Nadine and Victor exchanged glances. Silent sparks of triumph and happiness flickering between them.
The glow of their level-up had already faded now because they have another reward, leaving only a little bit of exhaustion and the strange exhilaration of victory.
Myles watched, tilting his head slightly. He could tell something was different for them but only they could see the details of their own Systems.
"You got it?" Victor asked.
"Yeah," Nadine answered with a small nod and a smile. "I got it."
They talked as if they could sense each other getting new weapons.
Myles’s brow arched. "What is it? You both look like you’re hiding something."
Victor’s grin spread wide. "I gained a weapon, Myles."
Myles’s eyes widened at once.
A weapon? Lilian had already explained to him how rare it was to get one in this apocalypse—rarer than most rewards the System could ever give, like a skill even.
For a heartbeat, surprise held him still. But before he could say more, Nadine lifted her hand and added, "Me too. I also got mine!"
A stunned chuckle slipped from Myles’s lips. Relief and joy swelled inside his chest, stronger than the fatigue weighing down his body.
"So that’s how it is. Finally, this group just got a lot stronger."
He let his smile turn wry as he exhaled, shaking his head. "Meanwhile, I only got EXP."
Victor laughed and clapped his bloody hand against his thigh. "You deserved that. You’ve been enjoying yourself with a magical weapon already, so don’t be greedy. Let us enjoy ours now."
Myles chuckled again, conceding. "Alright, fair enough. Then enjoy them. Aside from their skills, they’re sharper and stronger than anything else you’ve used."
Nadine glanced at Victor, then took a breath and willed her weapon into the real world.
The air around her hand shimmered with faint red light as if veins of blood pulsed through the air itself. From that glow, the Veinpiercer formed.
Its blackened shaft and crimson tip solidify in her grip.
She held it upright, her eyes reflecting the living pulse within the veins etched across the weapon.
For a moment she simply admired it with amazement that softened her tired expression.
Victor followed next, lifting his hand. A surge of green-black haze gathered in his palm before it hardened into jagged form.
The cleaver burst into reality in his hands, its vein-like streaks glowing faintly as though breathing with him. He swung it once then felt the weight heavy but steady in his hand, and a savage grin split his face.
The two of them stood there side by side with new magical weapons gleaming with strange power.
The others who had been watching from behind heaved long sighs with a little bit of envy hidden in their heart as their eyes lingered on the glowing weapons now in Nadine and Victor’s hands.
The shimmer of magical power was proof and symbol of true strength in this apocalyptic world, something they all wanted for but could not yet have for now. Still, none of them dared voice their desire aloud.
Ryan, Kade, George, Daniel, Ethan, Clara, and the young girl Sam each shared quiet glances, their lips curving into thin bitter smiles.
They all knew the truth that they had not fought with them. They had only stood back and safe in the shadow of those three who risked everything at the front.
Such a reward was not meant for them and they knew it.
Myles slowly tore his gaze from his companions, his Perception stretching outward.
He searched every shadow and crevices in the fleshy chamber for danger, waiting for any signs like a ripple of movement or anything that meant another monster would emerge. But nothing stirred.
The oppressive silence pressed down but fortunately no threat came. Beside him, Nadine and Victor also stilled their senses, nodding faintly in agreement with their own observation.
Nothing lurked nearby.
Now his eyes fell upon the altar. It loomed against the far wall, slick with dark veins of green energy.
A strange power emanated from it, sending a chill along his spine when he put his perception on it.
Myles remembered how the crowned monster had bowed before it, as if in reverence, and acting as if it was guarding it like a sacred treasure.
Whatever it was, this altar seems important.
He raised his hand and gestured for the others. "You can come now."
At once, Ryan, Kade, George, Daniel, Ethan, Clara, and Sam moved quickly toward him after they heard confirmation that the section of the room was safe.
They formed a loose half-circle, eyes lifting toward the strange structure that dominated the wall.
"What is this thing?" Ryan muttered, his tone laced with worry because he thought that nothing in this world was normal.
"This is obviously an altar, right? But for what? It doesn’t look like anything from our world," Kade said.
George frowned, his eyes narrowing. "This altar has a certain power that I resonated with. I don’t know how or why."
Daniel swallowed, his voice low. "The monster was protecting it before, right?"
"What if it’s the source of their strength or anomaly in this place?" Ethan asked.
"It could bring more danger here if we touch it. We don’t even know how it would react to us," Nadine said.
The group fell into a heavy silence.
But Myles refused to let the chance slip away. This altar wasn’t just decoration—he was certain now.
The crowned monster had guarded it with reverence, almost worship, which meant its importance was undeniable.
"I’ll check it," Myles said, his tone calm but resolute.
He didn’t need to explain further. Everyone knew the truth of this world—opportunity always carried risk. If they wanted to survive and grow stronger they couldn’t shy away from anything that looks important. And among them, Myles was the only one prepared to step forward to take the risk.
He advanced slowly, each step echoing faintly across the chamber.
He stretched out his hand, fingers brushing the cold surface of the stone.
[You have discovered Soul Forge Altar]