Alex clicked on the pending reward, his anticipation growing as new system notifications began to flood his vision.
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[The host has unlocked a new title.]
[Title Unlocked: Territory Boss Exterminator]
[Description: This title grants the host a 15% boost to combat strength when battling Territory Boss Monsters.]
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As the notifications faded, a wave of information about the [Title] tab flowed directly into Alex's mind. The explanation was concise but packed with revelations that left him astonished.
'Territory Boss Exterminator... I sort of expected something like this, but the benefits are incredible.' he thought, a smirk tugging at his lips. 'A free 15% boost against those Territory Boss monsters? That's going to be a game-changer. And being able to freely equip and unequip titles... The only limitation is having just one active at a time, but even then it's something.'
Excitement bubbled up as Alex considered the strategic possibilities the title system now offered.
Yet, his journey was still far from over, and he had plenty of time to explore these newfound advantages. Deciding not to linger on the title feature for too long, he refocused his attention on the two mysterious items he had set aside earlier.
First, he examined the dark black cloak. Its lustrous sheen and smooth texture suggested it was crafted from exceptionally high-quality fabric.
The material exuded an aura of elegance and mystery, making it clear this wasn't an ordinary garment. Curious about its properties, Alex initiated the appraisal.
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[Magic Artifact]
Name: Shadow Robe
Grade: B
Type: Cloak
Mana Cost: 200 MP/min
Description:
- A finely crafted magic artifact imbued with the essence of shadows.
- Can envelop the user in its shadow, rendering them nearly invisible and undetectable.
- Provides resistance to magical attacks up to Tier-3 spells or absorbs the impact of a single Tier-4 spell.
- Contains a hidden shadow storage space with a capacity of 50 cubic meters.
==============================
"What!" Alex exclaimed, his jaw nearly dropping as he read the information. 'I didn't expect this to be a magical artifact, let alone a B-grade one! Not to mention how ridiculously useful it is.'
Excitement coursing through him, Alex wasted no time. He quickly donned the Shadow Robe, marveling at the luxurious fabric as it settled over his shoulders.
Using it seemed simple; like most magic artifacts, all it required was the user's mana. In some cases, they didn't even need that to activate.
After confirming the instructions with the system, Alex channeled a small amount of mana into the cloak. Instantly, the robe seemed to greedily absorb his energy, and in the blink of an eye, his surroundings were swallowed by darkness.
From the outside—if anyone had been there—it would have appeared as though Alex had completely vanished from his seat.
'Hmm, this feels like using Shadow Walk, but way more stable. I can stay in this form much longer instead of just phasing in and out instantly.' he noted, carefully observing the effect.
After a minute of experimentation, Alex reappeared back on his seat, the dark black cloak flowing around him.
"Woah!" he cheered, a grin spreading across his face. The excitement from the newfound abilities was palpable. However, he couldn't yet test the robe's resistance to magic attacks, so he decided to explore its third feature: the shadow storage.
Curious, Alex extended his hand as if reaching into a pocket, and to his surprise, it slid effortlessly into the cloak. The sensation was uncanny, like accessing the system's inventory—but different. Here, he couldn't see or visualize the contents; instead, he simply knew he could retrieve them.
He experimentally began pulling out a few objects. Most were inconsequential—tattered notebooks, vials of unknown liquids, and some old medical equipment.
None of it seemed particularly useful at the moment, but the sheer capacity of the shadow storage left Alex in awe.
'This is incredible.' he thought, already imagining how much easier his travels and battles would become with the Shadow Robe at his disposal.
Moving on, Alex turned his attention to the ominous-looking ring. He had high hopes for this item, considering its eerie appearance and the faint aura it exuded.
It was a sleek black band with a crimson gemstone embedded at its center. The gem seemed to pulsate faintly, radiating an unsettling, ominous energy that sent a shiver down his spine.
==============================
[Magic Artifact]
Name: Ring of ???
Grade: C+
Type: Cursed Ring
Description:
- Allows communication and tracking among others with a similar frequency range.
- Broadcasts vital signals and shares the ring's location back to the network.
- ???
==============================
"..." Alex's eyes narrowed as he read the words 'Cursed Ring'. His breath hitched, and without a second thought, he flung the ring away, letting it clatter across the train compartment floor.
He rubbed his hands against the Shadow Robe, as though trying to shake off any lingering curse. "Whatever this thing is, I'm better off staying far, far away from it." he muttered, a note of unease creeping into his voice.
Still, his curiosity gnawed at him. Glancing at the ring from a safe distance, its faint crimson glow seemed to almost beckon him. 'A tracking network…' His frown deepened, thoughts racing.
'The dead owner of this ring must've belonged to some shady group. I just hope they assume their companion is dead and don't trace this thing back to me.'
After a moment of internal deliberation, Alex sighed and carefully retrieved the ring—this time ensuring he didn't touch it directly. He shoved it deep into the system's inventory, sealing it away from sight.
"This thing's clearly dangerous." Alex muttered. "I should just hand it over to the Adventurer's Guild and let them deal with it. It's not worth the risk."
His resolve hardened as he thought through the situation. 'Whoever left this behind—or whatever it's connected to—isn't something an ordinary, average D-rank adventurer like me should get tangled with. I already have enough secrets of my own to keep. I don't need another mess on my hands.'
The decision felt like the right one, though the faint tug of mystery still lingered in his mind. One thing was clear: whatever the ring represented, it was better left in the hands of someone more equipped to deal with its implications.
Still, Alex couldn't shake his curiosity about the identity of the previous owner of the two items. The unsettling aura of the ring and the high-quality craftsmanship of the Shadow Robe suggested they had belonged to someone significant—or dangerous.
Alex shook his head sharply, as if to dispel lingering thoughts. "Nope, not my problem." he muttered, his voice firm with determination. He resolved to leave the ring and its mysteries well enough alone.
But distraction proved elusive. His curiosity itched, refusing to fade.
With a sigh, Alex slipped his hand into the Shadow Robe's hidden storage, fingers brushing against the assortment of odds and ends he'd stashed earlier. Something compelled him to take a closer look at the tattered notebooks he had retrieved earlier.
'Let's hope these are some kind of journal or diary. Anything that could at least give me a clue about all this.' he thought, pulling one out with cautious curiosity.
The notebook was old, its leather cover cracked and weathered by time. As Alex opened it, the brittle, stained pages gave a faint crackle, the faint smell of mildew wafting up.
He scanned the contents carefully, his eyes narrowing as he deciphered the faint, jagged handwriting scrawled across the pages.