Before us, the reward list was still displayed by the system.

[SYSTEM] Choose three rewards from the list.

Darius ran a hand along his neck and glanced at me. "Better not waste time. We need to think this through properly."

"Exactly," I replied, analyzing the available options. "We need to choose something that will realistically help us survive, not just look impressive."

First, I looked at the Magic Rat Cloak.

[Rare] Rat's Magic Robe

* Statistics: +10 to Intelligence, +5 to Stamina, +3 to Magic Resistance

* Description: A lightweight, flexible robe woven from fine fibers imbued with the magic of rat rulers. It reduces damage from spells.

"For me, it was the obvious choice," I said. "It increases my protection against magic and boosts my intelligence and stamina."

Darius nodded. "Alright, that's our first choice. Now it's my turn."

He scanned the reward list, then pointed to the Rat Armor.

[Rare] Rat Armor

* Statistics: +10 to Stamina, +5 to Strength, +3% reduction in physical damage

* Description: Armor made from extremely durable, magically reinforced rat scales. Provides excellent physical protection.

"Solid, well-made," he evaluated, examining the holographic description. "I'm not a fan of heavy armor, but something tells me this armor might save my skin."

I looked at him and said, "Good choice. It will increase your resistance to damage and give us better chances in the upcoming battles."

Darius nodded, and I looked at the list again. There was one choice left. I scanned through the available options and stopped at the Blood Ring.

[Rare] Blood Ring

* Description: A magical ring forged from the blood of a fallen beast lord. It allows the user to partially recover mana for each point of damage dealt.

* Statistics: +5 to Stamina, +5 to Intelligence, +5 Mana per damage dealt

Darius smiled slightly. "Sounds like something that will let you cast spells without constantly worrying about mana. You won't have to run away from little rats just to conserve your energy."

"You're right. At least I won't have to act as a living bait for rats just to gain some experience. Now I can simply kill them with my skills without worrying about my mana reserves."

After confirming our decision, the system displayed another notification.

[SYSTEM] Congratulations! The rewards have been granted.

In an instant, the chosen items materialized in our hands. The Magic Rat Cloak rested lightly in my hand, its delicate fabric seemingly pulsating with hidden energy. The ring gleamed in the light, waiting to be worn, while Darius lifted the armor, examining its weight and sturdiness. We exchanged glances, contemplating the usefulness of our new acquisitions. I felt like putting on the cloak right away, but one glance at my blood-soaked clothes reminded me that it would have to wait until we returned to the shelter for a proper wash.

Instead, I slid the ring onto my finger, feeling its gentle pulse of energy. The ring was made of dark red metal, as if it had truly been forged from congealed blood. Its surface seemed to pulse with a faint glow, and at its center was set a small ruby that appeared to react to my presence.

"I suppose it's time to check the stat changes," I muttered to myself as I opened the system menu.

After a few seconds of staring at the stats screen, I took a deep breath. It was time to see just how much this battle had strengthened me.

[SYSTEM]

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Name: Ashira

Level: 8

Talent: Legendary – Eye of Chaos

Experience: 3000 / 12,500

[Stats]

Strength: 13

Agility: 32

Stamina: 38 (+5)

Intelligence: 62 (+5)

HP: 300 / 430

Mana: 270 / 325

Chaos Energy: 850

Unassigned Stat Points: 5

[Special Effects]

+5 Mana per damage dealt (Blood Ring)

"Not bad..." I murmured under my breath, analyzing the changes. The jump in stats was clear, and the additional stamina and intelligence would certainly come in handy.

Darius glanced at me, raising an eyebrow. "Satisfied?"

"Definitely. Every point counts. And this ring might turn out to be a real game-changer. If I can regenerate mana during combat, my options will significantly expand."

"Sounds like something that will let you fight longer and run less."

Before I could answer him, a system notification appeared in the air.

[SYSTEM] Attention! The gate will close in 60 minutes.

That was a sign that we couldn’t delay any longer.

"Let's go," I said, heading toward the portal. Darius followed me, and with each step, I felt the tension gradually ebb away. Stepping through the portal was almost like awakening—the cold air brushed my face, and the familiar sight of ruins finally reminded me that we were back in reality.

Behind us, the gate began to tremble as if losing its stability. The air around it rippled, and its edges started to vanish, dissolving into the air like mist swept away by the wind. Within seconds, the entire structure imploded, leaving only a delicate, shimmering dust hovering where the passage had been just moments before.

Darius sighed and crossed his arms over his chest. "Well, that's that for our gate. I wonder how they actually work."

"Apparently, they're not meant to be permanent," I replied, watching the tiny particles of energy slowly drift downward. "And it's probably best not to stand too close when they shut down."

Darius shot me a quick glance and chuckled softly. "So, another thing best observed from a distance. Like exploding rats."

The sun was slowly setting, and fatigue was finally catching up with me. Darius stretched his arms above his head with a sigh.

"So, are we heading back to the Shelter? I don't see any reason to linger here any longer."

"That's right," I confirmed, then added after a moment, "although I need to stop somewhere along the way."

He looked at me quizzically.

"The Source. I’m not planning on returning all covered in blood. Besides, since I’m finally going to test my new cloak, it’d be nice if it wasn’t dirty right off the bat."

Darius rolled his eyes but offered no further comment. "Alright then, let's split up for a while. Don't disappear on me for too long. We'll meet at the Shelter."

"Sure." I nodded and set off toward the Source, leaving him behind.

I reached the Source faster than I expected. After the battle and the lingering stress still coursing through my body, the sound of splashing water was almost hypnotic. The smooth surface reflected the faint light, and the surroundings exuded the calm I so desperately needed.

I carefully set the Magic Rat Cloak aside next to the containers I had previously created with my ability. I didn’t want the precious fabric to soak up water or get any dirtier before I even had a chance to wear it.

Without hesitation, I began washing the blood and grime off myself, feeling the tension gradually leave my muscles. The icy water refreshed my body, finally allowing me to breathe. In my thoughts, I noted one more thing—at last, I could discard that rag I’d been wearing since I was teleported to this world. Replacing it with something new felt like the next step forward.

While I was washing, I felt something strange. The water around me was icy, but as I moved a little further, it suddenly turned pleasantly warm. I frowned, trying to understand where the change was coming from.

I blinked and moved closer, dipping my hand into the warmer area. The temperature difference was distinct, and after making several circular motions with my hand, I got the impression that the warmth was emanating from the very bottom of the Source.

"That's interesting..." I muttered under my breath, then began testing the phenomenon. Several times, I moved through the water, checking whether it was a coincidence or if something was truly going on. Every attempt confirmed my suspicion that the warmth wasn’t dispersing randomly—it had a source somewhere beneath the water.

I wasn’t about to guess. I focused my energy in my eye and activated the Eye of Chaos.

Now I could see the energy flows, a misty aura hovering above the water, and subtle vibrations that were invisible to the naked eye. I directed my gaze toward the warm area—and then I saw it.

Beneath the water, deep below the surface, energy pulsed. Its movement was slow yet unmistakable—it didn’t appear to be a natural phenomenon. It was too stable, too precisely localized in one spot.

I took a deep breath and activated Basic Energy Analysis.

[SYSTEM] Detected energy flow of unknown structure. No additional information available.

I frowned. This wasn’t the ordinary magic I’d seen before—but what exactly was it?

I had no choice. If I wanted to find out, I had to dive underwater.

Without further hesitation, I plunged in, allowing my body to sink deeper as I moved toward the pulsing energy. The water around me grew progressively warmer, and as I swam onward, I felt something gently vibrating in the air—as if the very place were reacting to my presence.

[SYSTEM] Warning! You have entered the territory of the Inheritance.

Before I could react, I felt the energy around me suddenly intensify. My body was seized by a strange impulse, and the world spun wildly. For a fraction of a second, I saw nothing but a blinding light—and then everything vanished.