After stepping through the door, he found himself surrounded by five massive statues. Massive felt like an understatement—the sheer scale of them made the ground beneath him seem almost fragile. Though he couldn't see it, the statues formed a perfect star, and he was standing at its center.
But it wasn't the statues that captured his attention. It was the five glowing orbs hovering before each figure, radiating light and energy. What could they be? he wondered.
{It seems your struggles are finally about to be rewarded,} Primo's voice echoed in his mind, carrying a hint of amusement.
{Hope your luck is good,} he added with a quiet chuckle.
A smile tugged at Leo's lips as he muttered under his breath, "These rewards must be worth all this…" He paused before continuing, "or else I just might find my way back here when I'm stronger and tear this place down."
Unbeknownst to him, his words caused the five apparitions monitoring him to break out into a cold sweat… if they even could.
Leo stepped forward and approached the first orb, the one positioned directly in front of him. He stretched out his hand, fingers trembling slightly as they neared the glowing surface. The light around it faded the moment he touched it, and a solid, cold object landed in his palm.
He looked down to see a star-shaped crystal resting there, its facets catching the faint light and scattering it like tiny stars.
Curious, Leo asked Primo, {Do you know what this is?} He turned the crystal over in his hands.
{Nope. You'll figure it out eventually. Don't worry yourself too much about it,} Primo replied, a smirk evident in his tone.
Leo frowned, gripping the crystal tightly. Something told him it was more than just a trinket—but for now, its secrets would remain a mystery.
Leo moved toward the next orb, curiosity driving his steps. Before he could even reach it, the orb shifted. In a flash, it flowed toward him and engulfed his hand.
When the light faded, something solid rested on his wrist—a bronze bracelet that hadn't been there a moment ago.
Leo froze, rooted to the spot, as his system panel flickered to life. His eyes widened as he read the information displayed, his fingers trembling.
[Sun Bracelet]
Type: Item
Rank: Epic (Sealed)
Description: Can morph into any weapon or accessory the user wills. Imagination is the only limit.
Note: The user must grow stronger to remove the seals placed upon it.
Leo couldn't resist experimenting. He focused on the bracelet, willing it to change.
Like molten metal responding to his thoughts, it flowed and stretched, morphing seamlessly into a spear.
A thrill ran through him as he shifted it again—this time into a sword. The weapon hummed in his grip, glinting with a bronze sheen. With another thought, it shrank into a simple ring before expanding back into its bracelet form as if nothing had happened.
Leo stared at it in amazement.
Then, unable to contain the overwhelming mix of shock, disbelief, and joy, he broke out into hysterical laughter.
{You look like a beggar who just won a million-dollar lottery,} Primo teased.
"Hell yeah. This reward is just too d*mn good," Leo replied. "Heck, even if I walk out of here with only this, I'd be more than satisfied."
{That would be understandable,} Primo said. {It'll help you in both the short and long term. Still, you'll need to work toward unsealing it.}
Leo nodded.
Though he didn't yet understand how weapons were classified, judging by what he'd read in his old novels, he knew he'd struck gold this time.
He moved toward the remaining orbs, anticipation building. But the next orb had other plans. Before he could reach it, it shot straight toward his head.
He flinched, clutching his skull as a groan escaped him. "Ah! My head—!"
Then he froze.
There was no pain.
Realization hit, and his cheeks burned red. Primo's laughter echoing in his mind only deepened the embarrassment.
Before he could dwell on it, a system panel appeared.
[New Skill Acquired]
Sampson's Courage (Passive Skill)
Rank: Epic (Can Evolve)
Description:
• Grants immunity to fear-based abilities
• Increases strength by 50% when the user acts bravely
• Emits an aura of indomitability when courage is displayed
Leo read through it carefully, his frown melting into a grin. "Not bad," he muttered. It was his first acquired skill—and it held immense promise.
Leo approached the next orb. As he reached out, it gently surged forward and entered his chest.
Warmth flooded him, washing over both body and soul. It was comforting, empowering—unlike anything he had ever felt.
"What… what's happening?" he asked in awe.
{Your body and soul are being fortified,} Primo replied calmly. {You're becoming stronger in ways you can feel—and ways you can't yet.}
"D*mn, I've never felt this good," Leo said, as if his body and soul were submerged in a sea of blue bliss.
His mind flashed back to the Trial of Endurance—the pain, the struggle, the persistence. It all made sense now. The rewards weren't random. Each trial had its corresponding boon.
A smile of understanding spread across his face.
Leo moved toward the final orb, anticipation thrumming through him. As he reached it, the glow faded, revealing a hovering book pulsing with inner light.
He touched it.
It vanished instantly.
Leo blinked, stunned. "What just—?"
{I'm merging with it,} Primo said.
"You can do that?" Leo asked, bewildered.
{Of course I can,} Primo replied in his iconic smug tone. {I'm no ordinary system, after all.}
"Yeah, yeah—but what was the book for anyway?"
{Knowledge. A lot of it. Even though I know plenty, this will further enhance my database—and help guide you better on your path.}
"Oh. Okay. That's… great, I guess," Leo said, less enthused. "Well, they do say knowledge is power," he added, trying to rekindle his excitement.
The room trembled once more. Dust and small stones rattled as the statue before him slowly shifted aside, revealing a dark, inviting path.
"Welp," Leo muttered, determination flashing in his eyes, "seems like that's our ticket out."
He stepped forward, leaving behind the room he had come to enjoy.
Unbeknownst to him, five runes slipped quietly into his soul space, engraving themselves into the pattern of the star.
It did not escape Primo's ever-watchful gaze.
{Interesting… it seems he's walking away with another benefit he doesn't even know about,} Primo mused.
{Oh well. I'll tell him later.}