A strange look appeared on Arthur’s face as he thought about how limited his privileges were.

  He didn’t have the right to access most of the System’s settings and information, which annoyed him—especially since he was intensely curious about Primal Energy, Basic Settings, and Emergency Settings.

  Regardless, there was nothing he could do, so he stopped giving it much importance. Before ignoring it entirely, he asked the System one last thing.

  "How do I obtain more privileges? And are there any other features I don't know about?"

  Now that he knew about privileges and settings, he realized the System didn't tell him everything. Perhaps it was doing this on purpose, or perhaps it simply didn't interfere, leaving it up to him to discover everything on his own.

  [ The higher your Rank, the more privileges you obtain. ]

  [ All other features are either restricted or locked and require more privileges. ]

  "So there's more? Fine, I get it. Everything is linked to Rank? That's not surprising."

  He expected such a response, so he didn't show any clear expression. To him, ascending in Rank was an urgent necessity, whether he gained benefits from the System or not. Power was the only thing that would keep him alive and restore his human form.

  Arthur’s primary goal remained reclaiming his humanity.

  After living with the spider-woman and extracting some important information from her, he learned that some special monsters could transform into a demi-human form upon reaching B-Rank. This restored his hope for a normal—or at least semi-normal—life.

  After getting the answer he wanted, he ignored the system and redirected his focus to Evolution Points.

  This time, without deviating from his main goal, he studied his Attributes for a few minutes, then decided how to distribute his points. With confidence, he commanded:

  "Distribute 7 points to Strength, Endurance, Vitality, and Agility.

  Distribute 10 points to Speed, and 5 points to Perception."

  [ Distributing… ]

  Because of the large amount of EP allocated at once, a refreshing, pleasant warmth spread throughout his body. It made him relax, an elated expression appearing on his face, as if he were soaking in a hot spring.

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  His Regeneration speed increased, many of his recent internal injuries vanished, and even the sealed ball of fungus inside him weakened and became more stable.

  His body grew larger and more massive, and he felt strength flow back into him, washing away all his exhaustion and pain. As for his severed leg, however, nothing changed—it didn’t regrow even a millimeter.

  [ Distribution Complete ]

  When the process ended, he felt a bit dissatisfied and wished that comforting sensation had lasted longer. He truly needed it.

  Disappointed, he let out a short sigh and regained his seriousness. Then he moved on to the next important matter—the new Skills and effects he had obtained, which seemed powerful and intriguing.

  Naturally, the first Skill he examined was "Primal Predator". It was his strongest advantage, the one he relied on most.

  — — —

  [ Primal Predator (SSS): A primal hunting instinct that turns its bearer into a cold, merciless predator, spreading terror in the hearts of all living beings.

  – Effects –

  – Predator Instincts: Greatly increases focus, ferocity, basic instincts, and bloodlust.

  – Predator’s Gluttony: Gain additional XP when consuming prey, with a 25% chance to acquire one of the prey’s skills.

  – Predator’s Eyes: Your sharp, experienced vision can analyze the surrounding environment, track traces, and determine optimal hunting and escape routes. It also helps identify enemy weak points.

  – Predator’s Resolve: Permanently reduces pain sensitivity by 30%. Grants a temporary 5% increase to Endurance and Vitality when HP falls below 50%.

  – One-Man Army: Increases all stats by 15% when facing enemies of the same Rank who outnumber you by three times.]

  — — —

  As usual, Arthur was stunned by the power of the effects he had acquired. They seemed perfectly suited to him, and it made sense—based on his observations, all the skills and effects he gained were linked to the experiences he had gone through.

  He had faced countless deadly situations and fought enemies who outnumbered him and even surpassed him in Rank. It was only natural that the aspects he relied on in battle—enduring pain, embracing madness in combat, and acting with cunning—would evolve.

  What puzzled him, however, was that one of the effects of "Primal Predator" had disappeared. Of course, he quickly remembered that it had evolved into a subskill. He navigated to the skill list, found it, and opened it immediately.

  — — —

  [ Last One Standing (S): The Primal Predator does not fall no matter how many enemies it faces. The battlefield is its home, blood is its passion, and the more it is wounded, the stronger it becomes.

  – Effects –

  – Desperate Frenzy: When HP drops by 90%, all base stats increase by 50% for 45 seconds.

  – Final Awakening: When HP drops by 98%, all stats increase by 200% for 7 seconds.

  Warning: When this effect ends, you will suffer a severe reaction.

  Note: Final Awakening can only be used once per month.]

  — — —

  "I see… this skill is a lifesaver, but it comes at a price. And most likely, a very high one. I don’t think the reaction will be just pain or temporary weakness—losing 98% of my HP is basically a death sentence. Well, let’s hope I never have to use it."

  Although Arthur admired the sheer power of the skill, he realized at the same time that it wasn’t necessarily that useful. It might not even save him from death, and it could very well drag the enemy along with him to the grave.

  Simply put, he paid no attention to the skill’s second effect. Only the first effect was reliable enough to count on.

  After that, he moved on to the "Poison Resistance" skill. It simply helped him withstand toxins, and it was clear he had gained it from all the exposure to the spider woman’s venom and the mushroom poison over time.

  As for "Overwhelming Presence," it wasn’t exactly a skill in the traditional sense, but rather an intimidating aura that allowed him to terrify his enemies.

  Finally, he opened the details for "Immortal Body," the skill he had been most curious about because of its Mana consumption.

  — — —

  [ Immortal Body: A high-level defensive skill that makes your body and fur thicker and tougher, turning you into a living metallic barrier.

  – Effects –

  – First Hit Damage Reduction: 90%

  – Incoming Damage Reduction: 50%

  – Health Increase: 10%

  – Total Damage Capacity: 600 HP

  – Cooldown Duration: 15 minutes

  – Negative Effects –

  – Speed Reduction: 20%

  – Agility Reduction: 40% ]

  — — — — — — — —

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