In his vision, two options pulsed with a soft, ethereal light.
<Accept> (Harens' Scrying Orb will partially unseal and temporarily become your equipment.)
<Refuse> (Harens' Scrying Orb will shatter into motes of light and seek out its next destined owner.)
This is the reward for a Hidden Questline? Ethan Sorel thought, his gaze fixed on the crystal sphere resting in his palm. The phantom he’d glimpsed within it moments ago had vanished, leaving the orb looking deceptively ordinary.
But this was tied to an Epic-tier quest. There was no way it was just a simple piece of gear. An opportunity to acquire a powerful item for free was not something he intended to pass up. Besides, if he couldn't complete an Epic quest, who could?
Just as his finger hovered over the <Accept> button, a wild, intrusive thought struck him. Wait. Can `Cataclysm` work on quest items? And if it can… what would happen to the quest itself?
The idea took root in his mind, growing with an uncontrollable, frantic energy. The risk was immense, but the potential reward…
"Let's find out," he muttered, the words barely a whisper. Epic quests might come and go, but a knot of regret would tighten in his gut forever if he let this chance slip by.
He took a deep breath, his focus narrowing to a single point.
`Cataclysm`!
Target: Harens' Scrying Orb!
A new interface flooded his vision.
<System: Please select an Ascension grade: Tier 1 / Tier 2 / Tier 3.> (Click for details)
"Holy sht, it works!" A thrill shot through Ethan. The sheer power of his `Cataclysm` Talent was nothing short of terrifying. To forcefully upgrade even a core quest item was a flagrant violation of the game’s known rules.
He eagerly opened the details.
Option 1: Ascend to quest item [Dylan's Scrying Orb]. Cost: None.
Option 2: Sublimate to quest item [Kron's Scrying Orb]. Cost: 100,000,000 Soul Coins.
Option 3: Catalyze to quest item [Eli's Orb of Revelation]. Cost: 100,000 Years of Lifespan.
"This doesn't just upgrade the item… it changes the entire quest!" Ethan stared, dumbfounded, at the three distinct paths laid out before him. He had expected a simple quality boost, not a complete overhaul.
And that last option… was the system serious?
After Epic-tier came Legendary. A Sublimation would push it to Mythic. That meant a Tier 3 Cataclysm would create something beyond Mythic-tier. What level even was that? The cost—one hundred thousand years of Lifespan—was identical to the cost of Catalyzing his class.
"Does that mean… the Death Sovereign class is also beyond Mythic-tier?" A flicker of intense excitement ignited in Ethan's eyes. His anticipation for the special effects of `The Death Codex` and the new skills he would unlock at Level 10 skyrocketed.
But first, business. He had a quest to accept.
"Tier 1!"
As Ethan made his choice, the crystal ball in his hand began to warp and distort. For a split second, its form blurred into an indistinct haze of light. When it solidified again, it was subtly different. This time, he could clearly see the phantom trapped within: a vicious, snarling Frostfang Colossus.
<System: You have obtained the quest item "Dylan's Scrying Orb".>
The system prompt refreshed, its text now reflecting the change.
<System: Do you wish to accept the quest "The Fall of Diran"? Warning: This is a Legendary-tier quest of unimaginable difficulty. Please consider your choice carefully.>
<Accept> (Dylan's Scrying Orb will partially unseal and temporarily become your equipment.)
<Refuse> (Dylan's Scrying Orb will shatter into motes of light and seek out its next destined owner.)
"Accept." This was exactly what he had gambled for. He wasn’t about to back down now.
<System: You have accepted the Legendary-tier quest "The Fall of Diran".>
<System: Due to your low level, you must reach Level 30 within one month to begin the first stage of the quest.>
<System: Warning: Failure to begin the quest in time will result in the loss of "Dylan's Scrying Orb".>
Hum—
The moment the final prompt faded, the orb in Ethan's hand erupted in a blinding flash of light. Minutes passed before the brilliance slowly receded, revealing the orb now wreathed in faint, grey wisps of Death Miasma.
[Dylan's Scrying Orb] (True name revealed after unsealing.)
Type: Orb (Off-hand)
Level: 0-200
Grade: Legendary
Durability: 1000/1000
Requirements: Quest "The Fall of Diran" must be active.
Base Stats: (At Level 5)
Spell Power +50
All Stats +20
Health +1000
Mana +2000
Affixes:
1. Spell Critical Chance +30%, Critical Damage +50%
2. (Sealed)
3. (Sealed)
Skills: (Sealed)
Special: (Unlocks after starting the first stage of the quest)
(Quest Item: Disappears automatically if the quest is failed.)
Everything but the base stats and the first affix was locked away. Even so, the raw power it offered utterly dwarfed any Dark Gold-tier equipment of the same level. Free and overpowered? He’d take it any day.
Since `The Death Codex` had become a special item that didn't occupy an equipment slot, Ethan immediately equipped the orb to his off-hand. It shrank in size, settling into a slow, graceful orbit around his left wrist.
A glance at his inventory, overflowing with unidentified gear, brought a satisfied nod. The haul from this dungeon run had exceeded all his expectations. After summoning a hundred elite skeletons, he swept a hand, consigning them all to his `Summon Capacity`, then turned and stepped into the exit portal.
The blinding white light of the portal faded, replaced by the chaotic din of the starter village. A wave of gasps and whispers rippled through the massive crowd gathered outside the dungeon entrance.
"It's Whitenox!"
"So that's him. I thought he'd have three heads and six arms or something."
"The EXP needed after Level 5 is insane. How the hell did he already hit Level 8?!"
"If you could solo Catastrophe Difficulty, you'd level that fast too."
"He's even hotter than I imagined. I want to be his girlfriend."
"Get in line, bitch! Whitenox is mine!"
"Wonder if he'll start a guild. With his power, people would flock to him."
"Probably not. He doesn't have a talent like GrandDominion's. A guild would just slow him down."
The chatter was a mix of awe, envy, and raw speculation. But no one dared to get too close. The back-to-back server announcements had painted a clear picture of Ethan's terrifying strength. While dying in a Starter Village didn't cost Lifespan, the level loss and the pain were very real. Nobody knew Whitenox’s temperament, and getting killed on a whim wasn't a risk anyone was willing to take.
"Whitenox, my man! You finally decided to come out."
The booming, confident voice belonged to WealthSupreme. Ethan turned, a slight smile touching his lips as he saw the portly player striding toward him.
The money had arrived right on schedule.
The sight of the village’s strongest player and its wealthiest player meeting sent a fresh wave of speculation through the crowd.
"Those two teaming up? Looks like Dominion Guild's Hard Mode First Clear is about to be snatched away."
"I don't know, GrandDominion's team has been in there for ages. Can WealthSupreme's squad even catch up?"
"Or maybe... just maybe... WealthSupreme is aiming for Nightmare."
Ethan raised an eyebrow. "You've been waiting for me?"
WealthSupreme waved a dismissive hand. "Not long." His eyes scanned the ever-growing throng of players, and he frowned. "Perhaps we should find a more private place to do business?"
"No need." Ethan gestured, and ten hulking Skeleton Warriors materialized from thin air, their massive frames forming a cordon that pushed the gawking players back. "Right here is fine. I'm on a clock."
Gulp.
A collective swallow echoed through the now-silent crowd. Disbelief was etched on every face. Players rubbed their eyes, staring at the ten skeletal behemoths that had appeared from nowhere. Then, their gazes, including MapleWhisper's, snapped back to Ethan as if he were some kind of monster.
They couldn't see the skeletons' detailed stats, but they could see their health bars.
Six-digit health pools. Holy sht. He hadn't summoned minions; he had summoned ten goddamn bosses.
The raw impact of the ten Skeleton Warriors was no less staggering than the server-wide announcements. It was a brutal reminder that Myriad Realms Online was a world with real, tangible power gaps. Players may have started at the same time, but their strength could already be worlds apart.
For some, the sight was demoralizing. But for many more, it was a spark, igniting a burning desire to grow stronger. Those players wasted no more time spectating, quickly forming parties and plunging back into the dungeon. A poor Talent didn't mean one couldn't become a top-tier player; the game was full of opportunities for those bold enough to seize them.
"Your strength is truly terrifying, Whitenox," WealthSupreme said, his voice laced with a new layer of respect as he eyed the silent, imposing warriors. He was now absolutely certain: Whitenox’s Talent had to be SSS-tier. Nothing less could explain this level of power. A flicker of doubt crossed his mind. How could one tiny Starter Village produce two players with SSS-tier Talents? Was there something special about this place?
He could never have guessed that Ethan's Talent was the result of a bug he'd exploited. Ethan's original Talent was merely S-tier. The only true SSS-tier player in Starter Village #9527 was, in fact, WealthSupreme himself. The village's only real statistical anomaly was its unusually high number of S-tier players—four in total, including Ethan.
"Heh, your Talent is the one to be envious of," Ethan chuckled. He vividly remembered the description of `The Golden God`. Paired with his own Sublimation ability, it would be an unstoppable combination. But Ethan had no plans to form a team. As long as he had the ability to get free Ascensions, all of WealthSupreme's money would eventually find its way into his pockets.
The two men, each with their own agenda, exchanged a knowing smile.
"My haul is… substantial," Ethan said, getting straight to the point. "Are you sure you can take it all?"
"Absolutely. Don't you worry about that," WealthSupreme puffed out his chest, his confidence returning in full force. When it came to money, he had nothing but.
"Then let's get started." With a noncommittal shrug, Ethan began pulling items from his inventory—a pile of gear and skill books dropped from trash mobs. Even after a free `Cataclysm` Ascension, they were merely Black Iron and Bronze-tier equipment and D-rank skills.
Even so, to WealthSupreme, they were treasures. After a quick inspection, he knew Whitenox was holding back the good stuff, but he didn't press the issue. "Name your price, Whitenox. I'll take it all." His current five-man team was just the beginning; he planned to build an elite force of a hundred. He needed this gear.
"Five Silver per Black Iron piece, twenty Silver for Bronze, and twenty Gold for each D-rank skill book," Ethan said, quoting prices he’d deemed reasonable after a quick scan of the trade channels. Low-tier gear wasn't valuable in the long run, but skill books were a different story. D-rank skills were not something current players could farm easily.
"Done!" WealthSupreme agreed without a moment's hesitation and initiated a trade. "Ten Black Iron pieces, six Bronze, and four D-rank skill books. That comes to eighty-one Gold and seventy Silver."
Haggling? Out of the question. To him, establishing a connection with Whitenox was far more valuable than a few gold coins.
Ethan raised an eyebrow, surprised by his eagerness. After the transaction completed, WealthSupreme grinned. "Alright, that was the warm-up. How about you show me the real prizes now?" A player who had solo-cleared Catastrophe Difficulty couldn't possibly have only walked away with this much.
"Oh, I have better things," Ethan replied, a knowing smirk spreading across his face. "The question is, can you afford them?" He reached into his bag again, and a cascade of new items appeared. "In terms of power, I'm no match for you. But when it comes to money, I—"
WealthSupreme’s boast died in his throat.
At his side, Vince's eyes went wide. "C-RANK SKILL BOOKS! AND SO MANY GOLD-TIER PIECES!"
Marshmallow and the team's newly recruited Fire Mage, whose ID was 'WakingUpIsHard', were stunned into silence. They hadn't even seen Silver-tier gear yet, let alone Gold. And C-rank skills were the rarest items in the game at this stage. Yet Whitenox had just casually dumped out a pile of them.
Seven Gold-tier items and five C-rank skill books. With that gear, their chances of clearing Nightmare Difficulty would skyrocket.
Even the stoic MapleWhisper was visibly shaken; two of the items and one of the skill books were perfect for him. His expression shifted from shock to something strange as he leaned over and nudged his leader.
"Looks like your pockets aren't as deep as you thought," he whispered.
WealthSupreme's face twitched. As much as he hated to admit it, it was true. He didn't have enough. An embarrassed flush crept up his neck as he opened his mouth, but no words came out.
Seeing his predicament, Ethan just smiled and waved a hand dismissively. "It's fine. You can take it all now. Pay me the rest tomorrow." He wasn't worried; the system's contract feature would ensure he wouldn't be cheated.
WealthSupreme’s party lit up with relief and gratitude, their opinion of Ethan soaring.
But Ethan's plan was far from complete. This was just the beginning.