Zen could be seen in his spacious room on the upper floor. This room was far larger than the one he previously had, with a massive bed that could easily fit three people into it. The décor was well thought out, a touch of luxury blended with functionality. A punching bag dangled from the ceiling, a few dumbbells rested neatly in the corner, and a bench press stood waiting for him.
A sizeable wardrobe was mounted to the side, filled with a variety of clothes. Compared to his earlier cramped space, this place felt like heaven. At the moment, Zen was just getting out of bed as the bright sunlight spilled through the window and onto his face.
"Ugh. This bed feels so warm." He groaned, reluctant to leave its comfort but knowing he had no choice.
With a long sigh, he sat up, ruffling his messy dark hair and letting out a loud yawn.
"It’s like Master Zuki purposely made the room I stayed in before smaller and barely livable. After talking to a few C rank and lower members, I realized our rooms were exactly the same in size and condition. Which means it’s the master’s sly way of forcing members to work harder and climb ranks." Zen scoffed with a crooked grin. "Old man knows how to play people."
He stood, catching sight of himself in the mirror. His toned body and sharp abs reflected back, glistening faintly in the sunlight. He rubbed his stomach with a smirk.
"Stop admiring yourself like a princess, fool. Let’s go get ready for the day." He lightly facepalmed himself, grabbed a towel, and headed into the bathroom.
Minutes later, he returned, his hair dripping wet as he carefully dried it. His bare torso glistened slightly, a sight he couldn’t help but glance at once more before finally sitting on his bed.
"Okay. For what I need to do today, I’ll need a stronger weapon. Let’s see my options." Zen muttered under his breath.
"I need a sleek katana. That’s the weapon that feels the most natural in my hands."
At once, the familiar blue system screen flickered to life. A list of katanas appeared, shimmering with descriptions and stats. New ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄhapters are published on novel⁂fire.net
’Oh! So it works with thought too, not just voice. Interesting. Since I’m now a B rank, I’ll need a sword that matches my level. Nothing less.’ He leaned closer, eyes narrowing. ’Show me... a list of B ranked katanas.’
The system shuffled for a moment before three B ranked katanas appeared before his eyes. Zen scanned them carefully, taking in the details.
"Hmm. This one grants +5 STR. The second one adds +5 STR as well but comes with resistance to flame Veils. Decent... but." His eyes hardened. "What I need is something with an active skill. A blade that gives me more than just numbers."
Almost immediately, the screen shimmered again. A single katana appeared, its name written in glowing letters.
[Effects: +5 STR; +8 AGI]
[Active Skill: Lightning Slash — Sends out a direct slash of lightning capable of shriveling weaker opponents and stunning stronger ones.]
Zen’s lips slowly curved into a grin as his eyes lingered on the blade’s description.
"Okay, I love this. Get it." Zen smirked.
[Are you sure you want to purchase the FlashBane Sword?]
Immediately, his NP reduced from 650 to 350 and a shimmering blue light appeared around his hand as a sword settled into it. It was perfect in size and weight, with a black guard and a shiny, almost reflective blade.
The blade itself carried a snaky pattern that seemed to pulse faintly with energy, almost like veins of lightning running through it.
Zen’s grin widened even more as he stored the sword into his inventory.
"Okay, I believe there were some gears I wanted to get. Where is it? That cloak..."
The screen shuffled and the cloak was displayed in front of him.
[Name: Wraithskin Cloak] – C Rank – 60 NP
[Description: A torn black cloak that blends into darkness.]
[+3 INT] [+8 Stealth Rating] [Null Aura: Reduces detection from magical creatures]
Essential for sneaky approaches or scouting ahead.
Durability: Low | Best used at night or in low-light zones
After confirming his purchase, the cloak appeared in his hand. He stared down at it, skeptical at first because of the "torn" aspect mentioned in the description. But now, looking at it properly, he noticed that the tear was only at the hem.
The cloak was long, reaching almost to his knees, pitch black in color, and silky to the touch. Despite its ragged edge, it gave off an aura of mystery and menace.
Draping it over his shoulders, Zen could feel how snug it was, perfectly molded to his frame. It allowed easy, unrestricted movement, almost as if it had been tailored just for him.
Satisfied, he stored it away into his inventory and continued browsing through the store. Soon, something in the utility tab caught his attention.
[Name: Med Kit] – Cost: 100 NP
[Description: Allows the user to heal their health bar to full status.]
"Interesting." Zen muttered as he purchased it and stored it away. To his surprise, when he checked his inventory, what he thought was a single med kit had multiplied into two. His grin stretched wide, nearly reaching from ear to ear.
"Oh, this will be fun. I’m finally ready for what I’m about to do." Zen said as he stood up from the bed eagerly.
{And what exactly is it that you want to do?}
"Simple. I’m heading into the dungeon you gave me the key for." Zen replied with a small smirk.
{Oh! Then good luck with that. I hope you don’t die. LOL}
"Are you mocking me?" Zen asked, brows furrowing furiously.
{Of course not! Kek!}
"Tch. Go to hell." Zen cursed, stomping angrily toward the door and pulling it open.
{I will drag you with me first, so we can be bunkmates.}
Zen didn’t bother to reply. He simply stepped out, letting the door close behind him with a sharp click.