Slumbering Sloth

Vikram methodically navigated the cave, dispatching the undead with practiced efficiency. Each encounter left him more attuned to the rhythms of combat, his body moving almost instinctively as he cut down his foes.

When he finally reached the village statue, he used his accumulated souls to increase his Vitality to two. He knew this small boost wouldn't change much, but it was a necessary nonetheless.

Vikram would soon enter the cap of his stats, so there was no chance that this would be easy. He had tried to disengage in combat after he stacked enough souls to convert into stat points. 

The village felt like another complex puzzle, much like the mage's challenge he had faced before. He knew there was a solution, but it required careful probing and persistence to uncover. Vikram's attempts to find a way around the constant combat had failed, forcing him to adapt his approach.

Recognizing the futility of his current strategy, Vikram decided to shift his focus. Instead of trying to bypass the village, he would hone his combat skills. Improving his fighting techniques seemed like the most viable path forward. He recalled a particular skill he had been neglecting, one that could potentially turn the tide in his favor.

So, Vikram just gave up on passing this area and tried to improve his fighting. Vikram knew that there was a skill that he could improve. 

[Weapon Arts]

[Double Axe Arts: Level 2]

(Axe Throwing)

Vikram was growing increasingly frustrated with his inability to level up his weapon arts. He had a rough idea of how to proceed, so he devoted the remaining time to honing his axe skills. He tried various fanciful maneuvers, experimenting with different ways to wield the axe, though many of his attempts were inefficient and often left him vulnerable.

He even tried throwing his axe a few times, but this approach proved disastrous as he would inevitably meet a swift death afterward by the swarming tactics that the midgets loved to use. Despite his efforts, progress was slow and fraught with setbacks.

Over the course of two days, he continued his training, occasionally waking up in the real world to exchange a few words with Brunus, who seemed to be his only connection to normalcy in this intense period of focus.

Vikram felt a breakthrough was near. His movements with the axe were becoming more fluid and precise. He was starting to grasp the underlying concept of effective axe combat. However, there was still one major obstacle he hadn't surmounted.

Vikram looked up at the tall building that stretched far into the sky, struggling to comprehend its magnitude. "Very big, huh?" A person muttered, turning his attention to the guy beside him.

The man towered over Vikram, hidden from head to toe, his eyes glowing with an ethereal blue light that sent shivers down Vikram's spine. "Heh, it's getting late," the guy said, gulping down the contents of a metal bottle and sighing pleasantly. He shook the bottle, producing a faint sloshing sound.

Not to be outdone, Vikram lit up his second cigarette, took a drag, and exhaled green smoke. The man raised an eyebrow at the sight. "Where did you get that?" he asked, his curiosity evident.

"It's a secret," Vikram replied with a smile, taking another drag. The man grunted and pouted, showing a surprising amount of emotion. Sensing the man's interest, Vikram handed over the cigarette and lighter.

The guy examined the cigarette and lighter, his eyes flickering with curiosity. He lit the cigarette, took a drag, and exhaled a plume of green smoke. A coughing fit was to be expected, and it was soon followed by a sly smile.

The man grunted and made a face at Vikram, to which he helplessy shrugged his shoulders.

The guy shook his head, looked at the cig with some hesitation, and took a drag again. "Name's Vold..." the man said, extending his hand.

"Vikram," he replied, shaking Vold's hand.

Both Vold and Vikram took a moment to take in the beautiful scenery, the vast expanse of the sky above, and the imposing structure before them. After a few moments, Vikram noticed a group of people in black and blue suits approaching.

The group reached Vold, who seemed visibly annoyed but refrained from causing a scene. He turned to Vikram and waved goodbye, a hint of resignation in his eyes. "Looks like I've got to go," Vold said, his voice tinged with irritation.

Vikram moved forward and entered the building, intending to return to his apartment. He noticed Brunus engaged in a conversation with a man even more gigantic than Brunus if that were possible. The towering figure saluted Brunus before heading through one of the many doors leading off the main hall.

Vikram took in the ambiance, marveling at the black, obsidian-like tiles that made up the walls and the pristine white floor that contrasted starkly against them. The sleek, almost otherworldly design of the building was mesmerizing.

"I'll just roam around for a bit," Vikram said to Brunus, who nodded in acknowledgment. Vikram wandered aimlessly, his eyes scanning the intricate details of the walls and the subtle reflections on the floor. He was so engrossed in his surroundings that he didn't notice a wall directly in his path until he walked straight into it.

Vikram rubbed his head and felt that something was odd. He looked at his front and saw that there was no wall in front of him, but a woman that was looking at him, amused. 

Vikram hurriedly got up with his backpack and said sorry, but when he looked around him, he saw that everyone was looking at him like he was dead meat. 

He didn't know when but Brunus appeared beside him and apologized to the lady profusely. 

"Is this the kid that you spoke about?" The lady smiled at Vikram, and Brunus replied.

"Yes, General." The 'General' nodded, and said to follow her. What came after was a whole entire process of gibberish that Vikram didn't understand. Vikram had noticed Brunus and the lady saying that he needed to be specifically trained and all. 

When he entered his room, he just dived into the game. When he saw the rest of the two statues, he hesitated, then shook his head. If Vikram side-tracked now, then he was sure that what he just grasped would fade away, so he kept playing the [Barbarian], but before he touched the [Barbarian] statue, he looked behind. 

In the area where the statue was, there were a lot of empty spaces. In between them, adjacently behind of them, and behind them. So he was wondering why that was the case. 

Vikram almost thought that the one who created this game had plans for adding extra classes, but he was already just got tired when he created three. But he suddenly remembered what Reven, the Immortal had said. 

'Mmmm, you need to own a planet that is attuned and rich in your Way of Cultivation.

'You need a couple of lives to experiment. Lab rats won't work because the Way of Cultivation in these situations would need your own body...'

'And you need a couple of perfectly synchronized Way of Cultivation that complements each other perfectly.'

The entity, the one who had ripped out his heart, had a plan in mind, and even though Vikram didn't know what plan, he knew that this game played a huge part in that.

And Vikram knew that the entity wouldn't skimp on details. He didn't know the entity, but he instinctively knew that the statue had more to it than it met the eye.