[Fiona's POV]
As soon as Boss used his new, Blood Affinity, I felt the shift, my spine tingled. Blood Affinity was rare, extremely rare. Most players only heard of it, and almost no one wielded it properly at early stages.
But Boss Max? He flowed into it like it was just another extension of his will.
A strange thought surfaced in the back of my mind, whispering something absurd—something impossible.
But after everything he'd shown me, that absurdity began to feel almost… reasonable.
Still, I didn't ask. Curiosity clawed at me, but I held it back.
On this Floor, Boss took full command. I followed without protest, though I was aware that I was doing very little compared to him. Even so, I had received an S rating when I ranked up.
Without even doing much the system rewarded me with such rating. It felt unfair… but also, strangely comforting.
For a moment, I thought about jokingly complaining to Boss that he was turning me into a princess with how much he pampered me, but I kept that thought to myself.
Once he reached Rank B, he'd definitely let me fight more. For now, I could enjoy the… luxury of being carried by someone like him.
The layout of Floor 7 was almost identical to Floor 6, but since I didn't fight much, the pace was even faster.
When the system notification finally appeared, confirming the clearance of Floor 7, nine hours had passed.
Before Boss could teleport us back to the Silver Spire, I took a breath—then another—and finally asked the question burning inside me since the start of this Floor.
"Boss… you wouldn't have all types of Affinities, do you?"
He didn't say anything, he just smiled; a simple, ordinary smile. Which somehow made the answer feel even more extraordinary.
Without getting an answer, he teleported us back to Silver Spire.
– – –
[Max's POV]
Fiona drifted off to sleep as soon as dinner ended, she collapsed almost instantly. She had been pushing herself hard, clearing Floors with a pace she wouldn't have expected from herself. But me? Tiredness and I had grown distant a long time ago.
My room felt still when I entered. Sitting at the edge of the bed, I inhaled slowly, and let the chaos in my head settle into something coherent. A thin smile tugged at my lips.
"Alright, system," I murmured. "Let's do something fun. Let's cook."
[What would you like to make?]
"Simple, create a title that lets me share my Infinite Traits with others — no limits on distance, dimensions and numbers of people I could share it with, Infinite sharing."
Pride tinged my voice, whether I liked it or not.
[Analyzing Player's Idea and Requirements]
[Issues Detected in Title Creation]
[Player must select two Traits to share and set a precise limit on the access to each trait. Any other being can only handle two such infinite traits at maximum, even when shared in a controlled manner.]
"Hm…yeah, the limit. Let's set it at 5 times of their capacity at any rank for both. Now, to choose which traits, I half-expected that when you mentioned about limitation about sharing Infinite traits earlier." I paused, thinking. "Fine. Then I choose Mana and Stamina."
[Acknowledging Player's Choices…]
[Optimizing Title…]
[Cost — 1,000,000 Myth Points]
[Proceed with Title Creation?]
"Yes. Absolutely."
[Choice Finalized, please wait a few minutes for completion.]
I nodded and leaned back, letting silence pool around me.
Reckless? Maybe. Useful? Definitely.
If I wanted people beside me while climbing the Tower, then I had to make sure they didn't collapse from exhaustion halfway up the mountain. It would be hypocritical otherwise.
At some point, potions and buffs stop mattering and effort alone isn't enough. But sharing a part of me, from something endless; that could help them where limits failed…it will be a little incentive for being with me.
Still, another question tugged at my mind. What else could actually help without being specific to one person?
Skills? Temporary.
Myth Coins and Points? Situational.
Equipment? Too niche.
The only real answer was something annoyingly mundane.
Inventory.
Limited early on, restricted even later. A burden disguised as a convenience. So my next move became obvious, a soft flicker lit the darkness.
[Title Created]
[View details?]
"Tempting… but not yet. Make another one — a title that grants unlimited inventory access to anyone. No restrictions."
[Acknowledging Player's Request]
[Optimizing Title…]
[Interference from Player's Bloodline and Physique Detected]
[Adjusting Title According to Interference]
[Cost — 23,000,000 Myth Points]
[Proceed?]
I blinked.
My "two little protectors," whatever my Bloodline and Physique truly were, had decided to intervene. Again. Their influence wasn't subtle — more like two primordial toddlers smacking the system interface with cosmic hands.
But then I saw the price tag.
"…System," I whispered slowly, "what the actual fuck? Who in this entire Tower is supposed to afford that?"
[None besides you]
I exhaled, long and slow. Thank the stars for that contract. Without it, I would probably still be grinding points fifty years from now. With a resigned grunt, I paid the cost.
[Choice Finalized, please wait a few minutes.]
This time my thoughts spiraled uncontrollably. Bloodline… Physique… just what were they shaping behind the scenes?
I didn't have to wait long.
[Title Created]
[View Details?]
"Yes. Please. Waiting till morning is not good for my health."
Panels unfolded in front of me — and my jaw practically detached.
– – –
[Title Acquired: Vault Nexus – Eternal Dominion]
[Description:] A Supreme Dominion Title that transforms the Infinite Inventory into a sentient, autonomous realm: Aetherion Vaultscape, governed by the dimensional intelligence known as the Astral Vaultkeeper.
You are directly linked, granting absolute authority.
[Effects:]
1. [Astral Vaultkeeper (Linked Sentience):]
An independent dimensional intelligence which handles administrative, defensive, and operational tasks in the dimension.
It possesses no soul and does not make autonomous decisions
2. [Eternal Chain Protocol:]
Unlimited allies may receive shared vault access. It automatically generates subrealms for linked individuals.
Connection persists even through death or dimensional displacement
3. [Omni Dominion Authority:]
Claim, store, or bind any object, concept, or energy and instantly manifest stored items anywhere
4. [Aetherion Vaultscape:]
Autonomous infinite realm with Adjustable time ratios (1:1 → 1:∞)
Contains Vaults and Lock Chambers
[Safety Protocols:]
Vaultkeeper defends the Vault independently
Damage to the Vault cannot harm the User
User may revoke or expand access freely
[Additional Titles Unlocked]
– Sovereign of Linked Eternity
– Master of Containment and Release
– – –
"Well… damn." I couldn't help the laugh that escaped me. "Okay, little protectors, I see you."
Only one thing remained, "Let's check this realm." I opened my 'inventory.'
Space broke, reality peeled apart like silk, revealing a door made of pure starlight. Impossible geometry framed its edges.
Beyond it stretched a boundless world — vault towers rising like monoliths, floating citadels drifting lazily, rivers of crystal mana flowing under a perpetual twilight.
A realm, my realm. I had read stories where MC get personal worlds. But stepping inside one, actually feeling it respond to me. It was something else, something intoxicating.
Then something stirred, not loud, nothing emotional, but vast.
A crystal helix descended, rotating slowly, every turn radiating silent comprehension.
When it spoke, the sound resonated in my mind.
"Sovereign."
The word vibrated inside my brain, not with reverence or defiance, just truth.
"The Astral Vaultkeeper greets you."
I squinted. "…You're the inventory?"
The helix pulsed gently, "I am the Mind of your Eternal Vault. Independent, stabilized and bound only by your permission and your law."
I folded my arms, nodding with exaggerated seriousness.
"Well then. Nice to meet you—" It tilted with expectation.
I smirked, "—Vault-kun."
The cosmic entity froze for two full seconds of universal buffering.
Then: "…Sovereign."
"Yeah?" I waited.
"…The correct designation is Astral Vaultkeeper." It reiterated.
"Sure, Vault-kun." I responded
The helix emitted a soft hum — suspiciously like a digital sigh, "…Acknowledged."
As I stepped deeper into the Vaultscape, rows of floating chests — unopened and pristine — aligned themselves before me.
My fused blades, cloaks, armor pieces, even older scraps I mostly forgotten… all adjusted formation as if welcoming me home.
Far below, a thousand stasis chambers unlocked and rearranged. Monsters I had stored earlier lay frozen within, preserved perfectly.
Vault-kun glided behind me, projecting a seamless interface.
"If Sovereign insists, I will respond to the name… Vault-kun." It agreed half-heartedly.
"Oh, I totally insist." I reinforced my words.
Another pause. This one more resigned.
"…Very well. Initiating Eternal Dominion Protocol."
Light rippled through the realm as luminescent, structures reformed into sharper geometry.
Control, absolute, satisfying, addictive control. Inventory management had never felt so glorious.