Chapter 43: The Fool's Conclusion
As the Soul-Eater Malakor hit the ground in a submissive kneel, a deafening silence filled the throne room. Ryker stood with Heaven's Edge raised, his Diamond aura burning bright. The Boss looked up, caught Damon's cold, abyssal gaze for a fraction of a second, and instantly recoiled. The monster began frantically clawing at its own chest, tearing out its Essence Heart and sliding it across the floor toward the back of the room—directly to Damon's feet.
"Look at that!" Kargan shouted, his voice cracking with relief. "Ryker's Diamond aura is so overwhelming the Boss didn't even dare to fight! It's trying to bribe the strongest player by giving its loot to the weakest one so Ryker won't kill it!"
Ryker lowered his blade, his chest swelling with a pride he hadn't truly earned. "It seems my ascension to Diamond has changed the 'Logic' of these S-Rank dungeons," he muttered, convinced by the lie. He looked at Damon and the glowing, purple heart at his feet. "You, Epsilon. Pick it up. You 'earned' it for being the bait."
The other players smirked. They knew that the Heart of Malakor carried a 'Soul-Withering Curse' that would kill any player below Gold rank within minutes. They were giving it to him as a death sentence masked as a reward. Damon picked up the heart. The curse, a black miasma of death, tried to enter his palm but was instantly devoured by the [Void Heart]. To the shock of the group, Damon didn't collapse. He simply tucked it into his pocket.
"Moving on," Damon said tonelessly.
As they walked, Damon activated [Potential Appraisal]. He glanced at Toby, the Bronze carrier. To his surprise, Toby's soul didn't glow with raw power, but with a complex, geometric light. Role: Sovereign's Strategist (Unawakened), the system whispered. Toby wasn't a fighter; he was a genius who could see the "Logic" of reality. Damon made a mental note: This one is worth keeping.
To be continueed...