Chapter 15: Sweet Reward (HBD Bonus chapter)
Lucian lay sprawled on the cold stone floor of the throne room, his breath ragged but victorious. His body ached in places he didn't even know could ache, but he'd done it. The Undead Orc King was no more, and the air around him was noticeably lighter.
He glanced up, expecting the system to chime in with his well-earned reward. But the room was silent. Too silent.
"Uh, system?" Lucian called out, his voice echoing in the massive chamber. "My reward?"
Nothing.
He frowned, sitting up with considerable effort. "System? Don't tell me you glitched out again. I just defeated a PEAK A-RANK MONSTER. I want my shiny looty!"
Finally, the system chirped in, but its tone was far too calm for Lucian's liking.
System Alert: The Undead Orc King's soul has not been purified. Quest reward is on hold.
Lucian blinked, his exhaustion giving way to disbelief. "ON HOLD?! What do you mean, 'on hold'? I literally fried him with divine power! You saw that, right?"
System Explanation: The Undead Orc King's soul remains tethered to the mortal plane. Purification is required to claim the full reward.
Lucian groaned and flopped back onto the ground, covering his face with his hands. "Of course. Of course, there's a catch. Why wouldn't there be a catch? Nothing can ever be simple, can it?"
The system continued, entirely ignoring his complaints.
System Tip: Utilize the divine energy stored within the host to complete the purification process. Warning: This will be highly draining and leave the host temporarily weakened.
Lucian sighed dramatically. "Let me guess. If I don't do this, the Orc King comes back as an even angrier version of himself, right?"
System Response: Correct. Potential evolution into Abyssal Orc Overlord detected if purification is not completed.
"Great," Lucian muttered, dragging himself to his feet. "Because THAT'S what I need—another undead cheat code monster."
Staggering over to the Orc King's lifeless body, Lucian raised his sword. The blade glowed faintly as he focused his remaining divine energy.
"Alright, big guy," he said, glaring at the corpse. "You've already killed me three times, so let's make this the last time I have to deal with you."
With a roar, Lucian plunged the glowing blade into the Orc King's chest. The corpse convulsed violently as holy light engulfed it, burning away the lingering traces of death magic. The green aura that had once filled the room dissipated, replaced by a warm, golden glow.
The system chirped again, this time sounding much more satisfied.
System Alert: Purification complete. Quest rewards unlocked. Congratulations, host!
Lucian grinned, dropping to his knees. "Finally. Alright, hit me with the good stuff."
The system responded promptly.
Rewards Unlocked:
1. Undead King's Axe: A massive weapon imbued with death and divine energy. Can be wielded by host or used to summon spectral warriors.
2. Skill Unlocked: King's Authority: Temporarily increases all stats by 50% and grants the ability to command lesser undead.
3. 500 Faith Points.
4. Orc King's Throne Key: Unlocks hidden treasure within the castle.
5. Title Earned: Undead Slayer.
Lucian's eyes widened as the list scrolled past. "Okay, that's what I'm talking about!" He picked up the massive axe, testing its weight. It was absurdly heavy, but he could feel the raw power coursing through it.
Still, he couldn't resist one last complaint. "Next time, can we just skip the whole purification nonsense and go straight to the loot?"
The system chimed in cheekily.
System Response: Unlikely.
Lucian groaned. "Figures."
As he leaned back against a pillar to catch his breath, he couldn't help but chuckle. Despite everything, he was alive, stronger, and one step closer to escaping this cursed castle.
Lucian sat on the cold, cracked floor of the throne room, his back resting against a broken pillar. He could still feel the weight of the Undead Orc King's massive axe in his hands and the phantom pain of the beatings he endured during the trial. His chest heaved as he tried to calm his breathing, but before he could fully relax, the system chirped in its usual overly cheerful tone.
System Alert: Congratulations, host! The first part of the Divine System Trial is complete.
Rewards for completion have been distributed.
You may now exit the trial grounds and return to the real world.
Lucian let out a relieved sigh. "Finally. That's what I've been waiting to hear. I can finally go back, maybe take a bath, eat something that isn't magically conjured bread, and actually sleep in a bed that doesn't feel like I'm lying on jagged rocks."
But just as he stood up, the system's tone shifted slightly, a hint of mischief creeping in.
System Update: However…!
Lucian froze mid-step, his eye twitching. "Oh no. No, no, no. I don't like that tone. Whatever you're about to say, the answer is no. I'm done."
System Prompt: The host has unlocked access to the Bonus Round.
Lucian groaned, throwing his head back dramatically. "Why did I KNOW there was going to be a catch? Go on, system, ruin my day. What's this Bonus Round nonsense about?"
The system, as usual, ignored his sarcasm and continued.
Bonus Round Details:
- Enemies: AAA-Rank and S-Grade monsters.
- Objective: Survive and defeat the guardians of the trial.
- Rewards: Divine-grade skill, Divine Artifact, 1,000 Faith Points, and a unique title.
- Penalty for Failure: None.
Lucian blinked, his exhaustion momentarily forgotten. "Wait… AAA-Rank and S-Grade? You're joking, right? I just barely survived a peak A-Rank undead orc with my guts almost spilling out, and now you want me to fight something worse?!"
System Response: The Bonus Round is optional. You may choose to exit the trial grounds now and return to the real world.
Lucian crossed his arms, pacing in front of the massive throne. "Hah. Optional, you say. That's what you said about the first part of the trial, and look where that got me! And those rewards… they sound so tempting. Divine-grade skill and artifact? That's not just bait—that's the whole fishing rod."
He stopped, glaring at the system. "This is a trap, isn't it? You're setting me up to get flattened by some abomination that's probably three times my size."
System Observation: Host is paranoid. However, the rewards are real. The choice is entirely yours.
Lucian rubbed his temples, muttering under his breath. "On one hand, I can just go home and pretend this never happened. On the other hand… those rewards… and if I don't take this chance, someone else might get stronger than me."
He stood there for a few moments, torn between the two options. The silence was only broken by the faint hum of energy lingering in the room.
Finally, Lucian clenched his fists, determination glinting in his eyes. "Alright, system. Let's make a deal. If I die in this bonus round, you better make sure my gravestone says, 'Here lies Lucian. He was an idiot who couldn't say no to shiny loot.'"
System Response: Acknowledged. Preparing Bonus Round…
The ground beneath Lucian's feet trembled, and the massive throne room began to shift and warp, its walls collapsing into blinding light. A swirling portal appeared before him, and the air grew heavy with a foreboding aura.
Lucian sighed deeply, gripping the Undead Orc King's axe tightly in his hands. "Here we go again. I swear, if the first thing I see on the other side is some tentacle monster, I'm walking right back out."
With a smirk, he stepped through the portal, ready to face whatever nightmares the system had in store for him next.
Far away in distant galaxy
Author-kun was smirking
"Oh dear, dear Lucian you have no idea what is in the bonus round my little greedy reward lover tentacle monsters are average I have something for that much, much better hehehehe hehehe so just wait for me will you , regret you regret the bonus round but you will love it though after I made you I am your father
Hehehe just kidding but I made you though by private time and study with my pen you get
You naughty kids
Ya ya ya wait oh shit I have nothing to say again so I'll leave you to face whatever pops into my mind
Well I'll be off try to pull a fast one on ya from behind
Don't worry am not Diddy
Winks "