Kael kept looking, refusing to touch anything until he saw the price first. Without even breaking some of the glass, he could make out names and effects, and each one read like a blessing that curdled into a curse.
***
[Merlin's Staff]
Increase magic potency by 400%
All spells will have their tier upgraded by one
10% Chance to recast the same spell again free of change.
Mind over matter: For 10 seconds, all magic cast has no cast time.
[Forbidden]
All magic cast will backfire on the user doubling the damage taken.
Unable to wear any other magic items or tools.
Severe Mana Poisoning.
Delusion and mental loss.
Enter a Vegetable State for 59 minutes.
***
Kael's lips pressed into a line.
That was not a weapon.
That was a suicide note with better formatting.
"Oi, John," Kael called, keeping his voice low but firm.
"What?" John snapped, already smashing another glass like it owed him money.
"Try not to grab anything before you inspect it," Kael said. "Some of these items have hella nasty stuff on them upon touch."
John's hand froze over a pair of boots. He pulled back, scowling, then inspected them anyway.
The color drained from his face again.
"Shit," John muttered. "These are the boots of Hermes…"
"What do they do?" Kael asked from a few rows away, eyes still sweeping the hall.
"Upon wearing them, both of your legs will break," John said, voice flat with disbelief. He stared at the boots as if trying to find the humor in it and failing. "I wanted to try using them and grab the chest then simply run the distance in less than ten seconds…"
Kael let out a breath that was almost a laugh, but not quite. "Ah. The condition before it disappears. Unfortunate. Seems like this whole place is well thought out. You can't use any of the bonuses without getting crippled for it."
John glared, but he did not argue. He could not. The tower was arguing for Kael.
The two of them kept looking, moving along the hall with the timer ticking like a heartbeat that belonged to someone else. Kael's mind stayed cold, focused, searching for something that did not scream death in fine print. John's mind was the opposite. He circled back again and again to the chest piece, like a dog circling meat it could not eat without getting bitten.
Then Kael noticed something on his mini-map.
A glow.
Orange.
Stationary.
For a moment he thought it might be an enemy, but enemies were marked in red. This glow was different. It stood out in a way that made his instincts tighten. Something the map itself wanted him to notice.
He approached carefully, crowbar in hand, eyes scanning the floor, the walls, the display boxes nearby, ready for some hidden mechanism to punish curiosity.
The orange marker was pointing at a box.
Inside it sat a black pentagonal rune.
Kael frowned. Why would a rune be there, among all these legendary weapons, armors, and relics?
He inspected it.
[ᚱ- ᚪᚾᚳᚩᚱ] -Anchor.
Legendary Rune.
Suppresses Mana Flow.
Dampens Spell Output.
Reduces magical volatility.
Description: A black pentagonal rune etched with ancient symbols that seem to shimmer when viewed from different angles. Its surface feels unnaturally cold to the touch, and carrying it leaves a lingering sense of heaviness, as if invisible chains bind the bearer to the earth itself. Scholars whisper that the rune was created to suppress excess magical potential, ensuring that no spellcaster could outrun their own limitations.
[Forbidden]
Increases the carrier's own weight and anything they are holding.
Reduces movement speed by 50%
Increases stamina consumption by 100%
"What the fuck?" Kael frowned, eyes flicking between the description and the forbidden penalties.
John's voice came from behind him, impatient. "What? Found something useful?"
"Nah," Kael said. "Found a rune here…"
John snorted and walked up, already unimpressed before he even saw it. "Wouldn't be surprised."
John read the information, then scoffed hard enough that Kael could almost feel the air move. "Ah, trash rune. Fuck that thing is horrible. It already has a shit ton of negative stuff without even the forbidden tag on it. Are you taking that crap?"
Kael hesitated, eyes lingering on the word Legendary. It was tempting, if only because everything else seemed designed to eat you alive. But even without the forbidden tag, this rune sounded like shackles. With it, it sounded like a slow death by exhaustion.
He looked down the hall again. Glass boxes. Legendary names. Poisoned gifts.
He thought for a second. "It's the least severe stuff here…"
John clicked his tongue. "I think you should look around some more first. We still have time."
Kael's eyes narrowed slightly at that.
Normally no person would bother with what others take unless they had a reason. Either they wanted you to take something bad, or they wanted you to not take something good so they could. Or… maybe they wanted you to take something only for them to take it later…
Kael did not answer. He wanted to test the situation more than the rune itself, so he began looking at other items first, letting his eyes move, letting John think he had influence.