2025-03-14 15:24:14A drop of water echoed in the cavern’s vast emptiness.
Drip… Drip… The sound barely made a difference in the oppressive silence. Jagged stalactites hung from the ceiling like frozen fangs, their sharp edges glistening under the faintest glow of buried crystals. The air was deathly still, thick with the scent of ancient ice and stone. Deep within, an enormous structure of solid ice stood undisturbed, sealing away a figure lost to time. The cavern had remained untouched for centuries. Then— Ding! A crisp chime shattered the silence. [System Notice: Self-Activation Successful.] A pulse of unseen energy rippled through the ice. Faint cracks slithered across the frozen surface, spiderwebbing outward. Then— BOOM! The ice erupted, shards scattering in all directions. A body fell from its crystalline prison, hitting the cold stone floor with a heavy thud. He did not move. For several moments, nothing happened. Then— Ding! [Emergency Protocols Engaged: Forcefully Awakening Host.] A sudden warmth spread through his body. His fingers twitched. His eyelids fluttered. Then, with a sharp gasp— Kael von Everfrost opened his eyes. He lay there, staring blankly at the cavern ceiling above him. His vision swam, his mind hazy, as though waking from a dream that had lasted lifetimes. He attempted to move, but his limbs felt sluggish, unresponsive. “…Where… am I?” he rasped, his voice dry and unfamiliar even to himself. His thoughts were sluggish, yet memories flickered back—the palace, the celebration, the sudden attack, the freezing waters swallowing him whole. His heart pounded. How am I alive? Before he could process further— Ding! A translucent blue screen appeared before his eyes, words forming across its surface. [System Online. Welcome back, Host.] Kael’s breath hitched. “What…?” His brows furrowed as he tried to read the text. The symbols twisted and rearranged themselves before his eyes, becoming incomprehensible. His confusion deepened. What language is this? Ding! [System Notice: As Host originates from 1500 years ago, modern languages have been installed into your mind for seamless communication.] A sharp pain shot through his skull as knowledge surged into his mind. Thousands of words, structures, and meanings poured in at once, burning themselves into his thoughts. It was as if he had always known them. The pain faded as quickly as it came. Kael inhaled sharply. He blinked, then looked at the floating text again. He could read it now. But before he could question anything— Ding! [Mission Issued: Escape the Cavern] —Time Limit: 6 hours —Failure Consequence: Death due to extreme cold and exhaustion —Mission Rewards: —Complete Body Restoration —Night Vision Ability —+50,000 Dollars Kael’s expression darkened. Six hours…? His gaze drifted to the last line. Fifty thousand… dollars? The word felt foreign, unfamiliar. His jaw clenched. Just what is this system? A deep breath. No matter what this was, he had no time to waste. --- The cavern was an unforgiving maze. The cold gnawed at his weakened body, his steps unsteady. He leaned against the rock walls for support, each movement an effort. The light from the buried crystals gave him just enough vision to navigate, their glow faint but consistent. His breath came in short gasps. Time passed—he wasn’t sure how long. His muscles ached, his fingers numb. But then— A distant glimmer. A crack of light piercing the darkness. Hope surged through him. He stumbled forward, ignoring the burning in his legs. The icy terrain threatened to trip him, but he pushed on. Nearer. Closer. His vision blurred, exhaustion clawing at him, but he reached out— And finally, he stepped out of the cavern. Cold air hit his face, sharp but liberating. The world before him was alien—towering metal structures, glowing lights that were neither sun nor moon. His relief was short-lived. Ding! [Mission Completed: Escape the Cavern.] —Rewards Issued: —Complete Body Restoration —Night Vision Ability —+50,000 Dollars A surge of warmth spread through his body. His strength returned, his exhaustion fading in an instant. His vision sharpened—the night was no longer darkness, but clear as day. Kael barely had time to react before another notification appeared. Ding! [Sign-In Bonus Available!] A new panel flashed before him. [First-Time Sign-In Bonus Activated.] The system paused. Then— [System Notice: Would you like to claim your sign-in bonus now?] Kael hesitated. His thoughts raced. This system had just granted him power, knowledge, even money. And now, it offered something more? A moment passed. Then, he exhaled slowly. “…Yes.” Light flared before him— A black chest materialized from thin air. Ancient markings glowed across its metallic frame, pulsating with an unknown force. As it settled before him, an immense pressure filled the air. The lid began to creak open.
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The sun hung low in the sky as Kael and Aaron stepped into a street bustling with merchants selling all kinds of so-called "antiques." Stalls stretched along both sides, displaying old trinkets, rusted swords, faded manuscripts, and supposed relics of lost civilizations. The air carried the scent of aged parchment, mixed with the metallic tang of old coins. As they strolled, a familiar chime echoed in Kael’s mind. [Side Mission: Treasure Hunt] Objective: Find and Acquire a 1000+ Year-Old Relic Rewards: $500,000 – A substantial financial boost for future endeavors. Antique Knowledge – Mastery over antique appraisal, restoration methods, material composition analysis, and the ability to discern genuine artifacts from forgeries. History Knowledge – Deep insight into ancient civilizations, lost dynasties, forgotten legends, and the historical significance of relics across different cultures. 1000 System Points – Points that can be used to unlock system functions, upgrade abilities
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