For three days, treasures had flowed through the preserved region.
The effect was impossible to hide.
People compared rewards in restaurants.
Factions inspected new equipment inside temporary training grounds.
Researchers surrounded recipients willing to let them examine unusual artifacts.
Some winners guarded their prizes like dragons.
Several actual dragons found that comparison insulting.
The atmosphere had changed completely from the tense opening weeks of the competition.
Most people believed the Grand Intercontinental Competition was effectively over.
The announced trials had concluded.
The rankings were settled.
The rewards had been distributed.
Only one mystery remained.
The highest reward had never been shown.
That fact had survived every stage of the competition.
Lootwell had revealed the Sovereign Soul Anchor.
The Life Link Talisman.
The Second Origin Vessel.
The Concordance Crown.
The Everlasting Meridian Pearl.
The Adaptive Bastion Mantle.
