Golden light slowly faded from the treasure chamber.
The glow inside the chest dimmed.
Silence followed.
Heavy.
Satisfied.
Victorious.
---
Kael leaned closer to the chest again.
"…So much loot…"
His eyes sparkled with excitement.
"…We're rich."
---
Soren smirked.
"…Not rich."
"…Stronger."
---
Elric remained calm.
"…Resource allocation required."
---
Rynelle Aeris stared quietly at the contents.
Skill books.
Potions.
Herbs.
Pills.
And one very strange object—
A massive egg.
Nearly six meters tall.
Covered in faint fiery patterns.
---
Kael scratched his head.
"…First things first…"
"…We can't carry all this by hand."
---
Rynelle nodded calmly.
He reached forward.
His storage ring glowed faintly.
---
With a single thought—
The treasure chest lifted slowly into the air.
Mana threads wrapped around it.
Then—
WHOOSH.
The entire treasure chest vanished.
Stored safely inside his storage ring.
---
Kael blinked.
"…Still not used to that…"
---
Soren chuckled lightly.
"…Very convenient though."
---
Elric stepped forward.
"…Before departure—"
"…Recovery required."
---
Rynelle nodded.
He reached into the storage ring again.
Light flickered.
Then—
Eight bottles appeared in the air.
Four glowing blue.
Four glowing green.
---
Mana Recovery Potions.
Stamina Recovery Potions.
---
Each bottle floated gently into their hands.
Two per person.
---
Kael uncorked his bottle immediately.
"…Cheers to survival."
He drank it in one gulp.
---
Blue light flowed into his body.
His fatigue visibly reduced.
Muscles relaxed slightly.
---
Soren followed.
"…Needed that."
---
Elric drank calmly.
"…Recovery successful."
---
Rynelle drank his slowly.
Feeling warm energy spread through his body.
Muscles relaxed.
Mana stabilized.
Fatigue eased.
---
After a few moments—
They were ready again.
Not fully recovered.
But functional.
Capable.
---
Kael stretched loudly.
"…Alright…"
"…Let's head back."
---
Soren nodded.
"…Before something worse appears."
---
Rynelle turned toward the exit.
"…Move."
---
They walked toward the glowing exit path.
Step by step.
Slow.
Careful.
Silent.
---
Then—
They crossed the threshold.
---
Light flashed.
Reality shifted.
Space twisted.
---
And suddenly—
They stood outside.
Back in the Outer Plains.
---
The sky above had changed.
Dark orange light stretched across the horizon.
The sun had already begun setting.
Shadows grew long.
Cold air returned.
---
Kael looked upward.
"…Evening already…"
---
Soren frowned.
"…We stayed inside longer than expected."
---
Elric spoke calmly.
"…Return to shelter immediately."
---
Rynelle nodded.
"…Agreed."
---
They began moving toward their temporary shelter.
Walking quickly.
Avoiding unnecessary noise.
Watching every direction.
---
The plains were quiet.
Too quiet.
But fortunately—
No beasts appeared.
---
After nearly an hour of walking—
The ruined house came into view.
Their shelter.
Their safe zone.
Their temporary base.
---
Kael exhaled loudly.
"…Never thought I'd be happy to see broken walls…"
---
Soren smiled faintly.
"…Same."
---
They entered carefully.
Checking surroundings.
Scanning corners.
Confirming safety.
---
Clear.
Safe.
Secure.
---
Kael dropped onto the bedding.
"…Finally…"
---
But Elric remained standing.
"…Reward evaluation required."
---
Rynelle nodded.
"…Yes."
---
He stepped forward.
Raised his hand.
The storage ring glowed once more.
---
WHOOSH.
The treasure chest appeared again.
Landing gently in the center of the room.
---
Kael sat upright instantly.
"…Now THIS is the part I've been waiting for."
---
Soren leaned closer.
"…Let's see everything properly."
---
Rynelle knelt before the chest.
Placed his hand on the lid.
Then—
Opened it slowly.
---
Golden light shimmered faintly again.
Inside—
Skill books rested neatly.
Organized.
Waiting.
---
Elric stepped forward.
"…Skill review begins."
---
They began removing the books.
One by one.
Carefully.
Respectfully.
---
The first book—
Crafting.
A foundational skill.
Used to create tools.
Weapons.
Equipment.
Structures.
---
Kael whistled softly.
"…That's useful."
---
Second book—
Alchemy.
Potion crafting.
Herb refinement.
Medicine creation.
Energy extraction.
---
Elric's eyes sharpened instantly.
"…Optimal selection."
---
Third—
Runemaster.
Advanced rune creation.
Rune engraving.
Rune activation.
Rune traps.
---
Soren smiled.
"…That one screams danger."
---
Fourth—
Cooking.
Food enhancement.
Nutritional efficiency.
Temporary buffs through meals.
---
Kael laughed.
"…Never thought cooking could save lives."
---
Fifth—
Healing Field.
Area-based recovery.
Regeneration support.
Team survival enhancement.
---
Elric nodded slowly.
"…Critical support skill."
---
Sixth—
Explosive Rune.
High-damage trap creation.
Burst-type destruction.
Area denial.
---
Soren grinned.
"…Oh I like that one."
---
Seventh—
Shadow Step.
Instant movement skill.
Short-range shadow displacement.
Stealth enhancement.
---
Kael leaned closer.
"…Fast movement…"
"…Very tempting…"
---
Eighth—
Fiery Rose Punch.
A combat technique.
Explosive fire-based strike.
Powerful close-range attack.
---
Kael's grin widened.
"…That's mine."
---
Then—
They reached the final item.
The largest.
The strangest.
---
Fox Egg.
Six meters tall.
Covered in glowing patterns.
Warm to the touch.
Alive.
Breathing faintly.
---
A notification appeared instantly.
---
[Ding… Fox Egg Detected]
[Soul Companion Type]
[Requirement: Place Blood on Egg Surface]
[Upon Bonding — Companion Becomes Permanently Linked]
---
Silence filled the room.
Heavy.
Shocked.
Amazed.
---
Kael whispered slowly.
"…A soul companion…"
---
Soren stared in disbelief.
"…That's rare…"
---
Elric spoke calmly.
"…Extremely valuable."
---
All eyes turned toward Rynelle.
---
He remained quiet.
Watching the egg carefully.
Feeling its faint pulse.
Its warmth.
Its life.
---
Then—
They began dividing the skills.
Carefully.
Strategically.
Based on strengths.
---
Rynelle spoke calmly.
"…I will take Crafting."
He picked up the book.
"…Cooking."
He placed it beside the first.
Then—
He rested his hand gently on the Fox Egg.
"…And the Fox Egg."
---
Kael grinned.
"…Of course you take the giant pet."
---
Elric stepped forward next.
"…Alchemy."
He picked it up calmly.
"…Healing Field."
---
Soren moved immediately.
"…Runemaster."
He grabbed it without hesitation.
"…Explosive Rune."
---
Kael leaned forward eagerly.
"…That leaves the best ones for me."
He grabbed the final two books.
"…Shadow Step."
"…And Fiery Rose Punch."
---
All selections made.
All roles assigned.
All paths chosen.
---
Silence followed briefly.
---
Kael smirked.
"…Looks like we're getting stronger again."
---
Soren nodded slowly.
"…Much stronger."
---
Elric closed his book carefully.
"…Skill acquisition imminent."
---
Rynelle rested his hand against the Fox Egg once more.
Feeling its faint pulse.
Its warmth.
Its promise.
---
Soon—
Very soon—
He would create a bond.
A companion.
A partner.
A soul-linked beast.
---
And that—
Would change everything.