In the chaotic mist, streaks of pure black, like thick ink, flowed intermittently.
On the dark pillar to the left, sinister and twisted boundless eyes slowly opened. From the giant pillar on the right, countless strange faces emerged, all scrutinizing the young woman before them with a mocking gaze.
Atoris felt a chilling dread envelop her. Though the maddening whispers that had once tempted her to insanity were gone, the gazes from the chaos were far more terrifying. Even a fleeting glance from their periphery caused the extraordinary substances within her body to show signs of spiraling out of control.
“I am sorry, but I do not possess the currency you require at this moment.”
Indeed, she had none. In this era of apocalypse, humanity struggled merely to survive, and currency had long since been rendered obsolete. Moreover, could they truly afford the kind of currency an entity like this would demand?
Cold sweat beaded on Atoris’s forehead. It was a choice between hope and utter annihilation. The path she would take hinged entirely on her next answer.
How had Perseus earned their grace back then? Was there something he possessed that she did not? No!
‘What did he have that I also possess?’
After a moment of silence, Atoris gritted her teeth. She retrieved an ancient-looking emblem from her mechanical pouch, then unfastened the holy sword from her side. With trembling hands, she offered these two items—the most precious things she currently owned.
“These are the two most valuable items I have. I wonder if they can serve as partial collateral for now. I hope to exchange them for this pot of flowers.”
“I swear by everything I am! I will struggle with all my might to satisfy you!”
This was the only answer she could conceive! It declared her willingness to bear any cost, offering everything as collateral, and vowing to provide an answer that would please them.
****
“This doesn’t seem quite right…”
Having participated in cosplay herself, Lin Xuan understood that weapons paired with a character were not easily parted with. Furthermore, the craftsmanship of these items looked exquisite and authentic, easily worth hundreds. To exchange them for this pot of flowers seemed like a loss. Was this truly the generosity of a young lady?
More importantly, what she truly desired was money!
“As expected… it’s not possible, is it?”
The young woman’s face paled slightly as she clutched the flowers to her chest. She clearly cherished them deeply.
Seeing the girl before her, Lin Xuan’s heart swelled with pity. She immediately envisioned a young lady who adored cosplay and flowers, whose parents disapproved and cut off her allowance. This forced her to secretly attend conventions, and after one such event, she stumbled upon a flower she loved. Yet, due to her empty pockets, she could only offer her most treasured character’s sword in exchange.
Finally, she sighed and accepted the longsword and emblem the girl offered. After a moment’s thought, she handed the longsword back.
“I’ll take this, but you should keep the sword.”
After all, a cosplaying character loses its soul without its matching weapon. Besides, the emblem was also exquisitely made and looked quite valuable. She certainly wouldn’t be at a loss.
Atoris looked up at the returned holy sword. The scabbard, long eroded by time, now radiated a brilliant light. The four characters for “Twilight Temple” gleamed upon it, imbued with an ancient and mysterious aura.
Atoris swallowed hard, gazing at the figure before her. The Level 1 rated Sealed Artifact, brimming with terrifying power, lay quietly in their other hand, appearing as innocuous as any ordinary antique emblem.
She instinctively wanted to refuse, but the moment the thought surfaced, a cold, eerie sensation invaded her heart. The words on the tip of her tongue were forcibly swallowed, and she reached out to accept it.
Atoris knew well that despite their outwardly gentle demeanor, a refusal would likely be met with the ruthless embrace of the Lord of Death himself in the very next moment.
Feeling the immense power now awakened within the holy sword in her hand, Atoris bowed deeply.
“Thank you for your magnanimity and mercy!”
“You are welcome,” they replied.
“Give me your lantern.”
Lantern? Atoris paused, then quickly regained her composure, unhooking the lantern from her waist and handing it over. They took the lantern, glanced at it, and sighed faintly.
“It truly is a defective product…”
The vast and ethereal voice reverberated repeatedly within Atoris, making her heart pound. Then, she watched as they produced another lantern from beneath a counter-like structure and offered it to her.
“It’s getting late. Take this and go home early!”
A fragrant breeze wafted over, making Atoris dizzy. When she recovered, she found herself holding the brand-new lantern.
“Then, welcome back again!”
Their voice echoed in her ears. Atoris instinctively looked up, only to see the surging chaos before her return to tranquility. The three colossal pillars vanished back into it, and the figure before her blurred and faded.
“Thank you!”
Clutching the flowers tightly, Atoris bowed deeply. She then turned and walked out of the great door. With a single step, she instantly found herself back in the endless mist.
Opening the lantern, the boundless chaotic mist slowly parted to either side, and a path extended before her. So, this was indeed some kind of ‘token,’ by which one could enter their domain.
It seemed Perseus’s previous performance had not entirely pleased them. According to the prophecy, the supreme sovereign wished to witness humanity’s continuous struggle and pursuit of hope, didn’t they?
As Atoris pondered their words, a faint smile gradually formed on her lips. Very well, she would fulfill their wish.
Holding the electronic lantern, she soon emerged from the mist-shrouded area, returning to the collapsed valley. The places where the Soul Devourers had been were now utterly devoid of even a trace.
Atoris looked back once more. The white light in the mist gradually extinguished. The entire world plunged back into darkness, emptiness, and cold. Only the lantern in her hand still emitted a faint glow.
****
Tick-tock, tick-tock.
The wooden pendulum clock on the wall moved slowly. Having pulled down the roller shutter, Lin Xuan casually placed the emblem into a drawer.
Another transaction, another one that didn’t earn any money, she sighed. Still, it wasn’t a loss. At least it proved her “returning customer philosophy” was a resounding success! For a shop, reputation was paramount. Once her reputation spread among the noble patrons, earning money would be effortless.
Regardless, it was a good start, wasn’t it?
‘I think I forgot to ask her for an IOU…’
Never mind, it was a minor issue. Since she was introduced by a customer she knew, she should be trustworthy… probably.
The little puppy had curled up beneath the counter, fast asleep. “This little one…”
Watching its adorable sleeping face, Lin Xuan shook her head helplessly. She retrieved a small blanket from the cabinet beside the counter and draped it over the puppy.
For some reason, the dream she had two nights ago, and the white-haired girl within it, suddenly resurfaced in her mind. ‘Am I so tired that I’m hallucinating?’
Yet, she also blamed the authors in her chat groups recently, who constantly posted strange pictures, pointing at their cats and dogs and shouting, “Transform for me!”
“Awoo~ It’s getting late. I should go to bed early too. I have class tomorrow…”