Chapter 238: Chapter 238 - Gift
Opening the system shop, William honed in on the skill he sought, his fingers itching with anticipation. But an unexpected hurdle stood in his way— he kinda forgot the name.
"Ahh, f*ck," he muttered, frustration simmering beneath the surface. "Of all the times to forget something this important... Dam* it!" He cursed himself under his breath, trying desperately to recall the elusive title.
For the next 25 minutes, William wracked his brain, occasionally knocking the side of his head as if that might somehow jog his memory. The minutes stretched out painfully, but then— like a sudden flash of lightning— something clicked.
"Yes! Got it," he exclaimed, his fingers racing across the keyboard as he typed the name into the search bar. The skill reappeared on the screen in all its glory.
[ The Weapon Prodigy - Skill - Sword Arts - Rare - Cost: 500 Gold Coins ]
William scrutinized every detail on the screen, ensuring nothing was amiss before his finger hovered over the 'BUY' button. He didn't hesitate even for a fraction of a second, and clicked. A new prompt materialized, overlaying the menu.
[ Are you sure you want to spend 55 gold coins to purchase this skill? ]
His eyes widened slightly as they landed on the number 500. A cold breath escaped him involuntarily. It was a steep price—one that could have made him blanch in the past.But now, not to his surprise, it was manageable. He calculated quickly, recalling that the 500 gold coins amounted to 500 million dollars.
Years ago, he would have balked at such a number, maybe even stopped himself from making the purchase. But now, with his wealth secure and privacy safeguarded, he no longer had to think twice.
In the past, drawing even the slightest bit of attention would have summoned Leopold— the vulture who preyed on every opportunity, ever the ruthless opportunist. But those days were long gone. Now, William stood on his own terms.
His mood darkened as thoughts of Leopold resurfaced, anger welling up inside him. "I don't care how happy you are, you motherf*cking sadistic *astard," William fumed silently. "When I get the chance—I will fc*k you up."
With a deep breath, William forced his anger to dissipate and refocused on the task at hand. He pressed the 'YES' button, and the system immediately responded with a series of notifications.
[ You Have Purchased The Weapon Prodigy Skill ]
[ 500 Gold Coins Deducted From Your Personal Wealth ]
[ Congratulations! You Have Acquired Your First Legendary Skill ]
[ To Celebrate Your Purchase, The System Shop Has Decided To Present You With A Complimentary Gift Package ]
William raised an eyebrow at the sudden mention of a gift. This was unexpected. 'A gift package? For acquiring my first legendary skill? That never happened when I bought super rare breathing techniques and other high-tier items' he mused.
'Maybe it's something reserved for legendary-tier acquisitions. But where's the package?'
He didn't have to search long. A small, square box, neatly wrapped in blue paper, appeared out of thin air and landed softly on his lap.
William eyed the box curiously. Before he could delve deeper into its contents, a sharp, searing pain shot through his skull. He clutched his head tightly, his mind reeling. The pain was far more intense than anything he had ever experienced— more like a drill boring into his very thoughts than the usual discomfort.
After what felt like an eternity, but in reality was only a few agonizing moments, the pain subsided. Panting, William took a deep breath and regained his composure. Once he felt grounded again, his attention drifted back to the box resting in his lap. The wrapping paper was crisp and blue, and the box itself was no larger than his hands.
Without further delay, William tore open the wrapping, revealing the contents inside. To his surprise, it wasn't a weapon, a potion, or anything else he might have expected. Instead, nestled within the box was a dark red dreamcatcher.
He stared at it, dumbfounded. "Huh? But why this?" he muttered aloud.
As if in response to his confusion, a screen materialized before him, displaying the item's stats:
[ Dark Hold Dreamcatcher ]
[ Rank: Legendary ]
[ Classification: Item ]
[ Description: The Dark Hold Dreamcatcher was forged by a long-forgotten man named Virl, who had lost his daughter to a malevolent demon known as Faros. Consumed by rage and grief, Virl anticipated that Faros would soon come for him as well. Driven by vengeance, he delved into the arcane arts, eventually using dark magic to craft this dreamcatcher and imprison the demon within ]
[ Effects: The Dark Hold Dreamcatcher possesses the power to protect its bearer from any spells, curses, or malicious spirits that threaten to invade their dreams or physical being. It also shields against mental invasion and corruption. Additionally, it holds the capacity to capture and imprison powerful demonic entities ]
As William read the description, his initial skepticism gave way to realization. A grin slowly spread across his face as the implications of this legendary item became clear.
"To think the system would reward me with something this valuable—and for free, no less. This isn't just a powerful tool, it's a legendary artifact. A real game changer."
He chuckled, shaking his head in disbelief. "I don't care why it was given to me, what matters is that it's mine now—and it's useful."
William wanted to hang the dreamcatcher above his bed or somewhere nearby, but there wasn't a suitable spot to place it. Shrugging, he set it beside his pillow for now.
With a final glance at the legendary item, William laid back and closed his eyes. Clawdia, his loyal companion, soon followed. She leapt onto the bed with feline grace, shrinking down to the size of a kitten and curling up beside him.
Just as he was about to sleep, something remarkable happened. The dreamcatcher sensed its purpose and gently floated into the air, hovering just above William and Clawdia like a vigilant sentinel.
"Cool," William thought with a sleepy smile. "That's one neat ability—hovering above me while I sleep, ready to protect me when I'm most vulnerable. This is exactly what a legendary item should be."
Content and feeling secure, William let himself drift into a deep, dreamless sleep.
The next morning, as the first light of dawn filtered into the room, William awoke feeling utterly refreshed. He stretched his limbs, slipped into his training gear, and prepared himself for the day ahead. As usual, Clawdia was reluctant to leave the warmth of the bed, grumbling about how "Master feels warm." But after a few playful nudges, William managed to coax the big tiger into waking up.
Descending the stairs, William briefly checked in on the workers to ensure everything was running smoothly before heading directly to the training room. As he stood before the door, a sense of excitement coursed through him—a stark contrast to the usual apprehension that greeted him in the mornings. Today, he was eager. Eager to test his new abilities. Eager to show Adam what he had gained.
Pushing open the door, William strode towards Adam, who stood patiently at the center of the room, awaiting him.
"You look energized today," Adam observed with a slight smile, noting the confident gleam in William's eyes.
'This is going to be fun.' Without warning, William lunged forward, ready to strike.