Spirit Game

"As a token of my loyalty," Eve said, her voice cutting through his thoughts, "I offer you this." A strange, glowing stone appeared in her hands, hovering for a moment before dimming and becoming a cracked fragment.

Rain stared at the object in her hands. "What is it?"

"It's a fragment of the Philosopher's Stone," Eve explained. "The rest of it is scattered across the mainland. If you can find the other pieces, you may be able to restore it."

|| Philosophers Stone (Fragment) ||

A small, cracked piece of the legendary Philosopher's Stone, still humming with immense, albeit diminished, power.

Even in its broken state, the fragment retains the ability to transmute metals, ores, and stones, refining them into their next, purer form.

However, its strength is limited—capable of refining only up to 100 items per day before its energy wanes.

The fragment glows faintly with a mixture of deep crimson and gold, a reminder of its former grandeur. Should the other pieces be found and restored, its true, world-altering potential may be unlocked.

|| E N D ||

Rain gazed down at the fractured stone in his hand, feeling its unusual weight and energy pulsing within. It was just a fragment, but the sheer power it held was unmistakable.

"A piece of something this powerful . . . it could change everything," he whispered to himself.

"I'll find the rest of it," Rain promised, his eyes full of determination.

Eve's smile deepened, a hint of mystery flickering in her gaze. "I have no doubt that you will."

Rain glanced back at the stone, uncertainty creeping in. "But this . . . this is something truly powerful, right? Are you sure you want to just hand it over to me like this?"

He may not have known the full potential of the fragment, but Rain could sense its immense value. If this stone could refine materials to the next tier, its worth was immeasurable.

What if it could refine simple iron into silver, or silver into gold? That alone would be a game-changer.

But then, the real possibility struck him—what if this stone could transform mythrill ore into adamantite?

Adamantite was rare, a material used to forge Epic and Legendary-ranked equipment, and harder to come by than most treasures.

If this fragment could unlock that kind of power, his empire would be unstoppable.

His mind raced further. If gold ore could be refined into mythrill and mythrill into adamantite, he'd have access to resources that could build entire kingdoms. The wealth and influence it would bring could elevate his empire beyond even his wildest dreams.

"You really want me to have this?" Rain asked again, still in disbelief.

Eve nodded, her tone calm but commanding. "Take it," she said before extending her hand to reveal a scroll. "And since you now possess the Philosopher's Stone, you should take this as well."

Rain's curiosity spiked as he accepted the scroll. The worn parchment felt heavy in his hands.

"What's this?" he asked, his excitement barely contained as he began to unravel it.

The intricate symbols on the scroll glowed faintly in the moonlight, each one radiating an ancient, almost forbidden knowledge.

Rain's eyes widened, his heart racing as he realized the scroll was more than just a guide—it was a blueprint to harness the true potential of the stone.

[ACQUIRED! Forging, Crafting, Alchemy Life Skills!]

Acquiring forging, crafting, and alchemy skills was an extraordinary feat, a privilege that few players in the world ever obtained.

These life skills were highly coveted, and those players fortunate enough to possess them were seen as invaluable treasures to kingdoms and empires alike.

With the ability to create powerful weapons, rare equipment, and legendary items, players who mastered these skills could shape the course of entire wars and economies.

However, the rarity of these skills made their wielders even more sought after. Most inhabitants of this world—those not bound by the same player system Rain operated under—could spend years, even decades, perfecting their trade and still remain at the beginner or intermediate levels.

It was a slow, arduous process, requiring painstaking precision and an immense amount of time. Blacksmiths, alchemists, and crafters among the original inhabitants worked with care, but their progress toward mastering higher tiers of their craft was limited by the world's natural laws and the lack of a player's advantages.

Rain's empire already employed several forgers and alchemists, but they were original inhabitants, bound by these limitations. They could produce items, but only at the most basic levels. Their creations were practical, but far from the legendary artifacts Rain envisioned for his empire's future.

Elevating their skills to the next tier would require immense effort, dedication, and resources—resources Rain couldn't afford to waste.

But Rain was different. As a player, he had an unparalleled advantage. If he could acquire these life skills himself, the progression would be rapid, unlike the slow grind that plagued the native inhabitants.

His player system allowed him to level up these skills faster, unlocking advanced techniques and legendary crafting recipes in a fraction of the time it would take for someone born into this world.

Rain knew the power this held. If he became a master forger, crafter, and alchemist, he could instantly elevate his empire's standing.

With his newfound ability to craft epic and legendary gear, Rain could forge the weapons and armor his army needed to dominate, create powerful elixirs to fortify his troops, and design enchanted items that would make his empire a force to be reckoned with.

The possibilities were endless, and Rain was ready to unlock them all.

"Uhm. . . can I ask you something?" Rain asked her.

"What is it?"

"You clearly have the power to conquer not just the wasteland, but the mainland as well," Rain said, his voice edged with curiosity. "You possess these incredibly powerful beasts—no, powerful entities—and the items you hold are beyond anything I've seen."

Eve only smiled, a mysterious glint in her eyes. "You really want to know the honest answer?"

Rain nodded, the question gnawing at him for far too long. Why? Why hadn't she already taken everything? Could it be that she just genuinely wanted peace?

Eve's lips curled into a mischievous smile, her head tilting ever so slightly. "The answer is simple, really," she said, her voice sweet but laced with a hint of something darker. "I don't want the heavy burden that comes with ruling such empires."