Chapter 57 - Claiming Rewards

Seeing that it was nighttime, Chloe clapped her hands and said, “It's getting late already. We should get some rest.”

Samantha stretched her arms and let out a yawn, “Yeah, today’s been exhausting, with all that Malekith and Dungeon Break stuff.” She turned to Kang and Jesse and suggested, “Both of you should stay here for the night. It’s much better than sleeping outside on some cold floor.”

Jesse nodded, her face still pale, “Thank you. We'll head back to our room, then. Good night.”

“Good night, everyone,” Kang gave the others a small nod before following Jesse back to her room.

Chloe flopped onto the table as she groaned, “Ugh, finally. I feel like my brain's overheating from all of this.”

Samantha snickered, “That's rare. Aren't you the hyperactive one?”

“Hey! Too much happened today, alright?” Chloe huffed before glancing at Lucas. “You too. You should get some sleep instead of staying in the lab all night.”

She gave Lucas a small peck on the cheek and smiled. Lucas kissed her back with a smile. “Sure, you too.”

“Ugh, the scent of hormones intensifies,” Samantha rolled her eyes before returning to her room.

Back in his room, Lucas hung his windbreaker on a coat stand and summoned the system window.

His rewards from both and Dungeon Breaks. He had been pushing them aside due to the hectic events of the day, but now he finally had time to check them.

“Yes,” he mumbled to himself.

In an instant, five orbs of light materialized before his eyes, followed by several system messages.

<>

You have received:

* Randomized Uncommon Skill of Ulaapi Jahek x1

* Warden’s Armlet (Rare)

* High-grade Gagaleon Fangs x10

* High-grade Randoc Snouts x10

Note: This reward is only available to the first group to resolve the Dungeon Break.

<>

<>

You have received:

* Low-grade Drake Scale x3

Note: This reward is only available to the first group to resolve the Dungeon Break.

<>

Touching the orbs of light, countless items materialized neatly on the floor in front of Lucas. The materials were sorted and packaged neatly in boxes, with a reddish-gray armlet lying on top. Most importantly, there was a ticket illustrated with the image of a book.

Seeing the rewards, Lucas rubbed his hands together, “Nice, it’s been a while since I’ve gotten a new Skill!”

Excited, he immediately tore the ticket, and another system message formed in his vision.

<>

Please Select one of the below Skills.

* Soundless Scream

* Burning Claw

* Monster’s Endurance

* Burning Dominion

<>

<>

Soundless Scream

Rank: Uncommon

Active

Releases a high-pitched screech to temporarily disorient enemies, with a small chance to inflict ‘Silence’.

Burning Claw

The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

Rank: Uncommon

Active/Spell

Conjures a claw of fire to strike your enemies, with a small chance to inflict the 'Bleed' or ‘Burn’.

Monster’s Endurance

Rank: Uncommon

Passive

Enhances the body and mind’s vitality and endurance, making the user more resistant to physical status effects.

Burning Dominion

Rank: Uncommon

Rank: Uncommon

Increases the user’s Fire Affinity and Fire Resistance, granting more precise control over fire.

<>

Reading through the Skill descriptions, Lucas raised an eyebrow and shook his head with a smile.

“This is a no-brainer,” he muttered before immediately selecting .

After all, he was a faithful follower of the Great Mechanic Han! Choosing any skill that could further tank him up was the right way.

As the effects of activated, he felt his muscles twitch and stretch. The pent-up fatigue in his body was immediately washed away, leaving him refreshed. Flexing his fingers, Lucas smiled, “I can do tens of thousands of push-ups without getting tired if I wanted to.”

Then, he turned his attention to the reddish-gray armlet and picked it up. A new item description appeared before his eyes.

<>

Warden’s Armlet

Rank: Rare

An accessory crafted from Huolium alloy, carrying the grudge of a giant’s killer.

Special Effect(s):

Indomitable Will - Grants immunity to lower-ranked mind-affecting effects and reduces the duration and effectiveness of higher-ranked ones.

Subjugating - Unleashes spectral chains that bind a target, reducing their movement speed and tightening over time to restrict their actions.

Titan’s Challenge - When facing an enemy significantly larger than the wielder, grants a temporary boost in POW, AGI, and VIT.

<>

Fiddling with the armlet, Lucas muttered, “Wow, a stat-boosting piece of equipment.”

Although the effect of was conditional, in a world teeming with giant monsters, the condition might as well not exist. Just Ulaapi Jahek and Tarsenus the Dreaddrake, which he had fought earlier, would have triggered it.

Satisfied, he examined the , , and . Each of these materials could be crafted into powerful equipment.

However, before Lucas could further inspect them, he turned his head in a certain direction, or more precisely, toward the ruins where the Dungeon Break had occurred.

His mechanical soldiers had relayed a message back through their connection, reporting that suspicious individuals were attempting to breach the defenses and were currently engaged in combat with them.

“Did the Malekiths come back with more friends?” Lucas sighed.

As he stood up, the windbreaker he had hung on the coat stand dissolved into a stream of particles before reforming into a snug, fitted suit that covered his entire body. He exited the Continental’s main entrance before glancing back inside, hesitating.

He debated whether or not to wake Chloe and the others to join him but eventually decided against it. “I shouldn’t wake them up. It’s been a tiring day for them. They’ve earned some rest.”

As the back of Lucas's suit morphed into several tube-like structures, energy began concentrating within them. Then, with a thunderous bang, he was propelled into the sky.

Thanks to the skill he had obtained some time ago, he mastered the technique of flying almost immediately. The moment he stabilized himself in midair, he instinctively adjusted his posture, shifting his weight for more effective flight.

Feeling the wind rush against his body, Lucas couldn't help but grin. “Hell yeah! This beats riding a horse any day!”

He soared through the night sky, overlooking the forest and grasslands beneath him. Compared to riding a mechanical horse, flight was several times faster, allowing him to reach his destination in mere minutes.

Upon arriving at the ruins where the Dungeon Break had taken place, he hovered above the battlefield, taking in the scene below. Several dozen of his mechanical soldiers, along with Manuel, were engaged in combat against a group of humans, about the same number.

However, the fight was overwhelmingly one-sided.

The humans were screaming in pain as they were pelted by relentless volleys of laser fire. Some attempted to dodge, while others used magic barriers or took cover behind debris, but it was clear that they were struggling.

Lucas frowned as he observed them. “Why the hell are they fighting when they’re clearly losing?”

From the ground, Manuel and the mechanical soldiers immediately sensed their master’s presence above them. Although Lucas showed no signs of descending, Manuel took it as a silent cue to impress him. Without hesitation, it roared at the mechanical soldiers, “Brothers! Fight wild and fight hard! Our Bossman is watching!”

Hearing Manuel’s roar, the other mechanical soldiers responded as their bodies hissed loudly, their lenses flickering with a more intense glow.

On the other hand, the human side remained completely oblivious to Lucas’s arrival. All they knew was that the already deadly robots had suddenly ramped up their assault, leaving them in a state of panic and disarray.

“Damn it! Where are those Malekiths?!” one of them shouted.

Another one, a female dressed in a robe and holding a staff, cried, “Laurim, they said hold on! Their reinforcements are coming!”

“Hold on?! We are going to die here!” Laurim hissed, raising his shield to block another laser beam. He gritted his teeth and stumbled back. “This isn’t what we signed up for!”

The mage beside him, barely maintaining a flickering barrier, wiped the sweat from her forehead. “They told us it was just some low-level puppets! How are they low-level?!”

Just as their frustration and desperation peaked, a deep, resonant horn echoed across the battlefield. The moment the sound reached their ears, their despair shifted into exhilaration.

“The reinforcements are here!” someone shouted.

“Everyone!” Laurim raised his sword high and bellowed, “Charge!”

Lucas, still hovering above, turned his gaze toward the source. A cloud of dust billowed on the horizon as something tore through the terrain. He caught sight of a dozen enormous rhinoceroses, each ridden by several Malekith warriors.

He raised a brow, watching the charging beasts. “Well, that’s new,” he muttered. “Guess they brought their own cavalry.”

“Let’s meet them for a bit, yeah?” he chuckled before the thrusters on his back ignited, blasting him in the direction of the Malekiths.