Soul Link
As described in Song of Nightmares, the Soul Link is an expansive celestial network connecting countless worlds to structured scenarios known as Stories (剧本), or simply Narratives.
The Stories were divided into three primary types: Main Stories, Sub Stories, and Hidden Stories.
Main Stories (MS) were the central narratives that drive the progression of storylines, shaping the characters and the main setting of the story.
Sub or Meta Stories (SS) were secondary narratives within the Main Stories, creating additional layers, acting as stories within the stories, contributing to the development of the central narrative.
Finally, Hidden Stories (HS) were a type of secondary narrative that could be triggered only under specific conditions.
As for the Soul Link itself, the true workings of the celestial system was unknown, but it was known that they were three main residents:
Storywalkers like myself, the Constellations; and the Administrators.
The Walkers (演员们) performed within the Stories, enacting specific scenarios created on a stage (舞台). The Constellations (观众) served as the audience, observing the performances and offering their support through donations, gifts, or even the use of their Authorities. Meanwhile, the Administrators (戏剧导演) acted as directors, ensuring the seamless progression and proper flow of the Main Stories.
[You have gained the Golden membership.]
[The starter pack has been gained as a VIP privilege.]
[As a privilege, the cost of all items in the shop will be reduced by 20%]
"This is excellent," I muttered, unable to suppress a smile.
Not only had I secured the coveted Golden Membership for a fraction of its original cost, but I also received the Starter Pack as a bonus.
The Starter Pack was invaluable for any Storywalker. It contained a set of coins that could boost all stats by one level and unlock the skill Weapon Mastery—a crucial advantage in the early stages of any narrative.
For the first time, I felt as if I had a fighting chance.
[*Sob* I can't believe I got taken advantage of—by a mere human, no less. I even had to cover the rest of the payment with my own money! It's all because of this bastard. Stupid, motherfucking eromancer…]
I turned my head toward Aurora, who was pouting in the corner, muttering under her breath. She looked utterly wronged, as if she'd just been swindled out of her life savings, all while furiously calling me every name in the book.
Wait. Did she just call me an eromancer? Was there even such a character in Song of Nightmares?
"Um... Aurora?"
Aurora snapped her cat-like eyes towards me. I couldn't help but wonder if she was deliberately trying to mimic a specific character or if this was just her natural flair for dramatics.
"Excuse me?" I pressed, trying not to laugh.
[What?]
"What's with that face? Did someone steal your candy?"
Her glare could've burned a hole through me. If not for the penalty restricting her actions, I was certain she would've punched me by now.
And honestly, I was grateful for it. If she ever hit me with all her love, I wouldn't stand a chance.
I'd just die on the spot.
"Anyway, open the Exclusive Shop."
[Tsk.]
Aurora clicked her tongue in irritation but begrudgingly opened the shop.
[Welcome to the Exclusive Shop.]
In Soul Link, coins could be used in two primary ways.
The first was to enhance the overall stats of the Walkers, and provided them with a direct boost to their performance. The second was as a universal currency, primarily for purchases in the shop.
An endless catalogue appeared in front of me. There was nothing that wasn't sold in the shop. Artifacts, Skills and even other things like the Starter pack or 300% growth rate item.
[A few constellations are complaining about the long advertisements.]
[A few constellations are searching for the AD skip button.]
"And there's that," I muttered.
The advertisements were Aurora's clever way of blocking the Constellations from seeing or hearing too much. If they ever discovered I had paid only 20,000 coins for the VIP package, chaos would undoubtedly ensue. A tantrum from the Constellations wasn't something either of us wanted to deal with.
Even if a few of them suspected something was amiss, Aurora had already prepared the excuse of a "channel error." After all, the star system was still relatively new, and glitches were to be expected.
...Let's see now.
I began scrolling through the endless catalog, skimming through the items one by one.
Most items were practical and affordable, priced between 200 and 500 coins. However, the truly valuable items—those worth 1,000 coins or more—were on an entirely different level.
But even those paled in comparison to the real game-changers that were the legendary items priced between 100,000 and 10,000,000 coins. Those were the true powerhouses, capable of turning the tide of any battle.
If I had any hope of defeating the Fourth Narrative, I needed to prepare well in advance.
After scrolling for what felt like an eternity, I still couldn't find the items I was searching for. At this rate, it would take forever to locate them.
Wait a second… wasn't there a search function?
"Hey?"
[What is it now?]
I was getting by this fairy's arrogant tone. Maybe I should punish her some more.
"If you keep talking to me like that, I'll report you to the Bureau."
[Wh-What? That's not fair!]
"Then fix your attitude."
[Fine, I'll do it. Happy now?]
"Not quite. From now on, refer to me as 'boss.'"
[Ugh…]
Her expression twisted in disgust. Normally, there was no way she'd ever stoop to calling a mere human like me boss. But things were about to change.
"I see. You're refusing? In that case…"
[Wait! Wait! I'll… I'll do it!]
"That's better. But aren't you forgetting something?"
She let out an irritated tsk before muttering under her breath.
[I'll… do it… bo-boss.]
I couldn't help but laugh.
The sight of the proud, arrogant fairy squirming with embarrassment was priceless. She was always the one teasing humans, yet now the tables had turned. If the others had seen this, I was sure they'd be dying of laughter too.
"Good. Now, where's the search button?"
[The search button is located in the top-right corner.]
"Thank you very much!"
Deciding to give the cheeky fairy a break, I tapped the magnifying glass icon in the top-right corner of the window.
[Search function activated.]
I clearly stated the item I wanted.
"Search for Artemis' items."
[Three search results found.]
A small pop-up window appeared before me, displaying the results:
— Artemis Bow (Item)
— Rapid Recovery (Skill Card)
— Monster King (Attribute)
It was an intriguing list, but one result stood out immediately.
Monster King.
This attribute granted the user the power to control monsters they had tamed. It was precisely what I had been aiming for, though I knew its price would likely be astronomical. For now, I decided to set it aside and selected Artemis Bow. There would be other opportunities to obtain the Monster King attribute
[Item Information]
Name: Moon Slaying Goddess Silver Bow
Rating: S
Description: A divine bow belonging to the Goddess of Hunting, Artemis. It increases projectile speed and damage by 50% and comes with a built-in bullseye function.
Price: 2,000,000 C
The Artemis Bow. One of the most formidable ranged weapons, it was said to rival Apollo's golden bow in strength. For someone like me, terrible at close-range combat, a weapon like this was ideal. Its synergy with the Eagle Eye skill would make it even more formidable.
I furrowed my brows.
My total coins amounted to roughly 100,000, yet the price for the item was a staggering 2 million coins. I couldn't afford it, not even close.
100,000 coins wasn't exactly a small amount, but it was far from being substantial. Even with a discount, the gap was insurmountable. It seemed I was aiming too high, too early.
Shaking off my disappointment, I shifted focus and voiced the next item on my mind.
"Search for the item Dragon King's Heart."
[Item found.]
[Item Information]
Name: Scarlet Dragon King's Heart
Rating: SS
Description: A mana organ containing the magic power of the Flame King of Dragons, Igneel. If successfully transplanted, the innate skill Dragon Body Transformation will be acquired.
Price: 5,000,000 C
Dragonic Species
Known as one of the strongest species trapped within the Soul Link, the Dragonic possess unparalleled power. The innate skill Dragonification was a testament to this truth.
If I could get my hands on this item, reaching the pinnacle of strength, even without the aid of a Fleeting God would be completely possible. The potential to transform into a being of such power was intoxicating.
But the price? A staggering 5 million coins. It might as well have been the moon.
I spat out a heavy sigh. As much as I dreamed, reality reminded me I was nothing more than a pauper chasing fantasies far out of reach.
"Huh?"
A strange sensation crept over me. Turning my head, I noticed Aurora frozen in place, her mouth agape in sheer disbelief.
"What is it now?" I asked, frowning.
Her wide eyes flicked between me and the catalogue. For a moment, she seemed utterly speechless. Then—
[You… You… You! What are you?! How do you know about items that can only be found using the search function? Are you hacking the system or something? Tell me!]
Aurora's outburst nearly had me stumbling back.
I raised an eyebrow. "What are you talking about? I just typed in some random names that sounded cool."
[Bullshit! Who do you think you're fooling with that lie?!]
I shrugged nonchalantly, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "In any case, I'm ready to buy some items."
[Huh? Then why were you searching for those other items?]
I didn't respond.
Ignoring her intense glare, I simply went back to the search function, focusing on the items I actually needed.
[1,500 coins have been spent.]
[You have purchased the skill Magic Bullets.]
Aurora's confusion only deepened.
[Huh? Why that skill? Isn't it something only casters use? You don't look like you even have the caster attribute, so isn't it pointless?]
"You're right—I don't have the caster attribute."
[Then why—?]
"You don't need to know."
[Tch. You're so annoying.]
Aurora's cheeky attitude was as persistent as ever, but she wasn't completely wrong or irrational.
Magic Bullets was a skill typically used by Players with the caster attribute. In the hands of a caster, it was undeniably powerful. However, its true value depended on how it was used. If I utilized it properly, it wouldn't be a waste.
This skill was going to solve one of my biggest concerns: running out of ammunition.
Magic Bullets allowed the user to create projectiles from their mana, effectively giving me an infinite supply of ammunition as long as my mana held out.
Of course, owning the skill wasn't enough. It didn't necessarily mean I'd be able to use it effectively right away. There was still a long way to go.
I bought another item.
[16,000 coins have been consumed.]
[You have purchased the item Silver Magic Gun.]
A silver handgun materialized in my right hand.
This firearm, crafted entirely from magic-infused silver, was a staple weapon for players in the early stages of Fables. Despite its simplicity, it boasted exceptional magic conductivity. Its design incorporated intricate enchantments—one to absorb mana and another to amplify it as it passed through the barrel, enhancing the power of every shot.
The gun could only be wielded by someone with the Magic Bullets skill, which I had wisely purchased beforehand.
Having no talent or experience with swords, this weapon was my only reliable option for now. Though it felt like a significant milestone, there wasn't enough time to think of a name for my first true companion.
[2,400 coins has been consumed.]
[You have purchased the Item 'Iron-Severing Sword'.]
[1,200 coins have been consumed.]
[You have purchased the skill 'Aura Sword'.]
[16,000 coins has been consumed.]
[You have purchased the skill 'Synthesis'.]
[40,000 coins has been consumed.] .
[You have purchased the item 'Intermediate Dimensional Ring.']
As the storage ring materialized, I slipped it onto my index finger and stashed the remaining items into my personal storage.
It was a convenient skill since I didn't have to carry around unnecessary weight. Unfortunately, the storage capacity was limited.
[Is that all?]
"Yes."
[Okay, I'm going now. There's something interesting happening somewhere.]
And just like that, Aurora vanished, leaving behind a silence that felt almost strange. I was already starting to miss the noisy little fairy.
[The advertisement has ended.]
[The constellations are looking at you.]
Once again, it was time to become the clown.