As Wang Lei caught his breath, the system's familiar screen flickered to life before him.
[You killed Mirage Queen.]
[Reward: 10,000 coins.]
Ding!
[A new function unlocked in system.]
Wang Lei read, his eyebrows raising slightly in curiosity.
[Function name: "Combine"]
[Combine is a function that directly links with the host. To use this function, you no longer need to open the system—it now functions like a special ability.]
"Interesting..." Wang Lei muttered. "If I understand the ability's name correctly, then this should mean..."
The system responded immediately.
[With the Combine ability, you can merge any ability, skill, or weapon. The combined result is stronger than the original, evolving into a new ability or skill. But this doesn't mean you lose the original—it will still exist in its previous form.]
Wang Lei chuckled, shaking his head. "At this point, nothing from you surprises me anymore, System. You're full of surprises."
Eager to test the new ability, he focused on combining his Fire Lotus with Mana Thread. A bright flash appeared before him.
[Abilities successfully combined.]
[New Ability: Lotus of Thread]
[Description: This ability summons two lotus flowers, each capable of firing stronger fire threads over short distances.]
Wang Lei grinned as he read the notification. His power was truly growing by leaps and bounds. But then, another screen appeared, surprising him yet again.
[Additional Reward: Your sense of smell has been restored.]
As soon as he read the message, a rush of scents filled his nose—the earthy smell of the forest, the subtle musk of the ground. He took a deep breath, feeling the rich scents washing over him for the first time in what felt like ages. Tears welled up in his eyes.
A memory surfaced, of the taste he'd been longing for. "When I get out of here, I'll finally enjoy a bowl of ramen—with the smell," he thought, smiling through the tears.
But the system screen reminded him to stay focused.
[You've slain the dungeon boss. The portal will soon close.]
Just as he turned to leave, Wang Lei noticed something where the Mirage Queen had vanished—a small, glowing white orb. He walked over, examining it with fascination.
"This must be her core," he mused. "No blood, no flesh—she was a creature of fog, after all." He carefully stored it in his inventory and left.
As he emerged from the dungeon, a guard blocked his way. "Sir, the Lin family has asked to be informed if anyone comes out of the dungeon."
Wang Lei's eyes narrowed. "The Lin family?"
Then it clicked. "Mei Lin's surname is Lin... and I remember Yera calling her 'princess'." Just then, a sleek black car pulled up, and a tall man in a dark suit and sunglasses stepped out, walking directly toward him.
"Mr. Wang Lei, I presume? My name is Tao Lin. I work for the Lin family," he greeted Wang Lei with a respectful nod. "Our family patriarch thanks you for saving our second daughter."
As the man spoke, Wang Lei activated his Status skill, scanning Tao Lin's information. One ability caught his attention: Jaguar, an ability reminiscent of his own Night Walker.
"Interesting," Wang Lei thought, glancing at the Copy ability notification that appeared.
[Copy Condition: Deny his offer.]
He frowned slightly, wondering what kind of offer would trigger the copy condition. Right then, Tao Lin spoke again.
"Our patriarch would like to offer you a position in the Lin family. Working with us could fulfill many of your wishes, Mr. Wang Lei."
Wang Lei's mind flashed back to his days in construction, under a tyrant boss who had used every opportunity to show his authority. No amount of money could tempt him to go back to that. "No," he said simply, his voice firm. "I'm not interested."
Tao Lin was taken aback. "I'm sorry—did you say... no?" He composed himself quickly, then cleared his throat. "Perhaps you could consider accepting a small token of our gratitude instead? If you share your bank account number, we'll transfer a modest amount."
Wang Lei nodded and gave him the account information. Moments later, his phone dinged. He looked down, and his eyes widened slightly—$2 million had been deposited into his account.
"Instant millionaire," he mused, suppressing a smirk.
"If you ever change your mind, don't hesitate to contact us, Mr. Wang Lei," Tao Lin said, with a courteous nod, though a flash of irritation glinted in his eyes as he watched Wang Lei walk away. "The nerve of this guy," Tao Lin muttered under his breath once Wang Lei was out of earshot. "How dare he be so casual with us?"
Back in the city, Wang Lei entered a small ramen shop, ordering his favorite bowl. The first whiff of the dish brought tears to his eyes again. "Finally," he whispered, taking a deep, satisfying bite. It was everything he'd remembered and more.
Back at his hotel later that night, he checked his phone to see a government announcement. A team was planning to enter the White Ruin the next day. Wang Lei frowned, realizing they could face the same fate as the previous team. He took out the ruin's controller, turning it over in his hands, wondering if he could use it to shut down the portal.
Holding it firmly, he commanded, "Close the White Ruin portal."
The controller glowed, and he waited, his heart pounding. Moments later, his phone buzzed with a news alert. The portal had unexpectedly closed. Wang Lei shook his head, amused. "Barely a minute has passed, and reporters are already covering it." He chuckled to himself. "Guess the media is faster than my own reflexes."