Is that the same shirt?

Wisps of mana began to swirl around Kyren.

He dismissed the system screens, staring down at his body. The basic black set had reappeared, unchanged despite the upgrade. He opened his mouth to complain—but then the mana thickened around him, spiraling faster, mirroring the energy shifting inside him.

A strange sensation washed over him. His mana pulsed in rhythm with the energy outside, and suddenly, he felt it—his clothing wasn't just absorbing the mana; it was drinking it in.

The fabric darkened, shifting like liquid shadow, thickening over his skin. A weight pressed against him—light but firm—like a second layer of muscle forming over his body. His sleeves stretched, molding into sleek gauntlets, and his boots grew heavier, sturdier, as though they had fused with the ground itself. Golden lines traced along the armor's edges, glowing faintly before settling.

Then, they appeared.

Two lions—gold with black manes—etched themselves onto his shoulders, their fierce eyes gleaming as though they were alive. For a second, Kyren swore he felt their gaze on him before the glow faded into the trim.

What was once simple cloth had become something more—something alive.

He flexed his fingers, and the armor moved with him, weightless yet unyielding. He could feel it—a steady pull as the Blacklion Raiment absorbed the mana around him,

reinforcing itself with every breath he took.

His eyes fell to the dagger lying nearby. He picked it up, tilting it in the dim morning light. The silver blade shimmered—shinier than any metal he had ever seen. The onyx-black wooden handle fit perfectly in his palm, smooth yet firm. Near the base of the blade, a new insignia had formed—a gold lion's head with a black mane.

Kyren's lips curled into a wide grin.

So the system didn't think my equipment was trash after all. It just wanted me to work harder for it.

Opening the system again, he prepared to check his new gear.

A screen popped up:

[Select a Weapon]

Kyren focused on the name that appeared before him—Lion's Requiem.

The moment he confirmed it, the screen vanished.

A new message blinked in front of him:

[Lion's Requiem has been moved to Inventory.]

Kyren's grin dropped. His stomach twisted.

"No, no, no—wait!" He shot a hand forward, grasping at empty air where the chose a weapon box had been. Nothing.

He groaned, dragging his hands down his face. "You've got to be kidding me. Since when does just saying the name mean 'take it away'?" The system usually asked before moving something. Maybe it was messing with him.

Kyren was about to open his Weapons & Armor tab to check when a faint glint of sunlight peeked through the trees. He dismissed the screen instantly.

Lydel was stirring awake.

Shit.

Panic surged through Kyren. If he couldn't figure out how to turn the armor back into normal clothes, he'd have to explain the system—something he wasn't ready for.

His mind raced. Maybe I can just will it to change? Nothing. He slapped at the armor—still there. Tugged at the gauntlets—nothing. He tried peeling the lion emblems off, only to end up hugging himself like an idiot.

Lydel blinked, bleary-eyed.

"Kyren… what the hell are you doing?"

Kyren barely spared him a glance. Desperate, he closed his eyes and imagined the armor fading away—returning to what it once was.

It worked.

The golden trim dimmed. The sturdy plating melted back into soft fabric. He could feel the mana seeping out of the armor, shifting it back into its basic black set.

Lydel sat up, still rubbing his eyes. "W-w-what was that? Kyren, there's no way that's the same shirt."

Kyren chuckled, using the moment to think. "This was something my mother gave me before she died," he said smoothly. "She told me that if I ever developed a power, I'd understand how it worked."

The lie came easier than he expected.

Lydel hesitated, then shrugged, as if deciding he was too tired to question it. "I honestly feel good for getting so beat up last night," he said, chuckling as he stretched. "What about you?"

Kyren stretched as well, rolling his shoulders. "Guess we need to get going."

Lydel yawned. "I'm gonna take another nap when I get home. Sleeping against a tree all night made me miss my bed."

Kyren groaned. I'll probably miss breakfast.

Then, realization hit.

Grandma Windy is going to kill me.

He turned to Lydel, eyes wide. "We gotta go. Now."

Kyren sprinted into the woods, Lydel running close behind.

The forest had begun to quiet as the sun rose, making for a much quicker escape. By the time they reached town, they split up—Kyren heading straight for the orphanage.

He jumped the fence, landing lightly before creeping toward the back door. Peeking inside, he saw Grandma Windy at the stove, cooking breakfast. Only Irene was in the kitchen, setting the table.

Kyren cracked the door open just enough to step through, then Flash Stepped across the room to his bedroom door. He quickly slipped inside, pretended to yawn, then walked back out as if he had just woken up.

"Good morning, Grandma," he said, feigning a sleepy voice.

Grandma Windy turned, staring at him with an all-too-knowing look. "Good morning, Kyren. How did you sleep? Or better yet—did you sleep?"

Kyren looked down, rubbing the back of his head. "I just wanted to understand my new abilities, Grandma."

She sighed but didn't press further. "I understand, Kyren. Just let me know next time, so I'm not up all night worrying."

Kyren stayed silent. He knew he wouldn't be able to tell her.

As the rest of the children arrived at the table, breakfast was already waiting on their plates. They ate, then went about their day—some starting chores, others playing. A few sat near Grandma as she taught them to read and write.

Kyren?

He went straight upstairs, collapsed onto his bed, and instantly fell asleep.

Ten Hours Later…

Kyren woke up groggy, his body still aching from the night before.

He exhaled and opened the system.

Weapons & Armor.

A 3D model of himself appeared, now wearing the Blacklion Raiment in armor form, holding two weapons—his mother's dagger in his left hand and a new sword in his right.

Lion's Requiem.

His gaze flickered to the equipment list:

Equipment:

Armor:

Blacklion Raiment – The Blacklion, leader of its tribe, never fell. It only grew stronger under pressure.

Blacklion's Mane – Absorbs mana with each blow delivered and received. When undamaged, stored mana strengthens Kyren. When damaged, the armor repairs itself.

Weapons:

Lion's Requiem – Sharp but tough—the Blacklion's claws and fangs protected all.

Blacklion's Claws – The more mana Kyren pours into the blade, the sharper and faster it becomes for a short time.

Blacklion's Fangs – Absorbs a portion of the target's vitality, slightly healing Kyren with each successful cut.

Eclipsing Fang – As the Blacklion and Silverlion clashed, they found themselves enjoying the fight.

Blackfang Step – After dodging an attack, Kyren can instantly reposition to his opponent's blind spot.

Silverfang Surge – Slashing the air releases a thin, nearly invisible arc of energy that extends the dagger's range.

Kyren grinned.

Armor that repaired itself. Weapons that got stronger with mana.

This was only the beginning.

Just as he was about to close the system, something caught his eye.

Lydel's stats.

A flashing reward icon had appeared under his level.

Kyren's grin widened.

What's this?