I just realized how broken my [Hollow Wanderer] skill is...

"It is a Legendary skill Host." Sally commented.

I know! But it literally allows me to teleport! To teleport! After the battle with Sapphire, I realized it's true potential.

Once I'm in the Hollow and want to come back, as long as I imagine a place close to where I left from, I can travel back to there.

Doesn't that mean I can do a portal jumping attack? I attack, jump into a portal, appear back, attack, jump into another portal...

"One problem with that Host. While in the Hollow you cannot see what is going on here in the Underworld." Sally informed.

You're ruining my dreams...

But I noticed like my other skills, [Hollow Wanderer] also had levels. So if I can upgrade the skill, does that mean it can possibly become an OP teleport skill?

Maybe with that I can use the Hollow to traverse from one end of the Underworld to another? This would save so much time with field trips and vacations...

"I do not know Host. What I do know is when a skill reaches a certain level, it can evolve and unlock new abilities." Sally stated.

...That's awesome. That means there is a chance.

I stood in my dorm room, a glowing purple portal in front of me. I needed to get stronger, in case anything else happens. After all, the Underworld is a dangerous place.

And I don't trust Duncan. He's already threatened me once and he's the strongest student. He also seems incredibly arrogant. From all the anime and novels I've read, I know those guys have extremely short tempers and love to crush others under their feet.

So, I might as well get stronger. Especially since my System is forcing me to make a Monster harem. It's going to be tough to manage them without any powers...

I took a deep breath, before releasing it.

I'll be fine. This time, I'm prepared. I won't break an arm again.

I walked into the portal, appearing in the eerie Hollow. It's just as spooky as it was before. It's giving me Halloween vibes. Man, I can't wait for when Halloween comes up in a couple weeks.

A growl reached my ears. Looking to the strangely colored forest to my right, I saw a Werebeast Corrupted stalk out of it.

Fear racked my brain, my heart racing a million miles an hour.

But I stood my ground.

The [Chains of Holy Fire] appeared around my arm, dangling in the air. It burst on fire, I quickly whipped the flaming chain towards the Werebeast, striking it across it's purple muzzle.

The Werebeast howled in pain, stumbling backwards. I ran forwards, swinging my chain at the Werebeast again, causing it to completely slice through the Werebeast, the monster fading into dust.

Wait. It left one of those light purple crystals behind.

I picked it up, weighing it in my hand. Sally, transport this to the inventory so I can see what it is.

"On it Host." Sally stated.

Alright. I summoned the [Monster Harem System] menu, clicking onto the [Inventory] button.

[Inventory]

[Fire Crystal] - 1 - Crystallized mana in the elemental form of fire.

[Chaos Crystal] - 1 - A crystallization of the chaos magic inside the Corrupted.

[Deathbane Bow] Level 3 - A Bow made from the bones of a Grim Reaper.

Chaos Crystal? Chaos magic? Is that what creates the Corrupted? If they're magic, it makes sense why they fade into dust after it dies.

Interesting.

Dismissing the [Inventory] screen, I continued on my journey through the Hollow. I walked through the forest, straining my ears for the smallest sound of a Corrupted.

A branch breaking. The rustics of leaves. Anything.

Then I heard it. A soft crunching sound from behind. I whirled around, seeing a Werebeast stalking behind me.

I've noticed something; the Werebeasts like to stay out of sight.

Seeing that it was spotted, it leaped towards me. I swung my flaming chain, intercepting it. It roared as it jumped back, burning. It frantically tried to get the fire out, but it was too late.

It dissolved away in purple dust.

[Wisdom] - Level Up!

My Wisdom stat leveled up to 2. Why...?

"The Wisdom stat levels up as you learn more." Sally stated. "This must be the level from learning about the Underworld, Hydra Dragons, and Werebeasts."

"But why now?" I asked.

"Your observation that Werebeasts like to stay out of sight made you level up." Sally stated. "That observation finished what the other information started."

"I see..." I muttered. Took a while to increase that level. Looks like I'll need to read books more often.

Hearing some more crunches behind me, I turned around to find two more Werebeasts staring me down. I quickly whipped them with my chain, the flaming whip slicing through them like butter.

They faded to dust, and one of them left behind another Chaos Crystal.

I wonder what I can use these for...

After that I stayed a little longer inside of the Hollow, wiping out any Werebeasts that tried to kill me.

"Alright...both [Freerunner] and [Chains of Holy Fire] leveled up. Looking good..." I muttered to myself.

Well, it's time to head back.

But before I could, a sudden rumbling caught my by surprise. And no, it wasn't my stomach.

The ground was shaking. Is it going to break?! Please don't, I don't want to fall and gain another broken arm.

Something burst out of the ground in front of me, spraying dirt into the air. I backed up surprised, staring at what had just emerged.

It was one of those mythical sand worms, about the size of a bus. At least, that was the size of the above ground part which looked over me. It was also purple like the Werebeast, and it's light purple crystals were actually it's teeth.

It's another type of Corrupted...

Oh god.

I shook in fear as it looked over me. This thing is so much scarier than the Werebeast! It looked down at me with it's nonexistent eyes, it's teeth spinning. It was ready to have it's meal.

I gulped.

Diving out fo the way, the Corrupted crashed into the ground where I just was, trying to swallow me whole. The Corrupted soon emerged back from underground, ready to try again.

I hurled my flaming chain at it, wrapping it around it's thick body. It roared in pain, trying to viciously shake me off of it. I was flung into the air, before landing on it's back.

Now I was riding it like a cowboy.

I clutched onto the chains as the worm bucked and shook, trying to get me off. In response I tightened the chains around it, not letting go.

Eventually the chains completely slid through the sand worm, cutting it's head off. I fell to the ground, the cut in half sandworm dissolving and leaving behind another Chaos Crystal.

...This is why I need to become stronger. Who knows what else is out there. Literally anything else could be possible.

Sally, can you pull up my [Profile] please?

"Of course Host." Sally replied, the screen appearing in front of me.

[Profile]

Name: Jackson Walker

Race: Human

AP: 100

Charm: Level 1

Strength: Level 3

Wisdom: Level 2

Agility: Level 3

[Freerunner] Level 5 - A small urge in the back of your head helps guide you.

[Hollow Wanderer] Level 1 - You can access the mysterious Hollow Realm through special portals.

[Chains of Holy Fire] Level 4 - You can summon and control chains infused with Holy Fire.

[Eagle Eye] Level 3 - You can see farther and clearer.

"Hey, how do I increase Charm?" I asked. "It's my only stat that hasn't leveled up yet."

"You increase it by making people fall for you and by raising [Affection]." She stated.

"I see..." I muttered. "How come I haven't gotten one increase yet?"

"Because you have only been on one date. You need to go on more dates or make another woman fall for you." Sally informed.

...Great.

Anyways, I should head back for the day. Standing up, I used the [Hollow Wanderer] skill to transport me back to the Underworld Realm.

As I appeared back in my room, a voice rang through my head.

[Hollow Wanderer] - Level Up!

...Awesome.

[Hollow Wanderer] Level 2 - You can access the mysterious Hollow Realm through special portals.

Sweet. I wonder if this skill can evolve? If so, I'm sending big OP protagonist power coming...

After my trip to the Hollow I almost immediately fell asleep in my warm, comfy bed. Fighting Corrupted is tiring, you know?

Waking up the next morning, it was another day of school. Tuesday.

It was a fairly normal day, but in Fight Class we had a lesson over Magic. Magic! The most fantasy thing ever! It exists!

I shouldn't be too surprised. I literally have a freaking System.

"Magic is one of the most major tools used for fighting." Our professor stated. "Everybody, monster or human, has mana inside of them."

"Using mana, we can harness magic, as long as we have an affinity to it." The professor continued. "There are many different types of magic, from elemental ones like fire to more unique ones like time and space."

"But there are also Fusion Magic's. These are when two different types of magic are combined to create one, stronger magic. Usually you need a medium to use them, as they put too much strain on our mana." The professor explained.

"There are some exceptions to that, like Angela's Holy Fire and Duncan's Chaos Fire. Both of them are Fusion Magic, but they are wielded naturally by their owners. These are rare cases to which the answer on how this is possible still alludes us." The professor stated, finishing the lesson.

Could Fusion Magic be used by strong people? No, that doesn't make sense. Duncan is the most powerful student, but Sapphire is the second strongest and she doesn't have one, same with Krystal. And I know Angela is weaker than both of them.

But maybe that's because she was sealed for 1,000 years? Maybe it's raw power?

Ugh, there's too many variables.

Well, I'll just pocket this thought for later. But I should look into it later and see if I can learn anything...