Rodgraim admired the intricate mural before him that an unexpected check-in location notification from the sign-in system popped into his view.
[Ding, check-in location detected: Arcturus Civilization Ruins!]
[Do you want to sign in?]
Not one to hesitate signing in at this juncture, Rodgraim chose to make the most of the option.
This was something he wouldn't want to miss.
[Ding, congratulations on getting the super soldier serum and Black Panther armor!]
He was stunned.
For the first time, he acquired two potent items together.
Rodgraim at once withdrew the super soldier serum from his system space.
[Super Soldier Serum: System-enhanced version. Aimed to provide dramatic physical strength increase with no unwanted side effects.]
Briefly scanning the description, Rodgraim decided to take in the serum.
Being well aware of how much importance these ruins carried, he knew that now was just the perfect time to make himself stronger.
The warm energy flowed through the body when the serum began its effect by giving strength to his internal organs and fortifying his physique.
However, Rodgraim , enthralled by the history of the mural, never felt any difference in him.
Rodgraim also took his time and started to turn on his tech watch to scan the stats he acquired.
Before his attribute panel were his updated informations:
Name: Rodgraim Aragon
Race: Human (Solar System)
Psionic Value: 100/100
Strength: 62
Physique: 60
Spirit: 20
Skills: A-class ship piloting, A-class ship engineering maintenance, S-class combat skills.
Ship Owned: S-Class Aether Dominion
As both of his strength and physique stand at 60 points, Rodgraim knew he was still outmatched by some of the galaxy's best fighting races, but the Black Panther armor would give him the protection needed.
Rodgraim cracked his knuckles, enjoying his new strength, as Seraphina pointed, her eyes still fixed on the mural.
"This mural represents White Night Clan history. These characters are pretty much like the members of the clan. At least, I have read about them long ago in the Jupiter Library. Those people were psionicists.".
Apparently," she continued, "the White Night Clan broke some kind of universal taboo, which led to their banishment from the galaxy, and they eventually vanished.
I think this may be their final resting place!"
Her voice trembled with excitement as she envisioned the chance of acquiring one of the clan's lost psionic artifacts which would provide her with psionic powers.
Rodgraim listened, awestruck at her discovery. The White Night Clan-he'd heard tales of their elite psionic creations, which were prized throughout the galaxy.
If there was such a thing here, he realized, they could be worth a fortune.
On the other side of the ruins, a different bunch had arrived.
There stood an entrance guard, alien creatures, aided by advanced technology.
They wore matching gear, each bearing the same insignia on it; they were Treasure Hunters, a noted interstellar mercenary group.
Partly due to the reputation of its leader, the galaxy's Treasure Hunters were notorious, for they were a formidable group with a powerful psionicist as their leader.
Psionicists were rare in the outer galaxy, and their power made them almost superhuman; particularly on the lawless fringes of space. So, the Treasure Hunters wandered the stars unhampered, striking fear wherever they roamed.
A mercenary at the entrance sneered, looking around wildly, "So this is where the White Night Clan fell? We're going to be rich. The White Night Clan were famous psionicists in the inner galaxy-if we find a psionic seed here, it's a guaranteed fortune!"
Another mercenary cut him short, cautioning, "Shut up and don't be ridiculous. If there were psionic seeds, you wouldn't live to enjoy them."
Their leader raised his hand, calling a faint spark of lightning from his fingertips, a clear display of psionic abilities.
"Silence!"
The group became immediately quiet.
Renault, known as Birdman, the thunder-wielding psionicist leader of the Treasure Hunters, looked at his men.
He gazed at those before him, but no one spoke out, so convinced were they of Renault's authority.
Satisfaction that his men did not blab, he studied a groove in the ruin's gate.
From his pack, he produced a disc-like object with a weak, pulsating psionic aura. It was a psionic artifact used to unlock the gate.
The gate opened with a low rumble, and the Treasure Hunters, holding their breath, could hardly contain themselves at the appearance of this entrance.
For them, this ruin was a far cry from the obscure backwater sites they had been used to exploring.
As long as they could bring out even a single psionic artifact, they'd be set for life; their wealth was assured.
Renault came across his eagerness but passed through, knowing that he was eagerly waiting himself.
He went to them sternly, "This is where White Night Clan met its doom.
Remember what we want: the employer wants White Night Clan's altar scroll.
No matter what, we must find it.".
After they had completed the first mission, they were then at liberty to help themselves to whatever else they wanted as spoil, explained Renault.
Upon being told this, the eyes of the Treasure Hunters lit up. "Some barely restrained excitement as they prepared to storm the ruins".
Renault raised his arm, that hammered in the signal, and a few mercenaries entered the ruin, carrying laser guns and holographic thermal imaging devices.
As they advanced further, Renault unfolded a map, guiding the group further inside the ancient building.
He stopped for a moment and furrowed his brow as though he sensed a hidden presence.
One of his men noticed his reaction and asked, "Something wrong, Boss?
Renault scanned the space again, a creeping feeling lingering.
He had felt eyes on him for a moment. But he easily dismissed this as an illusion, waving his concern off the table with his hand.
"Nothing—keep moving!"
With that, he took the Treasure Hunters deeper into the ruins, his focus shifting back to the matter he was all over.