As soon as he uttered those words, the old wooden doors creaked open.
Inside the chamber, glowing orbs of all colors flooded Gabriel's vision, their light nearly blinding him. The pressure of each orb seemed to intensify as he walked deeper into the room.
Gabriel knew that these orbs were treasures that anyone would covet. He had to resist the temptation to take them all.
He remembered the dragon's words: to take only what his body could handle.
Gabriel began by sorting out the orbs, dismissing abilities, potions, skills, and weapons above S rank, as they consumed too much mana and were thus useless to him.
Without realizing it, he spent hours sorting through the orbs that were of no use to him.
Before him lay a pedestal, upon which several glowing orbs rested, each pulsating with a different aura. Each orb represented a weapon of immense power, and Gabriel's task was to choose the one that resonated with him the most.
He approached the pedestal, his gaze shifting from one orb to the next. The first orb glowed a fiery red, representing a sword imbued with the power of flames.
The next shimmered with a cool blue light, containing the essence of a water staff. A third orb crackled with electricity, housing the spirit of a thunderous hammer.
As Gabriel continued to examine each orb, his eyes were drawn to one at the edge of the pedestal.
Unlike the others, this orb emitted a soft, multicolored glow, shifting between shades of green, white, blue, and red. He reached out and touched it, and the orb responded with a warm, pulsing energy.
In his mind's eye, he saw the image of a bow and arrow, crafted from pure mana. The bow was sleek and elegant, and the arrow glowed with shifting elemental power.
Gabriel could sense the versatility of the weapon—it could transform into fire, wind, lightning, or ice with just a thought.
This was Gale's Arcane Bow, a weapon of boundless potential and adaptability. Gabriel felt a connection to it, as if the bow was calling out to him.
He knew that with this weapon, he could master the elements and become a force to be reckoned with.
With a determined nod, Gabriel made his choice. He lifted the orb from the pedestal, and the chamber seemed to brighten with his decision.
The other orbs faded into the background as the chosen one continued to glow in his hand.
Suddenly, the orb cracked, and the mana pulsating from it seeped through the cracks, dancing around Gabriel's hand and onto his body. The mana transformed into a ring on his left hand.
As Gabriel continued his examination, his eyes were drawn to a pair of orbs that radiated an intense, almost menacing energy.
These orbs pulsed in unison, their light flickering like flames. He reached out and touched one of the orbs, and a vision filled his mind.
He saw two sleek, elegant swords, their blades so sharp they seemed to cut through the very air. The swords were forged from an unknown material, giving them an otherworldly gleam.
As they moved, they left a trail of scorching heat, burning with an intensity that Gabriel could feel even through the vision.
These were no ordinary blades. The double swords were imbued with the power to inflict a burning sensation upon anything they sliced, leaving a trail of searing pain and destruction in their wake.
The swords' edges shimmered with a fiery aura, hinting at their devastating potential.
Gabriel picked this orb, not absorbing the mana into his body, instead placing it in his inventory.
A dim light caught his attention. The orb was very cracked and dim, unlike the other orbs that radiated a beautiful glow. This one seemed as if its magical force was running out.
Gabriel was not planning on taking anything else, but his curiosity got the better of him as he walked to the orb.
He placed his hand on the orb, expecting to see something, but nothing happened. Gabriel tried coating the orb with some of his mana, but it proved to be a grave mistake as the orb cracked even more.
The orb started seeping out blood. Gabriel tried to throw it away, but it was too late as he felt bloodlust directed towards him.
'Crack!' The orb exploded in Gabriel's hand, and it seemed to suck the energy from him as he felt nauseous and dizzy.
Gabriel's limp body fell to the ground as his vision became blurry. The last thing he saw was the orb fusing itself onto his body.
A figure stepped out from the shadows, appearing as if he had always been there, watching and waiting.
The figure wore a cloak as dark as night, blending seamlessly with the shadows that surrounded him. His eyes glowed with an eerie intensity, and a cold, calculating smile crept across his lips.
"Foolish boy," the figure muttered, his voice a chilling whisper that seemed to pierce the very air. "You have no idea what you've just unleashed."
He knelt beside Gabriel's unconscious form, his fingers brushing lightly against the blood-soaked ground.
The figure seemed to draw power from the chaos, his presence growing more menacing with each passing moment.
The orb continued to fuse with Gabriel's body, its power pulsing in a rhythm that seemed to resonate with the figure's quiet observation.
With a final, lingering glance at Gabriel, the figure stood and melted back into the shadows, leaving no trace of his presence.
Gabriel lay motionless on the ground, the orb's power coursing through him as he teetered on the brink of consciousness.