CHAPTER 32-MARTIAL ARTS AND REWARDS

Maximus pushed open the glass door of the building. It was meant for couples — the kind of place with dim lights and heart-shaped decorations — but he didn't care. A shelter was a shelter. The faint scent of smoke lingered in the air, a reminder of the chaos that had unfolded nearby. Outside, the distant growls and clashes continued, but they were faint now, as if the battle itself had grown tired.

He let his clones handle the remaining monsters, their movements precise and efficient. Each kill was mechanical — brutal but necessary. Maximus paid it no mind. He walked calmly toward the counter, where a metallic circle hung on the wall, filled with numbered keys. His fingers hovered over them before plucking one at random.

405.

"Room 405…" he muttered under his breath.

The hallway was eerily quiet. Too quiet. Not long ago, this place had echoed with screams and the frantic clash of weapons. Now, there was only the distant hum of electricity, the faint crackle of a fire burning somewhere far off. Whatever battle had occurred here… it was over.

Maximus didn't dwell on it. He made his way to the room, his steps steady but heavy with exhaustion. When he unlocked the door and stepped inside, he was greeted by a sight that belonged in a hotel — a large, neatly made bed with pristine white sheets, warm lighting, and polished furniture.

Without hesitation, Maximus tossed his gear aside and collapsed onto the bed. The mattress was softer than he expected. He rolled onto his back, staring up at the ceiling with a long, drawn-out sigh.

"So much happened… all in one day."

He let the thought linger. A blue gate in the morning. A red gate in the afternoon until night. Death had been at his heels more times than he could count, yet he was still here. Still breathing.

"I haven't even had a proper rest…" he muttered. "But now… this is it."

His expression softened, his breathing steadying as calmness settled over him. For a brief moment, the chaos outside felt far away.

His gaze shifted toward the corner of the room, where his four clones stood neatly in a line — unmoving, waiting. Maximus frowned.

"What should I do with them…?"

He rubbed his temples before exhaling quietly. "Sigh… just stay there for now."

He sat up slowly, shaking off the drowsiness that was threatening to pull him under. With a sharp breath, he called out.

"Inventory."

Ding!

A translucent window materialized before him, displaying all the items he had gathered so far. His eyes scanned the list, landing on the crystals. Among them was one that stood out — larger, brighter, almost pulsing with energy.

"Hm… I should try to copy this," he murmured.

He reached for the crystal, feeling its weight in his hand. It was heavier than the others — not physically, but in the way its power pulsed against his palm. His brow furrowed.

"Wait… what the hell?"

A sudden thought crossed his mind. He had cleared a red dungeon. Killed monsters. Survived against overwhelming odds. Yet…

"No rewards?" His voice hardened. "I got nothing?"

Frustration bubbled in his chest. "The hell… how do I even talk to the system?"

Before he could voice another complaint, a loud, piercing tone echoed in his mind.

Ding!

This sound was different — sharper, louder. The same tone he had heard once before… when he was on the brink of death.

> ERROR. ERROR. FAILED TO CALCULATE PLAYER REWARDS.

Player cleared a Red Dungeon — Demon Lord's Domain. Calculating rewards… Please wait.

Maximus blinked, his mind racing.

"It got delayed… because it couldn't calculate the rewards?" He let out a breathless laugh. "What the hell…?"

He shook his head. "Fine. Whatever. I'll deal with it later."

For now, there were other things to focus on. He glanced down at the crystal in his hand. It thrummed with power, sending faint vibrations up his arm.

"How much MP will this cost to copy…?"

He gripped it tighter.

"Copy Everything. Copy this high-grade crystal."

Ding!

> [INSUFFICIENT MP]

Maximus stared at the message, his expression darkening.

"In…sufficient?"

He let out a bitter chuckle. "You've gotta be kidding me. How much does this thing cost?"

With a shake of his head, he set the high crystal aside and grabbed a mid-grade crystal instead.

"Let's try this."

He activated his ability once more.

Ding!

> [MP -500]

"500 MP…" He exhaled slowly. "Manageable. At least I know now."

He turned the crystal over in his hand, feeling the energy coursing through it. But another question tugged at his mind.

"How do I use this thing?"

Without hesitation, he summoned the system again.

"Shop."

The window shifted, revealing a marketplace filled with countless items, skills, and techniques. Maximus scrolled past the low-cost crystals, his eyes narrowing as he searched for something worthwhile.

Then, something caught his eye — a book.

"Martial arts…?" He raised a brow. "Seriously?"

He tapped the item to read the description.

Basic Combat — 10 mid crystals.

Maximus let out a dry chuckle. "Ten crystals for that crap?"

He scrolled further. Another book caught his attention. The cover displayed a figure wielding a sword, surrounded by swirling elements.

"Elemental Sword Technique… huh?"

He tapped on it, reading the description. As his eyes reached the price, he nearly choked.

"100,000 mid crystals?"

He shook his head in disbelief. "One hundred thousand… What kind of scam is this?"

But as he read further, his expression shifted.

"Perfect elemental control… Using energy for combat…" His eyes widened slightly. "With this, I could…"

He exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Sigh… I'm saving my crystals. No point dreaming about that now."

His gaze shifted to another item — Basic Swordsmanship — priced at 100 mid crystals.

"Even this one's expensive… Damn."

He leaned back, closing the system with a sigh.

"For now… let's copy more."