I stood in front of the chest, staring down at the three items. They looked normal enough—just a glove, a sack, and a pair of boots—but something about them felt off.
Like there was more to them than met the eye.
I wasn’t about to touch any of them just yet, though.
Picking one up would mean leaving this safe zone, and I wasn’t ready for that.
Instead, I just studied each item, letting the system info fill in the blanks.
The first thing that caught my eye was the pair of gloves. It had this strange, almost liquid surface, like it was constantly shifting, but staying together at the same time.
A system window popped up as I focused on it.
https://i.imgur.com/odNR4Qb.png [https://i.imgur.com/odNR4Qb.png]
The surface of the gloves seemed to shift and shimmer, almost like liquid, giving the impression that the material was constantly in motion.
but what really caught my attention was the flavor text below.
From all my years in this game, I knew that every magical item—from the simplest to the rarest mythical ranks—had some sort of flavor text.
Sometimes it was just fluff, a bit of lore that added nothing, but every once in a while, there’d be something more.
Something that hinted at the deeper mysteries of the dungeon itself.
This one? It mentioned two figures: an alchemist and a blacksmith.
No names, just a vague description of them as apprentices.
That intrigued me. The text didn’t provide their names, probably because this was early in their development, long before they became significant in the dungeon’s history.
But who was I? A veteran. I’d spent decades playing this game. I’d made it to the 100th floor. I had more than enough experience to piece things together.
In all my playthroughs, I’d encountered two figures shrouded in mystery.
Their names would pop up here and there, always tied to powerful items.
Neither of them was a player—they were dungeon deities, in a way, figures that shaped the lore but stayed hidden from direct interaction.
And over the years, I’d seen their work enough to recognize a pattern.
https://i.imgur.com/mleRu7A.png [https://i.imgur.com/mleRu7A.png]
The blacksmith—Ingot.
His name was whispered in crafting circles, though no one had ever encountered him directly.
He was a figure of myth, crafting legendary weapons and armor, all with abilities that defied the limits of what was possible.
Items connected to him had the power to transform a character into an entirely different being.
But beyond his name and the items he created, no one really knew much about him.
Then there was,
https://i.imgur.com/ZbakhNH.png [https://i.imgur.com/ZbakhNH.png]
The alchemist—Vialtus.
His potions were just as famous as Ingot’s weapons.
They had effects that were unmatched—healing, empowering, some even gave permanent stat boost.
His name, too, came up in fragments, etched on rare potions, and much like Ingot, no one had any idea who he really was or where he came from.
I stared at the gloves in the chest. The flavor text described an alchemist and a blacksmith working together to create these gloves.
No names, but I couldn’t help but wonder—was this an early piece of Ingot and Vialtus’s work?
It would make sense. The gloves weren’t groundbreaking in power, but they had that signature craftsmanship, something that felt... purposeful.
The more I thought about it, the more convinced I became.
These two figures—Ingot and Vialtus—must’ve known each other, worked together before their names became legend.
The gloves? They could be one of their early collaborations, made before they became the iconic figures whose items everyone scrambled to find.
“Interesting,” I murmured, rubbing my chin as I studied the gloves again.
The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
"Not only do these gloves have a unique effect," I muttered to myself, "they also come with a skill attached to them."
That was no small thing. Skills weren’t typically found on magical-ranked items. In fact, it was almost unheard of.
Usually, you'd have to find at least a mystical-ranked item to get a skill out of it.
But here I was, staring down at a magical-rank item with an attached skill, Silent Snare.
That alone made these gloves worth more than most magical ranked items in the dungeon.
No one else could’ve made something like this—at least, not at the magical rank.
These gloves had the hallmark of legendary craftsmanship. Even though I had no concrete proof, it fit perfectly with what I knew about those two.
I leaned in, looking to get more information regarding the skill tied to those gloves.
https://i.imgur.com/M6q9hFu.png [https://i.imgur.com/M6q9hFu.png]
[Silent Snare]
[Silent Snare allows the user to release short, slimy tendrils from the fingertips of the gloves.
Upon contact with an enemy, the tendrils rapidly bind and immobilize the target with sticky, gooey strands.
The binding lasts for a short duration, effectively restraining the target’s movement.]
[Usage: This skill is excellent for quick captures or temporarily disabling an enemy in close proximity.]
[Mana Cost: 0]
[Cooldown: 1 hour]
"Interesting."
Silent Snare was a close-range skill, sending out slimy tendrils from the gloves' fingers to bind whoever was unlucky enough to get too close.
It didn’t have much range, but the potential was clear—those gooey tendrils could lock someone down just long enough for me to make a move or get away.
This skill wasn’t about raw power; it was about timing and control. In the right situation, it could be a game-changer.
This skill, while simple at first glance, had the potential to turn sticky situations completely in my favor, especially in tight quarters.
I imagined scenarios where an enemy got too close, thinking they had me cornered, only for the tendrils to wrap around their ankles and wrists, holding them in place.
They wouldn’t be able to swing a weapon, cast a skill, or even run.
For a few precious seconds, I’d have the upper hand.
I couldn’t help but feel both impressed and underwhelmed.
Then, of course, the real question hit me: Could I use Silent Snare to escape the group of adventurers waiting for me outside the reward room?
The skill had its merits. It was perfect for one-on-one confrontation.
But then reality settled in. This wasn’t a one-on-one situation. Outside that reward room, there was several looters waiting for me.
Silent Snare might work on one enemy, maybe even two if I was fast, but against a group? Not a chance.
The moment I’d snare one person, the rest would descend on me like a pack of wolves.
The skill simply wasn’t designed for crowd control. In a one-on-one duel, it’d be great. But against a group? I’d be dead.
"Ha~", I let out a slow breath, tapping my fingers against my chin. As useful as the gloves seemed, they weren’t what I needed right now. Not with the threat I was facing outside.
I left the gloves where they were, filing them away as a potential option—but far from a favorite.
With that, I turned my attention to the next item in the chest.
My eyes landed on a small, green pouch. It looked unassuming at first glance, but if the gloves were any indication, appearances could be deceiving.
I leaned forward, ready to examine the pouch more closely.