Asher didn't rush the Vault this time.
That alone felt like progress.
He stood in the middle of his apartment, the faint pull of the dungeon hovering patiently at the edge of his senses, and did something that would've shocked yesterday's version of him.
He waited.
"…Okay," he said. "We look first."
The white space unfolded around him, panels of light snapping into clean alignment. The armory felt the same as before—orderly, cold, quietly judgmental.
Asher glanced toward the currency display.
[God's Vault – Currency]
Angelic Coins: 92
He exhaled.
"Right. That's real money now."
The system didn't correct him.
Which meant it agreed.
Asher scanned the options beyond the starter grants. Locked evolutions. Modifiers with ominous names. Price tags that made his eye twitch.
30 Coins.
45 Coins.
60 Coins.
"…You're not subtle," he muttered.
[Clarification]
Subtlety is inefficient.
"Shocking."
He focused on the categories instead of the prices.
Movement.
Survivability.
Control.
Damage Conversion pulsed faintly on his status—useful, dangerous, something he didn't want to lean on forever.
"I don't need to hit harder," Asher said. "I need to get hit less."
A panel slid forward.
[Vault Recommendation]
Minor Reinforcement – Skeletal (Tier F)
Effect: Structural stress resistance increased.
Cost: 30 Angelic Coins
Asher winced.
"That's… reasonable."
He scrolled.
[Vault Recommendation]
Reaction Buffer – Micro (Tier F)
Effect: Reduces delay between perception and movement.
Cost: 45 Angelic Coins
"…Oh," Asher said. "That's tempting."
He imagined it—cleaner dodges, fewer panic moves, less reliance on Burst Step bailing him out.
He also imagined his coin count dropping like a rock.
Asher leaned back, arms crossed.
"No impulse buys," he reminded himself. "We learned this lesson."
The Vault waited.
Patient.
Annoyingly so.
"…Fine," Asher said at last. "One. Just one."
He selected the cheaper option.
[Minor Reinforcement – Skeletal]
Cost: 30 Angelic Coins
Confirm Purchase?
Asher hesitated.
Then nodded.
"Confirm."
[Purchase Complete]
Angelic Coins Remaining: 62
There was no explosion this time.
No screaming nerves.
Just a deep, settling pressure—like his bones had been quietly braced from the inside.
Asher flexed his hands.
"…Huh," he said. "That's… subtle."
[Clarification]
Durability improvements are designed to be unnoticed until necessary.
"Comforting," Asher replied. "In a 'you'll thank me later' way."
He exited the Vault and let the white space dissolve.
Back in his apartment, Asher rolled his shoulders and tested a few movements. Everything felt the same.
Which, he suspected, was the point.
His phone buzzed.
MAYA:
Let me guess — you're not limping today. Should I be impressed or worried?
Asher smiled and typed back.
ASHER:
Neither. I'm learning.
A pause.
MAYA:
That's worse.
He laughed softly.
"…Fair."
The dungeon pull strengthened.
Not urgent.
Inviting.
Asher checked the time.
Plenty of rest.
No work until morning.
Body steady.
Mind clear.
"…Alright," he said. "One run. Clean."
The warp wrapped around him.
This time, when the world shifted—
Asher didn't brace.
He stepped forward.
Ready.