(Arthur POV)
Watching James Blaze gradually rise to success, I felt a surge of happiness - not just for him, but for myself as well. I'd finally completed the mission of making James a rising star, and the system rewarded me with something extraordinary:
[Devourer Ring (One of the Ancient Rings): This ancient artifact allows the host to store vast amounts of magic mana within it, serving as a reservoir for personal power. The ring also has the ability to devour incoming powerful magic or energy attacks, absorbing and neutralizing them. Stored magic can be channeled back to enhance your spells, offering amplified spellcasting by adjusting the ring's magic output mode.]
[Level 1: The ring can hold up to 50,000 magic mana and can devour intermediate-level magic spells and energy attacks.]
[You may level up this ancient artifact using Entertainment Points!]
Excited, I quickly pulled the ring from the system storage. It was a golden band, exuding power and mystery. I slipped it onto my finger, expecting some dramatic change, but felt nothing out of the ordinary.
I sighed, "Maybe I should level up this ring," I muttered, admiring how cool it looked on my hand.
As I examined it closer, I noticed ancient runes embedded in the metal. They quickly faded, becoming transparent, and suddenly information about the ring flooded my mind.
I learned about the ring's four modes, the first being "Bloodthirst Mode". Despite its ominous name, it was actually the weakest.
This mode allowed the ring to absorb magical or energy attacks - its basic function. It could consume spells from a limited range and feed on their mana. At its current level, the ring could absorb up to 10,000 mana from a single attack, storing it for later use.
The first mode could enhance my magical spells, turning even a basic fire spell into a formidable attack.
"Wrath Mode," the second setting, boosted magical output. When activated, it increased spell power by 20 percent, consuming 5,000 mana with each cast. This mode packed more punch than the first.
The third, "Abyssal Mode," could autonomously gather mana from the surroundings, potentially even during combat. Despite its usefulness, I hesitated to use it. The risk of attracting attention from powerful figures who might detect the ring's energy seemed too great. This mode also offered an even more potent magical boost, though at considerable risk.
"Nightmare Mode," the fourth setting, was both the most powerful and the most dangerous. It would create a defensive barrier around me, absorbing any incoming attacks. Then, it could unleash devastating magical assaults using all the stored magical power. A last-resort option, no doubt.
I examined the ring, noting how I could switch between modes. For now, I'd have to adjust them manually. But with further upgrades, I'd be able to switch modes with a mere thought.
At level 1, the ring wasn't reaching its full potential. I decided to invest some entertainment points to upgrade it. The cost? A steep 1 million points to reach level 2.
I gritted my teeth. It felt like a pay-to-win scheme, but the potential benefits outweighed the cost. I made the investment.
At level 2, the ring's capacity doubled, now able to store 100,000 units of magical mana.
It was incredible. For perspective, my own magical mana capacity was about 10,000 - already impressive, thanks to my recent level up and the boost from my Primal Morningstar bloodline ability. As I trained this ability to transform, my body and mana reserves had been steadily increasing.
I pushed further, upgrading the ring to level 3 for five million points. Now it could store a staggering 1 million magical mana.
The potential upgrades didn't stop there. Level 4 would allow 10 million storage, level 5 a whopping 50 million for 100 million points. But level 6, the max level, was something else entirely.
At level 6, the ring could store unlimited mana, continuously feeding on energy. All four modes would merge, allowing the ring to consciously adjust to any situation. Impressive, yes, but the price? Astronomical. 1 billion entertainment points!
You've got to be kidding. It might take years to accumulate that many points.
I wondered what I'd even do with the current 1 million capacity. Filling it seemed a distant goal.
Yet, I couldn't help but ponder the catastrophic potential of such a ring. Unlimited magical mana storage? The possibilities seemed endless, and frankly, a bit terrifying.
Curiosity got the better of me. I decided to test the ring, channeling my full 10,000 mana into it.
To my shock, the ring devoured my entire magical reserve in an instant. I couldn't even react fast enough to stop it.
Dizziness washed over me. "Damn it. This ring is a glutton," I muttered, feeling utterly drained.
I hadn't expected it to consume my mana so quickly. As I sat there, exhausted, I realized I might have underestimated the power - and the danger - of this ancient artifact.
With a thought, I switched the ring to "Abyssal Mode". Instantly, an unsettling quiet fell over my office. It was as if the ring had absorbed even sound itself, creating an eerie, unnatural peace.
My devil cat, usually so composed, suddenly bristled. Its hair stood on end for a moment before it slumped to the floor, unnaturally still.
I gasped, the realization hitting me like a ton of bricks. "This... This ring is absorbing all the magical mana in the office, even from my cat!"
***
(3rd Person POV)
Unbeknownst to Arthur, the ring's influence extended far beyond his office.
The entire Hellfire HQ seemed caught in the eye of an invisible storm. Employees went about their business, chatting and working as usual. The atmosphere felt oddly peaceful, yet no one seemed to notice anything amiss.
Then, without warning, fatigue swept through the building like a wave.
"Wha-what's happening? I suddenly feel tired," one employee mumbled.
"Me too," another nodded, struggling to keep their eyes open.
Lilith's voice drifted from her desk, "I feel sleepy. I think I might take a nap." Her head dropped onto her desk, and she was out cold.
Klein felt his eyelids growing heavy. He looked around, seeing his colleagues slumping over their desks one by one. Fighting against the overwhelming urge to sleep, he slapped his cheeks. "He-hey, guys. We are in... in the middle of work!" he shouted, but his voice came out weak and ineffectual.
More and more employees succumbed to the mysterious fatigue.
Klein swayed on his feet, fighting a losing battle against the encroaching darkness. Finally, he too collapsed to the ground, his snores joining the chorus of sleeping coworkers.
The ring's influence stretched far beyond Hellfire HQ, its absorption intensifying with each passing moment.
On the streets outside, passersby suddenly felt their strength ebbing away.
"Yawn. Weird, I just slept soundly earlier," a dwarf mumbled, scratching the back of his head in confusion.
A high school magic student, more attuned to the arcane, muttered, "Why do I feel like my mana's being absorbed?" Before he could ponder further, his eyes grew heavy, and he slumped to the ground.
The neighboring buildings weren't spared either.
"Hmm... It feels so good to sleep..." a demon boss murmured, slumping over his desk, drool pooling beneath his cheek.
The phenomenon spread rapidly across the entire district. Hundreds succumbed to sudden exhaustion, either falling asleep where they stood or struggling against an overwhelming fatigue.
Meanwhile, in the Hellfire HQ office, Arthur noticed the ring had mysteriously accumulated 1 million magical mana and ceased its absorption. It even returned his initial ten thousand mana, leaving him feeling better than before.
Oblivious to the chaos outside, Arthur left his office in high spirits, his sleeping cat cradled in his arms. He marveled at how his office alone could provide so much mana for the ring.
As he descended to the first floor, an eerie quiet settled over him. "Why does it feel so strangely silent?" he wondered, still unaware of the widespread effects of his magical experiment.
Little did Arthur know, his simple test of the ring had inadvertently plunged the entire district into an unnatural slumber, leaving him as perhaps the only conscious person for blocks around.