[Immortal System]
---- Recalculating Results ----
Pros:
1x Stealth Kill
1x Kill Under One Minute
1x Executioner
1x Kill Under Ten Minutes
1x Master Interrogator
1x Untouched
1x Discovered Antidote
1x Cured Blood Centipede
Cons: None
Final Grade: S
Reward:
Recover Memory
Full Heal
The Great Immortal Ito's Fragment (1 of 3)
Claim Reward?
[Y/N]
"Alright, it worked."
Zeke couldn't hide his excitement.
His gamble had paid off.
The option to delay claiming rewards wasn't meaningless. The System allowed room for performance improvements even after the initial evaluation.
Taking advantage of that loophole, he had used his knowledge, Blood Physique, and Demon's Breath to purge the Blood Centipede from his body and improve his final score.
Satisfied, Zeke finally pressed "Yes."
A new notification appeared.
[System Notice]
Rewards have been deposited into your Storage Box.
Storage Box can be accessed through the Status Window.
Opening the menu, a translucent screen appeared.
[Status Window]
Mana: N/A
Qi: 1,858 / 1,858
Sword Force: N/A
Power Level: 9,522
Health: 3,517 / 3,750
Title:
(Blood Physique)
(Stage 1 Master)
[Inbox] [Storage Box] [Map] [Log] [Relationships] [Tasks] [Shop]
Zeke immediately selected the Storage Box.
The reward that interested him most materialized in his hand.
A fractured turquoise medallion.
The object emitted no significant pressure or energy.
At first glance, it looked almost worthless.
"The Great Immortal Ito's Fragment..."
Zeke examined it closely before returning it to storage.
If the reward truly consisted of three separate pieces, then its value likely wouldn't reveal itself until the collection was complete.
His gaze shifted toward the remaining rewards.
Recover Memory.
Full Heal.
After a brief pause, he selected Recover Memory.
Pain exploded through his skull.
A torrent of memories flooded his mind like a collapsing dam.
Memories.
Experiences.
Relationships.
Places.
For several minutes, Zeke remained frozen as two lifetimes merged together.
Eventually, the pain subsided.
"So I'm still that bastard's son..."
His expression darkened.
Unlike his previous life, he had not been raised within the Samus Estate.
This Zeke had spent his entire childhood inside the Hidden Cave of Untold Shadows.
A place that trained assassins.
A place that consumed children.
Some recruits were purchased from death row.
Others were kidnapped outright.
The weak died.
The useful survived.
Even after recovering his memories, many mysteries remained.
As a child at the bottom of the hierarchy, he had never been entrusted with important information.
All he knew was that Sang-Li Samus had abandoned him as an infant.
His father was now a renowned Ninth Circle Arch Mage.
Not a martial cultivator.
Not a sect patriarch.
An Arch Mage.
"Tsk."
Zeke clicked his tongue.
"A lot may have changed, but that family is still playing the same dirty games."
Standing up, he began searching the corpses.
Several hidden daggers.
A handful of kunai.
Shuriken.
Smoke bombs.
An empty spatial pouch.
Nothing extraordinary.
Then he found a folded letter.
Curious, Zeke opened it.
Dear Uncle Lee,
I'm sorry for failing to meet your expectations so far.
Thank you for taking me in after my father's death.
I promise that one day I'll make both you and Father proud.
Your grateful nephew,
Kei
Zeke lowered the letter.
A sigh escaped him.
"Just my luck."
Apparently, the man he'd killed wasn't some random grunt.
He was related to Master Lee.
That complicated things.
Master Lee was already familiar to him through his recovered memories.
When Zeke refused to execute an unarmed prisoner during a graduation ceremony, Lee had ordered him thrown into solitary confinement.
Surprisingly, he hadn't activated the Blood Centipede.
Instead, Lee chose to offer him a choice.
Submit.
Or die.
Several days without food or water later, Zeke now stood in the aftermath of that decision.
Sheathing the short sword at his waist, he began considering his next move.
Almost immediately, the System appeared again.
[Immortal System]
---- Master Lee expects your head to be delivered on a silver platter. How will you deal with his perceived wrath? ----
Difficulty: Gold
Rewards:
S = Great Immortal Ito's Fragment (2 of 3) + A + B + C
A = Awaken First Magical Circle + B + C
B = Advance to Stage 2 Disciple
C = Hidden Cave of Untold Shadows Map
D = Death
F = Death
---- Have Fun :) ----
"Have fun?"
Zeke snorted.
"Easy for you to say."
Still, the rewards were tempting.
Particularly the First Magical Circle.
That reward alone could save him months of effort.
After a few moments of consideration, an idea began to form.
Meanwhile...
Deep within the Hidden Cave of Untold Shadows.
A man sat upon a stone throne.
Purple hair reached his chin.
Sharp green eyes stared impatiently across the empty hall.
Master Lee's fingers tapped against the armrest.
"Kado."
The moment the name left his mouth, a figure dressed entirely in black appeared beside him.
"Yes, Master Lee?"
"I sent Kei and his partner hours ago."
His voice carried obvious irritation.
"Find out what's taking them so long."
Kado bowed slightly.
"As you wish."
His figure vanished.
Moments later, he arrived outside the isolated holding chamber.
"Hmm."
His eyes narrowed.
The steel door stood partially open.
That alone was unusual.
Remaining cautious, Kado slowly pushed it wider.
The room beyond came into view.
His expression immediately changed.
A lone boy stood waiting on the other side.
Drenched in dried blood.
As if he had been expecting company.