Lucien hesitated for half a second. Essence was precious. He had learned that already. But so was momentum.
"Lyra," he said quietly. "I'm reinforcing you. Don't waste it."
She looked at him, then gestured. "I won't."
The system responded instantly.
▓▒░ [Essence System Function: Temporary Reinforcement Available]
[Target: Lyra]
[Cost: 120 EP] ░▒▓
Power flowed through the bond, sharp and focused. Lucien felt the drain, but he also felt the result. Lyra's light intensified, her form growing more defined.
"Phantom Rush," Lucien said. "Now."
She vanished.
A streak of pale light cut through the battlefield, faster than before, faster than the Riftscale Lizard expected. She struck from the side, then the back, then above, each impact landing where the Static Carapace was weakest.
The beast screamed, thrashing as electricity burst outward in wild arcs.
"Again," Lucien urged.
Lyra reappeared mid-air and slammed down, combining speed and force. The ground cracked under the impact. The beast collapsed to one knee, as it's balance shattered.
Cael did not hesitate.
He roared and brought his blade down with everything he had left. The strike split through scale and flesh, driving the creature into the stone with a heavy, final thud.
For a moment, the Riftscale twitched. Then Lyra moved in, her attack sharp, focused, and just enough to end tt.
Silence followed, broken only by heavy breathing.
Lucien stood still for a second, letting the tension drain from his body. Then the familiar pull came, warm and steady.
[Essence Points Gained: +350 EP]
[Total Collected: 770 EP]
He closed his eyes briefly as the energy settled.
Another interface followed.
▓▒░ [Adaptive Essence Trait Activated]
Analyzing Essence: (E+ Rank)
Result: Compatible Trait Detected — Static Surge
[Skill Variant Created: Static Arc]
Effect: Lyra can release a chained lightning strike that jumps between nearby enemies, dealing sustained damage.] ░▒▓
Lucien opened his eyes, already calculating. Area damage. Control. Pressure.
He let out a low whistle. "That's… dangerous."
Lyra floated closer, curious. "Is that bad?"
He smiled and reached out, resting his hand against her light. "No. That's very good. With this, I won't need to reinforce you every time."
She seemed pleased, her glow brightening as he praised her. "I'll get stronger," she said softly.
"I know," Lucien replied. And he meant it.
His resolve hardened. More monsters. More essence. More skills. He could already see the path forming.
But before he could say anything else, the system chimed again.
A new notification appeared.
Lucien's smile faded slightly as he read it.
"…A quest?" he muttered
Lucien's hand paused midair as the system's tone cut through the moment. He had just finished praising Lyra, still riding the quiet high of victory, when the notification pressed itself into his awareness with an urgency that refused to be ignored.
He frowned slightly. Quests were rare. When they appeared, they never did so without reason.
Lucien focused, and the interface unfolded before him.
▓▒░ [Soulbinder System: Quest Unlocked] ░▒▓
▓▒░ [Chain Quest — Path of the Binder (4)] ░▒▓
Quest Name: Weight of the Hunt
▓▒░ [Description:]
Strength is not gained by power alone.
To walk the path of a true Binder, you must learn to bear the cost of the hunt—
the blood, the burden, and the proof of what you've slain.] ░▒▓
Carry your victories. Feel their weight.
Only then will the system acknowledge your readiness.
▓▒░ [Objectives:] ░▒▓
• Slay 5 Rift Beasts (F–E Rank).
• Manually harvest at least one usable part from each kill
(core, hide, tusk, fang, claw, or equivalent).
• Carry all harvested materials physically until objectives are complete.
▓▒░ [Conditions:] ░▒▓
• No external storage allowed.
• Items must remain on your person at all times.
• Dropping or abandoning materials will reset progress.
▓▒░ [Rewards:] ░▒▓
• System Inventory — Unlocked
• Inventory Capacity: Unlimited
• Passive Effect: Reduced burden awareness when carrying loot
▓▒░ [Failure Penalty:] ░▒▓
• Temporary inventory lock (24 hours)
• Increased physical fatigue while carrying harvested items.
▓▒░ [Quest Accepted?] ░▒▓
Yes / No
He read slowly, carefully, his expression shifting as the meaning settled in.
By the time he reached the end, he let out a low breath.
"…Figures," he muttered.
This was the kind of quest he understood all too well. Not because of the Rift. Not because of the danger. But because of what it was trying to teach.
In his past life, games had always done this. They rewarded effort, yes, but they also punished shortcuts. They forced players to feel progression, not just see it in numbers.
The reward was tempting. No, it was vital. A system inventory was more than convenience. No one would underestimated how much freedom an inventory gave.
Lucien's gaze flicked briefly toward Cael, who was still catching his breath nearby, blade resting against his shoulder.
The conditions made his lips press into a thin line.
"No external storage. Carry everything physically."
He sighed.
Cael was going to be suspicious at some point.
Lucien hesitated for only a moment longer before selecting Yes.
Wuth that, The interface faded.
Lyra drifted closer, tilting slightly. "You look serious."
"I am," Lucien replied, then softened his tone. "But it's a good thing. Just… inconvenient."
"Inconvenient?" she echoed.
He smiled faintly. "You'll understand soon enough."
Too bad the Riftscale Lizard did not count. That almost felt intentional, like the system was reminding him that shortcuts were not tolerated.
Lucien joined Cael as he began working on the corpse. The warrior had already regained his rhythm, movements practiced as he carved around the scales and extracted what mattered.
Cael said, while glancing at the remains. "That one was a tough fight."
"Yeah," Lucien replied evenly. "Would've been nice if it counted."
Cael paused, then looked at him. "Counted for what?"
Lucien shrugged, crouching beside him. "Personal progress."
It was not exactly a lie. Just not the whole truth.
They worked in silence for a while, selecting usable parts and discarding the rest. A claw here. A strip of scale there. The core was secured last, still faintly warm in Cael's hands before being wrapped and packed away.
Lucien made a point of handling a few pieces himself. He felt it immediately.
The weight.
Not just physical, but mental. Every item was proof of a life taken. Proof of effort. Proof of danger endured.
The system wanted him to feel that.