I was completely clueless.
Either the system had lost its goddamn mind, or so cosmic glitch had infected its code.
Two minutes.
Two fucking minutes to repay what entire kingdoms stored in their treasuries. What small nations fought wars over. What generations of rulers hoarded across centuries.
’Is this thing high on sothing?’
But then again, the calibration thod it conjured wasn’t exactly cheap and felt right though. Having an S-rank summon with that level of QUOR was borderline impossible for soone at my stage.
And Alia wasn’t just so S-rank.
She was far beyond SSS. A being that made legends look like bedti stories.
Of course the price would be astronomical.
DING!
│ ═════════════════════ │
│ ✦ NOTIFICATION ✦
│ ═════════════════════ │
│ Loan amount of 1,000,000
│ Gold Coins transferred to
│ Host Balance.
│ ─────────────────────
│ ► Processing transaction...
│ ═════════════════════ │
Before I could even process that, another notification slamd into my vision.
│ ═════════════════════ │
│ ✦ PURCHASE COMPLETE ✦
│ ═════════════════════ │
│ 1,000,000 Gold Coins used
│ to raise Host QUOR capacity.
│ ─────────────────────
│ ► 2400 QUOR Added
│ ─────────────────────
│ Item purchased from
│ Inaccessible Store.
│ ═════════════════════ │
"Wait!"
I shouted into the void.
"Please don’t do anything stupid! I’m begging you, just stop for one second!"
My hands waved frantically at nothing.
"And where the hell are your manners? What happened to asking for confirmation? Accept or decline? Ring any bells?!"
Silence.
The system didn’t give a single fuck about my protests.
’Motherfucker, you’re completely bugged. Cool down already!’
DING!
│ ═════════════════════ │
│ ✦ CONGRATULATIONS ✦
│ ═════════════════════ │
│ Host Rank Elevated!
│ ─────────────────────
│►Forged→Ascendant
│►Ascendant→Sovereign(Current Rank)
│ ─────────────────────
│ Host Current QUOR Capacity:
│ 620 2400 = 3020
│ ═════════════════════ │
A massive upgrade. The kind of leap that would take years of training and countless resources to achieve normally.
But I wasn’t excited.
I was being robbed in broad daylight.
’One million gold. Gone. Just like that. Without my permission.’
My teeth ground together.
But then a thought struck .
’Who exactly is going to collect this loan? It’s not like debt collectors can chase through dinsions and main thing was that I can’t get any penalties . And even if the system throws a tantrum and locks out of rewards or access until I pay up...’
A grin slowly spread across my face.
’I still have Alia. An EX-rank summon currently bound at S-rank. With the right thods, I can restore her to her forr glory.’
The possibilities were endless.
I could abandon the system entirely if needed. Or hunt down enough wealth to pay whatever ridiculous interest it accumulated. Rob a few kingdoms. Raid so ancient treasuries.
’But still. Giving money to this scamming piece of shit? Over my dead body.’
I turned my attention to Alia.
Her face was twisted with worry. Those red eyes that had been teasing monts ago now carried genuine concern.
I smiled at her.
"Everything is fine and honestly everything is done and taken care of. You belong to now."
Her expression shifted instantly. Anger flickered across her features, but her voice ca out low. Almost vulnerable.
"Don’t curse when I go on a rampage and lose myself."
CHOP.
My hand landed gently on top of her head.
"Don’t worry." I kept my tone light. Casual. "I’ll be there to beat your ass whenever that happens."
She opened her mouth to retort.
But then her body flickered.
The edges of her form began dissolving into particles of light. Fading like morning mist under the sun.
Her smile vanished. Replaced by sudden panic as she realized what was happening.
"Rember!" Her voice grew urgent. "Don’t you dare try to boss around! I am never calling you master! Never portraying myself as your slave!"
She pointed at even as her hand beca transparent.
"I won’t follow your stupid commands even if it hurts ! Do you understand?!"
I couldn’t help but laugh.
"I can’t promise that."
Her body disappeared completely.
But a voice echoed through the empty space. Lingering like a stubborn ghost.
"Big dummy! Idiot! Pussy!"
I blinked.
Then sighed heavily.
’Those words. She really did learn from .’
Though I had to admit, her vocabulary was barely one percent of what I had drilled into Zenos and Marcus. Those two could string together profanity that would make sailors blush.
’Alia still has much to learn.’
I stood alone in that dark void. Smiling. Waiting to be thrown back into the chaos of the arena.
Back to the fight.
Back to humbling a certain princess.
DING!
│ ═════════════════════ │
│ ✦ QUEST COMPLETE ✦
│ ═════════════════════ │
│ Host completed a Future
│ Quest not yet unlocked.
│ ─────────────────────
│ Its Real rewards converted to
│ available currency.
│ ─────────────────────
│ ► Bind with EX-Rank Summon
│ ► Reward: 1,000,000 Gold
│ ═════════════════════ │
My heart nearly exploded out of my chest. One million gold. As a reward. Just handed to .
’Holy shit. Holy fucking shit. I can actually—’
Then reality crashed down.
’Wait. I can’t withdraw this money. Can’t spend it on countless wet pussy. Can’t touch it in the real world.’
My excitent deflated like a punctured balloon.
And before I could even mourn properly—
DING!
│ ═════════════════════ │
│ ✦ LOAN REPAYNT ✦
│ ═════════════════════ │
│ 1,000,000 Gold deducted
│ from Host Balance.
│ ─────────────────────
│ ► Loan fully repaid.
│ ─────────────────────
│ I hope Borrower enjoyed
│ my services! ♥
│ ═════════════════════ │
I stared at that notification.
Read it again.
And again.
’This fucking trash.’
First it panicked . Made clueless. Forced decisions without my consent.
Then it dangled hope in front of my face just to snatch it away.
’One million gold. Gone. Money I could have pumped into Alia. Maxed out her abilities. Restored her to full power.’
My fists clenched.
’And this piece of shit has the audacity to say "I hope Borrower enjoyed my services" with a fucking heart symbol?!’
I wanted to find wherever this system resided and paint it white with my dih—
WHOOOOSH.
The familiar nausea hit like a truck. The void around cracked and shattered. Darkness consud everything.
When I opened my eyes, I was back.
The arena. The crowd. The weight of countless stares pressing down on .
Ashen stood motionless. His blade ready. Waiting for the slightest signal to force my surrender.
And Freya.
She looked at with sothing between pity and contempt.
"Don’t be foolish, Eren. You’ve been defeated and you know it." Her voice carried across the arena. "So just—"
"Is that so?"
I cut her off with a devilish grin.
"But Ms. Gatherer, I haven’t even taken my revenge for that lovely betrayal of yours." I tilted my head mockingly. "I haven’t humbled you yet. So how can I possibly accept defeat?"
My tone shifted. Darker. Heavier with every word.
"And what did you say? That I know I’m defeated?"
I let out a low chuckle.
"Don’t be delusional, Freya. The real battle hasn’t even started."
I raised my hand toward the sky.
"ALIA!"
FWOOOOOOSH!
A pillar of violet energy erupted beside . The air itself seed to tremble. Particles of light swirled into existence, coalescing into a figure I had been waiting to see in this world.
And there she stood.
Purple hair flowing like silk. Red eyes gleaming with mischief. A smile so bright it could rival the sun.
Alia.
She imdiately spun in a full circle. Her head turning left, right, up, down. Taking in everything around her with childlike wonder.
"Eren?" She blinked rapidly. "I am in the sa world, right? Why has everything changed so much?"
She pouted adorably.
"How many years did I miss?"
I couldn’t resist.
"That’s exactly what I’ve been telling you, oldie." I smirked. "You could be more than a millennia old by now."
Her pout deepened. Cheeks puffing with indignation. She opened her mouth to unleash what I assud would be a creative string of insults—
"Witch of Calamity?" A voice cut through our banter.
Ashen.
His tone carried sothing I hadn’t heard before. Surprise. Recognition. Perhaps even respect.
Freya stiffened behind him. Her face contorting with confusion.
Alia turned toward the golden knight. Her head tilted with genuine puzzlent.
"Do I know you?"
Without hesitation, Ashen reached up and removed his helt.
The face beneath was striking. Sharp features frad by snow-white hair. Piercing blue eyes that held centuries of battles within them.
"I don’t believe you would rember ." His voice was calm. Almost warm. "We only fought twice before."
Alia’s expression brightened. "And I won both tis, right?"
A smile touched Ashen’s lips. "You could say that."
Alia imdiately turned to with the most smug expression imaginable.
"See, Eren?" She puffed her chest proudly. "I am the strongest!"
But before I could respond, another voice shattered the mont.
"Ashen!"
Freya’s shout echoed across the arena. Her composure had completely crumbled.
"How?! Why?! What did you just do?!"
She stepped forward, her body trembling.
"Did you just speak casually? How co you showed your face?!"
Her voice cracked with disbelief.
"You have never done any of those things to ! Not even showing your face before! Not even when your own master commanded you!"
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