The Flame Canyon.
Warm, wet pressure brushed against Max's cheek.
His eyes snapped open.
Instinct tightened every muscle—until he saw who it was.
Little Red, his loyal companion, and Windy stood beside him, both clearly worried. Little Red's tongue continued its insistent licks, while Windy's sharp eyes scanned the surroundings for danger.
Max let out a shaky breath, relief flooding through him.
The victory over the Kobold Captain still pulsed in his mind, but his body told a different story—every muscle throbbed, his ribs felt like they were wrapped in barbed wire, and his bones… they felt ready to pack up and go on a long vacation.
Then—
A flicker of light danced in the corner of his vision.
The System Interface.
He focused, and the familiar translucent panels slid into place before his eyes.
---
[System Notifications]
You have killed the Kobold Guards.
Reward: 400 Chaos Battle Coins
You have killed the Kobold Captain.
Reward: 800 Chaos Battle Coins
Rare Loot Drop Detected
Reward: Bronze-ranked Loot Box
Do you wish to open it now?
> YES < | > NO <
---
"Open," Max commanded inwardly, his curiosity overriding his exhaustion.
---
[Congratulations!]
You have received: Broad Sword
Name: Deathbringer Broad Sword
Rank: Peak Bronze Rank
Description: Forged from a thousand-year-old lava stone, its core still hums with dormant fire.
Active Skill: Death Strike — A devastating overhead slash that channels all of the wielder's power into a single killing blow.
---
Max's fingers twitched. Even through the system's description, he could feel the weapon's presence—like a predator waiting patiently for its master's command.
Alright — here's the continuation, showing Max summoning the Deathbringer Broad Sword for the first time with a dramatic, cinematic reveal.
---
Max focused on the interface.
"Summon."
The air in front of him shimmered, space itself twisting as if resisting what was about to emerge. Then—
CRACK!
A fissure of crimson light split the air, and from within, the broad sword began to materialize. The blackened blade emerged first covered in crimson runes, jagged edges glowing faintly with embers deep inside its metal, as if it still carried the breath of the volcano that birthed it.
The weapon dropped into his waiting hands with a satisfying thunk—and nearly pulled him forward with its sheer weight. It also made his body ache even more but he didn't want to put it down, it feels good holding. It was pulsating like a vien pumping blood into the body systems making it seem alive.
At first glance, it would already be known that it was no ordinary weapon.
It was also Heavy… but balanced.
The grip was wrapped in scaled leather, warm to the touch, pulsing faintly in time with his heartbeat. Veins of molten red ran up the blade, and when Max tilted it, the glow shifted like living fire.
As his fingers tightened, an oppressive aura seeped out from the weapon—thick, suffocating, and heavy with intent. Little Red growled instinctively, while Windy took a cautious step back.
[Weapon Detected: Deathbringer Broad Sword]
[Passive Effect: Pressure Field — Lesser foes may tremble or flee upon sensing this blade.]
Max exhaled slowly, running his thumb along the flat of the blade.
"This… isn't just a sword," he muttered. "It's a warning."
A faint whisper echoed in the back of his mind—low, guttural, and almost hungry.
Feed me battle… and I'll feed you victory.
Max's lips curled into a tired smile.
"Oh… you'll get plenty of both."
While Max was still in his own world, little red and windy gathered all the essence crystals and put it in front of Max.
Max closed his fingers around the hilt of the Deathbringer Broad Sword one last time before letting it vanish in a ripple of red light.
The moment the blade disappeared, a sudden burning pain flared across his back—searing, sharp, and intense—only to vanish just as quickly as it came.
He gritted his teeth but pushed the sensation aside. There were more important things to do.
Max crouched, scooping up the scattered essence crystals left from the battle. The raw energy thrummed in his palm as he began absorbing them.
---
[Congratulations, Host! You have reached 9-Star Copper Rank]
---
Max blinked.
"Shouldn't that push me into Bronze Rank already?"
---
[Progress: 9-Star Copper Rank → Bronze Rank (50% filled)]
---
"Tch… so close."
Another notification pulsed into view.
---
[Do you wish to leave the tower now? Your progress will be retained.]
---
Max rolled his aching shoulders. "Yeah. Let's rest for now. My whole body's still screaming."
---
[Teleportation in… 3… 2… 1…]
---
A swirl of silver and crimson light spun open in the middle of his room. Max stepped out, the faint smell of molten rock still clinging to him.
Without a second thought, he headed straight for the bath. Steam filled the small chamber as the hot water soothed the tension in his battered muscles, the pain ebbing into a distant throb.
Minutes later, he sank into his soft bed. The fabric embraced him like a long-lost friend, and for the first time today in what felt like he came from a battlefield of blood, he allowed himself to truly relax.
"I'll spend longer in the Dragon Tower next time," he murmured to himself, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
Sleep claimed him before the thought was even finished.
...
In an alleyway in Hanzou Village, three men wearing black and also emitting a baleful aura were conversing.
" Lord Deacon, we have already prepared the materials to revive the Red Deacon Seon. We just have to wait for the next full moon that will happen in seven days so we can make use of the Blood Moon sacrificial array." One of men in black said to the one which has the strongest death and curse aura which looks to be the Blue Deacon of Dark Calamity.
" No problem, I just don't want any mishap. We have already reached the final phase of what we have been planning for the past five years" to he Blue Deacon said.
" Also, is the blood thirsty spring dew ready?". " You know it's crucial for our plan." He added.
" Lord Deacon, it's all ready. We have also decided to text the effects by using the blood thirsy spring dew on the beast at the sliver lake Gourge.