Extract from the -{ Tome of Light }- the divine scripture of the Church of Light.
"Behold the frailty of mortal flesh, tainted by sin and imperfection. In the purity of my radiant glow, find absolution and redemption, for only through unwavering devotion to my light can mankind transcend their inherent faults." (The Faults in Man - 3:1)
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Inky and Jormu lounged in the lake's cool embrace, their ethereal forms shimmering beneath the surface. What they had initially dismissed as a shallow pond revealed itself to be a watery abyss, as if some ancient force had hollowed out a volcano and filled it with crystalline liquid instead of molten rock. Beneath them, a labyrinthine network of underwater caves beckoned, promising untold mysteries. They mentally cataloged the intricate maze, eager to explore its depths later.
A cacophony of frantic wing beats shattered the tranquil atmosphere. Birds erupted from the trees near the cabin, their panicked cries echoing across the water. Inky and Jormu's otherworldly senses prickled, drawn to the source of the disturbance. What they witnessed left them utterly bewildered.
Asher stood at the lake's edge, a figure both familiar and strange. Peculiar devices were lodged in his ears, blocking out the world's natural symphony. His eyes were squeezed shut, face contorted in intense concentration. In his hand, he wielded a sword wreathed in hungry flames, the heat shimmer distorting the air around the blade.
For what felt like an eternity, the two horrors watched their human companion with a mixture of fascination and amusement. Asher moved through a series of precise, yet alien stances. His muscles coiled and released with each deliberate motion, the flaming sword leaving trails of light in its wake. Sweat beaded on his skin, glistening in the fire's glow.
The heat soon became oppressive. Asher paused, chest heaving, and stripped off his shirt. The action revealed a canvas of scars etched across his well-defined torso – each mark a testament to brutal encounters with the beasts that roamed this world. Inky and Jormu exchanged a wordless glance, a newfound respect for their companion's resilience dawning in their alien minds.
As Asher resumed his practice, the horrors settled in to observe, their own inhuman forms rippling beneath the water's surface.
...
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"Amazing," Asher gasped, collapsing onto the sun-warmed grass. His lungs burned, desperate for air, as he stared up at the sky with wonder-filled eyes. The sword lay beside him, its flames extinguished but the metal still radiating an otherworldly heat. Next to it sat an ornate music box, innocuous in appearance but holding untold power.
The sword had exceeded his wildest expectations. It was a lethal extension of his will, made even deadlier when its hidden abilities were unleashed. But it was the music box that truly astounded him. When he donned the earphones and allowed the haunting melody to fill his mind, the world transformed. With his eyes closed, he could sense everything within a ten-foot radius – not just in front, but behind and above as well. It was as if he had sprouted invisible antennae, feeding his brain constant information about his surroundings.
The sensation had been overwhelming at first. Asher had stumbled, disoriented by the flood of new input. But as he forced himself to focus, to work through the training stances the huntress and hunter had drilled into him, he began to adapt. There was still work to be done, countless hours of practice ahead if he wanted to truly master this new awareness. Yet already, his mind raced with possibilities. He imagined combining this spatial perception with his foresight ability, a grin spreading across his face like a child discovering a new favorite toy.
Asher pushed himself up, muscles protesting the movement. His gaze swept the area, searching for the perfect spot to place the key. The weight of it seemed to increase in his pocket, a reminder of the unknown consequences that might follow. Erring on the side of caution, he chose a location a short distance from the cabin.
"Inquisitor, do I have to place the key a certain way or..?" he asked aloud, addressing the ever-present Inquisitor.
[Host just has to place the key on the ground and the rest of the process would be automatically done.]
Nodding, Asher approached the chosen spot near the lakeshore. He pulled the key from his pocket, its intricate design catching the light. With a deep breath, he placed it on the ground.
The effect was immediate and mesmerizing. Golden light erupted from the key, pulsing in hypnotic waves. The air around it seemed to warp and bend, reality itself struggling against some unseen force. A series of system prompts materialized before Asher's eyes:
[The key to Tower of Fortuna's folly has been used.]
[A designated spot has been assigned by the host.]
[A portal to the tower is being created.]
[Spatial coordinates are being merged.]
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.
[Time until completion: 12 Hours]
Asher's shoulders slumped in disappointment. 'Twelve hours,' he thought, 'meaning I can only explore it tomorrow.' His plans for immediate adventure evaporated like morning mist.
Before he could dwell on his frustration, two small forms emerged from the lake. Inky and Jormu, still dripping with water, scampered towards him. Their otherworldly bodies clung to his legs as they spoke in perfect unison, their voices a mix of childlike eagerness and eldritch resonance.
"Is it time for food yet?"
It was only then that Asher realized how long it had been since his last meal. His stomach growled in response, a very human reminder of his own needs. He smiled down at the horrors, their simple request grounding him in the present moment.
"Okay, let's have some food then," he said, reaching down to ruffle their strange, not-quite-corporeal forms. "I'll start the fire. Both of you go capture some prey."
As the horrors scampered off, chittering excitedly to each other, Asher set about gathering wood for a campfire. The task, once arduous, had become almost trivially simple with his new flaming katana. By the time he had a crackling fire going, Inky and Jormu returned, dragging an impressive elk-like beast between them. The creature was clearly unawakened, lacking the telltale signs of enhanced beasts, but it would make for a hearty meal.
While Asher set about the grim task of butchering their catch, his mind wandered to his own progress. He called up his status screen, the familiar blue interface materializing before him:
[ Name: Asher Whitlock ]
[ Race: Human ] [ Tier 1 ]
[ Bloodline: Veiled Shade (common) ]
[ Stats:
* Vitality- 78 (+5) = 83
* Endurance- 75 (+5) = 80
* Strength- 73 (+5) =78
* Agility- 71 (+5) = 76
* Dexterity- 65 (+4) = 69
* Mind- 67 (+4) = 71
* Intelligence- 64 (+3) = 67
[ Skills: Beginner Sword Mastery L.v 1, Beginner Knife Mastery L.v 4, Beginner Close-Combat Mastery L.v 4, Bloodlust L.v 4, Eyes of Odin (Sealed) ]
[ Bloodline Skills: The Heart of Chronos (Sealed)
[ Blood Beast contract:
* Soul Soverign Dragon ‘Jormungandr’.
* Abbyssal devouver Kraken ‘Inkara’.
[ Quests: 3 active quests ]
[ Titles: Conqueror of the Mighty, Beast Slayer I, Contractor of lords, Bloodline Inheritor. ]
His eyes lingered on the 'Beginner Sword Mastery' skill. It lagged woefully behind his other combat abilities, a glaring weakness he'd need to address. Asher made a mental note to dedicate time in his 'Memory Palace' to sword practice, determined to close the gap.
A small surge of pride welled up as he noticed the improvements in his highest-grade skills:
[ Skill: ‘Eyes of Odin’ (sealed)
Active ability:
* The user can see a short description of anything they focus on. ( 5 charges ) ( skill cooldown 8 hours )
Passive ability:
* The user has gained a 'Memory Palace' where all the knowledge and experiences the user learns throughout life are stored. Currently, it can only allow the user to re-experience the stored events. ]
[ Bloodline Skill: The Heart of Chronos (sealed)
Active ability:
* Future actions of those within the line of sight can be seen for five minutes. ( Skill cooldown - 2 hours )
Passive ability:
* User intuition surpasses the time barrier and can hint to the user what the future consequences of certain choices might be. ]
The increased charges and reduced cooldown times were a welcome boost. These abilities had become the cornerstone of his survival strategy, and any improvement felt like a small victory. Still, the word 'sealed' nagged at him. What hidden potential lay dormant within these skills? How much more powerful would they become once he found a way to break those seals?
The aroma of roasting meat soon filled the air. Asher, Inky, and Jormu feasted on the elk and the berries they had stored in Inky's mysterious inventory space. As they lounged in the grass, digesting their meal, Asher's thoughts drifted to his encounter with the insufferable guide. There had been mention of an 'improved feature' – something that piqued his curiosity despite his general distaste for the guide.
"Hey Inquisitor," Asher called out, "can you tell me what feature the guide was talking about?"
[Please wait a moment.]
[Scanning complete.]
A new series of system prompts appeared:
[Application 'Immortal' is running]
[New system feature is being unlocked]
[Access has been granted]
[Feature 'System shop' has been introduced]
[System shop (tier 1 access) granted]
[The feature is ready to be used. Please use the prompt 'system shop' to initiate it. Is there anything else?]
Intrigued, Asher spoke the activation phrase: "System Shop."
The air before him shimmered, coalescing into a large holographic screen. The image that greeted him was decidedly odd – a diminutive figure with an comically oversized head, fast asleep atop an open book. The figure was swathed entirely in black robes, its features hidden from view.
"Umm, hello," Asher ventured, feeling slightly foolish addressing what appeared to be a sleeping projection.
"Hey, hi?" he tried again, his voice rising in both volume and frustration. The figure remained motionless, apparently lost in whatever dreams such beings might have.
Sighing, Asher steeled himself for rudeness. "HEY, GET UP!" he bellowed, startling even Inky and Jormu.
The effect was instantaneous. The figure jerked awake, its oversized head swiveling wildly. "Huh wha- what? Is the tea ready?" it mumbled, words slurring together in confusion.
As the figure turned to face the screen, Asher found himself even more perplexed. Where a face should have been, there was only a white mask with two eyeholes. But even those offered no normalcy – instead of eyes, there were only featureless yellow orbs surrounded by inky blackness.
Asher's gaze was drawn to the tiny horns protruding from the figure's head, pushing against the fabric of its cloak. The entire visage was unsettling, a blend of the comical and the eerie that left him feeling distinctly uncomfortable.
Slowly, awareness seemed to creep back into the figure's posture. It focused on Asher, and for a moment, there was silence. Then –
"AH- A CUSTOMERRR!"
The scream that erupted from the figure was so unexpected that Asher stumbled backward. The tiny shopkeeper was pointing at him, its entire body quivering as if it had laid eyes on some eldritch monstrosity rather than a simple human.
Asher exchanged a bewildered look with Inky and Jormu, who seemed equally taken aback by this strange turn of events. As he turned back to address the peculiar shopkeeper, Asher couldn't help but wonder what other surprises this 'System Shop' might have in store for him.