The profound silence of Aelion's formless state was shattered by a raw, utterly undignified shout.
The man on the throne, whose composure had seemed as eternal as the stars, lost it completely.
"Why the fuck did you do that?!" he bellowed, his lofty voice cracking with a mixture of shock, disbelief, and something akin to panic.
Aelion, his consciousness coalescing back into a defined form, looked at the distraught figure and merely raised a single, questioning eyebrow.
The man's outburst was as inexplicable as it was sudden. Ignoring the spectacle, Aelion turned his attention back to the reason for his being here.
He waved his hand, and his fingers closed around the pulsing Seed. It was cool to the touch, a stark contrast to the flames that had heralded its presence.
The moment his skin made contact, the Seed reacted. Delicate, vine-like tendrils of pure white light erupted from its core, snaking up his arm with impossible speed.
They were not invasive, but integrative, weaving directly into his virtual nervous system.
A surge of the same purifying flame, now calm and focused, flowed through these channels, a river of power mapping itself onto his very being.
The process was so absolute, so fundamental, that it forcefully ejected him from the [Martial Form: Formless] state, re-anchoring his spirit into a new, solidified form.
In moments, the Seed had completely merged with him, its light fading from the hall and now glowing faintly from within his own chest.
The man on the throne was stunned into a statuesque silence. Then, a sound broke free—a peal of hysterical, unhinged laughter that echoed through the vast chamber.
He threw his head back, looking up at the vaulted ceiling as if he could see through it to the heavens beyond. A corona of golden light, thick like blood and brimming with power, exploded from him.
"DID YOU SEE THIS, FATHER?!" he roared at the sky, his voice a tempest of long-suppressed emotion.
His gaze then fell upon Aelion, and his expression shifted to something complex and unreadable—a mixture of awe, resentment, and a weary, newfound respect.
He took a steadying breath, the golden aura receding back into his form. "My name is Samuel," he stated, his voice now calm, yet carrying an immense weight. "You may consider me your closest comrade."
Aelion's eyes narrowed.
The shift was too abrupt, too significant. He didn't understand the reason for it, but the answer was clearly tied to the Seed now residing within him.
He pushed the larger implications aside for a more immediate concern. "Is the trial complete?" he asked, his voice flat.
Samuel regained his regal calm, settling back onto his throne with a sigh that seemed to carry the weight of eons. "It is."
As he spoke, a chime resonated, not just in the throne room, but across the entire game world.
A series of announcements split the digital skies, their text visible to every single player logged into "Myth of Dungeons."
[World Wide Announcement: The tutorial-'Myth of Dungeons' has been cleared by player Aetherius]
[World Wide Announcement: Points have been awarded to each player based on their Achievements and the Floor they have reached]
[World Wide Announcement: In 6 months, The true Field 'Euloria', Shall be opened. A Talents section will be added to all status screens in Euloria]
A tutorial? Aelion closed his eyes, a wave of exhaustion and revelation washing over him.
Five years of brutal, soul-testing struggle, and it was merely a tutorial? Before he could fully process this, a personal screen materialized before him.
[Calculating Rewards...]
A list scrolled into view, detailing the fruits of his unimaginable labor:
[First clear of 1st floor]
[Reward: A basic weaponry set (Bound)]
[First clear of 10th floor]
[Reward: A Set of potions and Medicines (Bound)]
[First clear of 50th floor]
[Reward: Random Tempering method (Bound) (Activated Only In Euloria)]
[First clear of 100th floor]
[Reward: Inheritance Crystal (Bound) (Activated In Euloria)]
[100th floor Guardian reward]
[Heart Of True Bloodlines (Bound)]
Aelion scanned the list, and a profound sense of anticlimax settled over him.
This was it? After everything he had endured, after pushing his mind and spirit to their absolute limits, these paltry, vague items were his reward? They felt... unworthy.
Samuel's laughter, now clear and knowing, reached his ears. "Disappointed?" he asked, a smirk playing on his lips.
"Look carefully, Aetherius. Every single one contains the term 'Bound'. This does not mean they are worthless. It means they are intrinsically tied to you. They are not items for this tutorial realm. They are the foundational seeds of your power, waiting to be activated. You will be able to use them—no, you will inherit them—in Euloria."
Aelion's eyes widened as the true meaning dawned on him.
The "basic weaponry set" would likely be package containing all types of weapons.
The "Random Tempering method" would be a unique path to strengthening, Be it soul, Mana or the body, Dependant on his luck.
Whatever the path the technique granted, It was likely a low-level or mid-level one
The "Inheritance Crystal" was a different beast entirely.
It would grant him a random inheritance based on his luck.
"Heart Of True Bloodlines" spoke of legacies and power far beyond the game he had just conquered.
And.. It seemed somehow connected to Samuel.
Though the use of the "Heart Of True Bloodlines"remains uncertain, He was certain of One thing..
That was the fact that he would be able to Work things out with it.
They weren't rewards for the tutorial; they were a head start, a massive and potentially overwhelming boost for the true challenge that lay ahead in Euloria.
The war was not over. It had simply entered a new, far more terrifying phase.