A profound silence descended. Broken only by the soft, ragged breaths from Spark and his women.
Spark's draconic werelion form slowly shifted back to his human form. Horns. Fur. Scales. Mane. Size... All seemed to retract back inside his body. He was human again.
His black hair was slightly disheveled. His tanned complexion flushed. But a faint smile played on his lips. His dark-grey eyes, still holding a hint of the werelion's wildness, swept over his women.
Lilith, Ivy, Melody, Serenade, and Scarlett stood in their positions. Vigilant until the very end. As the Centaur Knight fell, their stances relaxed. The tension dissipated from their bodies.
They looked to Spark. He could feel their loyalty and devotion radiating from them.
"Well, that was a proper challenge." Spark murmured. Wiping a smudge of ichor from his cheek.
He looked at the massive, static carcass of the Centaur Knight. A flicker of professional respect flashed in his eyes. "Tier-4 indeed. Good work, everyone."
Lilith was the first to speak. Her voice soft but clear. "Thank you, Master."
Spark chuckled. A low, rumbling sound. He walked over to the Centaur Knight's corpse.
"Alright. First things first." Spark commented. He wasn't one for prolonged victory celebrations. There was always profit to be made. Information to be gleaned.
He knelt beside the fallen Centaur. Taking and equipping his [Appraisal Goggles].
His large hands were already probing the monster's hide. The arcane energy that had pulsed within its body was rapidly fading. Leaving behind only inert, but valuable, components.
"Interesting." He murmured as his [Appraisal Goggles] showed the valuable loots from the monster.
He had anticipated useful magical beast parts. But these were exceptional. With a practiced motion, he began to meticulously extract the materials.
From its shattered armor, he carefully retrieved gleaming shards of metal. These weren't mere iron. They were plates of Valiant Steel. Not the hardest nor the strongest metal. But this was prime material for runecraft and alchemy.
Its main function was in its melting state. For encryption coating. Forbidding others to see the real forms of the runes or alchemical compound.
Next, his attention shifted to the creature's powerful, now inert, hooves. With a swift, precise cut, Spark separated valuable parts from them. The Lucky Horseshoes.
Well, they were not actual horseshoes. But the very essence of the creature's regeneration and resilience. Condensed into polished, crescent-shaped glowing stones.
A grin touched Spark's lips. These were perfect for creating alchemical product or potion with low success rate. As it significantly improved that success rate.
He carefully placed the Valiant Steel shards and the Lucky Horseshoes into a dedicated compartment within his spatial belt. Great loots.
However, the crystal chest in the center of the chamber was their real prize. He strode towards it. He ran a hand over the smooth, cool surface.
"Lilith!" Spark called.
"It's trapped and locked, Master." Lilith, who had observed the crystal chest immediately responded. "It is a puzzle trap. I can try to disarm the trap, but…"
Spark cut her off. "Don't bother. I'll handle it." He had seen the puzzle on the chest. It was somehow familiar.
He crouched down. Examining the intricate patterns etched into the chest's surface. It was indeed a puzzle trap. A series of shifting images that needed to be correctly aligned.
And it used a type of puzzle trick. He recognized the principle immediately. Something right out of a YouTube video from his previous life.
"Image matching." He muttered. More to himself than to the others. He spent a few minutes studying the patterns. His dark-grey eyes narrowed in concentration.
Then, with a series of quick, decisive movement, he manipulated the images. A couple of clicks. And the trap disengaged.
"Lock's next." He said. He stood up and stepped back. "Scarlett, your turn."
Scarlett grinned enthusiastically and skipped forward. Her dark-red hair swayed in lively movement. A vibrant contrast to the dim light of the chamber.
She pulled out a small, intricate device from her belt. The Archthief Key. Her special technomind tool. She fiddled with the key and the lock. The key's tiny mechanisms were whirring and ticking. Within seconds, a soft click echoed through the chamber.
"Done." She announced vibrantly. Returning her tool to the technomind space.
Spark nodded. Rather impressed. He was lucky being able to snatch and enslave her.
He grasped the chest's lid and heaved it open.
Inside, the glint of gold and the sparkle of gemstones filled the chest. A mountain of ancient gold coins, glittering jewels of every color, and exquisitely crafted artwork lay before them.
Spark took it all in. He casually activated his spatial belt. The treasure disappearing into its depths. His expression was unchanged. The mundane wealth was good to have. But he preferred practical, immediately-functional items.
He looked back into the chest. Beneath the pile of normal riches, four objects stood out. A pair of cute cloth dolls with an unsettling aura, a pulsating orb, and a vial filled with shimmering liquid.
He picked up the first doll. It was a cute, little girl doll. With golden button eyes. Wearing wide, pointed witch hat. Spark activated his [Appraisal Goggles].
[Object: Witch Doll of Fortune]
[Type: Runic Doll (Miscellaneous Tool)]
[Quality: Epic]
[Characteristics: Self-Restoration]
[Characteristics: Fortune Detection]
[Characteristics: Anti Divination]
"Epic quality? Witch Doll of Fortune..." He remembered he had read about it somewhere... Wait! It was in his Rune Encyclopedia.
He remembered the descriptive instruction. "Activate with energy injection. It will point to the luckiest direction. It will glow golden. The brighter the glow, the greater the fortune."
If that was the Witch Doll of Fortune, then the other one...
He examined the second doll. It was almost identical with the first one. Except for its red button eyes.
[Object: Witch Doll of Misfortune]
[Type: Runic Doll (Miscellaneous Tool)]
[Quality: Epic]
[Characteristics: Self-Restoration]
[Characteristics: Misfortune Detection]
[Characteristics: Anti Divination]
"Witch Doll of Misfortune. It points to the most dangerous direction. It will glow red. The brighter the glow, the greater the misfortune." He placed it next to the first. Interesting artifacts.
He turned his attention to the orb. It pulsed with a soft, inner light.
[Object: Orb of Fortune]
[Type: Talent Orb]
[Quality: Unique]
[Characteristics: One-Time Use]
[Characteristics: Talent Bestowal - Child of Fortune]
"Child of Fortune?" Spark widened his eyes as he read. He weighed it in his hand. Should he use it? Perhaps. But not here. Not now.
Finally, he picked up the vial. The liquid inside swirled with an ethereal light.
[Object: Nephilim Potion]
[Type: Potion]
[Quality: Legendary]
[Characteristics: One-Time Use]
[Characteristics: Permanent Boost - Physique]
[Characteristics: Permanent Boost - Mind]
[Characteristics: Permanent Boost - Soul]
Nephilim Potion? Legendary Quality? Spark's eyes narrowed. This was the real prize. A potion that could fundamentally enhance his very being.
"Let's go!" He instructed his women. Grinning widely. "Back to the campsite. We need a celebration."
The journey back was uneventful. They moved with practiced speed. And the campsite was not that far. The Labyrinth of Fortune might be dangerous for other adventurers. But for Spark and his loyal women, it was like a vacation site.
They reached their campsite just a few minutes afterward. It was a vast hall. Yet, it was hidden amongst the labyrinthine corridors. The luxurious tent and the excessive defense array still stood strong.
Spark surveyed the scene with satisfied look. His gaze was sweeping over his team. They were tired. But their eyes were bright with the thrill of victory.
"Lilith! Check the defense array!" he ordered. "Ivy! Scarlett! Prepare warm bath! Serenade! Melody! Prepare a feast!"
As Lilith, Ivy, Melody, Serenade, and Scarlett busied themselves with their tasks, Spark retreated to his tent. He needed to assess their gains. Plan their next move. And decide what to do with the Nephilim Potion.
Inside his tent, Spark focused on the Talent Orb and the Nephilim Potion.
The Talent Orb: Child of Fortune. He considered it carefully. Luck was a fickle thing. But a talent that enhanced it could be a game-changer.
He could give it to one of his subordinates. But the potential benefits were too great to risk on someone else. He needed it for himself.
He took the orb in hand. Closed his eyes. And infused it with his energy. He felt a surge of power flow through him. And then... nothing.
He opened his eyes. The orb in his hand had lost its luster. The Talent Orb was now empty. He did not notice any specific changes within himself. He might need to check his Ego Appraisal Grimoire later.
The Nephilim Potion was his next concern. He uncorked the vial. The ethereal scent filling the tent. It smelled like orange, lavender, and blood mixed into one. It emitted the sense of raw power and untapped potential.
Caution still warred with desire. There was always a risk. A chance of unforeseen consequences. But the potential reward was too great to ignore. He could not back down now.
He raised the vial to his lips and drank.
The liquid burned as it went down his throat. A searing fire that spread through his veins. He gasped. Clutching his chest as his body convulsed.
Waves of energy coursed through him. Tearing him apart and rebuilding him anew. His senses were overloaded. His mind was reeling.
He saw visions. Fleeting glimpses of power and potential. Of a future stretching out before him. Filled with both triumph and tribulation.
He saw enemies falling before him. His allies were standing strong at his side. He saw himself ascending to heights he had only dreamed of. He saw himself dying. Bloody and battered. Amidst blazing flames and grey smoke.
The pain intensified. Reaching a crescendo that threatened to shatter his very being. He wanted to scream. But then, slowly, the pain began to subside. The visions faded. The energy subsided.
He stood there. Gasping for breath. His body was trembling. He felt... different.