From the perspective of Freya Van Daalen
Freya had promised herself she would never, under any circumstances, praise that smug tank again.
Not under torture.
Not under threat of death.
Not after the proud look he gave when the simplest compliment slipped from her mouth. That silent, self-satisfied expression — as if he'd just been handed a golden crown — was far too irritating.
Unacceptable.
So she had decided: never again.
No more compliments for that man.
Ever.
Unfortunately, her little promise was broken almost immediately.
Because the moment the great door opened before them and the new chamber was revealed, Freya was forced to admit — at least in her mind — the very thought she'd sworn never to have again: that wonderful tank had led them there.
Of course, there were no spoken compliments.
That part of the promise she would keep.
But internally, she had to concede: yes, he was wonderful.
Because the room unfolding before them was every player's dream.
The first thing that struck her was the color.
The spectral green of the torches — the same eerie hue that had cloaked every previous hall — was here too. But instead of casting threatening shadows, it made the gold before them shimmer with a supernatural glow.
And there was gold.
So much gold.
The chamber was vast and square, built from ancient, rugged stone — devoid of noble ornamentation or delicate architecture. It was raw, solid, as if carved from the mountain's heart. But that simplicity only made the treasure scattered across the floor and stacked on stone tables and counters stand out even more.
Piles of coins rose like small hills, spilling chaotically across the edges of the tables like rivers of molten metal.
Plates, goblets, and pitchers of gold lay scattered among them, some adorned with gems that caught the green torchlight and flashed in dazzling sparks.
Tall candelabras held lit candles whose flames flickered softly, as though the heavy air itself couldn't extinguish them. Around them, golden chains and pendants hung from crude hooks, swaying faintly — as if breathing with the room.
The dusty floor glimmered with flecks of gold mixed with smaller debris — tiny gems, fragments of chains, even broken jewels. Each step landed muffled, as though the wealth beneath her feet was deep enough to swallow footprints.
On the far side of the room stood another door, carved from fine wood, identical to the others they had encountered.
Not that Freya was paying it much attention.
After all...
What they were seeing already defied belief.
And yet the overwhelming feeling was that there was even more gold hidden in the shadows, waiting to be discovered.
Freya drew a deep breath, trying to maintain her composure.
It didn't work.
As much as she hated herself for it — as much as she'd sworn never to think it again — she couldn't deny the truth.
Yes.
The smug tank beside her was wonderful.
That same smug tank also seemed somewhat relieved.
After so many horrors, the sight of that room was almost a balm.
He turned to her, voice deep but calm:
— Let's start by taking everything in sight and look for magical items. We'll avoid the unlit areas for now.
Freya agreed without hesitation.
If they divided that ocean of gold — even if her share was just the thirty percent they'd agreed on — she'd become a true magnate within the game. A direct leap from the humble life of a beginner to the top of the wealth rankings.
It was everything she'd ever wanted.
Enough money to stop worrying about anything.
No more basic items, no more cheap gear. With this, she could buy whatever she desired.
And that was exactly what she prepared to do.
An involuntary smile curved her lips as she mentally thanked the developers of the Black Tower.
If it weren't for their decision to implement virtual bank accounts, gold would have to be carried like any other in-game item.
And honestly, that would've been completely impossible.
Neither she nor Aslan could've transported even a fraction of the wealth gleaming before them back to a city.
But thanks to the system's magical mechanism, all she had to do was extend her hand toward the treasure.
In the next instant, coins and bars of gold dissolved into golden dust, absorbed by the invisible interface, while the balance of her account climbed in the corner of her screen.
Each disappearing jingle, each glimmer of dissolving gold, brought the same addictive thrill as collecting coins in the mobile games her kids loved so much.
It was almost childish.
But completely irresistible.
Freya lost herself in it for several minutes.
Her fingers sifted through the gleaming metal as if harvesting ripe fruit, and the satisfaction of watching her fortune grow was nearly intoxicating.
She was already imagining what she would do with it all.
Prettier items. Luxurious equipment. She'd buy every material her little troublemakers ever asked for. Finally, she'd have the freedom to try things she'd only dreamed of before.
She was so immersed in the process that she almost didn't notice Aslan's voice calling her.
Curiously, this time, his tone wasn't stern.
It was actually… pleasant.
— Freya… you're going to want to see this.
She froze for a moment, heart quickening.
Without hesitation, she ran to him as fast as she could, eyes already sparkling with anticipation.
If he was calling her like that, it could only mean one thing —
and it was exactly what she most hoped to find amid that sea of gold:
magical items.
Aslan stood before the side wall of the chamber.
Freya, slightly breathless after running to him, frowned in confusion at first. The floor ahead was bare — completely clean. The gold that had once rested there was gone, dissolved into golden dust and safely transferred into their virtual accounts.
Leaning against the wall, arranged in perfect silence, were five objects.
They didn't shine. They emitted no magical light, no special effects to draw the eye.
But the craftsmanship…
The craftsmanship was unlike anything Freya had ever seen in the Black Tower.
Every detail was perfectly executed — subtle, firm lines and finishes that left no doubt they'd been forged by hands of true mastery. There was no gaudy luxury, no unnecessary ornamentation. Only elegance and precision.
And in that instant, Freya had no doubts.
The lack of shine was irrelevant.
The simplicity was deliberate.
Those five items were exactly what they had come for.
The true treasure — hidden behind layers of undead, macabre halls, and doors marked by the half-moon.
Freya felt her heart race.
For a moment, she even forgot about the piles of gold still scattered across the room.
What lay before her was worth far more than any coin.