The glow of the system window hadn't faded when another notification appeared in the corner of my vision.
New Message in System Mail.
I frowned. System mail? This was new. I tapped the notification, and a glowing envelope icon expanded into a message window.
SYSTEM MAIL
Congratulations, Alaric Varelius!
As part of your progression, you have unlocked exclusive rewards:
Skill: Regeneration
Item: Beginner's Lootbox (1).
Skill Unlocked: Regeneration
Effect: Gradually recovers health over time. Efficiency scales with Endurance.
Claim your rewards via the System Inventory.
A smile tugged at my lips. Regeneration. That was a skill I'd seen on monsters before, and now it was mine. The synergy with my growing endurance stat was obvious, and I could already see how useful it would be in drawn-out battles.
But it was the Beginner's Lootbox that really caught my attention.
I opened the system inventory, and a glowing box materialized before me. It hovered in the air, shimmering with faint, shifting colors. A tooltip appeared as I reached for it.
Beginner's Lootbox
Contains a random item.
90%: Common
9.5%: Rare
0.5%: Legendary
Legendary items? My heart skipped a beat. A weapon, armor, or artifact of that caliber could change everything. But with a 0.5% chance, the odds weren't exactly in my favor.
Unless...
An idea hit me like a bolt of lightning. I opened the System Shop again, scrolling quickly through the Items section until I found what I was looking for.
Temporary Buff: Luck (Minor)
Cost: 300 Points
Effect: Increases item drop chance and loot quality for 10 minutes.
It was risky, but I had the points to spare. Without hesitation, I made the purchase.
Temporary Buff Purchased: Luck (Minor)
A warm sensation washed over me, like a faint glow spreading through my body.
I turned back to the lootbox, my hand hovering over its surface. This was it. If there was ever a time to beat the odds, it was now.
"Let's see what you've got," I muttered, activating the box.
The glow intensified, swirling into a blinding light. For a moment, I thought it had fizzled out—another common item to add to the pile—but then the air grew heavy.
The light coalesced into a solid shape, long and slender, before fading to reveal a weapon unlike anything I'd ever seen.
ITEM ACQUIRED: Demonic Sword - Velzithar (Legendary)
Description: A cursed blade of unmatched power, bound to its wielder's soul and body. Sentient and fiercely loyal, Velzithar grows stronger alongside its master.
Effects:
Increases Strength and Agility by 20.Absorbs a portion of the wielder's mana to enhance attacks.
Can communicate telepathically with its wielder.
The sword floated in the air before me, its blackened steel blade pulsing with faint, red veins of energy. Its hilt was wrapped in dark leather, and a single crimson gem glowed faintly at the center of the crossguard.
A voice echoed in my mind, low and smooth, like a whisper that carried the weight of a storm.
"So... you are the one who has called me. Let's see if you're worthy."
I staggered back, nearly dropping the blade. "What the—?"
"Do not fear," the voice said, calm but commanding. "I am Velzithar. Your soul has reached out to me, and I have answered. But know this: I am no mere tool to be wielded. I choose my master as much as they choose me."
I stared at the sword, my thoughts racing. A sentient weapon bound to my soul? This wasn't just legendary—it was the stuff of myths.
The system chimed again, snapping me out of my thoughts.
Demonic Sword - Velzithar Equipped.
Stats Updated:
Strength: +20
Agility: +20
UPDATED STATUS WINDOW
Level: 27
Health: 360/360
Mana: 200/200
Strength: 101
Agility: 63
Endurance: 71
Intelligence: 15
Charisma: 18
Skills: Gluttony (Active), Shadowstep (Tier 2), Lacerate (Tier 1), Howl of Terror, Regeneration
I tightened my grip on Velzithar, feeling its weight settle into my hand. It wasn't heavy, despite its size—it felt like an extension of my arm, as if it had always been meant for me.
"What now?" I asked aloud, though I wasn't sure if I was speaking to the sword, the system, or myself.
"Now," Velzithar said, its voice curling in my mind, "we forge the bond. Or we part ways forever."
The sword pulsed, a faint warmth spreading from the hilt to my fingers. It wasn't painful, but it wasn't exactly comfortable, either—a reminder that this wasn't just a weapon. It was alive.
"Fine," I said, meeting its crimson glow. "Let's forge this bond."
The sword's energy flared, its red veins glowing brighter.
"Very well, Alaric Varelius. Let us see if your soul can withstand mine."