Re: Apocalypse Game

With a sense of resolute focus, Alan knew that he had ticked off most of the essential items on his preparation checklist. However, one crucial task loomed large before him: the need to elevate his own capabilities. This could only be achieved by judiciously allocating his hard-earned rank rewards and attributes. Most players would rush to the in-game shop to acquire new gear or skills, but Alan had a different plan.

Instead of making a beeline for the shop like so many others would, he retraced his steps back to the cabin and took out his "Beginner Guide to Enlightenment,". Alan was determined to dedicate the remaining hours to immerse himself in the book's wisdom.

The "Beginner Guide to Enlightenment" was no ordinary read; it demanded hours upon hours of devoted attention. In its pages, Alan had found layers of profound wisdom. The first part alone had devoured a full ten hours of his time, the second part required twenty-four hours of deep meditation to untangle the profound insights contained within.

For the past twelve days, he had diligently divided his time between brief periods of sleep and concentrated study. In total, he had managed to devote twenty precious hours to understanding the intricate wisdom of the book. This had allowed him to grasp the essence of the third part of the guide, completing half of its profound teachings. Alan's determination was unwavering, driven by the urgency of finishing the book before the third round of the game began.

Admittedly, the odds of success may not have appeared overly optimistic. But Alan held steadfast to his belief that the time required to comprehend the book was directly proportional to his intelligence. And now, with a boosted B-rank intelligence, he harbored a glimmer of hope that he could achieve his goal. If he did fail, he understood that alternative paths for his upgrade would need to be explored, and the book would be revisited during the next round. But Alan wasn't willing to squander another moment.

Assuming the lotus position, he entered a state of deep concentration.

Alan embarked on his mental journey by taking slow, deliberate breaths, aligning his focus with the deep well of spiritual energy within. As the hours passed, he felt himself drawn further into the book, losing track of time as the text revealed layer upon layer of profound insight.

The first hour slipped by unnoticed, followed by three more. Six hours passed in what seemed like the blink of an eye. Alan remained absorbed, his mind entirely engaged in the book's intricate teachings. To his astonishment, after a mere eight hours of intense concentration, he felt that he was on the cusp of a breakthrough. It was a far swifter comprehension than he had anticipated.

Perhaps it was the boost to his intelligence, or maybe the fact that he had grasped much of the wisdom from the previous two parts, that had expedited his progress. Regardless, he found himself reaching the conclusion of the book much sooner than expected. With an exhilarating sense of accomplishment, Alan realized that he had finally completed the entire text.

A notification promptly appeared in his gamelink, confirming his success:

[You have successfully comprehended the third part of the book]

[Increase 10 Maximum Spirit Points]

[Received one free attribute point]

The moment of realization was nothing short of extraordinary. As Alan concluded his understanding of the third and final part of the book, his mind underwent a profound transformation. It felt like a floodgate had burst open, unleashing a torrent of enlightenment that surged through his being.

The journey to enlightenment commenced with Alan delving into the very core of the mind, or as one might describe it in more scientific terms, the power of the brain itself.

He began to perceive the stream of consciousness in an entirely new light. It was a formless entity, devoid of any definable shape or color. This stream was in a perpetual state of impermanence, a continuous and ever-shifting flow from one moment to the next. Alan marveled at the intricate nature of thoughts, each one seamlessly connected to the next, forming an unbroken chain. The concept of a "first" thought dissolved, revealing the existence of a vast and unending cosmic consciousness, a wellspring of mental energy that stretched into infinity.

As he grasped these revelations, a notification appeared in his gamelink, marking the culmination of a hidden quest:

[You have completed a hidden quest - The Sage Path to Enlightenment]

[You have received a special reward]

[Acquired Title: Sage of Knowledge]

[Sage of Knowledge: You possess the ability to draw mental power from your intelligence, each point you receive to intelligence will be reflected to 25% of spirit power]

This was the long-anticipated bonus he had hoped for, the very reason he had taken the risk to transition from being a knight to a scholar, and why he had invested his hard-earned attributes into intelligence.

With his B rank in Intelligence, Alan could convert 12 intelligence points he has from F to B rank which amounted to a substantial 300% increase in his spirit power or, a gain of 3 spirit attribute points. In practical terms, this translated to his spirit-related activities being 30% more potent.

While this might not appear to be a significant boost, Alan couldn't wait to find and absorb the knowledge contained in the next book. As expected, now that he had finished the first book, a new notification chimed in his mind, revealing a new mission.

[Hidden mission activated]

[Find the second book - Advance Guide to Enlightenment]

The mission provided no clues, but fortunately, Alan had an inkling of where to begin. In moments like this, having knowledge from previous playthroughs felt like a form of cheating.

Now that he had accomplished what he set out to achieve, Alan had just under 3 hours to make his final preparations before the round started. It was time for shop for some skill and spells.

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