SWWW Chapter 211: Choosing an Artifact, It's You
New York Sanctum, second floor main hall.
Inside a separate glass case rested a dark crimson cloak, lined with deep golden velvet, designed in the noble style.
At first glance, the material looked exquisite…
But there was something strange about it.
The cloak floated in mid-air without a hanger, without hooks, without any support. It didn't even wrinkle. It hung half-open as if suspended in space, its hem never touching the floor, drifting perfectly in the center of the glass display.
The black-haired boy leaned closer to the case, his brown eyes shining with curiosity as he studied the crimson cloak.
After about three seconds, the cloak, still floating silently, slowly rotated half a turn, as though shyly turning its back toward him.
This cloak…
Could it be… shy?
Xi Nian blinked and asked, "Master, what kind of artifact is this?"
The Ancient One walked forward with her hands behind her back. Looking at the cloak, her eyes turned slightly complicated. "I named it the Cloak of Levitation."
"It is one of the oldest artifacts in the Sanctum, existing even before I founded it. It was crafted by a supreme being of extraordinary skill."
"Interesting. What does it do?" Xi Nian asked.
The Ancient One replied, "The wearer can fly with its aid. It has excellent physical and magical defensive abilities, and it can also be summoned remotely and alter its appearance."
A defensive artifact, with extra support abilities…
Xi Nian immediately made up his mind.
From the start, when choosing an artifact, he hadn't thought only of himself—he also considered Wanda.
After all, Wanda was the true sorceress. She would naturally use artifacts more often than him.
So even though Xi Nian himself had a steel body, he preferred a defensive-type artifact. On ordinary days, Wanda could also use it.
Xi Nian took a deep breath and asked, "Master, can I choose this one?"
"I told you before: aside from the Cauldron of All Things, you can choose any artifact in the Sanctum. But this one…"
The Ancient One paused. Her eyes grew distant, as if recalling many things, and then she murmured, "If you can gain its approval, you may take it away early…"
"Master, what do you mean?" Xi Nian turned to her.
The Ancient One said, "The Cloak of Levitation has a will of its own. To use it, you must first earn its recognition. Otherwise, taking it with you will mean nothing."
"What do I need to do?" Xi Nian asked.
"Approach it. Touch it. You will know whether it accepts you."
The Ancient One added, "But let me warn you first—the cloak only responds to those with powerful magical ability. Only then can its full power be drawn out. It typically only recognizes sorcerers of immense power or extraordinary talent. For centuries, no one has ever gained its approval."
"Master, you're crushing my confidence here."
Xi Nian's lips twitched. He had no magic at all, and his talent as a sorcerer was abysmal!
What Wanda could learn in a single day, he'd need a hundred years to master, if ever!
"So basically, I have no chance of earning its approval?" Xi Nian understood what she was really saying.
The ugly truth came first:
You can try, but if you fail, it's not her problem.
The Ancient One was always straightforward.
"Knowing all this, you still want to try?" she asked.
"Why not? Maybe I'll succeed." Xi Nian shrugged.
The Ancient One waved her left hand. With a cracking sound, the glass case before Xi Nian vanished.
Only the crimson cloak floated quietly in the air.
Xi Nian slowly approached.
The cloak kept its back toward him, showing no reaction.
Xi Nian felt oddly nervous. He held his breath and carefully stretched out his right hand to touch it.
Just before his fingers reached it—
The cloak suddenly curled its edge inward, deftly dodging his hand.
Xi Nian frowned and tried again, swiping several times. But each attempt, the cloak slipped away.
"Forget it." He sighed and spread his hands, as though giving up.
The cloak seemed to relax slightly, its fabric loosening.
In that instant—
The black-haired boy suddenly lunged forward, wrapping his arms tightly around the cloak!
The cloak stiffened, then thrashed wildly, trying to escape his grip.
The Ancient One stood speechless. That was a legendary relic of the Sanctum, and here he was wrestling it to the ground…
Xi Nian realized the cloak's strength was greater than his human-level body. Bit by bit, it pulled free from his hold.
Forget it, no use forcing it.
Xi Nian sighed inwardly and released his grip, letting the cloak escape.
The cloak immediately shot into the air, flying up to the ceiling of the hall and vanishing into the shadows.
"Fine, I really give up," Xi Nian muttered, brushing the dust off his clothes.
But just then, he felt a strange sensation tugging at him.
He turned toward the corner of the hall. Another display case stood there, holding something red that looked like a strip of cloth.
"What's that…" Xi Nian murmured, walking toward it. But before he got far, something pulled him back.
He looked down. The cloak had returned, tugging at his hand with one corner of its fabric, stopping him from moving forward.
Even the Ancient One's expression flickered with surprise.
"What's wrong? If I don't choose you, I can choose something else, can't I?" Xi Nian snapped.
"Let go!"
Losing his patience, he yanked himself free and strode away.
The crimson cloak froze for a moment, then suddenly made up its mind. It swooped down, wrapping itself around Xi Nian from behind, carrying him off the second floor and down into the Sanctum!
"You… you're too much!"
His indignant voice echoed as they disappeared.
Watching them vanish around the staircase, the Ancient One murmured, "It accepted him."
…
A portal of sparks spun open, then closed.
Xi Nian appeared in his living room, the cloak floating by his side.
He gave it a glance and said, "This is my home. From now on, it's your home too. Go on, take a look."
At his words, the crimson cloak quivered, then drifted into the house on its own.
"My home is just getting stranger and stranger…" Xi Nian sighed.
At that moment, the sound of a door opening came from behind him.
Someone was back.
Even before he saw her, Xi Nian knew who it was, thanks to his spider-sense.
That feeling…
Without hesitation, Xi Nian turned and pulled the returning figure into his arms.
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