The group erupted into laughter and cheers, their voices echoing through the altar room.
Their new magical weapons glead under the soft glow of the greenish veins on the stone flesh walls. The air that was once filled with the tallic scent of blood and the sharp bite of decay a mont ago, now carried the warmth of relief and victory.
Myles stood behind them with his arms folded, his gaze lowered. His mind wandered back to the undertaker's cryptic words.
Those words dug into his thoughts, refusing to go. He frowned, lost in the feeling of uncertainty, but then the sound of laughter reached him again.
Ethan had raised his sword high, boasting his weapon. Ryan challenged him imdiately. Samantha rolled her eyes at both of them while Clara laughed pretty hard.
For the first ti in what felt like forever, they were smiling from a genuine joy. The mont carried sothing sacred. It was proof that they were still alive in this hellish world.
Myles sighed slowly. The tension in his shoulders eased and the corner of his lips lifted when looking at them.
Maybe it was fine, he thought. Just for now, maybe he could allow himself to breathe and be part of this brief happiness.
He walked toward the group, his boots clinking lightly against the cold floor.
When George noticed him, he grinned wide and raised his new magical weapon toward him.
"Hey, boss! Finally decided to join us?"
Myles chuckled faintly. "It would be a waste not to. This is our first big victory."
That was all it took for the others to pull him into their circle. Victor clapped him on the shoulder. Nadine, who was still leaning weakly against a broken pillar, managed a faint smile. Even in her condition, she looked proud.
The group began to test their new weapon powers, sparks and lights flashing in brief bursts as they activated their weapons' unique skills, without intention of killing each other, of course.
One by one, they discovered effects like instant bursts of fla, surges of wind, and ripples of energy that danced like threads. The air buzzed with the potential of what they could do next.
In that mont, Myles realized how far they had co.
Just days ago, they were only desperate survivors clutching knives and steel pipes. Now they wielded weapons born of a realm beyond understanding. It wasn't just progress, but almost feels like it was an evolution.
He looked around the altar room. The flesh wall with greenish veins still bore traces of their earlier battle with the crowned monster.
He could still feel the faint pulse of energy moving through his veins, but this was more vibrant than before.
The system had rewarded them with strength — tangible, undeniable power. Levels, skills, attributes — those strange numbers that once felt impossible now defined the difference between life and death.
He thought of the world outside this rift, the city that once thrived on ambition, wealth, and social status. Those things ant nothing now.
The world had rewritten its rules. Power had beco the new currency, and survival beca their only goal. Titles, achievents, and grades had turned into relics of a dead civilization.
Here, strength was everything. A single level-up could decide who lived through the day.
Myles's gaze softened as he looked at his friends.
They had survived countless horrors together. And now they stood stronger than ever.
He knew this peace wouldn't last. The undertaker's warning still whispered in the back of his mind, asking him to prepare himself. It wasn't just a threat.
It was a reminder that greater enemies waited ahead of them.
But for now, he chose to live in this mont.
Myles joined the laughter.
He raised his short sword, the sa one that had carried him through death and despair, and t the others' gazes.
For the first ti since the apocalypse descended, Myles smiled without hesitation.
After the laughter faded and the noise of celebration softened, Myles lifted his head and exhaled a deep breath.
They couldn't stay here forever.
The pulse of the flesh wall and the greenish veins reminded him that this place, as safe as it seed for now, was still part of the Rift.
He looked around at his companions, their faces still glowing with joy and pride.
"Alright," he said, his tone steady but gentle. "Let's head out for now. We need to rest and recover before thinking about what's next. Maybe when we co back, we'll find sothing even better waiting."
No one argued. After everything they had gone through, rest sounded like a blessing. Nods spread around the group.
But before they could move, George suddenly raised a hand. "Wait, wait, wait! Don't tell you all forgot about the Soul Forge Altar?"
Everyone stopped.
Daniel blinked a few tis before slapping his forehead. "Ah, right! How could we forget that?"
Sam's eyes widened, then curved into an eager grin. "Yeah, we all got rewards other than the weapons, right? Those Bone Core Fragnts from the three Bone Titans!"
Her voice carried a spark of excitent. The shy, uncertain girl who once trembled in battle was gone, replaced by soone hungering for growth and power.
Her young face, once innocent, now glowed with determination.
Myles raised an eyebrow.
"You're right. I almost forgot about that myself." He rubbed the back of his neck and let out a tired laugh.
Victor crossed his arms. "So… how do we even use these things?"
George stepped closer to the altar and glanced down at it. The massive slab of dark stone pulsed faintly with a dim greenish hue.
"Let's find out," he said.
Victor reached into his system for temporary storage for reward and pulled out a small object. The Bone Core Fragnt sat in his palm, it was a jagged shard of white bone laced with faint silvery shimr.
George took out his own fragnt and furrowed his brows. His Forgemind skill activated instinctively, sending a stream of information into his vision.
His pupils dilated slightly as glowing text ford across his mind's eye.
He blinked once, then looked up. "Alright… I think I get it now."
Everyone gathered closer.
"So how do we use it?" Ethan asked impatiently, already bouncing the fragnt in his hand like a coin.
George raised his fragnt toward the altar.
"It's simple," he said, his tone suddenly serious. "The Bone Core Fragnts are like materials just like the Ether Shards but stronger. You place them into the Soul Forge Altar, and it absorbs the fragnt's essence. That essence can be converted into one of three things, attribute points, skills, or forging a new equipnt. But…"
He trailed off, his brows tightening.
"But what?" Ryan asked.
"It says that once you start the process, you can't stop it. And depending on your choice, there's a chance of failure."
The group fell silent again. The earlier excitent dimd, replaced by unease.
Victor glanced at Myles. "So, what do we do?"
Myles stayed quiet for a long mont, studying the glowing altar.
Finally, he said, "We'll test it first. One person tries it, and we'll see what happens."
George nodded, his expression calm but firm. "Alright. I'll go first."
—
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