[System Alert: Iron Class Monster Defeated – Molten Basilisk (Lv. 15)]
EXP Gained:
Raen: +7,300 EXP
Suzune: +6,900 EXP
Meirin: +6,950 EXP
Kaede: +6,800 EXP
Daichi: +7,000 EXP
Hiroto: +6,980 EXP
Loot Dropped:
x1 Skill Scroll: Molten Lash (Usable by Guardian, Warrior, Knight – Active AoE whip-slam with Burn effect)
x3 Basilisk Fangs (Crafting: Used in fire-resistant potion recipes)
x1 Basilisk Heartcore (Rare Alchemy Catalyst – boosts fire-attribute fusion chance)
x1 Scaled Hide Plate (Crafting – base for heat-resistant armor)
x5 Gold coins
The team exhaled in unison, their shoulders lowering as the final remnants of battle faded into the smoke-choked air. All around them, the ridge still shimmered with lingering heat. Jagged obsidian shards jutted from the cracked earth like shattered glass, surrounding the corpse of the fallen beast—its flesh scorched, its form crumbling into smoldering ash.
Before them, embedded halfway into the blackened stone, a treasure chest gleamed with pulsing silver light.
Kaito approached cautiously, boots crunching over burnt gravel. The air radiated warmth from the basilisk's last breath, causing sweat to bead along his brow. He knelt beside the chest, brushing soot from its surface. Its metallic shell was hot to the touch, and intricate glyphs spiraled across it in shifting patterns—five rings deep, each rotating independently.
This was no ordinary reward.
He placed his palm on the central rune. The interface activated with a hiss, and soft system text appeared in his vision.
[Silver Treasure Chest – Arcane Lock Engaged]
[Unlock Timer: 90 seconds | Failure Chance: 54%]
Kaito exhaled slowly, tuning out the world. He focused solely on the glyphs, tracing their spin, their flickers, their rhythm.
Click—click—clack.
The first attempt failed. A harsh red pulse radiated from the outer ring, jolting his interface.
[Stability Dropped – 71% Remaining]
"Tch." His brow furrowed.
He immediately reset the system, rotating his wrist and diving into the second attempt. His fingers moved faster, sharper—re-aligning sigils with near-perfect timing. But as the fourth ring flickered, the fifth hesitated, then snapped out of sync.
[Failure – Alignment Drift Detected | Stability: 42%]
Kaito stilled.
He closed his eyes, recalled the movement of legacy lock systems—how they spiraled in mirrored layers, how they stuttered during resets. He remembered the way his timing was just half a second late in his past life—enough to cost him a tiered vault.
Not this time.
Deliberate. Fluid. Exact.
Click.
Click.
Click.
A soft chime rang out. The glyphs froze in unison before dissolving into mist.
[System Alert: Lock Cleared – Silver Chest Unsealed]
The lid hissed open, steam rolling from its edges like a breath released after decades.
Inside lay six neatly arranged rewards—each glowing faintly, each radiating value beyond their rank.
Silver Chest Rewards:
Skill Scroll – Passive: Molten Core Guard
(Usable by: Guardian, Knight, Warrior)
→ +7% resistance to all burn-based damage
Weapon Blueprint – Mysterious Iron Dual Swords: Basilisk's Bite
(Usable by: Assassin, Duelist, Swordsman)
→ High-speed dual blades with a 10% chance to inflict Burn for 3 seconds on hit
Potion Recipe – Firemind Tonic
→ Increases fire-based skill damage by 10% for 5 minutes; 1-minute cooldown
Enchanting Template – Scorching Grips
→ Adds burn-on-hit to melee glove slot (only 1 slot compatible)
Prop – Adaptive Flask
(Usable by: All Classes)
→ Buff changes based on class: healing for Clerics, speed boost for Rogues, minor attack buff for Fighters
Material – x3 Lesser Soul Crystals
→ Used in forging Mysterious Iron and Silver-tier weapons. Can be combined for higher-tier cores.
.....
Kaito silently scanned the interface, quickly tagging the blueprint and scrolls for inventory. The others gathered around, offering muted nods of approval.
"That's... not a bad haul," Kaede muttered, already calculating synergy builds in his head. "We could use the burn-resist for our next run."
"Take whatever helps your loadout," Kaito said, stepping back from the chest. "But keep the blueprint stored. I'll craft it once I get time."
As they finalized assignments, a flicker of gold caught Kaito's eye—up ahead, beyond the ridge.
He stood slowly.
At the summit, a golden glow pulsed faintly, rhythmic and deep, like a heartbeat beneath the stone.
His eyes narrowed.
"…One more."
...…..
The Final Ridge
They ascended the final slope of Ridge with caution, every footstep sinking slightly into the scorched soil. The terrain had transformed—less of a battlefield and more like a graveyard for ancient titans. The rocks were darker, the air hotter, and the pressure… heavier.
At the center of a circular crater surrounded by jagged obsidian spikes stood a golden chest—vault-shaped, at least two meters wide. It sat upon a raised blackstone platform, encased in swirling layers of magical seals. Its presence was undeniable. Powerful. Ancient.
But even before Kaito could approach, a deep tremor rattled the ground.
A volcanic fissure split open behind the platform with a deafening crack—and something climbed out.
Ten feet tall. Humanoid in shape. Forged of molten rock and scorched metal. A walking furnace with a burning glare behind a mask of fused bronze and fury.
[System Alert: Pyroclast Guardian – Level 15 Silver-Class Boss]
The boss's HP bar appeared across their view—rimmed in gold, pulsating like a beating heart.
Kaede's voice dropped to a whisper. "That's not just rare. That's one-of-a-kind."
Kaito stepped forward, unsheathing his blade. "Formation. Burn everything."
The battle had begun.
The guardian stomped forward, dragging a burning chain of molten ore behind it. It slammed its fists into the earth—eruption! A wave of fire and debris burst out, forcing the entire team to scatter.
"Radiant Guard!" Aika's chant burst out. A golden dome encased the team, absorbing the brunt of the blast.
"Stormlash Surge!"
Kaede's staff cracked with energy, bolts arcing forward to paralyze the boss momentarily.
"Cyclone Palm!"
"Flash Palm!"
Daichi and Hiroto dashed in a spiral—one with whirlwind fists, the other with a blast of flaming energy. They struck in perfect sync, sending sparks flying off the Guardian's molten armor.
But it wasn't over.
A rune flared across the construct's chest.
It let out a roar, calling forth two lava echoes—miniature versions of itself with half HP, but full aggression.
"Suzune, Meirin, take the summons!" Kaito shouted.
"Shadowline Reversal!"
Suzune vanished, reappearing behind one echo and plunging her blade into its back. She darted between its legs, laying down Poison Lure Traps in quick succession.
"Gale Spiral Shot!"
Meirin loosed an arrow imbued with wind energy. It drilled through the second echo's head—then detonated in a gust that flung it back into a spike of obsidian.
Kaede chanted again.
"Cinderbolt Nova!"
Five red-hot bolts crashed into the guardian's knees, slowing its advance.
Meanwhile, Aika raised her hand for another support cast.
"Sanctuary Sync!"
A halo of golden light cleansed burns from all allies, while temporarily nullifying fire damage for five seconds.
Kaito didn't wait.
"Mana Step."
He blinked into the air, twisting mid-air to rotate his blade.
"Flame Arc Slash!"
A burning crescent traced the sky and slammed into the Guardian's faceplate—but it didn't crack.
"Still holding…"
He landed, spun, and then—
"Cross Slash!"
A deep X-carved mark tore into the exposed core. The Guardian staggered—sputtering sparks.
Suzune leapt up one last time.
Dagger. Core. Precision.
The boss gave one final howl before exploding in a brilliant bloom of molten gold.
[System Alert: Silver-Class Boss Defeated – Pyroclast Guardian (Lv. 15)]
EXP Gained:
Raen: +12,800 EXP
Kaede: +11,900 EXP
Meirin: +12,100 EXP
Suzune: +11,800 EXP
Daichi: +12,400 EXP
Hiroto: +12,350 EXP
Aika: +11,500 EXP
Loot Dropped:
x1 Gold-tier Fire Crystal (Used in tiered elemental weapon enhancement)
x2 Forging Sockets (Rare) – Can be embedded during blacksmithing to add bonus effects
x1 Pyrocore Reactor (Rare Catalyst – used in advanced potion synthesis or crafting magical generators)
x1 Molten Relic Ring (Usable by All Classes – Grants temporary burn immunity every 180 seconds)
x1 Blueprint: Flameforged Twinblade (Usable by: All Melee class – Bronze-tier weapon)
.....
They stood in stunned silence.
Kaito approached the gold chest slowly, his breath steady, gaze sharp.
Five concentric golden rings spun around the seal. The locking mechanism looked unlike anything he had seen in the entire game.
[Gold Treasure Chest – Celestial Lock Engaged]
[Unlock Timer: 120 seconds | Failure Chance: 69% | Penalty: Lockout – 24 Hours]
Kaito placed his palm against the core interface.
The rings activated—rotating in opposing directions. Symbols blurred. Layers shimmered.
Click—click—clack.
[Failure – Desync at Layer 2 | Stability: 82%]
He didn't flinch. Began again.
Click—click—click—clack.
[Failure – Drift Error at Layer 4 | Stability: 53%]
Aika opened her mouth. "Brother…."
"Quiet."
He exhaled.
Click.
Click.
Click.
Click.
Click.
A soft tone rang through the chamber.
[System Alert: Lock Cleared – Gold Chest Unsealed]
[Passive Skill Upgraded: Precision Decode → Level 2]
+25% effectiveness vs. high-tier locks
Unlock speed +20%
New Trait: Trap & Seal Detection Enabled
The chest hissed open.
[Gold Treasure Chest – Rewards]
Growth-Type Weapon: Bronze Longblade "Solstice Blade"
(Usable by: Magic Swordsman only)
Begins as a Bronze-tier blade, but grows with user level
Absorbs elemental cores (0/100 Mysterious Iron)
(Scales into Mysterious Iron, Silver, and beyond)
Skill Scroll – Active: Dimensional Anchor
(Usable by: Mage)
Prevents all teleportation or blink effects in a 10m radius for 8 seconds
Rare Prop: Crown of Emberlight
(Usable by: All Classes)
Increases Fire Resistance by 10%
Reduces cooldown of fire-based skills
Cosmetic ember-glow effect
Enchanting Template – Twin Rune Core (Silver)
(Used by: Enchanter)
Enables dual passive enchantments on a single weapon
Forging Material – Ignistal Alloy x3
(Used to forge high-tier fire-based weapons and gear)
Forging Design: Bronze Titanguard Plate Set
(Usable by: Guardian, Knight, Warrior)
Includes helm, chest, gauntlets, boots (can be forged separately)
Rare Accessory – Embercore Signet
(Usable by: All Classes)
Grants +5% elemental resistance (Fire, Ice, Lightning)
Passive bonus: Slightly reduces mana consumption for elemental skills
Skill Scroll – Passive: Battle Meditation
(Usable by: Monk, Swordsman, Cleric, Magic Swordsman)
After standing still for 3 seconds, begin regenerating 2% HP and MP every second (deactivates on movement or damage)
Skill Scroll – Active: Mirror Phantom Blade
(Usable by: Magic Swordsman only)
Cooldown: 180 sec
Summons a Mirror Doppelgänger of the caster that lasts for 20 seconds.
The doppelgänger automatically copies and performs all of your attacks and active sword/magic skills at 70% effectiveness, with a delay of 0.5 seconds.
Deals both physical and magical damage in sync with the caster's hybrid style.
The clone's attacks can critically strike, but do not trigger item effects or passive procs.
As the final glow of the opened gold chest faded, silence settled over the scorched ridge.
Kaede let out a long whistle, eyes fixed on the hovering system interface. "Two class-specific items back-to-back? That's… absurd."
Even Kaito, usually composed, found himself pausing. His gaze fell on the shimmering silhouette of the Solstice Blade, the growth-type sword pulsing faintly in his hand. It was unmistakably calling to him. A weapon that would evolve with his journey and even a class specific skill.
"Let's head back. Time to prepare for the others." Said Kaito after they had come out of their reverie.
Then the team turned away from the scorched ridge and began their journey back—heading south toward the South Glade Town.