Alex moved silently beside Mei as they left the treatment chamber. The corridors of the medical hall stretched ahead, lit only by the dim glow of sporadic lanterns. A few disciples remained, their rest uneasy, some stirring awake at the sounds of their discussion. Mei whispered a skill name under her breath and Alex sensed the air still around them as a subtle veil enveloped them both, their forms, sounds, scents, and energy blending into the shadows.

"Veil of the Valkyries?" He repeated. "Not bad... Is it new?” Alex queried, the corners of his mouth lifting faintly despite the tension in his shoulders.

“Seraphs, Valkyries—whatever floats your Earthling brain,” she shot back. "I can hide an entire squadron of combat drones with this skill.”

“Overkill much,” Alex noted dryly.

Mei let out a small, indignant huff but didn’t argue. Her gaze flicked to the corners of the corridor as they walked, the occasional flare of Qi from stationed guards passing over them harmlessly in Alex's vision. The silence of the medicinal hall was broken only by the faint taps of footsteps far off in other chambers, disciples and healers too preoccupied to notice their hidden movements.

“Yeah my system updated,” Alex said after a while as their steps fell in rhythm. “It mentioned skill caps. Mana siphoning too" He refrained from mentioning all of the other ways his sytem had been changed, the mana, Dao, energy limitations, and attempted stat cap release. It seemed odd that his update appeared to be far more drastic than hers. Maybe it's because i was the closest to the blast? Or maybe it’s because of the glitches? He speculated. Either way, he had been hit by Phurafels last 'attack' at near point-blank range.

Mei stopped mid-step, one hand brushing the edge of a nearby column as her head tilted slightly. “Everything feels different," she said rolling her wrist in a slow, deliberate circle, her fingers flexing experimentally as a shield of light sprang into existence before twisting to wrap around her hand like a glove. "It's like I've gained years of mastery overnight—things that used to take ages feel like they’re coming to me in hours. All of my skills feel more adaptable now, and hunting brings better experience. Everything just seems... fairer."

She shrugged lightly, the movement barely shifting her frame. Her boots struck the even flooring with effortless precision as she turned to face him. "More adaptable, less like I’m constantly fighting against the system to improve.”

Alex nodded in assent to their shared experience. "if you think about it, the only reason why you would even need a 'system' would be to make things and to make magic easier... Nobody automates difficulty."

"Unless its your enemy's magic," Mei scoffed. "Then you'd want to make it difficult as fu-". Her hand flicked outward briefly with her words, her fingertips brushing the edge of the wall to leave deep vandalising scorch marks. “None of the other users have heard of anything like it. I asked around but kept my prying vague, obviously. No one else has experienced anything like this, not today, not ever.”

Alex nodded, unsurprised by her words. "Seems like it’s just us.”

Mei’s pace slowed as she glanced over her shoulder. “Exactly. I’ve been in these worlds for years, Alex. A very long time. Updates don’t happen.” A pause, then her brows creased in confusion, "But why us? Only me and you? D'you think there are others?"

Alex responded low, the words barely audible under his breath. "Yeah, there are others. We weren't the only ones there when he struck..."

His steps slowed momentarily, his brow furrowing as he caught sight of an open doorway up ahead. The faint outline of a guard shifted within. He adjusted his path slightly to keep their course hidden-no point in taking chances. “Phurafel,” he said after a pause. “When he died, the way he combined his skills for that last strike... it might’ve affected our souls... Maybe,” Alex said. “Or his 'magnum opus' might have disrupted everything entirely.”

Mei’s hand paused mid-gesture, her gaze snapping to him. “Phurafel?” she said, her voice low as her fingers resumed their rhythmic tapping against her leg. “The Dragon? You think his last move broke whatever chains were holding us back?”

His pace slowing slightly, his footsteps falling heavier against the stone as though the thought weighed on him. “That has to be it."

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

Mei shrugged lightly, the movement barely shifting her frame. Her boots struck the uneven stone with measured precision as she turned to face him. “The other survivors on that world might have updated systems too,” she said. Her hand brushed the edge of her bag again before falling still. “Or maybe we’re the only ones with new systems on both worlds. Maybe Phurafel’s attack just hit us differently.”

That's possible, Alex thought, seeing some validity in her words. She only had her skills and experience siphoning limits removed. I had practically everything released... except for the stat cap. Maybe the others experienced even more limited effects... Maybe they didn't get anything at all.

Mei clicked her tongue, her fingers drumming briefly against her leg. “I never noticed, but now its obvious. It's been there for years. Like I’ve been running uphill with weights strapped to me. Now the skills feel like I can bend them. Shape them. Maybe even break them. It’s so freeing."

Her steps quickened slightly as the faint breeze of the exit ahead of them brushed her face. “The limitations—skill suppression, mana siphoning. It’s as though we're all being kept intentionally weakened... It’s the only thing that makes sense. Maybe to empower cultivators at our expense? Why?”

Alex let out a slow breath, recalling his recent ordeal after having ventured dangerously far into his Dao-the sensation of that same Dao attempting to subsume his soul. "Maybe some of the limits are there for our safety..." he ventured in speculation. His steps steady as he moved closer to the exit, and he dismissed that potentiality, considering the other, more illogical limitations- the ones that had kept them weak. The faint light of the stars framed his movements as he looked forward. The true answer was obvious. “Or maybe its because we’re system users,” he said with finality. “Maybe we’re a threat to the way their world works.”

Mei’s fingers stilled as she nodded, briefly slowing mid-step. Her fingers tapped against her thigh. “Makes sense. System users like us aren’t exactly the most compatible with serfdom.” She said, her voice soft but laced with clarity. "But if that’s true, and the dragon removed whatever was holding us back.” lips twitched into something resembling a grin, her eyes darting to the large doorway. “Then shout-out to Phurafel. Didn’t think I’d be thanking him, but here we are.” She spoke the words lightly, though there was a faint edge to her voice that Alex caught. She wasn’t joking—not entirely. He nodded slowly "Indeed."

They exited the medicinal hall in silence. The night air greeted them as they stepped outside, crisp and quiet. Alex let his gaze drift over the darkened sect grounds, his thoughts alight with possibilities.

“Souls, huh?” Mei joined him, her hand brushing her temple absently as she walked beside him. Then, with a small shake of her head, she turned back toward the path ahead. “Well, whatever the case, it’s another headache for Future Us if they ever find out”

Us? Alex thought. “Generous of you to share the burden,” He said, guiding her along a smaller path to their side. Mei followed without another word, the faint wavering darkness of her stealth skill folding them deeper into the shadows as they disappeared into the night.

They navigated the winding pathway, footsteps muted against the carved stone floor. The scent of medicinal herbs quickly faded in the wind, mixing with the cool night air. Mei's eyes fixed forward as they approached a steep path in the mountain walls.

“No time for dawdling,” She said, her voice a whisper but carrying that irreverent edge Alex had come to recognize. “If anyone spots us here, it’s your problem. I did my part... Where are we going, anyway?”

Alex allowed himself a faint smile. "There," He pointed to a structure high above, the action eliciting a soft inhale from Mei.

His mind replayed the details he had learned earlier. When the healer had led him here, she had been quick to point out the general layout of the sect. She hadn’t intended to reveal much, but a few offhand comments about the surrounding mountain’s interior had been enough for Alex to piece together the basics. Most notably, the heavily fortified structure carved deep into the mountain.

A treasury vault.

One of many. The healer had described it casually, as though it were just another part of the sect, but Alex had seen it himself during their trek through the grounds. A towering, reinforced structure carved high into the mountain’s depths. It had stood apart from most of the other structures, its construction both imposing and deliberate, as though designed to keep its contents safe from others. The building was vast, distant, high, and deep within the mountain, its walls covered with layers of stone and reinforced by distant structures. It wasn’t hard to imagine what lay inside—rare treasures, cultivation manuals, artifacts of immense value.

He stepped on the path but did not leave, rolling his shoulders to test his range of motion. Satisfied, he scanned both the mountain and the sect grounds. Only a handful of guards lingered, their focus elsewhere as they stood near various posts, most of them focused on the valley's exit. The rest had retreated to their quarters, leaving behind an air of calm.

Deep within, Alex felt a soft thrum of energy from his steadily evolving soul-bound sword. He could feel it clearer now, the connection reestablishing itself with each breath as the weapon nestled within his soul slowly took form.

A slighter smile tugged at his lips as he began to climb the mountain path, Mei following close behind, shrouding them both in obsucrity. His gaze shifted upward keenly, toward the higher reaches. The path to the vault would not be an easy one, but armed with the unique capabilities of his Dao, it was one he intended to dominate.

It was time to see what these people considered 'Treasure'.