With a dismissive wave, Asher switched to another category in the shop. The screen shifted, showcasing skills, rare items, and even legendary legacies that gleamed enticingly. Some were priced at astronomical amounts, with the weakest among them starting at a million coins.
"I've got 3,900 coins," Asher muttered, narrowing his eyes. "Let's see what's the best I can afford."
He scrolled slowly, his focus sharp. Every option he passed seemed to taunt him with promises of power—enchanted weapons, ancient artifacts, and mysterious scrolls filled with techniques lost to time.
Finally, his gaze settled on a particular item:
[Blade Whisper Codex – Intermediate: A manual that refines one's swordsmanship by teaching advanced sword techniques, aura manipulation, and tactical combat strategies. Requires Silver Aura Rank to comprehend fully.]
"This... looks perfect," Asher said, a small smirk forming on his lips. The purchases felt like a solid investment, aligning seamlessly with both his current abilities and long-term goals.
He glanced at the lingering display of grand legacies and skills in the Tower Shop. "Only if I didn't have an entire Inheritance Hall where I can get any legacy or art I want," he mumbled, shaking his head with a touch of amusement. He dismissed the skills section entirely, directing his attention toward the Consumables Section instead.
Rows upon rows of potions, elixirs, and rare one-time-use items appeared before him. Their descriptions were as enticing as ever, each claiming to enhance abilities, refine power, or ensure survival in critical moments.
"Let's see…" Asher muttered as he browsed the options. His eyes quickly caught onto a specific set of items: New novel chapters are published on Novel~Fire. (n)et
[Ethereal Rejuvenation Potion: Instantly restores mental clarity and vitality. Ideal for prolonged combat or after consuming multiple high-tier resources. Cost: 100 Coins.]
"This is practical," he said, nodding as he added two of these to his cart. His focus then shifted toward another intriguing potion:
[Aura Stabilization Elixir: Temporarily improves aura control, increasing efficiency and reducing wastage. Recommended for intense combat or focused training. Cost: 150 Coins.]
"Hmm... this could really help me sharpen my control, especially at the silver rank." He selected one, the glowing vial appearing in his inventory.
After a moment of hesitation, he scrolled further, stopping at another consumable:
[Heart of Valor Essence: Instantly boosts all physical stats by 20% for 10 minutes. Can be stacked with Aura or Magic enhancements. Cost: 200 Coins.]
"Another good thing," Asher mumbled, adding five more to his cart and purchasing them on the spot.
"I hope it works," he thought, watching as the items materialized in his inventory. Without wasting any time, he began fusing the fragments together.
[You have gained: Heart of Valor Fragment – Permanently increases all stats by 5% and grants a 20% chance to gain the skill Heart of Valor.]
"Good," he said, a satisfied smile tugging at his lips. "Looks like I found where to spend the rest of my coins," Asher added, his gaze shifting back to the consumables section.
After a few minutes of browsing other options and finding nothing particularly appealing, he returned to the Heart of Valor section.
He bought 12 more fragments with the remainder of his coins and then used the final 50 coins to purchase a skill from the Blood Techniques category:
[Blood Bombs: A skill that allows the user to convert their own blood into explosive, flammable bombs. The power and range depend on the amount of blood used.]
"Interesting," Asher murmured, examining the skill in his inventory. It was a risky technique but could be devastating in the right circumstances. He mentally filed it away for later use.
Satisfied with his haul, he stood up and stretched, rolling his shoulders to loosen the tension in his body.
"Time to see if I can get the full Heart of Valor or not," Asher muttered, taking the 12 Multicolor Essences and fusing them with the Fragment of Heart of Valor. The result was a radiant, multicolored heart that pulsed with vibrant energy.
[Half Heart of Valor: Permanently increases all stats by 20% and grants a 60% chance to learn the skill Heart of Valor.]
"Well, it's better than nothing," Asher said, examining the shimmering heart in his hand. Shrugging, he brought it to his mouth, biting into it like a piece of fruit. The texture was unexpectedly smooth, and the taste was surprisingly sweet.
"Tasted like ice cream," he mused with a faint chuckle.
As the energy surged through his body, multicolored flames erupted around him, flickering and swirling in a dazzling display before being absorbed into his core. He felt his strength surge as his senses sharpened. His body tingled with newfound vitality, and his stats increased significantly.
For a moment, he felt as though he was on the verge of grasping something—an elusive, powerful presence just beyond his reach. But as quickly as it came, the sensation faded, leaving him with an eerie silence.
"Guess no skill for me," Asher mumbled, scratching his head in mild disappointment. While the stat boost was significant, he had hoped for the coveted Heart of Valor skill to accompany it.
He sighed, shaking off the momentary letdown. "No point sulking over it. It's still a win," he said, rolling his shoulders and feeling the enhanced power coursing through him. He clenched his fist, watching as his Sword Aura responded, glowing more vividly than ever before.
"Good. Although I didn't advance to Diamond rank as I'd hoped, I got something better," Asher murmured, closing his eyes briefly to assess his newfound power. He could feel the subtle yet profound changes, the strength coursing through his veins like an unending current. Opening his eyes, they gleamed with determination.
"Anyway, I've got two years to reach the peak of Prismatic rank," he added, exhaling deeply as he stretched, feeling the potential that had awakened within him. Despite the challenges ahead, Asher felt confident. There was time to grow, time to hone his abilities further.
Then, as if remembering something significant, he muttered to himself, "Oh yes, almost forget about you" A smirk crept onto his lips as he activated his Soul Reaper Monarch ability, summoning the remnant fragments of the Unholy Knight he had defeated. Shadows coalesced in front of him, forming three ethereal shapes—the echoes of the once-mighty adversary.