In Astoria, where the light never sets, "The Cinders' Den" grew darker and more imposing by the day. After the epic display Leon had provided in the "Undead Burg" and his confrontation with the Bell Gargoyles, the perspective of the five customers shifted entirely. The shop was no longer merely a means to obtain power; it had become an arena for testing the soul.
While the customers were immersed in their virtual worlds, Leon sat behind the scorched marble counter, reviewing the spoils of his previous bloody journey.
The System's rewards for Leon were not "weapons of mass destruction," but rather items that supported his "realistic" combat style—relying on skill rather than explosive magic.
[System Alert: Killing of (Bell Gargoyles) and (Black Knight) Confirmed] [Rewards Granted to the Host:]
Covenant of Stability (Ring): A simple band that increases Leon's physical poise and impact resistance by 10%. (It helps him remain upright and avoid staggering when blocking heavy blows).
Scroll of [Rhythmic Breathing]: A passive technique that allows Leon to recover his breath (Stamina) slightly faster after strenuous physical exertion.
Minor Mana Refinement: Leon's Mana has become "more stable," allowing him to remain inside the capsule for longer periods without experiencing mental fatigue.
Boss Souls: Successfully converted into 8,000 Souls, which Leon immediately used to increase his in-game character's "Vitality" and "Endurance" by two levels each.
Leon looked at the ring on his finger; it did not dazzle with a brilliant light like the rings of Astorian nobles. Instead, it was a dull, heavy metal. "This is true power," Leon whispered to himself. "The power that does not scream, but supports you when your body is on the verge of collapse."
While the shop was quiet, with everyone inside the capsules letting out muffled shouts upon their deaths, the shop door opened slowly. A man entered wearing common merchant attire, but his gait was suspiciously "disciplined," and his eyes darted around with extreme speed, recording the locations of the capsules, the thickness of the walls, and the type of Mana being emitted.
This was "Zarus," one of the most skilled spies from the "High Magic Tower." He had been sent to assess the threat posed by this "outlaw" establishment.
Zarus stopped before the counter and looked at Leon, who was reading an ancient book with total indifference. "Welcome, merchant... I heard you possess a strange method for training warriors."
Leon did not lift his head. "15 Magic Stones for an hour and a half. Choose an empty capsule if you wish to try, or leave if you wish to scout."
Zarus flashed a fake smile. "I am not a warrior; I am simply a trader interested in new technologies. Will you allow me to examine these metal chairs?" He reached his hand toward the fifth capsule, which was currently being used by Kayan.
Suddenly, with a speed Zarus could not track, Leon drove a small dagger into the table, mere millimeters from the spy's hand.
"In this place, customers touch the machines only with their 'souls'," Leon said in a low, terrifying voice. "If your Mana attempts to probe the structure of the machine again, I will make the capsule your final tomb."
Zarus froze. He had indeed tried to send invisible threads of Mana to hack the capsule's system, but he was shocked that Leon, who seemed unremarkable, had detected his "Magic Frequency" instantly
Meanwhile, the crystal screens displayed a "massacre."
Rakan was trying to mimic Leon's style against the Black Knight. He was dying repeatedly. Every time he emerged, he would shout in frustration and strike the floor with his fists, then return immediately.
"Why can't I parry his strike?!" Rakan yelled as he exited the capsule, sweat pouring down his face.
Leon looked at him and said calmly: "Because you are pulling the trigger before the enemy has even fired the arrow. A parry is not a sword movement; it is a 'signing of a contract' with death. Wait until the strike is in the middle of its path, not a moment before."
As for Kayan, he was the most silent. He progressed very slowly through the "Darkroot Garden." He faced massive tree-like monsters that emerged from the ground to surround him. Kayan died three times, and each time he emerged, he would close his eyes for several minutes, analyzing his mistakes, then return with a chilling coldness. Kayan managed to cut through great distances thanks to his "Slayer's Instinct," catching Leon's attention.
"This man... might be the first to approach the 'Clear' level," Leon thought as he watched Kayan's progress.
By the end of the day, the spy Zarus left the shop, having failed to gather any technical information. However, he left behind a look of warning.
As soon as he exited, he headed to a dark corner where two guards from the Magic Tower were waiting. "This place is not just a gaming shop... it is an integrated defensive system. And the owner... his power cannot be measured by normal standards. We must send someone of the 'Master Rank' to deal with him."
Inside, Leon closed the shop. He looked at the screen showing the progress of the First Arc:
[Current Progress: 4%]
Leon felt a slight fatigue, but it was a pleasant one. His body's Mana was beginning to adapt to the "Covenant of Stability." He began to feel that the space inside the shop (his Sovereign Domain) was becoming "obedient to his will." If he wished, he could increase the gravity over the spy's head, but he preferred not to reveal his trump cards too early.
"Astoria has begun to take notice," Leon muttered as he looked at the stars. "Tomorrow the number of curious people will increase, and so will the number of corpses in Lordran. The race to the Clear has officially begun."
In the darkness outside the shop, a girl was watching the black building from a nearby rooftop. She wasn't a spy, nor was she a warrior. She held an ancient musical instrument in her hand, and her white hair shimmered under the permanent sunlight.
"The music of death emanating from that place... I have never heard anything like it," she whispered to herself. "I will need a ticket to enter this show."