Part One Hundred and Four

All eight of us collapsed after the System announced our victory. While any major injuries had been healed, the fatigue remained. The battle against the Cyclops was short, but intense, forcing all of us to use everything we had to win.

Phew, I honestly may have underestimated the difficulty of that fight. Wow, I haven’t felt this tired since the Labyrinth. No, tired isn’t the right word for it. Neither is fatigue. Uh, would exhausted? Eh whatever. It doesn’t really matter.

“We won? Hahahaha, I can’t believe we won!”

“Yeesh, calm down Brad. Why’d you even come along if you thought we’d lose?”

“Uh, uh. No reason?”

“Hey guys? Stop your weird argument, and look at the ceiling. I think this might get interesting.”

The Cyclops’s corpse was starting to break down, turning into motes of light and floating towards the ceiling. Or rather, whatever it was that was inside the cage up there.

*Rattle, rattle, rattle! Shink!*

As we all watched, the bars of the cage slid back into the ceiling, allowing the barrier to pull away like a drop of water on a leaf. The barrier then detached from the ceiling with a small popping sound, before floating towards the exact center of the room. It hovered there, about eight feet off the ground, and began to emit golden motes of light, which scattered across the room.

Wow, it really was the Golden Fleece. Or that’s what I’m assuming that is. I only know the basics of Greek mythology, but I do remember that the Fleece is supposed to provide the land with health and bounty, or something along those lines. That it would be connected to something called a Gate of Rebirth is almost fitting in a way.

*Grind, rumble, rumble, rumble!*

Pedestals began rising out of the floor all over the room. As they approached waist-height, the tops opened up, and a secondary platform popped out with several items on top of each. These must be our rewards for clearing the Lair.

“I see the System still likes its ostentatious displays. Couldn’t it just have generated them like it does for Mid-bosses?”

“Er, maybe its supposed to be symbolic or something?”

“Maybe, but it still seems over-the-top to me. I’m pretty sure the System is just lik-.”

::The Golden Fleece has declared that you are worthy of one of the treasures sleeping beneath Fort Aries. Each Challenger present may choose the items on one pedestal as their prize.::

At that announcement, there was a sort of shift in everyone’s demeanors. Up to now, we’d all been working together for the greater good, but now? Now our profit was on the table. While every item up for grabs may be worth it, some were sure to be better than the others. So the question on everyone’s mind was whether this would be worth all the effort.

Or almost everyone’s mind.

“Wow, it’s so pretty. Wha-what’s with the mana I can feel from it? Haah!?”

Everyone turned to look at Kalia, who’s gaze was transfixed on the Fleece. Her eyes were widening by the second, showing just how astonished she was by whatever had caught her attention.

“Uh, Kalia? Is something the matter?”

“Ha? Oh, uh. I wouldn’t say it’s bad, buuuuut. It’s just that the mana contained within the Fleece is extremely pure. I don’t know how to explain it better than that, but there’s just something about it that’s amazing.”

I turned my attention to the Fleece, but couldn’t detect what she had. Sure, I could feel mana within it, but it felt like any old mana elsewhere. Though there was quite a bit there. Either way, Kalia’s outburst had done a good job of softening the tension that had been building. After seeing her somewhat innocent reaction, everyone decided that it would be best for us to come up with a fair way to pick who got what.

We eventually settled on two separate measures. First, we would all get ten minutes to look at everything, so we would all know what was available. Then after that, we’d draw lots, and everyone would get five minutes to pick whatever item they wanted. There would probably be some bickering if someone chose what someone else wanted, but I felt like it was all-around fair. Mostly since each item looked to have a certain level of quality to it, and there was twenty-five of them, to the eight of us.

“Alright, ten minutes starting, Now!”

With that, we all began to look and Analyze everything laid out for us. One thing I quickly realized was that each pedestal had two items, but one was the same for each pedestal. A small, slightly reddish crystal with a pattern somehow engraved inside the crystal.

Zodiac Star Crystal (Aries)

Rank: Key

Description: One of the crystals required to open the A-Rank Dungeon: Temple of the Zodiac. This crystal is awarded to those who show bravery when participating in the defense of Fort Aries.

Note: Star Crystals of different constellations will call out to each other, and can be used to identify the other Star Sign Dungeons.

Ahahahaha, I somehow knew this would happen. I knew it from the moment I heard the name of the fort. Why wouldn’t there be more of these fragging Dungeons? Ahahahahaha…..

The stupid Star Crystal aside, the other prizes were honestly amazing. Skill Scrolls, accessories, rare gems, and other, more interesting items were on offer. Honestly, I wasn’t sure what to pick. I felt like a kid in a candy store. Still, I did make note of a few particularly good items.

Special Skill Scroll: Regeneration

Rank: Special

Description: A Skill Scroll that grants the use of the Special Skill: Regeneration.

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Skill Scroll: Rapid Recovery

Rank: Special

Description: A Skill Scroll that grants knowledge of the Normal Skill: Rapid Recovery.

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Pendant of Golden Recovery

Rank: C

Description: A pendant that has absorbed a portion of the Golden Fleece’s ambient mana. When worn, the wearer's mana, stamina, and physical recovery will be boosted by half.

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Ring of Golden Victory

Rank: C

Description: A ring that has absorbed a portion of the Golden Fleece’s ambient mana. When worn, the wearer’s dexterity and fortune will be improved.

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Gold Fleece Bracelet

Rank: C – Mythical

Restriction: Must have a Life Affinity

Effect: Enhances all Life Magics, Enhances the wearer’s natural recovery

Description: A small bracelet made from a scrap of the Golden Fleece. Wearing it will bestow a fraction of the Fleece’s grace onto the worthy.

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Lesser Seraphic Core

Rank: Special

Description: A rare stone taken from a Lesser Seraph. Often used in the holiest of Life Magic Rituals. Or the vilest Dark Magic Rituals.

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Gem of Health

Rank: Special

Description: A gem made of crystallized Life-attributed mana. These stones are almost inexplicably created and found around fonts of Life-attributed mana. Using the mana found within is said to be able to revive anyone short of death.

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Orb of Transference

Rank: Special

Description: An orb which bestows the Authority: Transference.

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Aaaahhhh, I can’t choose! They’re all too good! Well, except for those last three. I don’t really need either of the gems, and I’m not choosing an Authority I know nothing about. It might be useful, but I could always just pick something that’s sure to be helpful at some point. Of course, depending on how the others choose, I might have to pick them, but they’re my last resort. That’s why there’s exactly eight of them.

I’d picked out eight items so that regardless of when I’d get to pick, I’d have something already in mind. Braddock had already warned that taking too long would lead to you losing your turn, and having to wait until everyone else went. Though that would probably help some people make their minds up.

I’d also like to point out that there were more items than the ones I’d picked, items that were just as good. In total, there were five Skill Scrolls, ten of the Golden accessories, six gems and materials, and four aberrant items that didn’t quite fit into the other categories. And interestingly enough, there were zero weapons, though there was an armor piece and a shield.

Oh, and in case you’re wondering. The only reason the Fleece Bracelet is on my list is because I’m expecting a certain airhead to pick it. Seriously, it’s just downright perfect for her, so I figure that including it won’t hurt my chances of getting something I can use. I also just wanted to point it out as well.

At the moment I was still undecided between the Skill Scrolls, and the Pendant of Golden Recovery. Any of them would be greatly useful in the future, and the Pendant had the added bonus of being resalable later on if I grew out of it.

*Beepbeep Beepbeep* *Beepbeep Beepbeep*

“Ah, time's up. Alright, everyone gather away from the items. It’s time to draw lots.”

The lot drawing proceeded about as you might expect. Braddock drew a series of popsicle sticks with numbers on them from a bag, and we took turns drawing them. It was all very orderly and civil.

Of course it’ll be civil. The doors have yet to open! Ahaha, even if one of us wanted to run off with something, we’re physically unable to. I’d guess that we need to finish whatever clearing the Lair entails before the doors will open again. Not sure if this is a good thing, or a bad one.

A minute later, and all the lots were drawn. The order would be Kalia, Brad, Grant, me, Braddock, Cameron, Alicia, and then Tavin. Being fourth was a sort of middle ground, not too early or late in the lineup. I was happy with it, but I did see Alicia grumbling a bit. She might even have had something she really wanted.

Hrm, this is actually working better than I thought it would. Maybe I should get some popsicles sticks just in case I run into a similar situation? Though, I do wonder why they had them in the first place. Hrm, well, who knows? It’s not like it matters much.

“Uh, so I get to go first? Erm, oh.”

Kalia was being as hesitant as I’d expected. She kept dithering on what exactly to pick, going back and forth between the Fleece Bracelet and the Gem of Health. I could guess that she was wavering between what she wanted and taking something she could use to help others. It wasn’t until Alicia literally yelled at her that she finally took the Bracelet.

Brad and Grant each took one of the other Golden accessories. I’d looked at both, but didn’t really take particular notice of their names or effects. And then it was my turn.

Oh geez, I still haven’t decided yet. Okay, all three of my top choices are still here. Hrm, I’m gonna discard the Special Skill Scroll since Special Skills are hard to use and train. Skanda is still E-Rank after all this time. Which leaves Rapid Recovery and the Pendant.

If I’m not incorrect, then Rapid Recovery should be something similar to what the Orc General used in our fight. I probably won’t reach that level of recovery right away, but speeding up my natural healing process is sure to be useful. However, I’m sure it’s going to be a mana sink just like all my other Skills. The Pendant could counter that since it boosts my mana Recovery as well. But it could become a moot point later on if my mana pool grows enough.

I bit my lip while deliberating the pros and cons of each. This probably wasn’t the most difficult decision I’d found, but it was troubling. I was the kind of person who always tried to get the most out of any reward in a game, and that behavior was crossing over to here.

In the end though, I picked the Skill Scroll with a minute and a half left. My equipment was already pretty good at the moment, so prioritizing extra Skills should be the better move.

The rest picked their items rather quickly, having had longer to make up their minds. Braddock picked the shield I’d mentioned earlier, Cameron took the pendant, Alicia went with a pair of earrings that boosted focus and mental fortitude, and Tavin grabbed the other Skill Scroll almost immediately.

Three seconds passed after that with nothing occurring, but then the doors opened and all the pedestals sunk back into the floor simultaneously, as if saying that their job, and ours, was done.