Suddenly, Lucas became acutely aware that his surroundings had changed. He found himself in a dark, expansive space—definitely not the elevator.
Perhaps it was due to his recent advancement in perception, but he instinctively knew the area around him wasn’t confined. He could feel the vastness stretching out in all directions.
Before he could move, however, something happened: a large screen materialized in front of him. Unlike the system’s usual ethereal displays, this one resembled a television screen, though far larger, dominating his entire field of vision.
Oddly, the screen’s brightness did nothing to illuminate the rest of the space. Everything beyond the screen remained shrouded in darkness. Just as Lucas began to process what was displayed on the screen, a voice spoke.
“Welcome. This is the Tower’s Trade Center. Here, you can exchange the points you’ve earned for items, skills, or money, at your discretion.”
“You may also choose to accumulate points for future challenges. However, be aware that items beyond your current point balance will appear censored.”
As the voice faded, Lucas turned his attention to the screen. In mere moments, he was left in awe.
Having explored the market with Aysha before entering the Tower, Lucas had gained a decent understanding of Zoria’s available goods. Now, seeing the Trade Center’s offerings, he grasped the monumental impact of a strong performance—it could truly be life-changing.
The menu was intuitive, allowing him to navigate it easily with hand gestures. He eagerly began exploring the various categories: general items, weapons, armor, and skills.
To his surprise, much of what he had encountered on the Tower’s last floor was listed here. Almost everything of note was available for purchase. Naturally, the most useful items came with steep price tags.
Lucas’s eyes gleamed when he spotted the force-field bracelet, but his excitement skyrocketed when he came across a set of armor—Tornik’s armor. A quick glance at the description confirmed it.
Helmet of Adenilium
Forged from Adenilium, one of the heaviest and most unyielding metals known, this helmet is a marvel of endurance over agility. Its dense, impenetrable structure fortifies the wearer’s resilience but weighs heavily upon their speed, a tradeoff worthy of the toughest adventurers.
Special Trait: Boosts stamina recovery by 30%, but reduces speed by 15%.
+10 Toughness
Required Level: N/A
After reading the description and verifying the rest of the set followed a similar pattern, Lucas felt both impressed and disappointed.
At last, he had found something that could significantly enhance his stamina recovery. But it came at a cost he couldn’t ignore—a reduction in speed, his most valuable stat and the foundation of his entire fighting style.
It was clear why Tornik hadn’t been bothered by the speed penalty. His reactive, defense-heavy combat style required minimal movement. For Lucas, however, it was a deal-breaker.
Feeling deflated, he reluctantly moved on from the set. No matter how well it could synergize with his Life Aura, he couldn’t afford to hinder his greatest strength.
After a few minutes of browsing through the armor section, Lucas's excitement returned as he came across a worn set of clothes that immediately caught his eye, making them shine with greed.
Tireless Wanderer Boots
Worn and weathered, these boots are crafted from rare, resilient materials that seem to carry the energy of every path trodden. They’re designed to lighten the load of endless journeys, granting the wanderer a steady, tireless stride as they pursue their endless quest.
Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Special Trait: Increases stamina recovery by 20%.
+10 Agility
Required level to use: 15
Breezewalker Trousers
Worn and weathered from countless adventures, these trousers are crafted from a breathable fabric that moves with the wind, favored by seasoned wanderers. Their lightweight design not only makes you lighter but also never let you feel tired, helping you bounce back from exhaustion during your journeys. A true companion for those who navigate the wilds.
Special Trait: Enhances stamina recovery by 10%.
+5 Agility
Required level to use: 15
Wanderer’s Tunic
This rugged, yet comfortable tunic bears the marks of many travels, its fabric softened by time and wear. Designed for freedom of movement, it provides excellent breathability, allowing the wearer to stay cool during arduous journeys.
Special Trait: Enhances stamina recovery by 10%.
+5 Agility
Gloves of the Wayfarer
Soft, fingerless gloves that provide a secure grip while allowing for dexterity. They are adorned with simple stitching and show signs of travel, making them all the more comfortable.
Special trait: Enhances stamina recovery by 10%
+5 Agility
Required level to use: 15
After reading through all the descriptions, Lucas couldn’t help but be moved. The stamina recovery trait of the Wanderer set was undeniably weaker than Tornik’s armor, but it came without any downsides. Not only that, it even provided a boost to his agility.
Lucas’s current set offered a total of +5 in Toughness (after deducting the Special Constitution tax) and +5 in Agility. Losing those 5 points in Toughness wasn’t ideal, but it wasn’t catastrophic either, especially after the significant boost he had received from his recent achievement.
Switching to the Wanderer set would drop his Toughness from 23 to 18—a noticeable decrease. However, even with a score of 23, he would still have to rely on dodging to face stronger enemies. With the agility boost the new set provided, he would be able to dodge attacks more efficiently. Not to mention that afterwards he could use his upgraded stamina to heal all possible aftershocks.
After checking the price tag on the entire set and confirming he had enough points to purchase it, Lucas still hesitated. While the set seemed almost too good to be true in terms of functionality, it came with one glaring downside: its aesthetics.
His current outfit made him look like a refined and powerful young master with impeccable taste. The Wanderer set, however, was a different story. There was no sugarcoating it—he would look like a bum.
Even though the set offered a 50% boost to his stamina recovery and a significant increase in agility, it also looked like something a homeless medieval man might wear. For Lucas, who always took great care in presenting himself—never leaving home with even a wrinkle in his clothes before the system—it was hard not to frown at the sight.
“Well, if I can burn myself to ash for a victory, I guess I can dress like a bum for better stamina recovery,” he muttered with a resigned sigh.
He selected all four pieces of the Wanderer set, watching as his 84,500 points dwindled to 54,500. It hadn’t been a cheap purchase, but considering the rarity of such gear outside the Tower, he thought it was worth it.
While it wasn’t the most powerful equipment available—there were many items with no level requirements that offered far better bonuses—this set felt tailor-made for his needs, despite its questionable appearance.
Moving on, Lucas turned his attention to the skills section, where he found a few intriguing options. Ever since entering the Tower, he had regretted neglecting the skills available in Zoria’s library. This was his chance to correct that oversight.
The selection ranged from mundane, everyday abilities to formidable combat skills. Many of the more advanced options were censored due to his insufficient points, which made him reconsider how he allocated his resources. He didn’t want to miss out on potentially vital skills or items later on.
Ultimately, Lucas decided to purchase only two relatively simple skills. The first being the obvious:
Skill: Water Wall
Water magic is one of the most versatile forms of magic. Summon this Water Wall to create a fluid, resilient barrier that slows down your opponent’s attack, giving you time to reposition or escape before it’s too late.
That was the skill he had struggled to learn on his own, only to fail repeatedly. The skill itself was basic and inexpensive, which underscored just how challenging it was to learn magic without the system’s assistance.
Unwilling to waste more time on something he could now acquire in seconds, Lucas bought it without hesitation.
The second skill he selected pertained to sensory control. With it, he would gain the ability to shut off any of his senses at will. Lucas’ interest in the skill was obvious: it would grant him the option to eliminate pain entirely—unless he chose otherwise.
Skill: Sensor Numbing
With this skill, you can temporarily shut off any sensory perception in your own body at will. Use Sensor Numbing to block out pain, ignore discomfort, or even become immune to temperature extremes, allowing you to focus solely on your objective without distractions from physical sensations.
Of course, he understood that pain was a crucial part of self-preservation, and he had no intention of keeping his pain sensors shut off all the time. Still, it was reassuring to know he could block out all the pain if he ever needed to. Plus, as an added benefit, he’d also be able to tune out any horrible smells he might encounter.
Both skills cost him only 4,000 points, leaving Lucas with plenty of points to spare. Satisfied with his purchases, he shifted his focus to the general items list, where something immediately caught his eye: Flavya’s magic seals.