Lucas was surprised to see the types of magic seals Flavya had crafted for them displayed in that place, but he was even more taken aback by the sheer variety available.
They came in all shapes and forms, offering all sorts of effects and benefits. One enabled the user to jump twice as high for a limited time, while another amplified the user’s voice for a few minutes, allowing for powerful shouts. Lucas figured that could be useful for a general or someone like that, but it didn’t seem practical for him.
Despite the variety, after browsing for a while, Lucas began to notice how ordinary and overpriced most of the seals actually were. Sure, they weren’t completely useless, but many were tailored for very specific situations. He wasn’t eager to spend his points on something as niche as shouting across a battlefield or jumping a bit higher when the odds of needing them seemed slim.
The agility-related seals, however, did catch his attention. The idea of carrying a few agility-boosting seals for emergencies was tempting, but Lucas hesitated. Agility was his defining strength, and relying on external aids felt like undermining himself. On top of that, the steep price tags made the decision to pass on them much easier.
However, one particular seal caught his attention and refused to let go. It was simply too valuable to ignore: the same seal Flavya had made for his last battle with Axis.
Seal of the Iron Spirit
This powerful magic seal enhances your stamina by tenfold, fortifying your endurance and resilience. With the Seal of the Iron Spirit activated, fatigue fades, allowing you to push beyond natural limits, endure prolonged battles, and maintain peak physical performance far longer than usual.
This seal can only be used once.
And the price tag: 10,000 points.
UFF.
I guess it was to be expected, considering what it does, but it’s still much more than I was expecting to spend at this stage, Lucas thought, feeling torn.
Despite feeling torn, the decision didn’t take long. Agility enhancers were one thing—he didn’t need those, not with his speed. But that seal? It could quite literally save his life. And with his plans to explore the world soon, having such a safeguard seemed like a no-brainer.
Still, it was with a heavy heart that Lucas watched his points drop to 40,500. He had already checked the conversion rate from points to coins—1 point for 10 coins—so he knew exactly how much of a small fortune he had just spent on a single-use item.
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
Pushing aside his regrets, Lucas continued down the list until something else caught his attention: a pear. Not just any pear, though—it exuded an energy he was starting to recognize all too well: dark magic.
Gloomfruit – (Uncommon)
A seemingly ordinary pear, yet its surface pulses with a faint, unsettling darkness. Shadows cling to its shape, as if unwilling to let go, and a chilling aura surrounds it. Consuming it may grant forbidden insight—or unravel the spirit.
The description didn’t clarify much, but the fact that a fruit was labeled as “uncommon” suggested it wasn’t just any regular pear.
Lucas’ interest was simple: he had yet to make significant progress with Faruk’s technique. Since the fruit appeared to have a strong connection to dark magic, he figured it might help him improve his manipulation of it—and finally make the technique work.
He hadn’t forgotten the terms of their deal. A significant battle loomed after he left this planet, and, as Faruk warned, plenty of conflict would arise before that. If an undead army could stand at his side when the time came, all the better.
When Lucas saw the price tag—just 1,000 points—he was surprised. For an uncommon item tied to dark magic, he had expected something far more expensive. But maybe he shouldn’t have. After all, the fruit likely had limited uses.
Without overthinking, Lucas bought the Gloomfruit. The mere fact that it was new, mysterious, and tied to dark magic was reason enough. Besides, after spending so much already, he wasn’t about to get stingy now.
After browsing through the rest of the store, Lucas found nothing else that caught his interest. He didn’t need any weapons, was happy with his new “armor,” and already had his life-saving seal. Besides, the Trade Center didn’t have anything to help strengthen his bones—pretty much the only thing he cared about improving right now.
Once he decided he was done shopping, Lucas considered how many points to trade for coins. At a conversion rate of 1 point for 10 coins, he could exchange his remaining 39,500 for 395.000 coins if he wanted.
Despite the impressive number, Lucas wasn’t all that impressed; in fact, he felt a bit let down. Maybe he’d been spoiled by receiving Faruk’s inheritance so early on, but it felt to him like the tower was being a little stingy with its rewards—especially considering what he’d gone through to earn those points.
Still, after thinking it over, he realized the tower had given him far more than just points or rewards. It had granted him invaluable experience, not to mention his hard-earned new achievement. He couldn’t really complain.
Another realization dawned on him: the real value of those points wasn’t in their exchange rate for real-world currency but in what they could purchase in the store. Lucas hadn’t explored much of Ponos, but he was pretty sure that many of the items in that store couldn’t be found anywhere else in the world. That exclusivity was what made them truly special.
With a grim smile, he came to one more conclusion: it would be foolish to exchange even a single point for coins. There were still plenty of hidden treasures waiting to be unlocked, as long as he saved up enough points to afford them.
This understanding clashed with the very reason he’d come to the tower in the first place—to make money for more time in the training rooms and other expenses. But he also realized he’d already surpassed that initial goal.
He wasn’t just a better fighter now; he’d transformed completely. He fought not only with his fists but with his feet as well, and other aspects of him had undergone a profound evolution. That unexpected training session had been far more valuable than anything he could’ve gotten from the Training Center.
Feeling satisfied with his progress and oddly at peace with the idea of leaving broke, Lucas decided to wrap up his shopping. The moment he made his final decision, he found himself back in the familiar elevator. Only this time, it was descending. The challenge was finally over.