The System’s Cruel Joke

The chamber was a dream of legends.

Weapons pulsed with dormant power. Ancient armor hummed with enchantments lost to time. Gold and gemstones glowed in the firelight, scattered in reckless abundance.

For a long moment, no one moved.

Then—

Beren: "I take back every bad thing I've ever said about the system. We are set for life."

Leila: "This… this is insane."

Tomas, stepping forward slowly, voice full of reverence: "This… this is destiny."

Mira: " This feels too good to be true."

Arlan, quietly: "It is."

But Beren was already moving.

The System's Cruel Reality Check

A war axe radiated fire, its surface rippling like molten steel. Beren reached for it, his hand wrapping around the hilt.

The instant his fingers closed—

SYSTEM UPDATE

WARNING: You did not defeat the Dungeon Boss.Legendary-tier rewards are unavailable.Recalculating treasure distribution…

The world shifted.

The axe vanished.

The gold shrank.

The divine relics flickered out of existence, leaving behind equipment that was still powerful—but far more grounded in reality.

Beren: "No. No, no, no!"

Mira: "Oh. My. Gods. The system downgraded the loot because we didn't kill Vorr'gol."

Leila: "I knew it was too good to be true!"

Tomas staggered back dramatically, placing a hand over his chest. "Our victory… tainted. Our moment of glory… stolen!"

Beren dropped to his knees, arms outstretched. "MY FLAMING AXE. IT WAS PERFECT."

Leila, grinning: "You're taking this well."

Beren, glaring: "Don't patronize me right now."

Arlan, adjusting his robe, sounded almost amused. "At least we still get something."

Beren snapped his head up, pointing at him. "I'm not ready for optimism right now, Arlan!"

Choosing What's Left – The System Prompts

The group moved to what remained, their initial disappointment giving way to pragmatism. The items were still powerful, rare, and leagues ahead of anything they had before.

Each one came with a system prompt as they reached out.

Tomas – Bastion's Plate (Heavy Armor, Rare-Grade)

System Prompt:

Bastion's Plate – A warrior's steadfast defense. Forged from abyss-tempered steel, this armor is designed for those who stand firm in the face of danger. Grants increased durability, resistance to stagger, and dampens magical impacts.

Tomas ran his hands over the armor, the metal cool but not unyielding. He could feel the weight of it, the solid reassurance of protection.

Leila, smirking: "you'll look good in that"

Tomas, solemn: "I shall wear this as a badge of honor… a symbol of my unbreakable resolve."

Beren: "So dramatic."

Mira: "Are you going to marry the breastplate, or are we moving on?"

Beren – Bloodforged Gauntlets (Gauntlets, Rare-Grade)

System Prompt:

Bloodforged Gauntlets – Crafted in battle and tempered in war, these gauntlets enhance strength and react to injury. The more damage sustained, the harder the wearer's strikes land. True power is born from struggle.

Beren slipped them on, clenching his fists. The metal felt alive, adjusting to his grip like an extension of himself.

Beren: "Alright. This is good. This is damn good."

Mira – Embercore Pendant (Accessory, Rare-Grade)

System Prompt:

Embercore Pendant – Fire given form. This pendant enhances all flame-based magic, storing excess energy to be released at the caster's will. The fire never truly fades.

Mira turned the pendant between her fingers, the gemstone in the center pulsing with a steady heat.

Mira: "Alright. I'm still mad, but this is good."

Leila – Silent Fang Quiver (Utility, Rare-Grade)

System Prompt:

Silent Fang Quiver – The shadow's whisper. This quiver's enchantment nullifies the sound of arrows as they leave the bowstring, rendering the user completely undetectable until the moment of impact. Precision is power.

Leila drew an arrow and let it slide smoothly back into the quiver. There was no sound.

Leila, satisfied: "I like it."

Arlan – Abyssal Band (Ring, Rare-Grade)

System Prompt:

Abyssal Band – The grave's embrace. Enhances necrotic spells, allowing their effects to linger and spread upon impact. The darkness is patient—it never leaves unfinished work.

Arlan slid the ring onto his finger, feeling the cold weight settle. He flicked his wrist, channeling a Shadow Bolt through his Withering Wand.

The attack shot forward, striking the stone wall—where it didn't fade.

The dark tendrils continued to corrode the impact point, pulsing faintly before dissipating.

Arlan, nodding: "This will do."

Mira watched the shadow linger longer than before.

She didn't say anything, but she noticed.

The moment the last item was claimed, the system chimed again.

SYSTEM UPDATE

Treasure claimed.Teleporting survivors to dungeon exit.

The ground shifted.

Beren: "WAIT, NO, I WANTED TO GRAB EXTRA GOLD—"

A flash of light.

Back to Reality

They reappeared near the dungeon entrance, the wind sharp against their skin. The sky was dark, scattered with stars. The air smelled of earth and rain.

For a moment, they just breathed.

Mira stretched, looking around. "We're out. Finally."

Leila kicked a rock. "Still salty about the loot."

Beren finally sighed. "Yeah, yeah. We survived. That's all that matters."