Vision 7 - What is this? (4)
It was hilarious, to say the least. I recalled dreaming about the meeting between the church officials.
The Legion had grown suspicious of the church, and a crazy guy had stored all its wealth in one place without consulting the owners. I never saw which church it was, but now I stood inside that very same one.
Is it just a coincidence?
Persephone looked at me, surprised to see the man before her smiling so brightly.
"Of course you'd bypass the pawns. You're refreshingly greedy."
Her words snapped me back to reality. What is this women talking about again? Its not greed, it really is luck.
More importantly, never had I imagined being surrounded by the wealth of an entire organization.
I composed myself, no need to show too much excitement, and spoke to Persephone.
"Let's check the items here."
Wealth is good, but I am more curious about the artifacts. I hoped to find something useful.
We approached a metal slab where items were displayed, arranged like in a showroom. I moved closer to inspect them.
One piece caught my attention. I picked it up.
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[Item: Broken Bracelet]
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It was a cracked bracelet, the word 'broken' etched into it. Despite its condition, it was a defensive item—granting a fifty percent buff to the wearer's defense. A solid find.
I picked up a few more items from the table. They all looked more or less similar with different color.
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[Item: Healing Potion]
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[Item: Strength Potion]
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[Item: Stamina Potion]
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[Item: Magic Potion]
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Small bottles filled with various potions—low-grade elixirs, but still valuable.
I glanced at Persephone and noticed her examining something intently. I stepped closer.
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[Item: Feeling Identifier]
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A low-grade tool, capable of detecting strong emotions in one person at a time—and only for a limited duration. For some reason, seeing it in her hand made me uneasy.
I left her to it and wandered further, soon spotting a small, iPod-sized tablet.
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[Item: Chatbox]
Finally, something worthwhile. This device enabled virtual communication. I pressed the button on its side to activate it.
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[You have used item Chatbox. A separate communication panel has been set up.]
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The tablet lit up like a phone, then vanished from my hand.
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[Choose your target of communication.]
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An arrow-like pointer appeared in my vision along with the prompt. I locked onto Persephone
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[You have chosen your target. You can communicate mentally through the communication panel.]
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Persephone turned toward me, still holding the Feeling Identifier. She must have received the same notification.
But why was she still gripping that thing? Was she actually interested in it?
-Hello. One. Two. Three.
-What are you doing?
-Testing it. Isn't it a good item?
-Yeah. Now you can talk back.
Exactly. Now I could talk back, well think back I guess, like a thought text.
She was always the one teasing me while I listened like an idiot.
"Now you can't just ignore me or use silence as an excuse," she said aloud.
I opened my mouth but couldn't respond. Maybe finding this item was a mistake. Avoiding conversations with women was usually the wiser choice in my experience—but now, I had no escape.
Still, I tried to stay positive. Communication was necessary. I couldn't keep pretending to talk to myself. Yes, this is useful. I reassured myself.
-Anyway, Please check if any of these items have tracking devices.
I remember the kid from the church in my dreams. He was clever—he wouldn't have left all this wealth unprotected.
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[Persephone has used the skill 'Detection Lvl.9']
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There are too many items to inspect thoroughly here. I'll take everything and sort it out later in a secure location.
-Also, look for storage items.
We needed a way to carry it all.
A few seconds later, Persephone pointed out the items embedded with tracking devices.
Just as I'd suspected, that church kid is smart. Most items were clean, but a few were rigged—anyone careless or unlucky would take the wrong ones.
Fortunately, the Chatbox was safe, but the Feeling Identifier had a tracker. For some reason, that made me feel relieved.
Persephone also found storage rings and a storage bag. I split everything into two batches and stored them separately.
-You take half. I'll keep the other half.
-Are you giving half your treasure to your Soul Partner?
She never missed a chance to tease me. I was dividing them for security—if I lost mine, she'd still have hers.
I sorted the items into magical bags, then placed them inside a storage ring. Next, I picked up what might be the best find yet—a small black glass orb.
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[Item: Total Isolation.]
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[You have used Total Isolation. You are now isolated from the outside world.]
[Effect duration: One hour per day. Timer started.]
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A transparent black dome, twenty meters in radius, enveloped us. Nothing—not even drones—could penetrate it. For one hour each day, we'd be free from Nubecula surveillance. A scam item.
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[Some Nubeculas demand the dome's removal.]
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Yeah… not happening.
I stood and approached Persephone, taking her hand to slide a storage ring onto her finger—her index finger, not her ring finger. I needed to be clear.
"I don't know why you're helping me. Maybe you're bored. Maybe I'm just interesting to you."
"Do you really think I'm that shallow?"
"Aren't you a Nubecula?"
She frowned but didn't argue. Nubeculas, godlike beings who had existed for eons. Immortality bred detachment—mortals faded too quickly to matter.
I tightened the ring on her finger.
"You might have your reasons. I may be an outsider, but I know things—maybe more than even the strongest Nubecula. Though I should use that knowledge better."
I expected her to scoff, to say I didn't know everything. But she just listened.
I shouldn't have said it, but I had to. She'd helped me enough that I owed her honesty.
I held the Total Isolation orb.
"If you want to leave someday, go. If you want to stay, stay as long as you like. You've helped me more than I could ask."
My tone was firm. I'd seen many futures in my dreams, but never one with her. She is a variable.
"All I ask is that you don't stand in my way later."
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[You have deactivated 'Total Isolation'.]
[Duration remaining: 51 minutes.]
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I deactivated the item and stored it. The conversation had taken nine minutes. Fifty-one remained for today.
"You can relax. I don't have any reason to betray you."
Out of nowhere, Persephone spoke, locking eyes with me. It was strange—no one had ever said that to me so directly. No, wait. Someone had said it before.
-Sure.
I replied through the Chatbox. Also Nubeculas were prying, demanding to know what was happening inside the dome. I can not afford to make them more suspicious.
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[ Nubeculas are curious about what you did inside the dome.]
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I walked toward the vault door. It had been a serious conversation, but a necessary one. I hate setting the serious tone because when I do, I know the opposite individual feels my intent, sometimes too deeply. That's why I usually avoid it.
Persephone followed silently. We reached the vault, touched the door, and stepped out.
"I got everything. Now I can rest before heading to Trivia."
I tried to lighten the mood, but Persephone stayed silent, lost in thought. Maybe about what I'd said, or what she should do next.
I didn't push my luck. Poking a bear is never wise, no matter how beautiful she is. We entered the elevator.
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[The Nubecula 'Raziel' is observing you.]
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[The Nubecula 'Raziel' is frustrated.]
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Huh? He was back? I hadn't heard much from him lately—maybe Kafziel had put him to work. I wouldn't want to work for someone that cunning either.
The doors closed, and I pressed the button for the first floor.
The elevator ascended.
The awkward silence returned. I forced myself to stay calm—until the lights flickered. My gaze shot upward.
Then, with a slight jolt, the elevator stopped.
I checked the buttons, then the floor indicator. My body tensed.
No. No no no.
Panic set in. I mashed the door-close button, then others—anything to keep it from opening.
Why now?
The doors slid open.
The floor indicator showed the Second floor, and the scene in front—a white hallway stretched before us. Similar to the third floor—but unlike the empty corridors above, this one was lined with massive cube cells, their fronts made of pure glass.
Just my luck.
The Nubeculas hadn't concerned with the pods on the first floor, and I might've ignored this section entirely—but not anymore.
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[The Nubecula 'Raziel' is frowning.]
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An angelic Nubecula is watching, one with a strong sense of justice. Now I missed Kafziel—he might've let me pass without question.
Gritting my teeth, I stepped out. There is no escape. Raziel would despise me if I ignored this. I didn't care, but I needed the Nubeculas on my side—at least until the Overload.
Persephone followed as I strode down the hall. Inside the cells, people sat on beds in the corners. The rooms were surprisingly cozy—spacious, with beds, toilets, sinks, and other necessities—but the prisoners' eyes held only despair.
No amount of comfort made captivity bearable.
Names and races were listed outside the cells, but I used Prescient Description on them.
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[Subject: 1456]
Race: Demihuman (Fox)]
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[The Active Skill 'Prescient Description' is activated.]
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[ Name: James Barnes
Age: 48
Blessing: None
Active Attribute: Person who has lost his positivity (General)
Active Skill: Flame Generator Lvl.3
Passive Skills: Rationality Lvl.2, Positive Attitude Lvl.2
Overall Stats:
Strength: Lvl 51 Stamina: Lvl 53 Agility: Lvl 52 Magic Power: Lvl 51
Description: A man who has lost all positivity despite his Positive Attitude skill. He was once proud of his active skill. ]
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[Subject: 1460]
Race: Human ]
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[The Active Skill 'Prescient Description' is activated.]
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[ Name: Lily Green
Age: 52
Blessing: None
Active Attribute: She who loves nature (General)
Active Skill: Vegetation Lvl.3
Passive Skills: Small-Weapon Handling Lvl.2, Botany Lvl.2
Overall Stats:
Strength: Lvl 55 Stamina: Lvl 53 Agility: Lvl 54 Magic Power: Lvl 51
Description: She has exceptional plant-related skills and loves gardening. ]
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[Subject: 1462]
Race: Vampire ]
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[The Active Skill 'Prescient Description' is activated.]
[ Name: Alderic August
Age: 99
Blessing: None
Active Attribute: Person who loves blood (General)
Active Skill: Blood Hunger Lvl.3
Passive Skills: Madness Lvl.2, Confidence Lvl.2
Overall Stats:
Strength: Lvl 66 Stamina: Lvl 65 Agility: Lvl 70 Magic Power: Lvl 51
Description: A bloodthirsty madman. A wanted criminal.
The prisoners were a mix—good, old, psychotic. This was why I hadn't wanted to come here. I didn't want to play judge over their lives.
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[The Nubecula 'Raziel' comments: "What are you going to do?"]
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What am I going to do? Leave, obviously. But he is testing me.
So I moved deeper, searching for a way out without intervening—but the hallway only led further in.
Then I reached a reinforced cell, sturdier than the others. Inside was a boy around my age.
I used Prescient Description—and the moment his stats appeared, my breath caught.
What is this?