"So it’s over…"
Lyn slowly opened his eyes, back in the starry hall. His face held no excitement, only a trace of loss.
This battle ended faster than he’d imagined. But it made sense—he’d failed dozens of times here, memorizing every move the girl made. He’d always known her well.
All he’d lacked was the strength to seize that chance.
With his bloodline advanced, victory was only natural.
Pity… he’d missed the chance to give that brat a good spanking. If only he hadn’t hesitated for that moment.
Lyn sighed inwardly, yet felt an unprecedented lightness. At last, the shackles weighing him down were shattered. He took a firm step toward a new future.
The gray mist in the hall grew restless. Lyn looked at the ancient stone gate before him. Above it, three glowing stone tablets trembled, heralding its opening.
Remembering past rewards, Lyn didn’t hesitate. He placed his palm on the third engraving.
The first trial had granted him the sacrificial array to summon Xing Luo. The second gave the formidable Ancient Blood. Now, he eagerly awaited the third reward. It couldn’t possibly be worse than the first two, right?
[Boon: Hand of the Divine, acquired.]
A majestic voice echoed. Golden text flashed in Lyn’s vision—the hall’s will, translated as a system prompt.
Hand of the Divine… such a plain name.
As the thought crossed his mind, Lyn felt his hands change. He struggled to describe it; his palms simply felt more dexterous. Subtle shifts were unfolding, but he couldn’t yet grasp their full power. For a third-stage boon, it couldn’t be just an attack speed boost, could it?
The system offered no explanation. Before Lyn could test it, a thunderous roar shook the air. The long-sealed stone gate began opening. Chaotic currents surged around him, rushing past into the darkness beyond.
His black robe fluttered wildly, hair tousled. Lyn’s deep, calm eyes pierced the chaos, revealing a room sealed for ages.
Inside, hazy starlight bathed the ceiling in soft, mysterious light. Wisps of mist coiled around, heavy with solemnity. If the hall was a grand space, this felt like… a training chamber?
Weapon racks lined the walls. An ancient Sacred Altar stood nearby, with a meditation spot before it. But Lyn’s gaze locked first on a round table.
Hazy orbs of light rested atop it. His eyes lit up—this was a new exchange zone. Outside, the system displayed such items as panels, like those in the hall earlier. Lyn had skimmed those, but fresh items sparked real interest.
As he focused, information flooded his mind:
[Rune Art: Thunderer (Upper Tier, Evolvable)
An alchemical rune from ancient civilizations.
—Within range, it is truth.
Requires: Star Alloy, Spiral Stone…
Exchange Price: 3000 Devil King Authority]
[Secret Sword: Chaser of Light (High-grade Lumina)
A mystical blade forged by five-star artificer Karls, master of enchantment. His breakthrough masterpiece.
Exchange Price: 2500 Devil King Authority]
[Lost Treasure
A chest from forgotten ruins. Opens to random items.
Exchange Price: 1000 Devil King Authority]
[...]
Only six or seven items sat on the table, but three stood out. Weapons here ranked Common, Glimmer, Lumina, Sacred, Apocalypse, Divine Artifact. High-grade Lumina blades were precious for Lyn’s level. At 2500 Authority, the sword was within reach—he truly lacked a reliable weapon. After mastering the Bloodrage Technique, he’d considered shifting to close-range artificer tactics.
The rune art tempted him deeply. Its evolvable potential was rare, but just being from an ancient civilization made it invaluable. Such inheritances lay outside modern rune systems—powerful and hard to counter. Learning it required alchemy knowledge, but the system could clear those barriers. Only materials remained his burden.
“Short on cash,” Lyn muttered, heart aching as he grimaced at his empty “wallet.” His Devil King Authority was gone. Even the 1000-Authority Lost Treasure felt impossibly distant. So many treasures before him—he could only stare, doomed to covet them.
Damn it, if only he could rob this system space.
Greed +1!
