<h4>Chapter 16: Inferno Stringer Evolved-</h4>


    ╔════════════════╗


    ╬═?STATUS?═╬


    Name: Ben Franklin


    Race: Dreadwing Mosquito


    Evolution: Evo 1


    Level: 9 Exp: 1/120


    HP: 5.0/5.0


    ?Strength: 5.1


    ?Agility: 7.5


    ?Stamina: 5.0


    [Free Stat points: +0.5]


    ╠═ ACTIVE SKILLS ═╣


    Mosquito''s Buzz (confuse enemies with an annoying buzz)


    Blood Needle (attack with small needles of blood; -0.5 HP)


    Soul Drain: steal life essence from enemies. Range: 1 metre [Level 2]


    ╠═ PASSIVE SKILLS ═╣


    Blood Tracker (enhanced ability to detect blood sources) [Level 2]


    Mutatic Regeneration (heals the body through blood consumption)


    ╚═══════════════╝


    "Hey system? What''s the deal with level 2 skills? And how am I supposed to get my skills to level up?"


    [ Repetative usage of a single skill or excessive control over a skill can elevate your proficiency in the skill to the next level. If you manage to improve these skills to level 5, they will evolve into aplete new skill.]


    "I see." Ben was currently sitting on a corner of a wooden rake while scrolling through the pile of notifications he got from his little kill mission. It was already past 7 in the morning, and the waggon started to move towards its destination.


    But what amused Ben more was that these elves, tied up to the chain, hadn''t eaten anything in the past 24 hours since Ben had been following them. Even kidnapers have the decency to feed their victims from time to time, but these guys? They literally surpassed all the limits of mostrification.


    "Tsk!" Ben chuckled in disgrace before he shifted his gaze again to the pile of notifications he was scrolling through.


    [Soul weapon obtained: Enhancement type: Inferno stringer]


    [Soul weapon obtained: Enhancement type: Inferno stringer]


    [Soul weapon obtained: Enhancement type: Inferno stringer]


    ...


    ....


    "Hey system! Can''t you just tell me already how many soul weapons I have obtained? Why go through a bunch of the same notifications?" Ben asked, a little frustrated by the group of repeating notifications popping up on his screen.


    So sorry for the trouble, host. I will calcte the exact number of souls and weapons you obtained from killing zing Firefly.


    ..


    The host currently possesses 11 Inferno stringers obtained by killing the zing Firefly.


    "I see. What about description, though? Can you exin exactly what you mean by an enhancement type weapon?" Ben asked, looking at the weapon description popping up on the screen.


    [Enhancement type weapons are very different from ordinary soul weapons. An enhancement type soul weapon is a specialised weapon that enhances the abilities and attributes of its wielder. These weapons can also be used with a certain skill or another soul weapon.]


    "Well, that totally went above my tiny mosquito head. Just tell me how to use it, and I will figure it out for myself." Ben said,scratching his head in confusion.


    [To use a soul weapon, the host must summon it first.]


    Alright, alright, I know the basics," Ben said, nodding his head, before he called the inferno stringer out of his inventory. Surprisingly for him, when he called out the soul weapon, a sudden notification popped up on his screen.


    ╔══════════════════╗


    Select the appropriate options to enhance:


    1. Blood Needle Skill


    2. Beetle chitin dagger


    ╚══════════════════╝


    "Ummm...I will choose the blood needle skill." Benmanded, randomly choosing one option for the test.


    [Inferno Stringer enhancement applied to the blood needle skill] [The Blood Needle skill is enhanced with burning demage.]


    "Burning demage? Oh, I see! So this thing is simr to the rune stones from those MMORPG games. If I apply it to a certain weapon, then I will get my weapon enhanced with the same element...It''s that simple. Why didn''t you tell me about this earlier system?"


    [I did...]


    "Nevermind, I will just quickly test out my new skill." Ben said, flying to the top of the waggon while targeting a tree branch nearby.


    ╔═╣Blood needle╠═╗


    As soon as Ben chanted the skill, a sharp needle like crimson aura grazed in the shape of a needle and slowly started to glow red hot.


    Bang." With a small sting sound, the needle hit a random branch of a tree, cutting a few chips from it before the part hit by the needle was engulfed by crimson red sparks.


    "It''s quite weak, but I know how to make that work." Ben looked at his target,puting the demage before hemanded the system. "Hey system, start merging all the enhancement type soul weapon weapons into them at the level they can."


    [Merging soul weapon, Inferno stringer]


    A notification appeared on his screen before two white orbs of light flew out of his inventory and started to sync with each other.


    [Merge Sucessful, Inferno Stringer (Grade 2)]


    ...


    [Merge Sucessful, Inferno Stringer (Grade 3)]


    ...


    [Merge Sucessful, Inferno Stringer (Grade 5)]


    As Ben merged the Inferno stringers, their power and effectiveness increased. The merging processbined their attributes and enhancements, resulting in a more potent soul weapon. The enhancements from the multiple weapons merged into a single, stronger Inferno stringer.


    [Merging Sessful, Soul Weapon Evolution, zing Stringer : Normal tier weapon (Grade 1) ]


    "A normal tier weapn! Finally" Ben said, looking at the status screen in excitement. "Dont stop, keep merging it further." He cammanded to the system.


    [Host, to merge with a normal tier weapon, you need another normal tier soul weapon as well. With the current number of Soul weapons you have, you can only make 3 Normal tier weapon and 1 low tier weapon out of it.]


    "Sigh...I should have expected that!" Ben said, letting out a long breath in disappointment, "Then use all soul weapons to upgrade the skill to grade 3."


    With Ben''smand, the merging process began once again,sting for about 15 miutes before a notifacition p[opped up on Ben''s screen.


    [Merging Sucessful. zing Stringer (Grade 3)]


    "Alright then, time to test out my new evolved weapon" Ben said in determination, looking ahead for suitable targets while sitting on top of the white cloth.


    Taking flight from the top of the waggon, Ben scanned the area for a suitable target. He spotted a wooden log set up nearby, perfect for testing out his newly evolved skill. With a flick of his wings, he swiftly flew towards it.


    Positioning himself in front of the target, Ben gathered his focus and channelled his energy into the Blood Needle skill. The crimson aura surrounding his needle-shaped attack began to intensify, exuding a golden aura of scorching heat.


    Without hesitation, Ben unleashed the enhanced Blood Needle skill, sending the fiery projectile hurtling towards the target board. The needle pierced through the air with incredible speed, leaving a trail of zing sparks in its wake.


    Upon impact, the needle struck the wooden board, igniting it in mes, before a small explosive sound made a bullet size hole across the thick log...