irritation. "Dammit, I'm not a skeleton!" she shouted to the empty hall. "What the hell do I need this skill for?! Instead of buffing a thousand-man army, I'm supposed to improve the morale of my... three kinswomen?"
She realized the absurdity of her situation. The skill was objectively powerful, even crucial for someone commanding a legion of beings of their own species. Unfortunately for Lilith, her "legion" of Succubi amounted to the fascinating number of three. Well, four, counting herself.
She looked at the stone with blatant dislike. "What am I supposed to do with you?" she asked the artifact. "It would be a bit of a waste of potential if I used it now... Sure, Kala, Mina, and Lysandra would become even stronger monsters, but it's still a waste of the area effect! Aghhhh!"
Lilith's frustration grew with every second. The world-balancing system had mocked her once again, giving her a powerful tool she couldn't fully utilize due to her unique, sparse race.
"Fine, to hell with it," she growled, throwing the stone back into her inventory. "I'll think about it later. Maybe one day I'll meet a pack of stray succubi or find a way to trick the system. For now, I have more important things on my mind than roaring at three girls."
***
A moment later, Lilith left the altar and was walking down the castle corridor when the air suddenly vibrated from a heavy, rhythmic knocking at the main gates.
"Well, finally," she muttered under her breath, a confident smile blooming on her face.
She quickened her pace, almost gliding over the floor. The heavy, iron-clad gates swung open with a long groan, revealing the figure standing outside. Varg was waiting before the entrance. The black werewolf with the characteristic white patches on his shoulders immediately, without a word of encouragement, fell to both knees, bowing his head low.
"My Lady..." he rasped with humility. "My pack has finished setting up a makeshift camp in the immediate vicinity of the mine. We await further orders."
Lilith stood before him, crossing her arms over her chest. She looked down at him, emanating a new, more powerful aura that had become almost palpable after her advancement to Level 2.
"You may rise, Varg," she threw out coldly.
The wolf straightened up slowly and raised his gaze to Lilith. In that same second, his pupils dilated sharply, and a shiver of instinctive fear shot through his entire body. A few hours ago, he had considered her a monster, but now... now he felt something much more destructive from her. Her presence weighed on him, making breathing a struggle.
This woman... she's become even more terrifying than on the battlefield, he thought feverishly, feeling the hair on his neck stand on end. Is it possible she was hiding her true strength then? Was she playing with us like little puppies?
He didn't get to finish that thought, however, because Lilith suddenly changed her expression. Her cold grimace gave way to a sweet, almost predatory smile that made Varg feel even more uneasy.
"Very well, Varg," she said in a melodic voice. "Since you've finished your preparations, lead me now to the village of the Blood Fang Tribe."
Varg, feeling the weight of her gaze, immediately nodded, submissively taking a step back to make room for her.
"Yes, My Lady," he replied quietly, tucking his tail and adopting a posture of total obedience.