Chapter 14 — Strange Dream
[System Shop]
[Loading… Complete!]
[System Shop LV 1 Unlocked! Please take a look…]
A new screen appeared before me—larger than any previous one. Its interface was a deep navy blue, decorated with gently rotating star patterns in the background, like a miniature galaxy.
"Whoa… this is the system shop?" I muttered, eyes widening.
Several tabs floated on the display: [General Items], [Techniques & Skills], [Rare Items], [Artifacts], and [Food].
"...There's even food?" I exhaled in disbelief. "Seriously, my system is weird. Really, really weird."
[That is not 'weird,' Host. It is luck. Only you have full access to this shop.]
"Luck, huh…? Fine. Let's check the General Items first."
When I tapped the tab, a long list of odd items appeared.
[Intermediate Healing Potion] — 300 points
[Intermediate Mana Potion] — 300 points
[Strength Pill] — 100 points
[Intermediate Enhancement Stone] — 500 points
I scanned each one slowly. "They're good… but insanely expensive."
[Prices adjust according to the world's value, Host.]
"Haha, the system won't hand me power for free, huh? It wants me to work hard and not become blind and arrogant about my strength."
I chuckled.
"But honestly, this is nothing compared to the power I currently have."
And it wasn't a lie. The strength I'd gained defied human logic.
[Correct, Host. Just because you've become slightly stronger doesn't mean you can act arrogant. You must grow through effort.]
I stiffened. "Huh? Why do you sound so serious all of a sudden…? I already know that!"
With a small sigh, I continued scrolling. My attention was drawn to the Techniques tab.
[Mist Blade Technique] — 10,000 points
[Mana Breathing Manual] — 8,000 points
[Swift Step] — 5,000 points
[All-Weapon Mastery] — 20,000 points
"Whoa, that's insane…!" I gasped. Then tilted my head.
"But… can't I create techniques using my imagination?"
[Correct, Host. However, I advise you not to rely on that ability too often.]
"Why?"
[You'll understand if you try it yourself.]
I raised a brow. "Alright then… I'll try. So, how do I use the skill?"
[Simply imagine the technique or skill you want, Host.]
I nodded, closing my eyes. Excitement ran through my body as I imagined the technique I'd always dreamed of having—both in my previous life and this one.
A sword technique unforgettable to me: Thunder Breathing—Zenitsu's technique.
Except I altered its energy foundation into mana.
[Creating Technique… Complete.]
[Integrating Technique with Body…]
A wide grin spread across my face—
But seconds later, my entire body and mind felt as if they were being shredded and stabbed by thousands of burning needles. I screamed, collapsing from my chair yet again.
"AAAHHH!!"
It felt like I was being struck by lightning repeatedly. Mana inside me spun out of control, overflowing, rampaging wildly. Blue veins surfaced beneath my skin, and sparks of blue lightning burst from my entire body.
[WARNING! Host's body is not prepared for this technique.]
[Adjusting body to new technique…]
[Activating Infinite Adaptation…]
The pain lessened slightly, only to be replaced by an unbearable full-body itch—
as if my skin was being rewritten, reshaped.
My breath trembled—
Then suddenly… everything stopped.
[Technique Integration Complete.]
[Congratulations. New technique acquired.]
[You have obtained: Thunder Breathing.]
As the message appeared, the pain faded. I lay sprawled on the floor, panting heavily.
Damn… that was torture! I cursed internally.
[Exactly, Host. That is why I warned you. Even with Infinite Adaptation, this technique affects the soul, not the physical body. Adaptation can only lessen the pain slightly.]
"Hahh… haa… fine…!" I gasped.
"But… wait… you can—hah—read my thoughts?"
[Correct. I am connected to your mind. But if you wish, you can block me at any time.]
"Hah… hahh… I see…"
[Yes, Host.]
Suddenly the door slammed open.
Milly rushed in frantically.
TRAACK!!
"Ren! What happened!? Why were you screaming?!"
"CHARGE!!"
A voice thundered across the battlefield.
A man clad in silver armor lined with gold swung a massive two-edged greatsword. The ground was littered with corpses—monsters and humans alike. His army roared with him.
""YEAHHHH!!""
"Don't let that demonic bastard escape!!" he shouted, cutting down a charging beast.
Then—like a god descending—lightning struck the battlefield, obliterating everything within a two-kilometer radius.
Someone appeared.
"Hahahaha!! Look at me, Noah! I'm the best!! HAHAHAHA!!"
A white-haired man with crystal-blue eyes hovered in the sky, annihilating enemies as the radius of destruction expanded. His white hair fluttered wildly, wrapped in arcs of lightning. Two dragon-like horns curved back from his forehead.
Blue flames formed phoenix-like wings behind him, flickering in the wind.
Lightning continued to rain down.
Yet Noah—the armored man—remained completely unharmed.
"Don't overdo it, Ren! You need to conserve mana!!" he yelled.
Two women and a man arrived behind Noah.
One of them was Abel—the Saintess.
"Just leave him," Abel said calmly. "He'll stop once he gets bored or tired."
"Ahahaha!!"
.
.
…
Abel's POV
Three days had passed since I awakened my Saintess power. I had been staying in the central church of Alcus, the large city protected by the outer walls.
Investigators from the Empire were still analyzing the incident—
the ancient being that appeared above the skies of Lumen City. Rumors said it was connected to my awakening.
But that wasn't true.
It wasn't me who summoned that ancient entity—it was Ren.
I still remembered everything clearly.
Who could forget such an event?
There was something else unusual too.
Since my awakening, my eyes—once the color of the blue sea—had turned gold, like miniature suns.
Right now, I was sitting in the room the church had prepared for me. Tomorrow, I would be taken to the Imperial Capital for the Saintess inauguration and would start living there.
"...If I go, will I never see Ren and the others again?" I whispered sadly.
"I don't want that…"
I remembered Ren's words before we were separated two days ago:
"Become stronger—and we'll definitely meet again. I promise."
I clenched my fists.
Ever since awakening, I had been having strange dreams—starting as silhouettes, but rapidly becoming clearer.
And in them… the figure was Ren.
At first I thought it was just an odd dream.
But it kept happening.
Is that the future? I wondered. But who were those people with him…?
Just then, the door opened and a nun entered.
"Saintess, it is time for lunch."
"Please don't be so formal, Sister…" I said as I stood. "I'll be down in a moment."
"Yes, Lady Abel."
She bowed and left.
I looked out the window.
The city of Alcus stretched far beyond the fortress walls.
"I hope… before I leave for the capital…
I get to see you again, Ren."