[CONGRATULATIONS!!!! AN INSTANT DROP ITEM HAS BEEN AWARDED!]

FWOOOSH!

Suddenly, three floating light orbs manifested in front of me, their soft glow pulsating with power as they hovered in midair.

…Wait.

Three?

Weren’t the rewards supposed to be two?

One guaranteed item and one random drop—that was how it had always worked.

And yet, here they were. Three.

Something wasn’t right.

’My luck isn’t that kind Afterall…’

As the bright system light faded, the first reward revealed itself.

A fragment-like scale, metallic and shimmering under the dungeon’s dim glow, hovered for a moment before settling into my hands.

I instantly recognized it—a crucial piece I had been searching for.

With this, I could finally awaken my [Tempest Sword].

[Item Acquired: The Sleeping Blade: Vale (Unique)]

A slow exhale left my lips.

Finally.

Then, the second item materialized. It floated in place momentarily… before dropping unceremoniously to the ground with a soft thud.

[Item Acquired: Heavenly Golem’s Robe (A)]

I crouched down and picked it up, inspecting the fabric.

It was an exact replica of the robe worn by the Heavenly Demonic Golem—a flowing garment imbued with faint celestial runes, its energy still radiating faint traces of divine power.

“…What the hell am I supposed to do with this?”

I turned it over in my hands, frowning slightly.

It wasn’t exactly my style… maybe I should give it to Seo?

As I pondered, another notification popped up.

[Note: Boss Subjugation Hidden Time Quest Completed. Bonus Item Rewarded.]

My brows rose.

“…A hidden reward?”

That explained the third drop.

Usually, dungeon bosses only dropped two items—one guaranteed, one random.

But I had never encountered this hidden quest trigger before.

Even in the game, something like this never happened.

Then again… what I had just done was impossible back then.

My thoughts were interrupted as the final item appeared.

A glowing rune stone, its surface etched with shifting, intricate patterns.

The moment it fully manifested, its dense mana signature sent a faint ripple through the air.

[Item Acquired: Rune Stone of Cloning (S)]

A rune stone…?

I hadn’t seen something like this in a long time.

…But could I even use it?

As if responding to my doubt, the system reacted.

[Skill: Rune Mastery] [Proficiency: 0%] [Automatically Activated!]

“…Huh?”

Before I could even process what was happening, the rune stone dropped into my hands.

The moment my fingers touched it, something clicked in my mind.

It was as if a flood of knowledge was forcefully injected into my brain—numbers, symbols, intricate rune patterns, the logic behind their structure…

A complex puzzle unfolded itself in an instant.

And just like that—I understood.

The purpose of this rune, the method to activate it, the precise calculations required to make it function—everything fell into place within seconds.

[Rune Comprehension Complete!]

A surge of raw knowledge pulsed through me. It wasn’t just an understanding—I could feel the essence of the rune, its deep and intricate patterns weaving themselves into my mind.

The stone in my hand hummed, as if resonating with my very soul, awaiting my decision.

[Item: Rune Stone of Cloning (S)]

[Description:]

[An ancient stone engraved with intricate runes, pulsating with arcane energy. Upon consumption, this stone bestows the user with a unique ability—an extension of themselves manifested through pure runic magic.]

[Note: Rune Stone of Cloning essence understood. Would you like to consume the rune?]

[Yes] / [No]

I didn’t hesitate.

“Yes.”

The moment I confirmed it, the rune stone dissolved into pure golden energy, flowing into my body like liquid light.

The arcane symbols once etched into the stone etched themselves into my skin—for a brief moment, I felt the weight of something ancient settle within me.

And then—

[Item: Rune Stone of Cloning (S) Absorbed!]

[Congratulations! You have unlocked a new skill!]

The system notifications flashed before me, but my focus was already on the power awakening within me.

[Granted Skill: Runic Clone (Unique)]

[Effect:]

[The user gains the ability to create a perfect copy of themselves, known as a Runic Clone.

This clone possesses the same base stats as the original but lacks all skills and abilities.

However, the user can willingly transfer one skill to the clone upon its creation.

[Additional Traits:]

[The clone will inherit personality traits from the original, depending on how many memories the user chooses to transfer during summoning.]

[The clone remains in existence indefinitely unless:]

[It is killed.]

[The user willingly dispels it.]

[Upon the clone’s destruction, its memories will transfer back to the original.]

[Note: Runic Clone Cooldown after Death – 720 Hours.]

My thoughts raced as I processed the sheer utility of this skill.

This was better than I expected.

A clone that didn’t just disappear after a short duration. No time limit. No restrictions. A true extension of myself.

And if I could transfer a skill…

I clenched my fist, feeling the newfound power simmer beneath my skin.

“This… changes everything.”

I never knew this skill was this overpowered.

Sure, I had seen it in the skill tree before, buried deep within the upper-limit abilities, but I had never bothered reading through it.

It was one of those skills that seemed impossibly distant—locked behind layers of grinding, intricate prerequisites, and absurd time investments.

Even in the game, barely anyone got it early on.

It was considered a late-stage power, something that required a perfect setup and an ungodly amount of resources to unlock.

But here I was… holding it in my hands right now.

And if I used it wisely…

I clenched my fist, the weight of possibility pressing against my mind.

I can multitask on an entirely different level now.

[Note: Detected Evil Presence has now diminished. Stats will return to normal levels in 10 seconds.]

I exhaled as I felt the strength slowly wash away.

The overwhelming sense of divinity that had wrapped around me began to fade, my body gradually returning to its normal state.

The world around me rushed back into focus—the sounds I had tuned out came crashing in all at once.

The golden aura that had enveloped me dimmed, the divine radiance dissipating like flickering embers in the wind.

Then—

“R-Riley….”

A quiet, almost trembling voice reached my ears.

I turned around.

Janica stood there, staring at me, her face frozen in a mix of astonishment, confusion, and something close to disbelief.

Her lips parted slightly, but it took her a moment before she found her voice.

“W-What was that…?”

Silence hung between us.

I blinked.

For a second, I had gotten so caught up in the implications of the rune that I completely forgot about these guys.

Even though I had tried my best to contain most of my divine mana, the sheer weight of my presence must have been overwhelming.

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To them—people with no exposure to the sacred energy of divinity—I might as well have been something impossibly beyond their comprehension.

To them, it must have felt like the goddess herself had descended upon this world.

Ignoring Janica’s question for now, I turned my head slightly, my gaze shifting toward the distance.’

Lucas was still staring at me, his expression mirroring Janica’s—eyes wide, filled with something between shock, awe, and confusion.

His body was trembling, his muscles visibly strained, probably begging him to rest, and yet…

He didn’t look away.

Even through exhaustion, through whatever pain he was feeling, he kept his gaze locked onto me.

…There was really no way out of this situation.

Which meant—

A little improvisation was needed.

Besides… I think this guy needs it, too.

I exhaled, shifting my stance slightly. Then, with deliberate calmness, I spoke.

“Lucas… can you reach my sword?”

He flinched.

I saw it—the brief, sharp flicker of surprise in his eyes. He wasn’t expecting me to acknowledge him.

After all, I knew exactly what kind of person Lucas was. He was emotional, driven, and stubborn to a fault. A single sentence from me was enough to throw him off balance, making him hesitate.

But only for a second.

The disappointment that had been lingering on his face quickly vanished, replaced by something sharper, more focused. His fingers twitched slightly, and his eyes locked onto me with newfound intensity.

Good.

That’s exactly the look I wanted.

A quiet, almost amused smile tugged at my lips.

With this, I had finally secured an asset for the future.

Lucas… this moment is your turning point.

Use what you just saw. Let it burn into your memory, let it fuel you.

Because the power I wielded just now—

The power that left you standing there, stunned—

It’s something you can reach, too.

If you really tried.

And since I’ve already decided to save the world, it’s only fair that I drag you along with me.

From this moment on—

You’ll become my go-to asset. My slav— no rather worker…?

And eventually, the perfect tool to take down Erebil.

….

’Riley… I knew it. You really are special…’

A small, knowing smile tugged at Lucas’s lips as he observed the scene before him.

Riley, the same person who had stood moments ago bathed in divine radiance, emanating a presence so overwhelming it felt like the descent of a god—was now getting pestered by Seo and Rose.

Rose had her arms crossed, her Golden eyes narrowed in suspicion as she bombarded Riley with questions, clearly displeased that she’d missed whatever just happened.

Seo, ever composed yet equally curious, pressed him in her usual methodical way, trying to extract answers.

And Riley?

For all his supposed untouchable greatness, for the awe-inspiring power he just displayed—

He looked… normal.

Annoyed. Frustrated. Bickering like an everyday guy caught between two relentless forces.

Lucas couldn’t help but chuckle.

’I guess he’s like me in that aspect…’

Despite his power, despite everything that made him different, Riley still had people who treated him like a person.

Not an untouchable hero.

Not an existence beyond comprehension.

Just… Riley.

Lucas shifted slightly, exhaling as the aches in his body made themselves known again.

“Need some more, bud?”

Lucas turned his head slightly to see Kagami, slumped against a piece of rubble nearby, holding out a high-quality healing potion.

His face was still slightly bruised, and exhaustion was evident in his posture.

Lucas shook his head. “You take it. You took more damage than me.”

Kagami raised an eyebrow, but he didn’t argue.

With a quiet shrug, he pocketed the potion, taking a moment to glance at Lucas—then at Riley.

He understood.

For a brief second, Kagami saw the same look in Lucas’s eyes that he himself had once carried—that faint, unspoken weight of realization.

A second ago, there was jealousy.

Jealousy toward Riley’s ridiculous strength. Toward the sheer distance between them.

But now?

That jealousy had been replaced with something else entirely.

Admiration.

Because after seeing it up close—

After feeling that overwhelming power—

He realized something important.

Riley wasn’t just strong.

He was someone worth chasing after.

Everyone in the group had long accepted that Riley was strong.

After all, he was known as a hidden master within the academy—a figure of speculation and whispered rumors.

But to think his strength was on this level?

This wasn’t just mastery.

This wasn’t just skill.

This was something far beyond the standard of any so-called master.

Hidden or not, that level of power was unfathomable.

It defied expectations. Shattered what they thought was possible.

And though none of them could deny that he had saved them, there was an undeniable truth lingering in the air—

Riley was hiding something.

A secret far heavier than any of them could grasp.

And yet…

For those who owed him their lives, for those who had seen firsthand what he could do, they weren’t in any position to question him.

Not yet.

A quiet murmur broke the tense silence.

“Although the guy hides so many secrets…” Kagami muttered, his voice low but laced with something akin to awe. “You can’t help but think he’s cool, right?”

Lucas, gripping the hilt of his pristine white sword, was silent for a moment.

His golden eyes gleamed faintly, a reflection of something deeper stirring within him.

“Yeah… he’s really cool.”

But his tone was different.

Softer.

Toned down.

Because admiration wasn’t the only thing running through his mind.

’Lucas… can you reach my sword?’

Riley’s words echoed in his head, forcing him to relive that moment of powerlessness.

The sheer overwhelming strength Riley had displayed—

The gap between them—

The realization that no matter how hard he had trained, no matter how much he had pushed himself—

He was still so far behind.

A deep sense of dread coursed through Lucas’s veins, but rather than let it consume him—he held onto it.

Because giving up was never an option.

His grip on his sword tightened, determination replacing hesitation.

’Wait for me, Riley…’

His golden eyes flickered with newfound resolve.

’My blade will reach you soon. I swear it.’

A quiet promise formed in his heart.

Meanwhile, Janica sat close by, watching Lucas carefully.

She didn’t say a word, but she didn’t have to.

She could see it.

The silent implications in his golden eyes, the quiet storm brewing within him.

Her gaze shifted toward Riley; her expression unreadable.

Then, with a sigh, she quickly averted her eyes.

She lowered her head, pressing it against her knees, willing herself to push away the emotions rising inside her.

Thump—!

Her heart betrayed her.

’Now isn’t the time to be feeling this, you idiot!’

Everything was turning into a mess.

The situation was already tiring enough. She couldn’t allow herself to be afflicted by this any longer.

But deep down…

She knew it wasn’t that simple.

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