Chapter 59: What's In The Box?
"Ta da da!"
The Bronze Box erupted with a dazzling display of white light, streaked with vibrant colors that danced across the dim cave walls. The brilliance of it all stirred the air around Niko, causing his black robes to flutter as if caught in a gentle breeze. His heart raced in anticipation, eyes fixed on the fading glow.
As the light began to dim, his vision slowly cleared, revealing the object now resting in his hand—a Magenta Gem, shaped like a pill and roughly the size of a tennis ball. Its cool surface wasn’t unexpected, but its surprising weight hinted at its significance. Niko's breath hitched. The realization hit him all at once.
"A skill gem!" he whispered in awe, staring at it with wide eyes.
He knew these skill gems all too well—rare and precious items, often carrying incredible abilities. The chances of one dropping were staggeringly low. To receive one from this box meant one of two things: either skills were more accessible than he had thought, or these boxes held far more potential than he’d initially realized.
Niko scrutinized the Magenta Gem, noting its dull glow and the lack of intricate details inside, which meant it wasn’t a "seeded" skill gem. He needed to confirm what this gem could offer.
He used [Celestial Probe], hoping to quell his growing curiosity.
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[Skill: Arms of the Demi-Titan]
Rank: F+
Description: The arms of a Demi-Titan are believed to possess ultimate power, capable of shattering boulders and causing the very air to ripple with a single punch. A powerful Titan once gave away parts of his body to his kin, his arms holding his immense strength.
[Additional Information]
* Requires 9 Strength to successfully activate.
* When activated: Strength +3, Constitution +2.
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"Well, damn..." Niko sighed, disappointment washing over him. This wasn’t a skill he could use—yet. His current strength was far below what was needed to activate it. And while the skill itself would certainly help with his lack of physical power, there was the nagging question: should he even bother with non-spirit-related skills? He knew that his [Spirit King's Prder] was a seeded skill, and he would have a higher chance of receiving a skill related to his seeded skill, however, this rule applied to skill gems dropped by monsters, as far as he understood. But maybe there were intricacies he didn't know of. Regardless, this skill wasn't much use to him.
He knew that humans in this world had a limited number of skills they could learn, and his seeded skill ensured his future development would revolve around spirit-related abilities. The world in a way would shape his future development if he was patient and hard-working enough. That was the privilege of those with seeded skills and why these skill gems were so precious. What if taking this random skill disrupted that path? Was it worth the gamble?
For now, the answer was no.
Niko weighed his options. The skill was valuable, but it would benefit someone else in his party more than him. The situation was dire—his group needed power fast, and he couldn’t afford to be selfish.
Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
"Let's see who can use this," Niko muttered, tucking the Magenta Gem away with a flick of his hand, storing it for later. His attention shifted back to the battlefield, where the bodies of the slain ratmen lay.
To his delight, he noticed three item drops amidst the carnage.
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[Celestial Probe]
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[Item: Bracer of Toughness]
Rank: F
Description: A bracer that grants the wearer increased resilience.
[Additional Information]
* +1 Constitution
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“Not bad,” Niko murmured, holding the bracer up for inspection. Though it was plain in appearance, its functionality made it valuable. A single point of constitution might not seem like much, but it could make a world of difference in surviving future encounters.
He strapped the Bracer of Toughness around his arm, feeling a slight surge of endurance wash over him. Even with his focus on spirits, there was no harm in boosting his own survivability.
Next, he turned to the remaining items: two blue shards from one of the ratmen and a peculiar thin brown paintbrush from another. The sight of the brush made Niko pause, a bemused expression on his face.
"A paintbrush? What kind of rat drops a paintbrush?" He couldn't help but chuckle at the absurdity. But he needed to know its significance.
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[Celestial Probe]
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[Item: Brush of the Flower Painter]
Rank: E
Description: A paintbrush once wielded by a renowned artist in the human kingdom, famous for painting the most exquisite flowers and the most intricate forests. After receiving an invitation from the Rat King to perform in his kingdom, the Flower Painter accepted, only to never be seen again after entering the Rat Kingdom.
[Additional Information]
* Skill: Flower Stroke
* Class related to [Painter] required to equip.
* Requires 8 Intelligence to equip.
* +2 Intelligence.
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"Class...?" Niko muttered in confusion, his brow furrowing. This was the first time he had encountered the concept of a "class" in this world. And what kind of class was Painter? It seemed absurd, especially in a world where combat ruled. But there it was, listed right before him.
Still, the skill and intelligence boost were tempting—if only he had the class to wield it. For now, it was another curiosity to store away in his inventory, something to figure out later.
With a sigh, Niko pocketed the Brush of the Flower Painter and turned his attention to the heavy wooden door that had been guarded by the ratmen.
The cave had fallen silent, save for the soft rustling of his robes and the occasional clatter of his staff against the stone floor. The air was cold, and the oppressive atmosphere weighed down on him as he reached for the door’s handle.
KrrrrrrI
The rusty hinges groaned in protest as Niko pulled the door open, revealing a shadowy chamber beyond. He had barely cracked it open when a wave of dread washed over him. His instincts screamed at him to be on guard.
Taking a few steps back, Niko raised his staff, ready for whatever lurked behind the door. His spirits materialized around him, forming a protective circle, their ghastly forms glaring into the darkness beyond.
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"Keeek Kek Keeeeek!"
The eerie sound echoed through the chamber, a chittering, unsettling noise that sent a chill down Niko's spine. Metal clanked faintly in the distance, adding to the ominous feeling.
The creature behind the door had revealed itself, and Niko knew, this was no ordinary foe.
His heart pounded in his chest as he steadied his grip on the staff. Whatever was waiting for him, it was about to meet the full force of his army of spirits.