Thalion had spent the whole night searching for something to feed on but only found a few beasts, which he quickly slaughtered. So far, nothing was his equal in his Umbral Predator form.
Then the long-awaited prompt appeared.
System shop available: Time left 11:59 hours
Finally, he thought while triggering the shop. Shortly after, he appeared before the voice of the system again. He had a total of 109,080 credits, and his plan was to buy armor and weapons for his human form. For the remaining 9,000 credits, he intended to use them on beast evolution and affinities.
“Greetings, survivor,” the voice said. “What items do you want to purchase?”
“Please give me a list of weapons worth around 100,000 credits that a survivor with my class would use.”
A list of legendary and exalted weapons appeared, each description showcasing extraordinary power. The Amulet of the Soulwarden (Legendary), for example, provided not only enhanced reflexes and regeneration but also amplified spellcasting, mental resistance, and a safeguard against death by allowing the wearer’s soul to escape into the amulet. The Blade of Echoing Spirits (Legendary) came with a sentient spirit that enhanced combat precision and grew stronger when fed with the right materials. Similar descriptions followed for other legendary weapons like the Soulreaver Scimitar (Legendary), Staff of the Whispering Winds (Legendary), and more.
Thalion read through the descriptions with astonishment. They all seemed incredibly powerful.
“Isn’t this a little cheap for such strong items?” he asked the voice. A legendary item should be powerful and he had no problem buying one at the moment.
That made sense to Thalion. These items were absurdly overpowered. If everyone got such a weapon in three or four weeks, it would be a difficult place to survive.
Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.
Thalion spent a lot of time analyzing the various items.
After hours had passed, he was torn between buying the Amulet of the Soulwarden and the Staff of the Starborn. The issue was that he could already summon weapons like the vine and the mana blade for melee fighting, and it would feel strange wielding both a staff and a blade. Meanwhile, the amulet had no such drawbacks, buffing all his abilities right away. The only downside of the amulet was that it needed to be upgraded manually, while the other items came with tool spirits that automatically enhanced their abilities.
If he bought the amulet, he’d only have 9,000 credits left. Would it even be possible to upgrade the amulet before the next system shop? Thalion wondered. On the other hand, even if he couldn’t upgrade it, he could potentially craft armor for himself.
“Show me a skill that allows me to upgrade the amulet,” Thalion asked the system since he very much would like to go for the amulet. He even had some experience working with metal since he worked from time to time in a factory as a side job. With the help of the system, it might be enough to upgrade his items.
This passive skill grants the ability to craft weapons and armor of unparalleled quality by infusing them with the essence of the materials used. One of its most remarkable features is the creation of resonance. The smith can also craft Soulbound items that offer enhanced benefits and customization. [5,000 Credits]
The price was actually affordable. There was just one issue. “Don’t I need some kind of forge to use the skill?” he asked the voice.
“Not necessarily. A hammer or heavy club and the ability to cast fire would suffice. However, a forge is available for you.”
Common Smithy (Common)
A sturdy, iron-clad forge is the heart of any burgeoning settlement. It includes a reliable anvil, hammer, and efficient bellows to maintain a consistent heat for metalworking. [3,000 Credits]
Thalion felt a bit exhausted from reading through all the options, but it seemed good enough. He could even start as a smith in some settlement while going out at night as the Umbral Predator for hunting. In the end, he bought the Amulet of the Soulwarden, Essence Forge, and the Common Smithy.
He asked the voice of the system if he could buy additional information on monster evolution or the Umbral Predator, but everything was far too expensive. With that, he left the system shop.
Thalion appeared back on the tree branch, standing 10 meters above the ground, and pulled out the amulet. It was silver, with almost white runes engraved into the material and a white stone in the center.
Do you want to bind this item to your very soul?
That was easy enough. As he agreed to the prompt, a warm sensation rushed through his body. With that, he equipped the item, and another wave of warmth flowed through him, empowering him to new heights. With this newly earned power, he couldn't wait to see what the third stage of the tutorial had to offer.