Golden Finger.
Lucian Ardane had hoped for these words for years. Ever since realizing he was a transmigrator, the thought of uncovering a secret cheat—his "golden finger"—had consumed him. At first, the excitement was overwhelming, but years of fruitless searching had dulled his hope.
Until now.
His heart raced as he stared at the glowing words on the panel before him. He hadn't expected this moment to come.
"Extract!"
Lucian took a deep breath, his fingers trembling slightly as he issued the command. In his palm, a mysterious mechanical object materialized.
It was large, roughly the size of two fists put together, metallic in appearance, and vaguely shaped like a human kidney.
Lucian's brow furrowed as he tried to analyze it, only to be met with rows of question marks.
"What… is this?" he muttered, tilting his head. His initial instinct was to prick his finger and establish a blood bond, but before he could retrieve a blade, the object began to hum softly.
A flood of information surged into his mind.
[Would you like to bind this item? Yes/No]
The prompt was clear and unmistakable.
Lucian's eyes lit up. "Is this my system? My cheat? My secret weapon?"
He tried to interact further, testing commands like "Communicate," "Activate," and "Reveal Information," but none elicited a response.
After a moment of hesitation, Lucian steeled himself and chose Yes.
The mechanical kidney shone with a burst of vibrant, multicolored light, illuminating the room as a stream of data unfurled before him.
[Mechanical Kidney]
Type: World Wonder
Quality: Legendary (Details incomplete, preliminary grade Legendary)
Attributes: Unknown
Description: A mysterious World Wonder, potentially the core remnant of a collapsed universe. It possesses unfathomable power.
Lucian's jaw dropped.
"A World Wonder?!" he exclaimed, stunned.
He had learned about these miraculous phenomena during his time at Shenhar Academy. World Wonders were incredibly rare treasures that could drastically enhance a Sovereign's territory. Unlike divine artifacts, which were personal tools of power, Wonders uplifted entire domains, often rewriting their fate.
Seven years ago, a piece of a World Wonder had been unearthed in the Endless Void. It was a green-grade item, rare but not extraordinary, yet its auction had drawn over 170 Sovereigns, Immortals, and gods. The bidding war that ensued elevated its discoverer to unimaginable wealth.
And now… Lucian held a Legendary-grade World Wonder.
The magnitude of it hit him like a tidal wave.
"Not even the principal of Shenhar Academy would have something like this," Lucian murmured, gripping the item tightly. He paced the room, exhilaration and disbelief roiling in his chest.
Seven years ago, that green-grade Wonder had caused an uproar. By comparison, this gold-grade Wonder was likely a billion times more valuable.
Yet, Lucian was no fool. Selling it was out of the question. Not only was the Wonder now bound to him, but its potential was far greater than anything money could buy.
The thought made him shiver with excitement.
He examined the item again.
"Attributes unknown? Does this mean I have to figure it out myself?"
Lucian pondered the description. The panel suggested it might be the core remnant of a collapsed universe—one of the rarest and most potent types of World Wonders.
"If that's true… then this isn't just valuable; it's one of the strongest treasures in existence."
His mind raced with possibilities. What kind of abilities could the Mechanical Kidney hold? Could it reshape his domain? Strengthen his spirit? Enhance his future dominion in the Endless Void?
There was only one way to find out.
"Activate!"
"Power on!"
"Use ability!"
"Mechanical Kidney, do something!"
Lucian tried every command he could think of, even resorting to yelling "Gaia, respond!" in a fit of desperation.
Nothing happened.
Sweat dripped down his temple as he slumped into his chair.
Then it hit him.
Lucian opened the [Dominion] panel on his attribute screen. His personal stats hadn't changed, but his territory menu now displayed a new icon.
Territory Trait: Maiden's Resentment (+)
There was a plus sign next to it.
Lucian's heart leapt. He selected it without hesitation.
The Mechanical Kidney emitted a burst of radiant light, filling the room with brilliant colors. Simultaneously, his territory trait began to transform.
New Territory Trait: Royal Ascension
Grade: Legendary
Effect: Unknown
Lucian stared at the glowing words on the screen, his breath caught in his throat.
"Royal Ascension? A Legendary-grade trait?"
His mind reeled. The implications were staggering.
Territory traits were the backbone of a Sovereign's power. To have one of Legendary grade was unheard of, an advantage so monumental that it could change the course of his entire journey.
"The possibilities…" Lucian whispered, his voice trembling.
For the first time since awakening in this world, he felt something new—something he hadn't dared hope for.
Destiny.