ARCEUS'S POV
The icy water invaded my lungs as the darkness consumed me. I felt death toying with the boundaries of my existence, mocking my fragility. Would this be my end? To die drowned in a pool that was supposed to heal me?
I violently broke the surface, my body convulsing in search of air. My golden hair with reddish hues clung to my face like drenched serpents.
—Ironic —I murmured between painful gasps—. Of all the possible ways to die, I nearly succumbed to drowning.
I observed the pool, now glowing with an intense scarlet hue. The once-crystalline liquid had transformed into a bloody amalgam that resembled molten lava more than a healing spring. The irony of the situation didn't escape my analysis: what was meant to save me nearly led me to the jaws of death.
Most of my wounds were nearly closed, confirming the pool's effectiveness despite its terrifying appearance. A partial success, given the circumstances.
Pain shot through me like lightning as I began to extract, one by one, the arrows embedded in my naked body. I stifled a howl of agony between clenched teeth, allowing only a brief, choked cry as my fingers dug into the festering flesh around each projectile.
—Damn it —I hissed as I yanked the third arrow from my shoulder.
Blood gushed from each wound, forming crimson rivers that ran down my pale skin until they dissolved into the scarlet pool. The spring's regenerative power acted instantly, sealing the open wounds as soon as I freed each arrow from my flesh. Yet, an abnormal heaviness invaded my limbs, as if the healing process had extracted something essential from my being. Suddenly, a luminous message appeared in my mind.
—Enter —I uttered in a barely audible voice, activating the teleportation sequence.
Blinding lights enveloped my body as the familiar sensation of weightlessness pulled me toward another plane. It was like being suspended between dimensions, a state of existence where time and space lost all meaning. I felt an oppressive pressure constricting my airways begin to loosen, allowing me to breathe more easily for the first time in what seemed like eternities.
When I opened my eyes, I found myself in a vaguely familiar environment, though with notable differences. The room resembled the antechamber of the first floor but with a more refined air, almost elegant in its austerity.
The floor and walls gleamed with finely carved marble that reflected light in a hypnotic manner. There were no unnecessary ornaments to distract attention, only two peculiar doors on the side walls and, at the far end, a spatial anomaly that defied all logic: a floating black hole that the other Ascendants had dubbed the "Portal." The simplicity of the name contrasted with the phenomenon's complexity.
I moved cautiously through the room, meticulously studying every detail. On the left wall, I discovered a door with the word "shower" etched into the lintel. I deliberately ignored it, my interest immediately drawn to the right door, marked with the word "shop."
Without hesitating more than necessary, I extended my hand to the metal knob and turned it decisively, pushing the door to reveal what awaited on the other side.
What appeared before my eyes defied all my expectations. The room, smaller than the previous one, housed a figure that evoked an unsettling sense of both familiarity and strangeness.
The entity before me bore no resemblance to anything I had ever seen. Its similarity to classical depictions of death was undeniable, almost disturbing. The system identified it simply as "the merchant," a designation I found ridiculously inadequate to describe such a presence.
The merchant kept its arms crossed over its chest, fully enveloped in a dark gray robe that covered its head and hid half its face. Where recognizable features should have been, there was only emptiness, interrupted solely by two blue eyes glowing with a cold, calculating supernatural luminescence. From my perspective, the folds of the robe formed the silhouette of a shadowy heart, an optical illusion created by the merchant's hieratic posture. On the floor, the garment moved with a life of its own, as if animated by living shadows, while grayish smoke continuously emanated from its edges, dancing in the air like ethereal serpents.
Merchants didn't appear on every floor, so this encounter represented an opportunity I had to seize. Keeping a prudent distance, I addressed the entity with a firm voice:
—Show me the different items you have.
The tower's items were true marvels: weightless and undetectable, they could be summoned instantly with a mere thought. Their utility was incalculable, and unlike ordinary physical objects, they could be transported to the real world. The tactical advantage of possessing such resources was impossible to overstate.
The merchant responded to my request by extending its cadaverous arm. Swirls of gray mist began to form between the folds of its robe, gradually giving rise to nearly a dozen items of various colors and designs, each floating a few centimeters from what could be considered its hand.
The transaction with the merchant was surprisingly intuitive. Every Ascendant could learn the detailed characteristics of the items just by observing them, as if the information flowed directly into our consciousness. The displayed list included dozens of items with extraordinary properties that, under other circumstances, would have seemed magical. The problem, of course, lay in the prices: exorbitant, outrageous, utterly prohibitive.
—What madness! —I thought, suppressing the urge to curse aloud. A glance at the "Divine Elixirs" was enough to grasp the magnitude of the absurdity.
Was this some twisted way of mocking us? Showing immensely powerful items only to then point out their unattainable price? I could almost picture the system laughing at my frustration: "Look how expensive! Kikik!"
Who, in their right mind, could afford such prices? Despite my indignation, I couldn't help but feel drawn to certain items, particularly the first and fifth on the displayed list.
The "Ambrosia" was described as a "drop" of morning dew with the power to catalyze the evolution of an awakened ability to its next level. The Divine Elixirs, on the other hand, were miraculous substances capable of significantly enhancing the consumer's physical capabilities. Their prices, though astronomical, seemed relatively moderate compared to other items on the list, yet still absurdly high for any Ascendant's limited resources.
I meticulously examined each item's information, focusing solely on those that could prove useful in my current situation. It was time to use the resources I had managed to accumulate: 30 soul fragments, to be exact.
[Vital Resurgence (D+)]
[Description: A potion with a mild healing effect that grants a bit of vitality to the consumer. Price: 80 SF]
—Tsk —I clicked my tongue in evident frustration—. Too expensive.
I spent several minutes weighing my options, carefully considering each alternative. The decision was far from trivial, given my resource limitations and the importance of investing them wisely.
—Give me that one —I finally pointed, indicating my first choice with a precise gesture.
[Enchanted Mask (E)]
[Description: A mask that can alter the user's voice, transforming it into a powerful baritone. Containing several spirits, its mere use releases a strange aura that allows the user to identify part of their presence. Once worn, it is difficult to remove. If damaged, it can be restored by absorbing more souls. Price: 10 SF]
I continued with my acquisitions:
[Shadow Cloak (E)]
[Description: Very light armor with excellent resistance and durability, capable of easily deflecting any ordinary sword. Price: 10 SF]
[Sturdy Spear (F)]
[Description: Though it has no special characteristics, it is resistant to magical damage. Price: 5 SF]
[Rusty Dagger (G)]
[Description: Its name says it all; it's not very useful. Price: 1 SF]
Upon completing my purchases, I felt the immediate impact on my resources. It was easy to spend what had taken so much effort to accumulate.
[Soul Fragments: 4]
I sighed with resignation as I contemplated my remaining balance and summoned my new acquisitions to examine them.
The mask instantly covered my face, molding to my features like a second skin. It had no openings for the mouth or nose but was white with a peculiar bluish gleam in the right eye that gave it an unsettling appearance.
I observed how the dark gray attire enveloped my body, complemented by a pair of high leather boots with surprisingly flexible soles. Clad in this combination of fabric and matte leather, I felt an immediate sense of increased security, as if an invisible barrier separated me from the hostile world awaiting outside.
Suddenly, the merchant extended its skeletal hand toward me, interrupting my thoughts.