Purchases

Michael lay on the cool, smooth surface of the rest floor, the dim light washing over him like an ethereal blanket. His mind was far from resting, though. His thoughts raced, fueled by everything that had transpired—the dangers they'd faced, the monsters they'd defeated, and, more importantly, what lay ahead. It wasn't just about survival anymore; it was about thriving, about seizing control of the dungeon, about embracing the power he'd been granted.

Beside him, Valencia stirred. Her crimson eyes, sharp and predatory, caught the light in a way that made her look both angelic and dangerous. Michael could feel her possessiveness lingering in the air, a force as palpable as the weight of his missing arm.

"What are you thinking about now?" Valencia asked, her voice soft but carrying that familiar undercurrent of claim.

Michael shifted slightly, the stump of his left arm throbbing with phantom pain. "Weapons," he said, the word heavy on his tongue. "I need something new, something that'll keep me from draining all my mana in a fight."

Valencia raised an eyebrow, her fingers curling into the fabric of his tunic possessively. "You already have your magic, Michael. Do you really need more?"

"I do," he replied, sitting up and bringing up his system's shop interface. "I've been relying too much on it. With every new floor, the monsters are getting stronger, and I'm burning through my mana way too fast. I can't keep up, not without a proper weapon."

His system hummed to life, the shop menu sprawling before him in a vast array of categories. Weapons, armor, runes, and items—all available for purchase with the cores and divine crystals he'd accumulated. Valencia leaned in, her scarlet-tipped hair brushing against his shoulder as she peered at the glowing icons with interest.

"What are you thinking?" she asked, her voice laced with curiosity.

"I'm looking for two things," Michael said, scrolling through the shop's vast selection. "First, I need a scythe—something basic but that'll help with my mana flow. Second, I want to build something. Back on Earth, we had weapons like railguns and coilguns. I can replicate the concept using runes, but I'll need the right materials."

Valencia frowned slightly. "You're trying to make a weapon from scratch? You've never mentioned this before."

"I hadn't thought of it until recently," he admitted. "The way the monsters are evolving… I need to think ahead. I can't always rely on my magic circles. They're draining me too quickly. A weapon like a coilgun would be a physical tool that I can use without constantly burning through my mana reserves."

Her eyes gleamed with approval, though a possessive edge lingered in her voice. "Alright. Show me what you're considering."

Michael swiped through the shop, bringing up a list of scythes. His gaze settled on one that stood out—Necrotic Grasp. The description intrigued him:

"A scythe forged from the bones of hundreds of high level undeads, imbued with the ability to enhance its wielder's mana flow. It grows in strength with each use, drawing power from the life force of its enemies—and its wielder."

Michael raised an eyebrow, glancing at Valencia. "This one looks promising. It's called the Necrotic Grasp. It enhances my mana flow, but it also feeds on life force, growing stronger the more it's used."

Valencia's eyes sparkled with approval. "That sounds perfect. Stronger with every kill—it suits you."

Michael chuckled softly. "You really think I should use something that could drain my life if I'm not careful?"

Valencia's smile was sharp. "I know you're strong enough to handle it. And besides, you won't be fighting alone." Her words carried a dual meaning—part promise, part warning. She wouldn't let him fall, not if she had any say in it.

Without further hesitation, Michael selected the Necrotic Grasp and exchanged one of his divine crystals for the scythe. In a flash of dark light, the weapon materialized in his hand, the sleek black blade gleaming ominously. He gave it a few experimental swings, feeling the way it connected with his mana almost instantly. There was a subtle tug on his life force, but nothing he couldn't manage.

Valencia watched him closely, her eyes never leaving the scythe. "It suits you," she said with satisfaction.

Michael nodded, a sense of completeness settling over him. But there was still the second part of his plan—the weapon he intended to build.

"I need materials now," he said, switching the shop back to the item section. "For the coilgun. I'll need something with high electrical conductivity—silver or something like it—and another metal that can easily carry mana."

He scrolled through the list of available metals until his gaze landed on two that seemed perfect: Mana Silver, a metal renowned for its conductivity and magical properties, and Vortex Steel, a mythical alloy known for its ability to absorb, hold, and transfer immense amounts of mana.

"Mana Silver and Vortex Steel," he muttered, pulling up the details for each material. The cost was high, but he had enough divine crystals to cover it. "These should do the trick."

"Mana Silver for conductivity, and Vortex Steel to carry the mana," Valencia murmured, her eyes narrowing thoughtfully. "Smart choice. You've thought this through."

"I had to," Michael replied. "This coilgun will let me accelerate metal using runes, similar to what I've been doing with magic circles, but far more efficient. I won't have to waste mana on conjuring magic formations every time."

He made the purchases, exchanging two more divine crystals for the metals. In moments, the Mana Silver and Vortex Steel appeared before him, shimmering with an otherworldly glow. The weight of his new scythe hung comfortably in his hand, while the raw materials for his coilgun lay at his feet.

"I'll need time to forge the coilgun," Michael said, his mind already racing with plans. "But once it's done, it'll be worth it."

Valencia smiled, her fingers brushing against his arm. "Good. You'll need every edge you can get as we move forward."

Michael met her gaze, feeling the weight of her words. The dungeon wasn't going to get any easier, and the challenges ahead would push them to their limits. But with the Raven's Grasp in his hand and the coilgun soon to be built, he was ready to face whatever came next.

"Together," he said softly, squeezing her hand.

"Always," she whispered back, her eyes gleaming with both love and possession.

As they sat in the dim light of the rest floor, surrounded by the tools of their survival, Michael felt a surge of determination. The dungeon may have been a place of endless danger, but with Valencia by his side and his new weaponry in hand, he was ready to carve his path through it.

This was just the beginning.