[Location: National Hunter Academy - The Royal Armory Vault]
[Time: 08:00 AM (Day after the Invasion)]
The Academy was in reconstruction mode. Drones were repairing the shattered arena.
But Ryan wasn't interested in repairs. He was standing in front of a massive golden door deep beneath the administration building.
Director Malik stood beside him, looking tired.
"You have 10 minutes, Ryan," Malik sighed. "You can take ONE item. That is the agreement."
Ryan twirled the golden key on his finger.
"One item. Got it."
He pushed the doors open.
CREAAAAK.
Inside, rows upon rows of legendary weapons floated in magical stasis fields.
Flaming Swords that burn forever.Shields made of Dragon scales.Staffs that can summon storms.
Grog (who was carrying Ryan's bag) drooled. "Shiny..."
Annabelle (sitting on Ryan's shoulder) pointed at a cursed dagger. "Papa, I want that one. It whispers mean things."
Ryan activated [True Sight].
He scanned the room.
Most items were Rank B or Rank A.
But Ryan didn't want a sword. He didn't want a shield.
His class was Necromancer / Streamer. He needed something... versatile.
He walked past the flashy weapons to the back of the room.
There, covered in dust, was a strange item.
It looked like a black metallic cube. It had no handle, no blade. Just a cube with blue runic lines.
[System Scan]
[Item: Pandora's Box (Prototype)]
[Rank: S (Growth Type)]
[Description: A shapeshifting weapon created by a mad artificer. It can transform into any weapon the user understands, but it consumes Spirit Energy/Fear to maintain form.]
Ryan grinned.
"A weapon that can be a gun, a scythe, or a chair? Sold."
He grabbed the cube.
It instantly dissolved into liquid metal and wrapped around his wrist, forming a sleek black smartwatch.
"Time's up!" Malik called out. "Did you pick?"
Ryan walked out, showing his empty hands (the watch was hidden under his sleeve).
"Yeah, I picked this old watch. I needed to tell the time."
Malik squinted. He sensed something powerful, but the item looked innocent.
"Fine. Just a watch? You are a strange kid."
[System Notification: You have acquired S-Rank Weapon 'Pandora'.]
[Ryan's Greed: Satisfied.]
[Location: City Central Hospital - VIP Wing]
[Time: 10:00 AM]
Ryan walked into the VIP room. It looked like a 5-star hotel suite.
Sarah was sitting up in bed, watching TV. She looked much healthier. Her cheeks were pink.
On the TV screen, the news was playing:
"...The Hunter Academy was saved by a mysterious student summoning a Bone Dragon..."
Sarah looked at Ryan. Ryan looked at Sarah.
"That skeleton dragon looked familiar," Sarah smirked. "Did you name it Fluffy?"
Ryan laughed, sitting on the bed. "Maybe."
He transferred 5,000,000 Credits to Sarah's bank account.
"This is for your future. I have to go on a trip for a while."
Sarah's smile faded. "Is it dangerous?"
Ryan patted her head. "Nah. Just a field trip. I'm going to a Carnival."
"Liar," Sarah whispered, hugging him. "Just come back. Or I'll haunt you."
"Deal."
[Location: The Outskirts - The Tower of Silence]
[Time: 06:00 PM]
Ryan stood at the coordinates sent by the unknown messenger.
He expected a tower.
Instead, he found a... Circus Tent.
It was a massive, tattered red-and-white tent sitting in the middle of a foggy wasteland.
A faded sign above the entrance read:
"THE CARNIVAL OF DESPAIR - Free Entry for Sinners."
The air smelled of popcorn and rotting meat.
Faint carnival music played in the distance. Doot... doot... doodle-oot...
Ryan looked at his team.
Grog was hiding behind a rock. "Clowns... Grog hates clowns."Annabelle was excited. "Can I pop the balloons?"Bob (Shadow Butcher) stood silently.Felix tripped on a pebble.
Ryan set up his stream.
[Stream Started: "Exploring a Cursed Circus (ASMR)"]
[Viewers: 100,000 (Waiting)]
"Okay chat," Ryan whispered. "The anonymous DM said the truth about my System is in there. Let's see if they have cotton candy."
He stepped towards the entrance.
Suddenly, a balloon floated out of the darkness. A red balloon.
It drifted to Ryan.
POP.
The balloon burst. Inside was a piece of paper.
Ryan picked it up.
It read: "Hello, Ryan. Do you want to play a game?"
Ryan smiled at the camera.
"I love games."
He pushed the tent flap open.
Darkness swallowed them whole.
[System Notification: You have entered a 'Special Dungeon'.]
[Dungeon Name: The Mind Palace of the Jester.]
[Objective: Find the Owner of the Tower.]
[Warning: Logic does not apply here.]
As Ryan stepped in, the entrance vanished behind him.
He wasn't in a tent anymore.
He was in a twisted, neon-lit maze of mirrors.
And from the reflection... a clown with razor-sharp teeth waved at him.
"Welcome to the show, Necromancer!"