[Item Shop] is opening...
In front of Nero was a blue thin user interface hologram. Furthermore, at the center there was a circle and within the circle. Inside between the two circles were four dots of light that it rotating around it in clockwise direction.
Inside of those circles were words of "[Item Shop] is opening..." and the percentage of how long the opening is gonna take. It was currently sitting in 76% finished until opening.
It was faster than Nero thought it would be. He just activated the system for less than a minutes and now the percentage sits on 85% now.
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87%... 90%... 94%... 99%...
100%!
[Item Shop] is now open.
GRAND OPENING OF ITEM SHOP!
You have been given a total of hundred gold coins to spend!
_____________________
The previously closed [Item Shop] was now open. Fortunately, it have simple interface that Nero was so familiar off. The [Item Shop] user interface was very similar to a mobile phone, but much bigger more like an iPad.
Additionally, the size is about 10x12 and as thin as sheet of paper.
The user interface was very simple looking with only four applications icons that states the name "Profile, Shop, Bank, and Storage."
The "Profile" have an icon of a human with no features. The "Shop" have an icon of a cart full of colorful paper bags. The "Bank" have an icon of piggy bank with a peso (₱) sign at the center of its body. The "Storage" have an icon of a card similar to the back of Yu-Gi-Oh! cards. It was like a cup of coffee with cream not fully stirred in.
If one's look closely to the icons they will notice that they are alive or more like GIF or Graphic Interchange Format.
Furthermore, the application icons were arranged in 2x2 grid arrangement.
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[Item Shop]
_____________________
After reading the description of each application Nero went and click [Shop] first.
Inside the shop were only [Potion] icon on it among its other 5 function which have locked icon on them. Six total functions were inside the [Shop] and only [Potion] is currently available.
The [Potion] icon look like a glass bottle with blue liquid inside of it.
Due to his current situation Nero quickly click [Potion] and was greeted by only two things the "Potion of Healing and Potion of Mana" with astronomical prices!
Each bottle have different prices, but thanks to the hundred gold coins the system have given to him he can afford them for now.
In spite of the fact that he still didn't know the value of a single gold coin, Nero knew that the value is astronomical just like the value of a single gold nugget back on Earth.
Even though the money is not on his hand, but instead inside the system. Nero thinks he still can take it out using the [Bank] function.
"So it was like the digital currency that were getting popularity back on Earth." Nero thought.
_____________________
[Item Shop]
[Shop]:
________________
Potion of Healing: Can heal wounds and injuries including critical injuries like severe limbs.
Duration: 0:45 seconds.
Cost: 90 gold coins
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Potion of Mana: Can restore lost mana under the time duration.
Duration: 0:20 seconds.
Cost: 125 gold coins.
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After checking each items he quickly choose to buy the potion of healing and 90 gold coins were deducted from him.
Out of thin air the potion of healing appeared and stays floating midair. Inside the bottle about 1 liter was a bright red liquid like fresh blood. Additionally, the seal is cork with branded name that states "Potion of Healing" on top of it encircling the cork.
Without wasting any more time Nero quickly drank the whole potion.
"Huh?"
"Nothing happened?" Nero said nervously as he felt betrayed, tricked again.
He then notice his wound getting healed one by one. Nero uneasiness disappeared the moment he saw his wounds getting healed.
"Although, it was not quick as I expected. As long as it works, I'm okay with it." Nero said.
He then observe his severe legs in order to witness the process.
Moments later, all of his upper wounds were completely healed and the only left are his two legs.
"Ahhhhhhhhhhhh~!" Nero shouted as pain surge in within him.
White bones were regenerating on both of his legs along with his muscles. Every seconds the first one to regenerate have completely developed fresh flesh and were looking as good as new.
The regeneration process have reach at his feet and his toes were forming one by one.
Finally, the whole process is completed. He had new pair of legs now and all of his wounds were completely healed.
But Nero was not looking good because he felt all the pain. The pain of his bones and flesh being force to heal. Unlike the small wounds that were painless and sometimes just sting like ant bite.
Saliva drifts from his mouth and tears flows out of his eyes. His eyes became bloodshot and blurry. He was breathing heavily.
The time is ticking and night has almost fallen, but Nero was still stuck in a tree along with his now rotten "friend" whom unfortunately died.
Moments later...
Nero finally came into his senses and started thinking how to cut the binding on his hands. He started to grind the rope against the tree when suddenly an arrow passes him by.
Swoooosh~ Sweeeeeoooosh~
The arrows made whistle sounds as they flows midair passing Nero.
"W-who's there!?" Nero shouted nervously.
But no reply came out.
Nero speeds up on his task of cutting the binds on him. Arrows were still flying not hitting them.
Snap~!
Finally, the rope that were binding him were cut off. Nero quickly stands up and ran away when he noticed he wasn't leaving his position at all, but instead he was lifted up from the ground!
He look at the direction where the arrows were coming from to only see two pairs of dots glowing bright red like a flame.
Nero quickly reminded about the magic the young man used when capturing them. Rage quickly fills him up and shouted, "Y-you after beating me up and cutting my legs off you aren't satisfied!!!"
"And now you want to completely finishing your job!"
Then the unknown person who is attacking him spoke, "You mean him?"
A head went flying into Nero's direction.
"Ahhhhhhhh~!" Nero shouted in surprise, but quickly calm down.
The head was very familiar to Nero as he vowed to never forget the face of his enemy. The head's belong to the young man who is responsible for all of these happening!
Then a man in black robes came out from the darkness with a wooden stuff on his hand. Nero were only 10 meters away from him when suddenly he flows off toward the direction of this stranger.
Then, Nero saw the face of the man who have now flesh but all bones instead. "Ahhhhh~! A living skeleton! Help! Help!"
The being in front of him was a skeleton with glowing red flames on its eye socket. A flaming ball of fire at the center of its body where the human heart is at.
"Hello, young man, do not be afraid as I am harmless." the being said with its hoarse voice. Surprisingly, the voice soundly from a man.
Nero calm down after he heard the sentence, but he was still floating midair.
"I've observed you since the moment that human brought you two in my territory. I happen to witness something that piqued my curiosity. What inside of the bottle you just drank?" the being said as he asked a question from Nero.
"I-if I t-told you would you let me go?" Nero replied nervously.
"Of course, if you satisfy my curiosity I will even teach you how to wield magic as I can see a potention for magic from you."
"R-r-really?" Nero replied but he was still cautious. "I-it was a potion of healing."
"A potion of healing! I've never seen a potion that were red like blood. Are you perhaps from the vampire race?" the being said.
"Vampire race? Vampire exists too?" Nero said.
"What kind of question is that?" the being asked.
"!!!"
"I said that out loud!?" Nero shouted inwardly.
"I-It was nothing. It was truly a potion of healing." Nero replied.
"Do you still have a potion of healing?" the being said expectant.
"Unfortunately, I currently do not have one." Nero said.
"Currently? So you mean you can have an another bottle for the future?" the being asked.
"Y-yes?" Nero replied unsure.
He was now broke and do not have money at all with only 10 gold coins left on him.
"Okay, I decided I'll take you into my castle." the being said.
"Shit! Shit! Shit!" Nero cursed inwardly as he saw the skeleton writing something in the ground.
Sweeoooooeeesh~
A massive gate that have majestic carving of a serpentine dragon appeared before them that stands tall at 10 meters.
"!!!" Nero's mouth agape from the scene. He look down at the ground and saw a magic array written on the ground.
Creeaakkk~
Then the massive gate opened creating creaking sound. The skeleton being and Nero's set foot at the gate and it disappeared like a bubble leaving no trace except for the magic array on the ground.
...
Somewhere in the world...
There are mountain ranges and there is one particular mountain that stands proudly from the rest. It was much taller than its fellow mountains. Vortex like cloud like the appearance of a typhoon is circling at the top of that said mountain.
The top of the mountain have a giant castle in ruines. The smaller mountains have ruined bridges and ruined towers scattered throughout the mountain ranges. It was an empty space.
The exterior of the castle and its other buildings were covered in snow. The interior were in ruines with unlit torches on the walls.
The remains like bones and skulls were scattered throughout the building. Spider webs were almost everywhere. All kinds of weapons were also everywhere inside. Some skeleton were trap in a spider web and some were crashed to powder.
But there is a single place throughout the castle that is clean and maintained with hundreds of books were arranged neatly. Additionally, a throne is at the center. It was the throne room.
Inside the throne room a giant door like gate suddenly appeared and two beings came out.
They were Nero and the skeleton magician. "We are here. Welcome to my home." the being said to Nero as he spread his hands open.
One by one the unlit torches were lit with green fire. The chandelier above were also lit with green flames.
The scene left Nero speechless because the whole seen in the past can only be seen in games.
"Oh, I forgot the introduce myself. My name is Graham and as you can see I am a lich." Graham said to Nero. "So, who are you kid?"
"Uhm, my name is Nero Eshwald." Nero replied.
"As of today, you will be my friend and student. Living alone in this castle is like torture even though I'm been alone for more than three hundred years, yohohoho..." Graham said as he laugh out loud.
"Okay." Nero replied nonchalantly. He was fine to be around with this skeleton than being in constant danger to be killed in Human settlements. The lich is super friendly too.
He feels reminiscent towards this place and the lich as he was reminded of the games he played before.
More importantly, the shining golden coins that were scattered throughout the floor made him drool.