The night reached its peak as the bluish moonlight, that came from the massive bluish moon that was hanging above the starry sky, intensified and became more dazzling than how it was as though it encompassed the entirety of humanity's serenity.
Russell — who was sitting on the side of his bed as his feet touched the floor — held the ostrich-sized mysterious Egg with his hands; the center of everything that had transpired inside the Hidden Dungeon a few days ago.
The ostrich-sized mysterious Egg that was entrusted to him by the Goddess of Night contained enigmatic external features as though it was the embodiment of "night" and "mysteries".
Its outer shell was dyed in dark purple with a mix of dark blue; there were also indescribable characters that Russell couldn't understand, but upon thoroughly taking a closer look at it, all he could read, at least based on what he's seeing were a few lines that resembled the following characters in the English Alphabet that still exists to this day:
[####E### D#######]
Among the scattered, carved symbols on the outer shell of the mysterious Egg; Russell, who at least tried to find some familiar symbols, heaved a sigh of resignation as he tends to quickly get irritated upon staring at something he was not able to "quickly" understand.
"...I'm probably the only being in this world that knows "Her" existence..."
Russell mumbled while hugging the mysterious Egg as he started to contemplate some things. Some Constellations aside, he believed that he was the only being on this planet who knew the existence of the Goddess of Night.
According to his unpublished novel, "She" barely made an appearance as "She" barely to never cared about the business of some of the Constellations.
She's also the Primordial Goddess of Night who never took an interest in a human or any other race.
"...It still feels like a dream."
Everything that transpired just before the beginning of the main storyline, based on his unpublished novel, came as a shock to him.
His decision to acquire something that he wasn't supposed to might have already ruined the causality of the story.
"...But, when I think about it, it's not like it really matters... because I really need to get stronger."
Believing that his decisions — although would somewhat affect what he knew — would barely affect the original story, he brushed off the negativity of the possible consequences of his actions.
Knowing the future events, especially the post-academy years; getting the Seed of Chaos, and unexpectedly falling under a contract with the Primordial Goddess was something he absolutely needed.
It would allow him to grow quicker than others; although it would only matter in the early development due to a certain Tower that would give someone a chance to increase their Growth Rate, it was still better to have something than nothing at all.
"...Getting stronger is an absolute must.
"...I need combat experience."
When it comes to combat experience, his younger sister, Freya Moon, was above him; even when it comes to their current "Stats".
Russell grew up witnessing the efforts of his younger sister under the guidance of his mother and father, along with the pieces of advice that Freya absorbed. This includes the one that he recently told her, just a few days after they started living in their respective dormitory rooms in the Obelisk Academy.
"...Although she will probably avoid, to some extent, interacting with 'them', it will only be temporary.
Russell mumbled while unconsciously caressing the top of the shell of the mysterious Egg that was sitting on his lap. He also thought previously that fate was playing pranks on him as he checked the class where he was assigned, and mistakenly saw it as A-1, but after confirming, it was A-11. Then, when he saw for the first time where was the assigned class of his younger sister, his mind froze.
"It's still ridiculous when I thought about it."
It's only a matter of time before Russell surpassed his younger sister when it comes to overall "Stats". He knew it NOT because he used the Skill: Eye of Night (EX) that he received, rather, he remembered it when their parents asked someone to get their children's Status Window information.
As Status Appraisal Skills — the general ones that only see up to Standard Status Window — were very expensive to learn through purchasing Skillbooks, they were freely available through Obelisk Player Association branches.
The Obelisk Player Association, especially when the player was about to enroll in a player academy, freely conducts Status Window Appraisals. This process was done for the sole reason of giving pieces of advice to the parents of the child, although it's still up to the parents and the child or player that's capable of thinking at that age.
"It's like a free check-up."
Russell mumbled as random thoughts surfaced in his mind.
"...Hmm... what's next then..."
He fell into deep thought as he muttered to himself; being used to talking to himself when he was alone. A personality that he seemed to inherit from his previous life as he was previously a shut-in stock trader, and at the same time, considered a pseudo-author because he didn't get to publish his novel.
"...Nothing more, but combat experience. That's what I really need for now."
Other than one's "Rank" and "Stats", when it comes to real-life battles, it was one's experiences and execution of the skills that were two of the deciding factors to survive. But, it was only applied when the rank gap was not excessive, specifically, a "two" rank gap would suffice. Though when it comes between S- rank or above, the gap was something like heaven and earth because ranks S- to SSS+ would certainly have more than enough life and death experiences.
"Sigh... There's nothing I can do for now."
Letting out a sigh, Russell put the mysterious Egg — which he could not make out of meaning — inside his Dimensional Inventory, and then he took out an ominous-looking jar.
...
The jar that he took out has its entire body dyed in dark blue and has an exterior design that's very exquisite, along with intricately carved symbols on it just like the mysterious Egg. Its height was around 10 inches and has a mouth-like hole that was around 6 inches in diameter.
Then, aside from some of the esoteric symbols, there's one that Russell recognized that's placed in the middle of the jar.
It's an "X" tilted by 45 degrees to the right; this symbol was quite deeply carved compared to others as though it represented the "Abyss", and it emanated a more intense dark blue aura that resembled "Chaos".
'Is the Goddess of Night so bored that "She"
made this...?'
He thought as he recalled the description that it was a jar that was personally made by the Goddess of Night while he admired the exterior design.
"Hmm..."
With his curiosity, Russell tried to cast his gaze inside the abyss-like mouth of the jar. Then, in just a few seconds, System messages appeared in front of him.
...
[You have gazed in the "Nothingness"!]
[Warning! You do not have enough Chaos in your body!]
...
Although he didn't know what exactly the System messages meant, he retracted his gaze from the hole of the jar as he felt like he would be consumed any seconds longer.
But, the next System messages caused him to wear a surprised look as he read through them.
...
[Items with Chaos origin that can be combined:]
1. Tainted Branch of Yggdrasil
2. Tainted Seed of Yggdrasil
3. Fruit of Chaos
[Choose the items that you want to combine.]
[After the combination, a random item will be generated.]
...
Just after a few seconds, his surprised look suddenly shifted into a sour look because he remembered that his Luck was only a whopping "7", which somewhat signifies that he has more than enough chance of dying than winning a lottery.
Being under the category of "Invariable Stats"; to increase the Luck that he has, Russell needed to at least successfully trigger the desired outcome he wanted when it comes to something that concerned probability, but it does not apply to irrelevant probability such as playing a probability-based arcade forever wouldn't increase his Luck stat.
"Fruit of Chaos..."
He mumbled as he read the items eligible for combination.
The "Fruit of Chaos", though consumable, was something that Russell had no idea about. It seemed like the fruit that came out of the tree that presumably would bear out of the "Seed of Chaos", but he dismissed such a dangerous idea. It's the instinct of trusting the "Fear of the Unknown" that would give him the chance to avoid the unexpected.
"It's not like it worked out previously, though."
One of the reasons — apart from being an "Unknown Element" or something that would be impossible to cross his mind to exist in this world — he didn't know about the Fruit of Chaos was since he didn't expound in his unpublished novel the details about the Chaos Realm.
...
'Should I also combine the Fruit of Chaos with the other two?
'Or should I combine the tainted seed and branch first, and then combine the result with the fruit...?
'What if the outcome of the first combination cannot be used in the jar?'
Numerous questions formed in his mind.
"I'm grateful for these items, but my Luck..."
He didn't finish his words as he scratched his head in frustration.
...
[The Night of Primordial Chaos laughs at you, and says to try your luck!]
"...Oh, hello, it's been a while."
He timidly muttered. It's the first time, since he left the Hidden Dungeon, that he received a System's message with the Goddess of Night in concern.
For some reason, Russell felt comfortable upon reading the System message that said that the Goddess of Night have been watching over him, a very unlike emotion compared to his previous encounter that almost left him dead in anxiety.
'...Is it because of the Symbol of Night...?'
He wondered as he randomly recalled something as he finished reading the System's message.
The Constellations that were eyeing this world, although the Emergence had happened, couldn't fully interact with the people due to their "low" influence as Close Mystery Towers have yet to open.
"...This is an ultimate gamble!"
He firmly said at this deep in the night before he chose the items he intended to combine after some thinking.
...
[You have chosen the following to combine:]
1. Tainted Branch of Yggdrasil
2. Tainted Seed of Yggdrasil
3. Fruit of Chaos
[Combine?]
[Yes or No?]
Russell clicked "Yes" which appeared on the holographic screen. After that, the specific items that were mentioned above were released from his Dimensional Inventory and were consumed by the "Jar of Nothingness", which released itself on his hand as it started to float mid-air.
[You have combined the following items: Tainted Branch of Yggdrasil, Tainted Seed of Yggdrasil, and the Fruit of Chaos.]
[Your Trait: Nihility has taken effect!]
[The Chaos Aura in the surroundings emanated by the items with Chaos Origins has been completely concealed!]
[Your Luck unexpectedly strikes!]
[You have acquired the "Dice of Chaos"!]
[Your Luck increases by 1!]
After the combination process, the Jar of Nothingness spat out three dice which he easily caught with his hands.
These dice were dyed in dark blue, emanating an aura that resembled Chaos, and then, the jar floated inside his Dimensional Inventory as though it has a will on its own.
[The Night of Primordial Chaos is deeply amazed by the result!]
"...Is that... sarcasm...?"
[The Night of Primordial Chaos giggles.]
"...That was sarcasm!"
He slightly grumbled, at the same time, he inspected what he acquired from the combination of the three specific items.
...
[Dice of Chaos]
The three dice that the [Night of Primordial Chaos] created out of boredom. The materials used in its creation are unknown.
Rank: Ancient
Classification: Miscellaneous
Conditions of Use:
- Profession: Mediator of Chaos.
- Once every 15 days.
Throwing Effects:
1. Throwing the Dice of Chaos in the ground will give the player random items depending on the player's Luck.
2. The rank of the item will also be random.
3. Throwing "three dice" at the same time will give the player a random weapon, armor, or crafting material.
4. Throwing "two dice" at the same time will give the player a random Skillbook or Consumable item.
5. Throwing "a die" will give the player a random Miscellaneous item.
...
'Is the Goddess trying to raise my Luck or what...?'
He inwardly thought as a chuckle escaped from his mouth before fiddling with the "Dice of Chaos" with his hands by throwing and catching them repeatedly until one of the dice slipped off his left hand, and fell to the floor.
Ding-!
[You have thrown the Dice of Chaos!]
A notification from the System stopped him from reaching the fallen die on his dormitory's floor as he looked at the System's message he was suddenly notified of.
"What!? That was counted!?
[The Night of Primordial Chaos snickers at your idiocy!]
"..."
Russell's mouth was agape as he read another System's message with an exclamation mark, which pointed to his behavior just now.
Then, in his stupor, subsequent notifications followed with the System messages screened in front of his deep blue eyes.
[A die was thrown!
[A Miscellaneous item will be randomly given!]
[Your Luck unexpectedly strikes!]
[Your Luck increases by 1!]
...
"Oh!"
Russell reflexively gasped as he read the System messages, then, after a few seconds, the die on the ground rumbled as the air surrounding it vibrated, along with the dark blue aura that was released from it, forming something like a key.
[You have acquired a 'Crystal Key']
And without intentionally inspecting the so-called "Crystal Key", its information appeared in front of him, along with other unexpected System messages.
[Crystal Key]
A crystal-colored key with unknown use.
Rank: Ancient
Classification: Miscellaneous
[The "Jar of Nothingness" is reacting!]
[The Key of Chaos, the Key of Tartarus, and the Key of Abaddon can be combined with the Crystal Key.]
Forgetting the die on the floor, his deep blue eyes dilated as he repeatedly rubbed them with his hands, processing what he just read.
"W-what...?"