By the time Lemonk reached the mine, the sun had dipped low, casting long shadows across the forested base of the mountain.
The mine itself was nothing special, just a yawning, black mouth carved into stone. It was nestled into the foot of the mountain, surrounded on all sides by thick, wild forest. Only one side, the east-facing slope, was cleared of trees, just enough for five houses, three large warehouses, and a small blacksmith shop.
At the very edge of the clearing sat the smallest cottage of them all, Lemonk's.
It was barely more than a box: one bedroom, a kitchen, a toilet, and a tiny garden out back. But to Lemonk, it was his space.
Stumbling through the front door, his knees buckled, and he collapsed facedown on the floor.
He didn't even make it to the bed.
The exhaustion of the day, the emotional weight, the beating, the ritual, had drained him to the bone. His body refused to move. His eyelids fell like boulders.
And he slept. Like a corpse.
When his eyes finally fluttered open, it was still night.
But something was wrong.
There, floating in the air above him, was a glowing blue screen.
[Initializing… Welcome, User.][Name: Lemonk][Talent: Strengthen][System: Progress Activated]
Lemonk blinked. Once. Twice.
"…Oh. I died," he said flatly. "Even after all that struggling. Figures."
He sighed dramatically. "Is that you, Angel? Can I at least see your face? Y'know, before I ascend to the heavens, still a virgin."
Two sad little tears slid down his face.
[Incorrect. Host is not dead.][Vital signs: Stable. Mental state: Questionable.]
Lemonk sat up slightly, eyes wide. "Wait! what?"
Now fully awake, he heard the voice again, clearer this time. Neutral, emotionless. A bit smug.
[Host is alive. Congratulations, dummy.]
"Excuse me?" Lemonk snapped. "Did an angel just call me dumb?"
[I am not an angel.][I am your Soul Artefact. Name: Progress System.]
Silence.
Then-
"WHAT?!"
[Yes. You awakened me during the ritual. But I have no physical form. Only you can see and interact with me. That's why the others couldn't detect me.]
Lemonk stared at the screen, mouth agape.
"You… you're my soul artefact?"
[Affirmative.]
"But, Fran said… I didn't awaken one!"
[Incorrect. I was awakened. My existence is formless. I am the system that records, tracks, and enhances your progress. Your 'Strengthen' talent is a perfect match.]
Lemonk's brain spun.
Not just shocked, he was reeling.
"Wait, wait, wait, let me get this straight. I do have a soul artefact… and it's invisible. And it talks back?"
[Yes.]
Lemonk clutched his head, shaking it.
"This day just keeps leveling up in absurdity."
[Welcome to your new life, Lemonk.]
And with that final message, a new window popped up in front of him.
[Tutorial Available: Would you like to begin learning how to use the Progress System?]
Lemonk grinned faintly through the last tears drying on his face.
"Hell yes."