[Nanite Swarm Level: 2]

  [Efficiency Levels at 1.0%]

  [1 Skill Point Remaining]

  [Please Select a Skill to Enhance]

  I sat there looking at my new status, pondering the origins of the nanites and why they rewarded me for killing.

  Given what little information I had, the most plausible answer was that they came from the Magi-Towers, and by extension, the Admin herself.

  If they were just normal nanites, they wouldn’t have all these extra features that outright defied logic — even with magic involved. How would you even design a machine that grew stronger the more lives you took?

  No, the only reasonable explanation was the Admin. But what was her goal? Were they responsible for my reincarnation into this body as well? Did they plan for all this to happen?

  So many questions with no answers.

  But perhaps the most important question still lingered: should I even use this power? What if it was subtly changing me to fit into some larger plot?

  Although…

  I couldn’t deny their usefulness. If I hadn’t used them to get stronger using exercise, I would have been too weak to fight off those scale hounds, or later escape from the lizard-man… or kill him.

  Was it worth the risk? Down here, it might very well be the only real advantage I had. I’d be stupid not to use them… right?

  My curiosity finally got the better of me and I mentally opened the skills just to see what the options were.

  [1: Enhanced Hearing]

  [This skill sharpens acoustic focus, enabling the user to isolate specific sounds from a cacophony of background noise.]

  [2: Enhanced Sight]

  [This skill sharpens visual acuity, allowing the user to see clearly at greater distances and perceive minute details, such as shifting facial features.]

  [3: Enhanced Smell]

  [This skill sharpens olfactory organs to identify subtle and distant scents, such as toxins or blood.]

  Admittedly, I was tempted to pick something then and there regardless of any unforeseen consequences.

  Any one of these skills could be a lifesaver in a dangerous situation. Just imagine if I had [Enhanced Hearing] back in the tunnels! Valerie might not have lost her arm if I could’ve heard the creature coming before it attacked!

  Should I just pick one? The nanites haven’t given me any reason to doubt them… yet. Was I just overthinking the potential danger?

  If whoever put the nanites inside me had nefarious reasons, they could’ve just forcibly taken over my body without my consent, right? If they could give these enhancements, then they probably already had the means to do so.

  I reached out with my mind and selected [Enhanced Hearing] before I could get cold feet — and immediately doubled over as a piercing pain stabbed into my eardrums.

  I barely managed to clamp my jaw shut to stop myself from screaming.

  Mercifully, the pain passed just as quickly as it came.

  I winced and gingerly touched my ears as I was bombarded with random sounds, the city’s ambiance crashing into me with stunning clarity.

  A muffled conversation in the other room.

  A door slamming across the hall.

  The subtle buzz of electricity humming through the walls.

  It was all so vivid!

  Drawing deep breaths, I closed my eyes, attempting to adjust to the cacophony around me, slowly letting the chaos that threatened to overwhelm me blur together into normal levels once more. Or at least as close to normal levels as I could.

  Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

  Breathing a sigh of relief, I wondered if the nanites somehow knew of my intent, because it suddenly became as quiet as it was before I selected the skill. And after some experimentation, I was able to fine-tune them to whatever sounds I wished.

  I jumped up from the couch, pumping my fists in the air in excitement. This was amazing! Would I get more skill points as I leveled up? The feeling of being able to grow stronger was so amazing that I forgot all about my earlier reluctance.

  Maybe I could get things like super strength or enhanced reflexes from future levels!

  But first, I had to find a nearby rift that wouldn’t pose too much of a threat. And thanks to the lizard-man, I now had a weapon.

  ———

  “This must be the place,” I mumbled as I looked up from my shard to the glowing tear in reality about a block away from me. There were at least seven figures standing in front of its blue light.

  Looks like I wasn’t the only one to come here. Hopefully they were friendly.

  I let out a nervous huff as I approached the group. They were wearing ragtag armor, rusted weapons, and numerous scars visible on their skin where their clothing didn’t cover.

  One of them turned towards me with a look of surprise as I stepped across the ‘do not enter’ hologram tape that encircled the rift like the crime tape used back on Earth.

  “Hey, ain’t you that girl took down a scale hound the other day?” the red haired human woman chimed with a small smirk tugging at the corners of her mouth.

  “Oh, you’re that merc that helped me back then?” I hadn’t recognized her at first because she was wearing a helmet when I first met her.

  Maybe I should have worn some kind of disguise too, like a hood and face mask to hide some of my more prominent Drakanian features. If I was going around clearing rifts, it was probably better to remain anonymous.

  “Yep, that’s me!” she slapped a hand over my shoulder with a bright smile, “I see you took my advice to join the mercenaries! How ya liking it so far? Anyone giving you trouble?”

  “No trouble so far,” I lied with a small smile. I didn’t know the rules on conflict between mercenary members, it was best to keep the lizard-man’s death a secret until I could do my research… if I ever told anyone at all.

  “That’s great! I’m glad you’ve had a pleasant experience so far.” She responded, unaware of my thoughts as she glanced back to the burning hole in reality, “this must be your first rift then, yeah?”

  “Yeah,” I answered simply, silently glad that not all guild members were like the one who attacked me the other day.

  She paused, her eyes wandering over my unarmored body, obvious concern spreading across her face as she did so.

  Her concern was understandable — I wasn’t wearing any protective gear, only the simple clothes I had gotten from Aether’s Flame. She was probably worried about my lack of preparation. Likely seeing me as just another starry-eyed newbie thinking they were invincible.

  “I see,” She sighed and scratched her neck, her face briefly illuminated by the blue light as she glanced to the side, “normally I would’ve tried to convince you to avoid rifts until you’ve armored up more, but I know what it’s like to start from nothing. So instead I’ll offer some advice. Be careful in there and prioritize your safety first. If you make it out in one piece and are still interested in merc’ work, you can join my team. We can show you the ropes, maybe loan you some gear. How’s that sound?”

  Join her team? Was she normally this trusting of others? Sure, she knew I took down a scale hound, but was enough to convince her? Or did she have some ulterior motives?

  …Or was I just overthinking again?

  I blinked, realizing I hadn’t responded.

  “Thanks, I’ll take your advice to heart.” I avoided giving her answer. Quite frankly, I didn’t trust her yet. Yes she was being friendly, but given everything that had happed, I wouldn’t be surprised if backstabbing was the norm down here.

  My hearing picked up the subtle clinking of armor moving closer as we talked. Sounds I would’ve missed over the persistent buzz of the rift before the enhancement.

  “You two done yet?” came an impatient growl from a large merc covered from head to toe in heavy armor to the point I couldn’t even guess his species. The armor itself was slightly rusted in places, but was obviously well taken care of, at least until recently.

  If I focused, I could hear the faint grinding of joints that were in need of lubricant, but it was hard to place over the loud hum of the rift.

  Come to think of it, the other six wore similar getups, it was almost like they all suddenly decided to collectively stop taking care of their equipment.

  Strange. Letting it fall apart was practically suicidal, right?

  “Yeah, almost done.” The redhead turned her annoyed gaze to the giant of a man for interrupting our conversation, “But you’re more than welcome to go on ahead. Maybe you’ll set off any traps for us.”

  “Pfff, as if a mere rank 2 rift could harm me,” the man snorted and turned away and began discussing something with his group. My new enhanced hearing fully catching his entire conversation.

  “Should we call it off, boss? Find another rift? Backup wasn’t in the plan.”

  “Nah, just another newbie. Shouldn’t cut into the profits.”

  His remark was followed by snickers and chuckles, like he had just told some kind of funny joke.

  I felt myself tensing up as they finished their conversation. They were worried about me taking a cut? But a cut of what? Rift monster materials perhaps? Or was there something else?

  The app didn’t say anything about pay, I’d just assumed that you had to sell what you collected from the rift. I would even be fine with letting the others have a bigger share, as my main goal was to level up my nanites.

  “Ignore that asshole,” The redhead huffed, interrupting my thoughts as she reached out for a handshake, “Name’s Myra, codename Overwatch. Nice to meet you.”

  “Nyxia,” I took her hand, forcing the earlier tension out of me as I gave it a firm squeeze, “likewise.”