[Ding!]
[Goddess Seraphyra's Blessing Activated]
[Double Exp granted: 20 Exp]
[Goddess Seraphyra is watching you proudly]
Cassian burst out laughing at the sight of Goddess Seraphyra's Blessing giving him a double Exp boost, but before his laughter faded, another message flashed before his eyes.
[You can now access Divine System progress]
Suddenly, Cassian screamed.
[Divine Binding Stabilizing Soul]
A scorching heat seared his throat.
Cassian felt an invisible hand clamp around his neck, squeezing tight. His skin burned, his eyes rolled back, and he collapsed on top of the porcupine, unconscious.
He awoke coughing, sprawled on a sandy dune beneath the moonlight.
A cold breeze swept over him, soothing the lingering burn in his throat.
"What was that?"
Cassian rubbed his neck, the pain still echoing in the back of his mind. But right now, he was more puzzled by the missing creatures.
'Where did those monsters go?'
He staggered to his feet and looked around.
The swamp of blood hadn't dried up, making every step a struggle. He slowly climbed the sand mountain he'd tumbled down during the battle.
His mind replayed the brutal clash between porcupine and serpent, a vivid reminder of the realm's dangers.
At the summit, Cassian surveyed the aftermath. A gaping crater scarred the desert, as if an asteroid had struck.
No sign of the creatures remained, until his gaze caught two glimmers among the blood-soaked sand.
Without hesitation, he slid down the slope, wading through the sticky swamp. He dug at the spot where the serpent's head had fallen.
'A crystal!'
He unearthed a shimmering red crystal, about the size of his hand. It pulsed with a strange inner light, but its purpose eluded him.
He trudged to the other glow, digging where the porcupine had died.
This time, he found a much larger red crystal, heavy as a boulder in his weakened state.
'What are these crystals? I can't carry these things around in these deserts.'
Cassian pondered, absently rubbing his throat.
Suddenly, a transparent golden window materialized before him:
***
[Status][Inventory][Blessing]
***
'This must be System Progress, just like video games!'
He tapped the [Inventory] tab:
***
[Empty]
***
He lifted the serpent's crystal and touched it to the floating window.
Instantly, the inventory swallowed the stone, its image appearing with a message:
***
[1 Item]
[Youmana's Core]
***
Encouraged, he added the porcupine's crystal. Another message appeared:
***
[2 Items]
[Youmana's Core]
[Acuna's Core]
***
'So those are their names…'
Cassian wondered what the stones were for.
'If they can be stored in inventory, maybe they can be forged into weapons or items!'
Other than these, there was nothing else to find. He felt a twinge of disappointment, he'd hoped for at least a dagger.
After a few moments of fruitless speculation, Cassian decided to check the other tabs.
He clicked [Status] and nearly choked at the sight:
***
*[Status]*
[Adventurer: Cassian Johnathan]
[Blessing: Boundless Authority-'Mine']
[Talent: Luck]
[Title: Nil]
[Level: 01]
---
[Hp: 100/100]
[Exp: 30/100]
[Attribute points: 03]
---
*[Upgradable Attributes]*
[Strength: 02]
[Defense: 01]
[Agility: 01]
[Endurance: 02]
[Resistance: 02]
---
*[Non-Upgradable Attributes]*
[Luck: 98]
[Authority: 22]
[Critical Chance: 01]
[Intelligence: 22]
[Faith: 100]
---
[Miscellaneous Status]
[Crafting: 00]
[Production: 00]
[Learning: 09]
***
Cassian couldn't help but laugh.
All the "useful" stats were barely above zero, but at least they could be upgraded.
The stats he'd always ignored in games, luck, faith, were sky-high. He'd never had luck in his old life, and faith? He barely had any in himself.
'Is this Seraphyra's doing, or or did this luck status cause everything that's happened so far, including meeting the Goddess herself?'
He sat down, grinning despite the bad memories creeping in from the edges of his mind.
One tab left. He clicked [Blessing]:
***
[Blessing: Boundless Authority- "Mine"]
---
*[Skills]*
[Double Exp Bonus]
[Shield of Tears]
[Dagger of Fire]
***
The Blessing section pulsed in golden font.
Cassian tapped it, and a new window appeared, making him gulp in fear, even though it was his own power.
***
[Boundless Authority-The One Who Claims All]
[Level 1: Possession]
[Anything you declare "Mine" becomes bound to your existence.
Not just ownership—absolute authority.]
---
*[Base Mechanics]*
[Claim Activation- Verbal or mental trigger: "Mine."]
[Requirement:
Unawareness of target
Intent (must genuinely want it)
Authority strength ≥ target resistance]
***
He clicked on Level 1: Possession, which pulsed like a heartbeat:
***
[Level 1: Possession]
[Claim objects (weapons, items)]
[Instant mastery + recall]
[Cannot be stolen or destroyed easily, once claimed]
***
A huge grin spread across Cassian's face. His mind spun with possibilities for these skills.
He lay back, letting sleep take him as the stars twinkled above, the words of Goddess Seraphyra echoing in his mind:
'It's okay, it's okay. I won't let anyone hurt you, Cass!'
---
"Wake up, wake up!"
A sudden kick to his legs jolted Cassian from his dreams. The voice kept calling even as he blinked awake.
He coughed, eyes blurry, probably from sand.
He tried to rub them, but his hands wouldn't move. His arms and legs were tied.
Panic snapped him fully awake. He shook his head, trying to make sense of his surroundings.
'How did this happen!'
He was bound hand and foot, tossed inside a modest wooden cage, the outside covered in black cloth so he couldn't see out.
He looked around. Five others were tied up like him, all cloaked in dark robes.
He could tell they were women by their voluptuous bodies outlined by the fabric.
Then his gaze landed on an old, dark-skinned man to the right, pointy ears poking out, staring at Cassian with fish-like eyes—huge black pupils ringed with orange.
'Is he a dark elf?'
Cassian glanced at the others.
'They must be dark elves too! Why cover their faces?'
"Hey, are you awake!"
A sharp kick to his gut made him wince.
The woman on the far left, tied up, had managed to kick him with both legs, even with her ankles bound and face hidden.
"Are you awake!"
Her rough voice cut through the silence.
Cassian weighed his options, then replied,
"Yes, I'm awake! Where are we?"
"That doesn't matter right now. Is it day or night? Tell me!"
Cassian, still confused, answered,
"When I went to sleep, the sun had just set and the moon came out."
At that, the woman fell silent. The whole cage went eerily quiet.
Trying to break the tension, Cassian asked,
"Where am I?"
No one answered. Everyone turned away, except the old man, who kept staring.
Cassian swallowed and tried again,
"Do you know where I am right now?"
The old man burst out laughing, his gaze never leaving Cassian.
'Did I say something weird?'
After a while, the laughter faded. The old man grinned and said,
"You must have rotten luck!"