The Pantheon Chest appeared once more.
Its dark, star-speckled surface shimmered before Soma, the ten-pointed lock glowing faintly as the lid opened.
The first two layers were exactly as he'd left them.
Three ability books.
The mysterious scrolls.
The large pouch.
Rare materials.
And those two enormous gemstones containing what looked like miniature galaxies.
Soma looked toward them.
I still want to know what those things are.
[Their purpose will become clearer as your knowledge and abilities develop.]
You really love saying that, don't you?
[It is frequently applicable.]
He sighed.
Fine. What's left?
[Seven additional gifts remain within the final compartment. Most will offer little immediate assistance during the Awakening Trial, but several possess considerable long-term value.]
Soma raised an eyebrow.
Seven more?
[Correct.]
At this point, I feel like the Pantheons are trying to furnish an entire kingdom.
[That is not their stated intention.]
Could've fooled me.
The chest's lower compartment shimmered.
Seven objects appeared, arranged in a circle.
Each was surrounded by a small identification window.
[Shall we begin?]
Soma gestured toward them.
By all means.
The first item rose from the chest.
It was a small ivory-colored seed, its surface covered in delicate golden veins.
Despite its size, the seed emitted a steady pulse of mana.
[SEED OF NUTRITION]
[Classification: Divine Botanical Artifact]
[When planted in suitable soil, the seed establishes a mana-rich cultivation area measuring approximately one hundred by one hundred units of land.]
[Crops grown within the affected area receive a seventy-five percent increase in growth speed under suitable conditions.]
Soma leaned forward.
Wait. It turns ordinary land into mana-rich farmland?
[Correct.]
And crops grow seventy-five percent faster?
[Yes.]
He considered the implications.
Fresh vegetables.
Medicinal herbs.
Rare plants.
Potentially even crops that normally required unusually high mana concentrations.
That's not a combat item.
[No.]
But that's incredible.
[Indeed. Its long-term agricultural and economic value could be substantial.]
Soma grinned.
Mom would love this.
The seed disappeared into his inventory.
The second object floated upward.
A black key rested in the center of the display.
Its shaft was decorated with unfamiliar runes, while its head resembled a pair of intertwined wings.
[KEY OF TALMAKA]
[Classification: Special Access Artifact]
[Destination: Talmaka Island]
[Minimum Required Level: 70]
Soma blinked.
Talmaka?
[An isolated island associated with legendary and divine beasts.]
His eyes widened.
You're telling me there's an entire island filled with legendary creatures?
[That is the available information.]
And this key takes me there?
[When the necessary conditions are met.]
Soma stared at the level requirement.
Level seventy.
[Correct.]
He laughed weakly.
Well, I guess I'm not going there anytime soon.
[A sensible conclusion.]
He looked toward Kage.
The raccoon was quietly sharpening one claw against another, seated with perfect posture.
Imagine the creatures we could meet there.
Kage tilted his head.
A brief image entered Soma's thoughts.
A towering beast.
A dark forest.
Then an enormous gemstone.
Soma sighed.
"Of course you'd be interested in the treasure."
Kage bowed.
The third item appeared.
It was a fishing rod.
A beautifully crafted fishing rod, certainly, with a dark wooden shaft and silver fittings.
But still a fishing rod.
Soma stared.
...Seriously?
[POLE OF BAITERS]
[Classification: Unique Fishing Artifact]
[Effect: Automatically generates appropriate bait when cast into a body of water.]
[The generated bait adapts to the environment and increases the likelihood of attracting rarer aquatic inhabitants.]
Soma read the description.
Then read it again.
They gave me a fishing pole?
[A rather exceptional one.]
It never runs out of bait?
[Correct.]
And it attracts rare fish?
[Potentially, yes.]
Soma leaned back.
Okay, I take it back. This might be the greatest gift of all.
[Your priorities continue to surprise me.]
Syscilia, do you have any idea how much I love seafood?
[I am becoming increasingly aware.]
Soma grinned.
Imagine pulling a legendary fish out of a lake.
[I would caution that some legendary aquatic creatures may object violently to being caught.]
Details.
[Important details.]
Kage's ears perked up.
An image crossed the bond.
A fish.
A very large fish.
Then a triumphant raccoon standing on top of it.
Soma laughed.
"Oh, we're definitely going fishing someday."
Kage nodded enthusiastically.
The next object emerged.
An ornate handheld mirror, framed in black metal with delicate silver engravings.
Its reflective surface appeared perfectly ordinary.
[MIRROR OF THE FACELESS MAGE]
[Classification: Magical Disguise Artifact]
[Effect: Alters the user's visible appearance for up to five hours.]
[Cooldown: Seventy-two hours.]
Soma whistled.
Now that's useful.
[An effective tool for disguise and infiltration.]
Five hours is plenty of time for some situations.
[Although powerful perception abilities and specialized identification methods may detect the alteration.]
So it's not perfect.
[No disguise should be assumed perfect.]
Soma nodded.
He could already imagine several situations where changing his appearance might prove invaluable.
Especially given the kind of investigation Arthur had asked him to undertake.
The mirror vanished.
The fifth item appeared.
A small silver voucher marked with the image of a paw print beside a crossed sword and shield.
[FAMILIAR EQUIPMENT REDEMPTION]
[Redeemable for one eligible weapon or armor selection through Nexaar.]
Soma grinned.
Kage! This one's for you.
The raccoon straightened.
An excited sensation traveled through their bond.
We can get you some proper equipment.
Kage glanced down at his existing black robes.
A mental impression appeared.
Dignity.
Pride.
And mild offense.
Soma laughed.
"Your outfit is great, buddy. I just don't think regular cloth is going to protect you from a monster trying to tear your head off."
Kage considered that.
Then gave a solemn nod.
[We may redeem the voucher before the trial begins.]
Perfect. We'll do that after everything else.
The sixth item rose.
A delicate glass vial containing several silver droplets.
The liquid inside moved strangely, gathering and separating despite the vial remaining perfectly still.
[TEARS OF THE FORGOTTEN]
[Classification: Rare Memory-Altering Consumable]
[Effect: May remove a selected memory, event, or personal recollection from an affected target under suitable conditions.]
Soma's smile disappeared.
...Memory manipulation?
[Correct.]
He stared at the vial.
After everything he'd just experienced, the idea of deliberately taking someone's memories made his stomach tighten.
That could be dangerous.
[Extremely.]
Could it make someone forget who I am?
[Potentially, depending on the circumstances, target resistance, and intended alteration.]
Soma studied the silver droplets.
There were obvious uses for something like that.
Escaping dangerous situations.
Protecting secrets.
Possibly even helping someone suffering from a terrible experience.
But there were also countless ways to misuse it.
He thought of his parents.
His friends.
Raven.
For fifteen years, he'd lived without knowing what he'd lost.
Now that he remembered, he understood how precious those memories were.
I'm not using this casually.
[A wise decision.]
Put it somewhere secure.
[Stored in a protected inventory compartment.]
The vial vanished.
Only one object remained.
The seventh gift rose slowly from the chest.
Soma leaned forward.
What the hell is that?
It was an egg.
A large egg, nearly the size of a melon.
Its shell was predominantly black, streaked with delicate veins of pale blue and white.
Small points of light flickered beneath the surface.
But the strangest part was its movement.
The egg expanded slightly.
Then contracted.
Expanded.
Contracted.
Almost as though something inside were breathing.
[HALLOWSTAR]
[Classification: Unknown]
[Origin: Undetermined]
[Status: Dormant]
[Additional Information: Unavailable]
Soma stared.
An egg?
[That would be the most obvious interpretation.]
What's inside?
[Unknown.]
What kind of creature is it?
[Unknown.]
Is it even alive?
[I cannot conclusively determine that.]
Soma turned toward the interface.
Wait. You don't know?
[Correct.]
You? The divine intelligence created by Dax?
[Yes, Master Soma.]
The one who seems to know everything?
[I have never claimed omniscience.]
He studied the Hallowstar again.
It pulsed softly.
Kage approached.
For the first time since being summoned, the raccoon appeared genuinely cautious.
He crouched beside the egg, examining it with his violet eyes.
A wave of uncertainty traveled through the familiar bond.
Soma noticed.
You feel it too, huh?
Kage nodded.
Neither could explain what they were sensing.
But there was something unusual about the object.
Something that didn't fit any of the categories Soma had learned.
All right. We'll leave this one alone for now.
[A reasonable precaution.]
The Hallowstar returned to the Boundless Vault.
Soma exhaled.
Seven more gifts. Seven.
[Indeed.]
He rubbed his forehead.
The seed, the island key, the fishing pole, the mirror, Kage's equipment voucher, the memory tears, and a mysterious egg.
[An accurate summary.]
What an absolutely ridiculous collection.
[The Pantheons appear to have considered a wide range of your future needs.]
Soma smiled.
Yeah. I guess they did.
His attention returned to the remaining Gacha rewards.
[ADDITIONAL CLASS UNLOCK AVAILABLE.]
[ADDITIONAL AFFINITY UNLOCK AVAILABLE.]
Soma straightened.
Right. Let's take care of these.
[Which additional foundational class would you like to activate?]
Caster.
[A logical selection. Caster offers magical development opportunities that complement your existing Healing affinity and equipment.]
The Class Tree appeared.
The Tamer branch glowed emerald green.
Beside it, the Caster branch remained white.
Soma selected it.
[ADDITIONAL CLASS SELECTION]
[CASTER]
[Confirm Activation?]
[YES / NO]
Yes.
The Caster branch illuminated in brilliant blue.
[CASTER CLASS UNLOCKED.]
[CLASS LEVEL: 1]
[CLASS POINTS AVAILABLE: 1]
A description appeared.
[CASTER]
[Foundational Class]
[A class specializing in spellcasting, mana manipulation, and the development of magical disciplines.]
Two starting bonuses appeared.
[MANA POOL BOOST — LEVEL 1]
[Increases maximum MP by 10%.]
[WISDOM BOOST — LEVEL 1]
[Increases WIS by 10%.]
Soma studied both options.
Mana Pool would be useful.
[Indeed.]
But Wisdom helps mana control and replenishment, right?
[Correct. It also contributes to magical stability and certain forms of mental resistance.]
Soma thought for a moment.
Then I'll take Wisdom Boost.
[Confirm selection?]
Confirm.
[WISDOM BOOST ACQUIRED.]
[SKILL LEVEL: 1]
[WIS ATTRIBUTE MODIFIER: +10%]
[CLASS POINTS REMAINING: 0]
[PROFILE UPDATED.]
Soma smiled.
Not bad.
[Now, your additional affinity.]
The Affinity Sigil appeared.
Its surface was covered in interconnected magical symbols that shifted through countless colors.
Soma didn't hesitate.
Divine.
There was a pause.
[Divine Affinity selected.]
Any objections?
[None. However, I recommend remembering that Divine and Holy affinities are separate forms of magical power.]
Right. Holy is sacred magic. Divine involves the actual essence of divine power.
[Correct.]
Then Divine it is.
The sigil dissolved.
Golden light gathered around Soma's hands.
Unlike the warmth of Healing, this sensation was deeper.
More powerful.
For a moment, he felt a pressure moving through his mana channels, as though something ancient had recognized his presence.
The golden glow intensified.
Then slowly settled beneath his skin.
[DIVINE AFFINITY UNLOCKED.]
[INITIAL DIVINE SPELL ACQUIRED.]
[SACRED THREAD WARD]
[Skill Level: 1]
[Effect: Forms a small golden barrier from concentrated mana threads.]
[Barrier Durability: Equivalent to 10% of the caster's maximum MP under current skill conditions.]
[Duration: 30 seconds or until destroyed.]
[Cooldown: 45 seconds.]
Soma stared at the description.
Oh, that's good.
[A useful defensive spell.]
Especially with Sanctuary Threads.
[The two abilities may possess complementary applications, although their exact interactions will require experimentation.]
Soma nodded.
Protection and healing. That's a pretty good start.
[Indeed. Now, shall we examine your Divine Ability Books?]
He grinned.
Oh, I've been waiting for this.
Three ornate books appeared before him.
They hovered in the air, each surrounded by its own magical glow.
The first opened.
Brilliant white light spilled from its pages.
[DIVINE ABILITY ACQUIRED.]
[EYES OF ORIGIN]
[Level: 1]
[A divine perception ability that reveals hidden structures, properties, and information beyond ordinary sight.]
[AVAILABLE FUNCTIONS]
[Unveil — Detects disguises, illusions, and certain forms of false information.]
[Potential Sight — Reveals available development paths and the conditions required to pursue them.]
[Broker — Analyzes equipment, magical artifacts, enchantments, hidden properties, and potential awakening conditions.]
[Investigate — Assists in detecting concealed objects, traps, barriers, and hidden passages.]
[Arcane Sight — Examines magical structures, spell functions, and potential weaknesses.]
Soma stared at the display.
That's...
He swallowed.
That's absolutely insane.
[Eyes of Origin possesses extraordinary potential. However, the information available will depend on your current proficiency, the target, and any protections affecting it.]
So it can't tell me literally everything?
[Not at level one.]
Soma laughed.
Fair enough.
The second book opened.
Silver and blue light spilled from its pages, gathering into delicate threads that floated in the air.
[DIVINE ABILITY ACQUIRED.]
[SANCTUARY THREADS]
[Level: 1]
[A divine defensive ability that weaves protective mana threads into clothing, armor, and other compatible materials.]
[AVAILABLE FUNCTIONS]
[Layered Protection — Creates overlapping defensive layers that absorb physical and magical damage before unraveling.]
[Focused Protection — Concentrates threads over a threatened area to withstand stronger impacts.]
[Automatic Defense — Allows prepared protective threads to respond to certain incoming threats.]
[Living Archive Synergy — Records observed attack patterns to assist with future defensive adjustments.]
[Damaged defensive layers may be restored through mana expenditure.]
Soma slowly raised his hand.
A faint silver thread appeared between his fingertips.
It shimmered.
Then disappeared.
Oh, this is going to be useful.
[Particularly when combined with your current equipment.]
And Healing.
[Indeed.]
The third book opened.
This time, the light was neither blue nor gold.
It shifted constantly, separating into numerous colors before merging together again.
[DIVINE ABILITY ACQUIRED.]
[ORIGIN SYNTHESIS]
[Level: 1]
[Allows the user to combine compatible magical structures and materials to create new results. More complex synthesis applications become available through development.]
Soma leaned forward.
Wait.
He read it again.
Combine magical structures?
[Correct.]
As in... create things that don't already exist?
[Potentially. Successful synthesis requires suitable components, a sufficient understanding of their properties, and the ability to maintain a stable combination.]
Soma looked between the three books.
Eyes of Origin.
Sanctuary Threads.
Origin Synthesis.
One allowed him to understand.
One allowed him to manipulate protective magical structures.
And the third allowed him to combine compatible structures into something new.
Syscilia...
[Yes, Master Soma?]
These three abilities were meant to work together, weren't they?
[Their capabilities are highly complementary.]
Soma grinned.
Oh, I am going to have so much fun with this.
[I recommend caution when experimenting with unfamiliar magical structures.]
You really know how to ruin a moment.
[I would prefer you remain alive long enough to enjoy your discoveries.]
Soma laughed.
Fair point.
Then he glanced toward the remaining scrolls.
Four of them.
Untouched.
Waiting.
All right.
He reached toward the first.
Let's see what these can do.