My Skills Can Evolve Infinitely in a Game-Like World

Chapter 28: Eastern District

Calling it a body was inaccurate.

It would be far more accurate to call it messy remains.

Covered in blood and black fur, the faint aura it exuded was enough to oppress its surroundings despite its lack of vitality.

The remains belonged to the strongest opponent Aurelius had ever faced—the Level 12 Black Bear he had managed to defeat using Radiant Lance.

Aurelius’ face became solemn as he looked at them for several seconds.

Then, he stretched out his hands, and golden light flowed out of them. It gathered in the air in front of him and descended, enveloping the Black Bear remains.

Under the light’s brilliance, the broken body parts rapidly melted.

They transformed into crimson liquid that glowed eerily.

Moonlight Potion!

This was Aurelius’ goal in activating Transmutation.

As the door had passed 12 o’clock and the day had changed, he had confirmed with the Player Panel that he could consume another one.

Had it been before, he might have been somewhat hesitant about whether to use this opportunity or wait for later.

However, the Mission that had previously appeared was like a sharp sword hanging above his head.

If he didn’t improve his strength as much as possible in the shortest possible time, it would slash down and harvest his life.

He had to use whatever methods and means were at his disposal to strengthen himself in the meantime.

Leveling up was perhaps the easiest and most straightforward method to achieve this.

’Improving my Level should be my highest priority for the foreseeable future.’

’Only by growing stronger can I kill higher-level monsters, and only by killing more powerful monsters can I obtain more Experience.’

In a sense, it was a natural loop. Barring unforeseen accidents, Aurelius had a bright future ahead of him.

Unfortunately, the Sunless Sect’s appearance was exactly that unfortunate "accident".

Countless thoughts raced through Aurelius’ mind, but his movements never stopped.

With his experience in refining the Moonlight Potion, the process was even easier than last time.

Soon, the originally bloody remains had turned into a deep crimson liquid, mirroring what little remained of the silver moon in the sky.

Perhaps it was because his mastery over the recipe had increased, or perhaps the Black Bear was simply stronger than the rabbits; the liquid glistened far more beautifully this time.

The temptation it gave to Aurelius was several times higher.

He didn’t even have the time to properly place it in a bowl or anything.

With a single motion, he subconsciously raised the liquid and brought it in front of his mouth.

Then he tilted his hands and let it flow down his throat.

[Consumed a Moonlight Potion. EXP +400]

A warm current coursed through Aurelius’ body, but it quickly receded.

Moments later, he opened his eyes and his gaze was met with an Experience Gain notification.

400 EXP.

Significantly higher than the 250 the Red Hare Rabbit had given him.

’Part of it ought to be due to my mastery of the Potion Recipe. More important, however, is the difference in the respective ingredients.’

Both monsters were around the same Level. Yet when it came to personal strength and value, they were on a completely different level.

’It seems that randomly killing monsters to use as ingredients is meaningless.’

’Only by hunting stronger monsters can I maximize my growth.’

While thinking, Aurelius summoned the Player Panel.

After taking one final look at his status, he leaned back on his bed.

Before long, the room fell silent as he drifted into sleep.

--

Aurelius’ rest was short.

Only a couple of hours later, the warm sunlight passed through the open window, brushing against his face and causing his eyelids to twitch.

The intense light forced him to open his eyes.

He instinctively reached out to pull the curtains, though he ultimately shook his head.

While grumbling inwardly, he rose to his feet.

After getting dressed up, he went downstairs, intending to exchange a few words with his mother.

Unfortunately, Elena was long gone. After asking the maids in the mansion, Aurelius learned that she had gone out to attend a noble morning banquet.

While shaking his head inwardly, thinking that noble ladies really knew how to enjoy themselves by having banquets so early in the morning, he ate his breakfast before hastily leaving the mansion.

He neither left the city nor visited the Ernst Academy. Instead, he made his way through the city, soon ending up in its eastern region.

The sights around him instantly changed.

The quality of the pedestrians’ clothes decreased at a speed visible to the naked eye, while the environment itself had gotten considerably worse.

Trash littered the broken pavement, proof that the city administration did not care much about this district.

Aurelius knew the reason.

If the western district belonged to the nobles, then the northern district belonged to the churches.

The southern district housed most ordinary citizens, while the eastern district...

’... Is home to the poor and downtrodden.’ Aurelius completed that thought.

His gaze swept through his surroundings. He had never visited the eastern district before, only hearing about it through other people’s mouths.

Everything was unfamiliar. Fortunately, he had long known that he would visit this place today.

He was dressed accordingly.

Aside from the subtle difference in expression and his natural bearing, he looked like a middle-class resident passing through the streets.

Blending among the crowd, Aurelius walked deeper into the district.

His route appeared aimless, as though he had lost his way. Several people even stopped him and asked whether he wanted directions.

Only a quarter of an hour later, his eyes suddenly lit up.

A low murmur entered his ears, coming from the alleyway just ahead.

"The God of Sun stands above us all. Everyone among us is His child."

"The God of Sun will protect us all."

"Today, we suffer beneath the moon’s shadow. But tomorrow, the moon will vanish, and we shall bathe in His brilliance once more."