Morning light slipped through the inn's narrow window, painting a pale line across the floorboards. Jace sat in the creaky chair beside his bed, leaning forward as he called up the system interface.
The new skill sat at the very top, just as Lyss had promised:
[NEW SKILL UNLOCKED: Hunter's Domain]
[Effect: Creates a personal battlefield where all enemy stats are reduced by 35% and user's combat power increases by 50%]
[Description: A one-man army skill – fights on your terms]
*Now that's a game-changer*, he thought with satisfaction. The ability to control battlefield conditions would be invaluable against stronger opponents.
But as he flicked deeper through the interface, something caught his eye. A new section blinked back at him, unfamiliar, like a door he hadn't noticed before; 'STORE'.
[DIVINE BOOST ACTIVE]
[All CP gains doubled for duration]
[All stat improvements doubled for duration]
[Store access unlocked]
He blinked hard, then checked his balance.
[CURRENT CHARM POINTS: 28,115]
The number almost made him choke. Twenty-eight thousand? He'd had barely over a hundred the night before. Even with the goddess's boost factored in, the leap was absurd. His pulse quickened as he scrolled further.
[Charisma: 40 (+13)]
[Appearance Rating: 17/100 (+10)]
His body actually felt lighter reading those numbers, like the system itself had peeled weight off his shoulders. His reflection in the warped metal mirror across the room didn't look like much had changed, but the stats didn't lie.
Then he opened the store, and his eyebrows shot up.
[STORE]
[WEAPONS]
-Phantom Blade: 5,000 CP (Phases through armor)
-Flame Tongue: 3,500 CP (Burns supernatural creatures)
-Soul Drinker: 8,000 CP (Absorbs enemy life force)
[POTIONS]
-Vigor Draft: 500 CP (Restores stamina completely)
-Clarity Elixir: 800 CP (Immunity to mental effects – 1 hour)
-Berserker's Blood: 1,200 CP (Double combat stats – 10 minutes)
[SCROLLS]
-Mass Heal: 2,000 CP (Heals entire party)
-Teleport Circle: 1,500 CP (Instant travel to known location)
-Divine Shield: 1,000 CP (Immunity to one fatal attack)
[CLOAKS]
-Shadow Walker: 4,000 CP (Perfect stealth)
-Elemental Ward: 3,000 CP (Resistance to magical damage)
[CONSUMABLES]
-Attribute Boost Crystal: 2,500 CP (Permanent +1 to chosen stat)
-Skill Enhancement Stone: 5,000 CP (Upgrade any ability by one level)
The options stretched endlessly, and for a moment Jace just stared, caught between greed and strategy. His fingers twitched like he could already feel the weight of the weapons in his grip.
He forced himself to breathe, think, pick carefully.
Purchases blinked across his log one by one:
-Clarity Elixir x3 (2,400 CP) – nothing was worse than losing yourself to someone else's control.
-Vigor Draft x2 (1,000 CP) – he'd already learned the hard way how quickly exhaustion stacked.
-Divine Shield scroll (1,000 CP) – a safety net for the fatal mistakes he couldn't afford.
-Attribute Boost Crystal x2 (5,000 CP) – Strength and Agility, permanent, unshakable.
[Remaining Balance: 18,715 CP]
The items materialized in his inventory with a soft shimmer. Jace leaned back, exhaling slowly. This… this changes everything. Not just stronger. Not just faster. This was the kind of power that blurred the line between man and god.
A sharp knock rattled the door. His head jerked up.
"Coming," he called, dismissing the interface with a flick.
Downstairs, the smell of warm bread and smoked meat met him before he even reached the common room. His companions were already gathered around a table, plates stacked with food and mugs of steaming ale. The innkeeper bustled back and forth, refusing payment with a determined smile whenever anyone tried. To her, they weren't customers—they were heroes.
Jace eased into a seat, letting the chatter and clatter wash over him. For a brief moment, it felt… normal. Like any other group of travelers stopping to eat before the road called them on.
After the meal, they moved through Riverfall with the militia commander and town head, tying off loose ends—reports, security measures, reassurances. The officials pressed gifts into their hands, simple crafts and preserved food, insisting it was nothing compared to what the party had done.
"Safe travels, champions," the commander said, voice low with gratitude. "Riverfall owes you a debt we can never fully repay."
******
The palace gardens breathed calm. Sunlight filtered through leafy canopies onto flowerbeds arranged with near-obsessive care. Stone benches dotted the winding paths, quiet corners meant for thought or stolen conversation.
Lila sat on her favorite bench beneath a flowering cherry tree, surrounded by scrolls and books. Her silver hair caught the dappled sunlight as she pored over text after text, searching something.
Zara approached quietly, not wanting to disturb the court her concentration but drawn by the peaceful atmosphere and the opportunity to spend time away from her recovery chambers. Days of bedrest had left her restless, and this garden felt like breathing again.
"You're staring," Lila murmured, eyes still fixed on her scroll.
"I should," Zara said easily, lowering herself onto the grass nearby. From that angle she could study Lila's profile, the delicate curve of her jaw softened by sunlight. "You're worth staring at."
Lila glanced up, color touching her cheeks, before diving quickly back into her work.
"I still can't find anything on Lyss," she said, the words edged with frustration. "No pantheon records, no prophecies, nothing. It's as if she doesn't exist."
"That's what's been bothering you?" Zara asked, her tone more fond than concerned.
Setting her quill aside, Lila finally met her gaze. "I want to know what we're dealing with. Gods don't just appear out of nowhere. Not usually."
Zara shifted onto the bench beside her, their shoulders brushing. Her voice softened. "Some things reveal themselves in their own time. Maybe this is one of them."
Lila sighed, leaning back slightly. "You're right. It's just… curiosity. The scholar in me refuses to let go of a mystery."
Zara adjusted, trying to face her better. The movement tugged her injured arm, a sharp sting flashing through her side. She winced before she could stop it.
Lila's eyes snapped to her instantly. "Be careful!" Her hands were already fussing at the bandages, checking for signs of strain. "Do you want to undo all the progress you've made?"
"It's fine," Zara chuckled, enjoying the way concern made Lila's voice quicken.
"It's not funny!" Lila protested, eyes wide as she probed the splint with exacting care.
"It is funny," Zara insisted, laughing now. "The way you're looking at me, anyone would think I've been mortally wounded."
"Stop laughing," Lila said, but her own lips betrayed her with a twitch.
"You're adorable when you're worried." Zara reached across with her good hand, fingertips brushing Lila's cheek. "I promise, I'll be careful."
Lila huffed, still scanning her arm with suspicion. "See that you are. Because if I have to reset this bone, it will be twice as painful."
They settled together on the bench, fingers brushing, the air thick with things neither spoke aloud. Zara's guilt over the forest lingered, Lila's questions about Lyss pressed at the edges, but for now—here—they allowed the silence to stretch between them, warm and unbroken.