In the depths of a shadowed alley, a young man slipped out of his suit.
"Phew… that was close."
It was none other than Sogen.
That boy tripped intentionally… but why was he so desperate to grab my hand?"
System do you know anything about it.
Host, he may possess a talent that can only be triggered through direct skin contact.
Sogen's eyes narrowed. "So that's it."
"System, open the shop. There are a few things I've been meaning to buy."
Lines of options unfolded before his vision. He scrolled through them with focused intent until something caught his attention.
"Sacred Fires… and—wait—Everlasting Fires?" His breath hitched. "So not only sacred flames, but even everlasting ones exist in this shop…"
The numbers glared back at him. The cheapest Everlasting Fire started at 1.5 million system coins. Far beyond his reach.
"For now, I'll settle with this—Schimitar Bear Sacred Fire."
The moment he confirmed the purchase, a golden light flickered in his eyes. His surroundings shifted violently, and he found himself standing before a colossal beast.
It was a bear, towering and ferocious, its earthy-yellow body plated with armor-like scales. Six blade-shaped appendages floated around its head, glinting with a sharp metallic luster.
But instead of attacking, the beast lowered its massive body, sitting reverently at Sogen's feet.
Sogen placed his hand on its head. A surge of radiant energy engulfed him, lifting his body into the air.
After few minutes when he opened his eyes again, flames flickered within them—a piercing, earthy-yellow blaze—before quickly fading back to normal.
A crisp chime followed.
Ding! Transfer complete. Schimitar Bear Sacred Fire has merged with the host.
Sogen flexed his fingers, gazing at his palm. "Huh… Is that it? Controlling a sacred fire is this easy?"
He probed his chest and discovered a faint, glowing orb of earthy-yellow light pulsing near his heart. With a thought, a flame flickered to life in his hand—gentle, yet terrifying in its potential. His lips curved into a satisfied smile before closing his palm.
"Well that was easy."
Host, don't be arrogant. It seems easy because of me. Had you attempted this through ordinary methods, it would've taken days of painstaking refinement—purging its wild energy, converting it into pure essence.
Sogen smirked. "Well… at least you're useful sometimes."
SOMETIMES? After all I've done for you, you dare say sometimes?!
Sogen's tone was cool, his face impassive. "Compared to cheat systems in novels—like Super Rich System, Harem System, Immortal System—you're not that impressive."
The system's voice darkened.
If that's how you see me… perhaps I should stop issuing you daily rewards. Surely, they're not of much use to you, right?
Sogen's eyes sharpened, his tone firm. "Are you threatening me?"
Silence. Then the system began, smug.
From today onwards, there—
"Fine, fine! You win." He sighed in defeat. "Now, let's head to the workshop."
In Felix Mercenary Association
Inside a private chamber, a middle-aged man sat across from a boy and a girl.
"Father," said Gale, his voice steady, "there's something unusual about that boy. He isn't ordinary. When I used my Blood Perception talent on him the first day, he was shrouded in an overwhelmingly dense red aura. And when I tried to touch him, he dodged with ease."
"Gale, are you saying a seventeen or eighteen-year-old youth single-handedly destroyed Dima Loan Sharks? That's absurd. Only prodigies of the great clans could accomplish such a feat. And those kinds of prodigies have no reason to appear in a small town like ours."
"Father," said Siana, "maybe he came here seeking real life combat experience."
Her father's gaze lingered on her before he shook his head. "Most great clans would never permit their top disciples to roam freely at such a young age. Still…" He tapped the table. "We cannot afford carelessness. We'll keep an eye on him."
He raised his voice. "Krinn. Weston."
Two figures melted from the shadows, materializing silently. They were two middle aged man. Both clad in black, their presence so muted it was as though they weren't there at all.
The siblings stiffened. Even they knew of these men. Krinn and Weston were the leader's most trusted agents—masters of assassination and surveillance, both at the Earth Realm, Sixth Stage Peak level. Even experts of the King Realm often failed to sense them.
"Gale. Siana. Relay everything you know about that boy to them."
The siblings exchanged a look. If their father was deploying these two, then he truly considered the boy a potential threat or a potential helper.
In Rudriger's Workshop
By the time Sogen arrived, the workshop was bustling. A group of men in identical uniforms examined weapons and armor, their voices loud.
"Old man, you never disappoints. Your gears are always reliable," one mercenary said, testing the edge of his blade.
They paid and departed, their insignia marking them as members of the Letinca Mercenary Group.
Sogen entered quietly. Behind the counter, Mr. Rudriger raised his head.
"Boy, you're here. Did you bring the spiritual wood?"
"No, Sir," Sogen replied.
Rudriger sighed, disappointment clouding his face. "Spiritual wood may be expensive, but it's not impossible to obtain. Couldn't you find it? If not, I'll go tomorrow myself."
Sogen chuckled lightly. "Sir, who said I didn't find anything? In fact, I came across something… far more valuable."
A soft fwoosh sounded as an earthy-yellow flame bloomed in his palm.
Rudriger's eyes widened. For a long moment, he could only stare before whispering in awe, "Schimitar Bear Sacred Fire…"
Sogen was equally startled he had already expected that Mr. Rudriger will already knew about the flame but didn't expect that he would identify it, at a glance.
The old man gazed at the flame, then at Sogen. "Boy, how did you… not only obtain it, but fully refine it into your own essence?"
Sogen's lips curled faintly. "That's a secret. You could say… I'm either very lucky, or I have direct ties with the heavens themselves."
Rudriger's curiosity burned in his eyes, but he did not press further.
"Boy, remember—there are many powerful people in this town. What you hold may be only a mid-tier Sacred Fire, yet even that is enough to stir desire in others. Use it with care, and never reveal it recklessly before the eyes of men."
Sogen nodded with agreement.