My Skill Creation System

[You've killed Cave Bear Lv. 60]

[...]

[You've killed Cave Bear Lv. 65]

[You received 1,211 experience]

[Level Up]

[You received 6 stat points]

[You received 100 skill points]

Nathan gave an impressed smile at the number of monsters Fang and Night had killed while he was relaxing, upgrading his newest skills.

"Level up!" He muttered happily to himself. "I feel so refreshed!"

He then approached Meriel, who was gathering flowers nearby.

They continued their gathering and soon spotted a group of monsters gathering nearby. They quickly hid behind the bushes overlooking a clearing.

"Look, Meriel," Nathan said, pointing into the distance. "Do you see those black cubes floating inside transparent bubbles? There's quite a few of them."

"Yes, I see them," Meriel replied. "What are they?"

"They're cameras," Nathan explained.

Meriel paused and then asked, "Do you mean cameras like the ones used to broadcast this exam live?"

"So, is there such a thing?" Nathan thought for a moment and nodded. "I just found out that this exam is being broadcast live."

"My friends told me about it. Is there a problem with it, Mr. Nathan?" Meriel spoke softly.

"I'm not sure," he replied. "I don't like to keep my abilities hidden. It just doesn't feel right. But I do have a plan for my golems. Perhaps I could only reveal a tiny bit of my power if the exam is streamed live."

"Maybe you can all use your golems in one big battle," Meriel suggested with enthusiasm.

Nathan was hesitant and gave her a questioning look. "I'm not sure what would happen if people knew I could make these golems. Revealing everything might cause jealousy and could cause problems," he said.

"I don't know," he continued, "I'm still not comfortable with the idea of this entrance exam ending with participants killing each other."

"We should try our best anyway!" Meriel exclaimed as she took on a determined expression. "I believe we will be able to overcome any obstacle that comes our way together!" She then smiled at Nathan.

Nathan was taken aback by the sight of Meriel's smile; he wondered if this was the first time he had seen her smile.

***

The ancient forest they were in made them feel like ants. The trees were huge and wild, even hiding the monster that was stalking them nearby.

But Nathan had Geen to help him. Geen's ability enabled Nathan to find the monster he was hoping for.

His target was Ursa Major, a giant bear with shining silver fur, a powerful roar, glowing eyes, and claws as long as a man's arm.

[Elite Ursa Major Lv. 70]

Luna floated near Nathan and whispered softly, "Master Nathan, Ursa Major is a vicious carnivore capable of using magic in battle. It lives deep in the darkest forests, where no one else will ever find it. This monster is of an elite grade, and you'd be very lucky to defeat it. Its Monster Core or Monster Soul Stone is highly valuable because of its magical powers that exceed the average."

"You're right about it being an Elite grade," Nathan agreed with her.

Nathan glanced at Meriel, who was sitting next to him and said, "Meriel, we will beat this beast. We may even be broadcast on TV. So, I'm going to give it my all, even without my golems. Anything else you're worried about?"

She shook her head. "I can do close-combat and can provide support. Whatever you need, Mr. Nathan, I'll be there to help as much as I can," she said softly.

Nathan nodded slowly. "Good, I'll tell you if I need to switch." He then stood up, his face grim as he walked forward.

Nathan swiftly held two swords in both hands and muttered softly. Instantly, the blades were surrounded by flames. His body began to grow larger, his hair extending, and his breathing becoming louder.

Meriel stepped towards him and waved her right hand. A grimoire suddenly appeared on her left side. Black energy, resembling fire, formed around her as she drew something from the sheets of her grimoire. From it emerged a scythe, as long as her body was entirely black in color. She was now in a battle stance.

Nathan said, "Geen, keep an eye out and make sure no other monsters come near." Then he added, "Fang, I need your help."

Fang, the big black wolf, trotted over to Nathan, who quickly climbed onto his back.

The giant bear, towering 3.5 meters tall, was bristling with fury. Nathan held two swords with fire blazing from them, ready to fight, while Meriel held her scythe with a fierce determination glinting in her eyes.

"Alright, let's go!" Nathan roared before rushing towards Ursa Major with swift steps.

***

The crowd hushed as the two hunters slowly advanced toward the giant bear monster. The beast stood tall and formidable, its fur glistening in the setting sun's light. Both hunters were armed with their respective weapons, and they readied themselves for the battle to come.

"Ahoy there! We meet again, Max! This is the perfect time to witness an epic showdown, could it be exciting? Challenging? Or maybe even a massacre?!" He said, beaming with enthusiasm.

He gestured to the audience and asked, "Are you ready to go?"

He then addressed those watching live, "Remember, the online bet is open. You only have one minute to decide if your money will double or not. Don't miss this opportunity - act quickly!"

***

Anonymous Cat: "Wow, that dark elf girl is smoking hot! I'm getting worked up just looking at her."

Anonymous Pig: "Hey, you hypocrite cat! Just a while ago you were moaning about something, now you're showing your true colors. What a jerk!"

Anonymous Giraffe: "Come on, I wanna watch two idiots fight an elite monster - that's gonna be hilarious!"

Anonymous Rabbit: "Oh my gosh, this shouldn't be allowed to be streamed online. It's just too violent."

Anonymous Turtle: "You know what, guys? They have no chance against that bear. Why don't we bet our money and get rich off this stupid event?"

Anonymous Lizard: "I'm sure the contestants are aware of the risks involved and still chose to participate. Ch!"