Chapter 38: Experience Bar

Failure.

An undeniable failure.

The Genesis Stone refused his change.

As a living being who had already used the Genesis Stone, Kana could understand its intent more easily and manipulate its use with finer nuances than someone who had never used it before.

When he expressed the concept of an "experience bar," he felt a distinct sense of rejection from the stone.

Rather than the stone's rejection, it was more accurate to say it was the rejection of the world.

The world rejected the very existence of such a thing as an experience bar.

Kana reflected on his setting for the experience bar.

Perform "monster hunting" — obtain "experience" — grow oneself — "level up."

Thinking carefully, if this were applied to reality, it would undoubtedly be a very "evil" manifestation.

Delving into its root, it was essentially the "plunder" of other living beings.

After some thought, Kana blurred the definition.

The 【Genesis Stone】 is capable of automatically completing changes toward beneficial directions, provided the user gives it a certain direction.

Most people used the 【Genesis Stone】 in this manner.

He blurred the setting of the experience bar into

Through "monster hunting" — obtain "growth."

The condition held true, but the form of expression was too strange.

"Monster hunting" became a form of training.

The "experience bar" became an accelerator capable of rapidly converting training into strength.

This was not the effect Kana wanted.

His current digitized body was already capable of achieving such an effect.

After reflecting for a long while, Kana had to admit.

The "experience bar" he imagined and that was presented in games was, in essence, "plunder."

The "plunder" of other living beings.

Yet, he also had to admit that this was the foundation of his conception.

What should he do?

Should he abandon this path directly? Shift his focus entirely to digitization?

Kana pondered deeply.

He looked at the large pile of spoils on the table.

He saw the "Experience Stone."

It was precisely because he had actually obtained this thing in reality that he believed an "experience bar" was feasible.

But reality had given him a harsh slap in the face.

He picked it up and held it in his hand.

【Inscription Stone】

【Material — Crystal — Legendary】

【Evaluation: An object left behind by an invader from beyond the world upon their destruction. Condensed by the world as a reward.】

In the game, this was a consumable, not a material.

Once consumed, it granted experience.

It was widely used for leveling up alt accounts.

Looking at this evaluation, Kana suddenly froze.

"Hiss... wait, perhaps it's like this?"

The object for acquiring "experience" that Kana had just defined lacked a precise target.

Because the 【Genesis Stone】 belonged to this world, any change it made would default to the rules of this world.

The object that would generate "experience" was, without a doubt, all things in this world.

Thinking carefully, if applied to reality, what kind of thing would turn into "experience"?

Life? To be honest, it wasn't qualified.

Using it to strengthen the body might work, but the growth of power is not as simple as just the physical body.

The soul? That felt very fitting.

The normal operation of souls is the foundation of the world; Kana's "experience" setting was like sabotaging the most fundamental operation of the world.

Using the world's own essence to destroy the world, and then making the world use it itself.

It was absurd just thinking about it.

Kana revised it again.

He redefined the target for acquiring "experience" — "Invaders."

Wait, am I an invader?

Kana was suddenly startled; he was a transmigrator, even if it was a soul transmigration.

On second thought, he felt he was just scaring himself, because he had already used the 【Genesis Stone】.

This thing could only be used by creatures of this world; even if he wasn't before, he became one after using it.

He felt relieved.

As soon as this setting was established, the 【Genesis Stone】 provided feedback.

It was feasible, and highly feasible.

He didn't even need to use 【Genesis Stone Shards】; any other random changes would leave enough scraps to complete Kana's new setting.

Uh...

He wasn't sure if it was an illusion, but it felt as if the world was very much in favor of this.

Regardless, it was a good thing.

Since "experience" could only be produced this way, he would prioritize his skills.

However, since he only held a 【Genesis Stone Shard】, it was impossible to truly manifest effects like those in the game.

He continued to exploit loopholes, using his previous methods of digitized weapons and a digitized body.

He performed deep digitization on himself, essentially digitizing his own "skills."

Combined with his recent setting for acquiring experience from "invaders," the energy of this 【Genesis Stone Shard】 was organized perfectly.

Taking a deep breath.

Kana closed his eyes, held the shard firmly in his palm, and pressed his hands together.

He raised the hands holding the shard above his head.

Clearing his mind of all distractions, he looped the setting he wished to achieve firmly in his mind.

The gaps between his fingers began to emit light.

The stone dissolved like liquid, merging into Kana's body.

Using the 【Genesis Stone Shard】 again, compared to its manifestation in his previous desperate situation, Kana's sensation this time was very clear.

He quickly opened his eyes.

He could clearly feel that the stone had been used and that the changes he desired had occurred.

Taking a deep breath.

Attributes.

【Character: Kana Safro Sat】

【Level: 2】

【Experience: 51/600】

【Status: Normal】

【HP: 16/16】

【MP: 6/12】

【Constitution: 8】

【Agility: 6】

【Spirit: 6】

【Evaluation: You can now be called a Knight.】

The attributes remained unchanged from before, but one new item had been added.

【Experience】.

Perhaps due to his subconscious, the amount of experience gained was the same as when he played games.

But why were there 51 points of experience?

As the thought arose, he understood why.

It was simple; the 【Experience】 displayed in the attribute panel could be simply analogized as a progress bar for growth.

Defeating "invaders" could grant "experience" to the progress bar, but surely ordinary training and exercise couldn't fail to increase it?

Therefore, ordinary training and exercise would also increase this progress bar, meaning training could yield "experience."

It was very logical and fit reality well.

Kana nodded with some satisfaction.

He looked at the 【Inscription Stone】 placed before him.

【Level 3 Inscription Stone】

【Consumable — Common Crystal — Legendary】

【Effect: Grants 500 experience upon use.】

【Evaluation: An object left behind by an invader from beyond the world upon their destruction. Condensed by the world as a reward.】

It had changed, becoming exactly like the one in the game.

And it could grant 500 experience all at once. Of course, based on his experience in the game, that was because his current level was only level two, while this experience stone was level three.

Using a high-level experience stone at a low level would result in amplified experience; conversely, using a low-level stone at a high level would result in attenuation.

Just like gaining experience from monsters in a game.

Gaining experience from higher-level monsters provided a boost, while fighting lower-level monsters resulted in a reduction.

There was nothing left to say; he used it directly.

The Inscription Stone dissolved, turning into something like flowing sand, and entered his body.

The sensation of this energy entering his body was very distinct; Kana could clearly feel his constitution undergoing a change.

【Experience: 551/600】

Great, he was about to level up. This feeling—awesome!

Kana regained a bit of that gaming sensation, and his mood instantly became exceptionally pleasant.

His personal attribute panel also had an extra page.

Next to 【Attributes】, a new 【Skills】 tab had appeared.

He clicked it.

Sure enough, the changes he wanted had appeared.

(End of Chapter)