"As a token of my loyalty," Eve said, her voice cutting through his thoughts, "I offer you this." A strange, glowing stone appeared in her hands, hovering for a moment before dimming and becoming a cracked fragment.
Rain stared at the object in her hands. "What is it?"
"It's a fragment of the Philosopher's Stone," Eve explained. "The rest of it is scattered across the mainland. If you can find the other pieces, you may be able to restore it."
|| Philosophers Stone (Fragment) ||
A small, cracked piece of the legendary Philosopher's Stone, still humming with immense, albeit diminished, power.
Even in its broken state, the fragment retains the ability to transmute metals, ores, and stones, refining them into their next, purer form.
However, its strength is limited—capable of refining only up to 100 items per day before its energy wanes.
The fragment glows faintly with a mixture of deep crimson and gold, a reminder of its former grandeur. Should the other pieces be found and restored, its true, world-altering potential may be unlocked.
|| E N D ||
Rain gazed down at the fractured stone in his hand, feeling its unusual weight and energy pulsing within. It was just a fragment, but the sheer power it held was unmistakable.
"A piece of something this powerful . . . it could change everything," he whispered to himself.
"I'll find the rest of it," Rain promised, his eyes full of determination.
Eve's smile deepened, a hint of mystery flickering in her gaze. "I have no doubt that you will."
Rain glanced back at the stone, uncertainty creeping in. "But this . . . this is something truly powerful, right? Are you sure you want to just hand it over to me like this?"
He may not have known the full potential of the fragment, but Rain could sense its immense value. If this stone could refine materials to the next tier, its worth was immeasurable.
However, the rarity of these skills made their wielders even more sought after. Most inhabitants of this world—those not bound by the same player system Rain operated under—could spend years, even decades, perfecting their trade and still remain at the beginner or intermediate levels.
It was a slow, arduous process, requiring painstaking precision and an immense amount of time. Blacksmiths, alchemists, and crafters among the original inhabitants worked with care, but their progress toward mastering higher tiers of their craft was limited by the world's natural laws and the lack of a player's advantages.
Rain's empire already employed several forgers and alchemists, but they were original inhabitants, bound by these limitations. They could produce items, but only at the most basic levels. Their creations were practical, but far from the legendary artifacts Rain envisioned for his empire's future.
Elevating their skills to the next tier would require immense effort, dedication, and resources—resources Rain couldn't afford to waste.
But Rain was different. As a player, he had an unparalleled advantage. If he could acquire these life skills himself, the progression would be rapid, unlike the slow grind that plagued the native inhabitants.
His player system allowed him to level up these skills faster, unlocking advanced techniques and legendary crafting recipes in a fraction of the time it would take for someone born into this world.
Rain knew the power this held. If he became a master forger, crafter, and alchemist, he could instantly elevate his empire's standing.
With his newfound ability to craft epic and legendary gear, Rain could forge the weapons and armor his army needed to dominate, create powerful elixirs to fortify his troops, and design enchanted items that would make his empire a force to be reckoned with.
The possibilities were endless, and Rain was ready to unlock them all.
"Uhm. . . can I ask you something?" Rain asked her.
"What is it?"
"You clearly have the power to conquer not just the wasteland, but the mainland as well," Rain said, his voice edged with curiosity. "You possess these incredibly powerful beasts—no, powerful entities—and the items you hold are beyond anything I've seen."
Eve only smiled, a mysterious glint in her eyes. "You really want to know the honest answer?"
Rain nodded, the question gnawing at him for far too long. Why? Why hadn't she already taken everything? Could it be that she just genuinely wanted peace?
Eve's lips curled into a mischievous smile, her head tilting ever so slightly. "The answer is simple, really," she said, her voice sweet but laced with a hint of something darker. "I don't want the heavy burden that comes with ruling such empires."