The common loot monsters dropped were Spirit Orbs.
These magical objects contained energy that served various purposes.
Oftentimes, Spirit Orbs were used to enchant weapons, gear, and artifacts, as they could add additional effects to them.
Some talents could even harvest inner energy from orbs and feed on them, while others could transform them into various elements.
They were categorized into five different ranks with the same rarity as other items.
Noa knelt before the corpses.
"They stink," he said, covering his nose.
'I've got to hurry. The teachers might find me any second.'
In the game, Noa Osborn was found dead when the instructors arrived, and his remains were almost unrecognizable.
His fate had changed as Noa stayed alive with his SSS-ranked talent.
Light particles covered his hands when he touched the goblin's chest.
It split open, and a bloodied orb materialized from it.
'Here it is… It looks so much bigger and more magical than the game portrayed.'
[ Primitive Frail Spirit Orb ]
The grade and rarity were shown together, as orbs didn't have a level indicator because they couldn't evolve by themselves.
'I can sell it for at least $100.'
Noa remembered the prices and smiled.
Considering that one needed to risk their life to get them, while the drop rate wasn't guaranteed, it was cheap.
Arthur Ashe was an exception, as every kill of his gave him at least some kind of loot, and he could even plunder attributes from monsters, albeit with a low success rate.
It was truly a broken talent, but Noa didn't envy him.
His family was in a tough financial situation.
He didn't have parents, but his household never felt lonely thanks to his three siblings: one older sister and two younger twins—a brother and a sister.
Aeris, the older sibling, had to bear all the responsibilities and raise three youngsters.
She was 25, seven years older than Noa, and she couldn't awaken, so her job barely supported their everyday necessities.
After taking a massive loan for Noa to attend an academy, she would need decades to pay it off.
If that wasn't enough, the twins would need to study as well in a year or so.
Every penny he could get would help his family's situation.
Noa cared about them because he shared memories with them and knew they held an important place in his heart.
He hated wasting time, and after keeping the orb in his belt bag, he glanced at the other corpses.
Inventory was a foreign dream until Embers reached the second grade, which was Returne.
It was still far for him to achieve, so he had to physically carry the items.
Walking through dead bodies, he touched them, hoping to get as many orbs as he could.
His success rate was satisfactory.
Yet no other gear or weapons were seen because only boss monsters could drop them, leaving Noa with a Frail dagger.
[ Primitive Frail Spirit Orb (x10) ]
'I'm carrying $1,100, but it's only the beginning.'
As Noa was looking around the dead bodies, he heard approaching footsteps and familiar voices.
'They are here!'
He instantly recognized them, guessing that they belonged to the teachers.
If they found the scene before him, it would cause unnecessary trouble, which he wanted to avoid at all costs.
Also, he was fully covered in blood, and experienced eyes might tell that he had slain monsters with no help whatsoever.
He wanted to avoid it, as his goal was to give off the most harmless and unremarkable impression.
There was one way to cleanse himself.
"I have no time to waste," he said with determination, bringing a knife to his chest.
Breathing in and out, Noa pierced his heart.
The pain was quick to arrive, and clenching his teeth, he pulled the sword out and sliced his throat to hasten his death.
[ You died ]
Soon, darkness swallowed him as he greeted the whiteness.
Not wasting time, he willed himself to go back to the world of the living as his talent triggered instantly, darkening his vision once more.
[ Echo: 996/1,000 ]
The rebirth brought suffering, but he had no luxury to scream.
His every cell was reconstructed from nothing, including his clothing.
Less than five seconds later, he was back in perfect form.
Instead of waiting for the teachers to see the corpses he left behind, Noa dashed in their direction.
Thankfully, he was quick to act, and after covering enough distance and corners, he was sure no one would see the bloody scene he had caused alone.
"Noa!" the male teacher yelled upon seeing him. "We were searching for you."
"It's okay, Gio. Don't get mad at him. It's his first time here, and it's understandable for him to get scared and fall behind."
A female assistant professor spoke this time.
She was the apple of the eye from every direction.
Noa's head was in turmoil.
His body was in a near-ideal shape, but his head was still dizzy.
He didn't think too much about his decisions and acted coldly, solely on his instincts.
Offing himself just for these trivial reasons wasn't something he would have done without actually considering his options.
It felt like some kind of change had occurred in his being.
'Is it because of the merged personalities? Or am I losing myself after dying continuously?'
His skill didn't demand mana.
But maybe the price was steeper than the pain.
The teachers asked questions, but he barely registered them.
They seemed visibly on edge.
Receiving the global system message wasn't an everyday occurrence, and every time it happened, it somehow changed the world.
The first one was when the Abysses and the system arrived.
As for the second announcement, it claimed the existence beyond the Ender grade, challenging the Embers to kill it for an SS-rank skill.
No one had killed it to this day.
"Others have already left the Abyss. We need to go back to Velrox. It's not allowed to stay this long."
Elowen—the female teacher—spoke after seeing his condition.
She even supported Noa to walk, aiding him with her soft hands.
He knew it was unnecessary, but to play the part, he acted like a terrified child who was lost in the deadly Abyss and had almost lost his life.
When he was asked how he survived, Noa claimed that he found a corner to hide in and only came out after hearing their voices.
Neither Gio nor Elowen suspected anything, leading him to the gate.
His shaky voice and trembling hands easily fooled them.
They didn't encounter monsters, Embers, or students on the way.
The great hall was like a labyrinth with towering walls and an unending path that led to the other zones of the Abyss.
Each sector was bigger than the average-sized city, but staying too long was prohibited by the Velrox Regime.
Ten minutes later, they reached the blue, half-transparent, and magical gate.
"Let's go," Elowen said to him, letting him pass first.
It would be Noa's first time visiting the planet he had studied so much about.
'I can't wait to meet them.'
He was going to encounter important characters, and his heart beat in excitement.