Aryan stood over the massive, lifeless body of the Bloodfang Alpha. Just an hour ago, he was a pathetic F-Rank Porter, left to die in the dirt. Now, at Level 10, he possessed strength that rivaled elite Awakened hunters.
The blue holographic screen flickered happily in front of him.
[System Quest Completed!]
[Distributing Rewards...]
[Received: 1x Platinum Treasure Chest]
[Received: 1x Hidden Skill Book - 'Eye of the Sovereign']
Aryan's breathing hitched. A Platinum Treasure Chest? In the outside world, major guilds would start absolute wars and slaughter thousands just to get their hands on a Gold Chest. A Platinum one was considered a myth, an item that only S-Rank heroes ever saw.
"Open it," Aryan commanded, his voice steady but his heart pounding.
A blinding golden light filled the dark cavern as the holographic chest popped open.
[Ding! Platinum Treasure Chest opened successfully.]
[Item Acquired: Sovereign's Spatial Ring (Growth-Type) - Grants infinite storage space and completely conceals the Host's level and stats from probing skills.]
[Item Acquired: 1,000,000 Universal Gold Coins.]
Aryan almost choked on his own saliva. One million gold coins?! As a porter, he risked his life carrying heavy bags for a measly 100 silver coins a day. He was instantly richer than most nobles in the Awakened City.
He slipped the sleek, obsidian ring onto his finger. It automatically adjusted to fit perfectly. With a mere thought, the massive corpse of the Bloodfang Alpha vanished, stored safely inside the ring's infinite space. Monster cores and boss bodies sold for a fortune.
Next, he picked up the glowing purple skill book.
"Learn," he muttered. The book dissolved into particles of light and shot directly into his eyes. A sharp, cooling sensation washed over his vision.
[Hidden Skill Learned: Eye of the Sovereign (Level 1).]
[Effect: Allows the Host to instantly see the exact stats, hidden weaknesses, and malicious intent of any target.]
Aryan blinked. When he opened his eyes, the world looked completely different. He could see the faint flow of mana in the air, the weak points in the cavern walls, and feel the terrifying power now coursing through his own veins.
He turned around and looked towards the glowing blue portal at the far end of the cave—the exit.
Kael and the rest of the Silver Fang squad had left him here as bait. They were probably back at the city right now, drinking at a tavern, laughing about the 'useless F-Rank' they sacrificed.
Aryan walked towards the exit, his E-Rank dagger spinning effortlessly in his hand. The naive, weak boy who entered this dungeon was dead. The one walking out was something else entirely.
"Time to collect my debts," Aryan whispered, stepping into the blue light.