Damion couldn't believe his own words.A Legendary Artifact collecting dust in a cave like this?
Legendary artifacts were so rare that even most of the nobility never saw one in their entire lifetime. Wars had been fought over a single legendary artifact. Each one was capable of shifting the power structure of the world.And one was just sitting here — right below his family manor — without anyone knowing?
As Damion realized what it was, he stood up and began walking toward it, his right hand reaching out. His heart was full of greed.Sure, there were risks involved in claiming a legendary item, but most of the time, if the artifact wasn't compatible, it simply rejected the owner without causing any harm.
But this particular one was something unique, at least for him.He was sure of it — his aura started acting strangely as he approached.
The moment he grabbed the ball with his right hand, it almost felt like it stuck to him. Then suddenly, something from the ball entered his body.He couldn't see it — but he could feel it.And a moment later, he felt an extreme cold sensation spreading inside him.
He fell, face tasting the dirt on the ground, while the ball still clung to his hand.Then the ball began liquefying, entering his body.He tried to move, but he couldn't move a muscle.
After what felt like minutes — muscles twisting, organs shifting — he finally regained composure.He crawled back and leaned against the wall, sweat pouring down his body.
Catching his breath, he focused his aura and began meditating.He noticed that his organs were now in slightly different positions.
Still confused, he focused deeper.And there it was.
"What...?"A new organ, near his heart — almost at the center of his chest. Its shape was almost the same as the artifact... but it was alive.What was even weirder was that the veins stretching from the organ across his body were working perfectly.
"I guess they don't call it legendary for nothing."
After a few more moments, he stood and began channeling aura through his body, trying to understand his new powers.And then he realized—
"Wait... what??"
He had jumped a whole rank — from {rank} to {rank}.
He was both excited and confused.Climbing a rank could take a year, sometimes even a decade.
He knew legendary artifacts were powerful — but this was something else.With this power, he might finally be able to stand on par with the two greatest geniuses in the world.A smile formed on his face.
They were his age — yet always felt like nature's favorites.He'd lost a duel to one of them years ago in less than a second. As punishment, he was forced to cut ties with his childhood friend — a bet's condition.
He'd also lost his right to compete as the official heir of his family.At that time, it felt like all his training had been useless.
Since then, he'd carried the humiliation, always wishing for revenge — knowing he couldn't do anything.But now, maybe he had a chance.
As happy as he was, he reminded himself — he was still not safe.
He focused on the new organ and channeled his aura into it.His aura felt... different. Changed. But he didn't yet understand how.
He didn't have any time or resources to create a new monster to test it, so he simply summoned his ant monster and infused it with his modified aura.
He could feel something changing...but after a while, he realized there wasn't much difference.Maybe he was still too weak — or just didn't know how to use it yet.
Realizing he'd achieved his goal, he decided to leave.He tore parts of his clothing into a makeshift rope, then returned to the cave entrance to gather food. Using a unique knot, he tied as much food and water as he could around his waist and began heading back.
His freedom was finally near.
Meanwhile, hundreds of miles to the northeast...
A man in shining armor stood atop a mountain.He had a masculine build and radiated a strange, charismatic — yet fearful — aura.
An enormous forest with rolling hills stretched before him.
Suddenly, a man wrapped entirely in black appeared beside him — only his eyes exposed.He kneeled and spoke in a voice devoid of emotion:
"My lord, the mages are retreating. We've secured the area for now."
The armored man didn't even look at him. His gaze remained fixed to the north.
"What about reinforcements from the other mage families?"
The kneeling man replied, head bowed:
"They'll be here in about three days."
For a moment, there was a subtle shift in the man's posture.His eyes narrowed. He spoke in a low, chilling voice:
"Someone has found it."
Rage bloomed across his face.
He turned fully to the man in black and growled:
"Tell the vice commander to take over. I'm heading back to the family manor."