Time was moving faster than I could comprehend.
Ever since we had arrived in the forest, everything had been strange. Our lives were now a blur of discovery, danger, and occasional bursts of impossible luck. Yet, nothing prepared me for the next shock.
I was lying on the soft grass outside the hut-palace, the sunlight filtering through the protective barrier, warming my skin in gentle patches. The air smelled of old wood, rain-soaked earth, and a faint metallic tang — like the aftermath of a battle long forgotten.
Beside me, Dian was stretching, groaning as he tried to regain feeling in his legs. We had walked for hours yesterday, tracking mana currents, following trails that only I could feel, and surviving the strange illusions of the Bhutiya Forest.
For once, the forest was silent, though I knew silence here was as dangerous as noise.
Then, without warning, a notification appeared, hovering in my mind like a ghost, shimmering faintly.
> [(+_+) Hello, dear inheritor. I am the Scyth Weapon Hero, Balagus. I do not know, nor do I wish to know, where you come from or how you arrived here. But congratulations — you have made it. And as a reward, you will be granted one of our inheritances.]
The message blinked, accompanied by a faint glow that seemed to ripple in my vision.
> [>.< For your information, we are nine heroes in total. Unlike the summoned heroes, we were born in this world. We inherited the weapons crafted by our friend, and we are the victors of the Great Holy War.]
> [=_= Alas. Due to our old age, we could not clear the forest ourselves. That is why you are here. If you have reached this place, it means you have cleared a path through the forest. We request that you continue the task we could not complete: cleanse and conquer the Bhutiya Forest.]
> [(+_+) This palace contains 207 rooms. Each room holds a weapon, unique in its properties. Among these, nine belonged to us.]
Another message arrived, detailing the heroes' weapons and their names.
> Me, the Scyth Hero Balagus, wielded the Death Scythe.
Sorchino, the Spear Hero, held the Sun Spear.
Sanoi, the Magic Wand Hero, bore the Magicule Bracelet.
Youri, the Gun Hero, carried the Draungers.
Umino, the Sword Hero, possessed the Holy Sword Kimon and Dark Sword Hell.
Ajiro, the Bow Hero, owned the Thunder Dragon Bow.
Rikam, the Shield Hero, had the Devour Shield.
Yunto, the Axe Hero, wielded the Nature Axe.
Astro, the Null Hero, wore the Xunder Gloves.
The information continued, more detailed this time.
> [(+_+) This is also the place to find the inheritance of our dear friend, the Creator Hero — the one who forged these 207 godly weapons. To obtain an inheritance, you may either be chosen by a weapon or undertake a trial to claim ownership.]
The messages were punctuated with emojis, blinking and floating before my eyes. The first few made me chuckle nervously, but then my mind went cold.
The "Creator Hero"? Someone had crafted godly weapons? In the past? And we had stumbled into this inheritance?
I felt like a mouse who accidentally stepped into a lion's den, and yet, part of me was trembling with curiosity.
Dian was oblivious to my mental turmoil, staring at the shimmering palace before us. His face was a mixture of awe and fear, the sort of look that could make even the bravest hesitate.
I sat down, pressing my head into my hands. Trying to think clearly. But my thoughts were a mess. So much information, so many rules, and now… inheritance? Godly weapons?
"System," I muttered under my breath. Dian didn't notice, but the words felt natural — as if speaking them unlocked something.
> [True Ego Realm Leveling System]
[What would you like to evolve?]
[Your lifespan is currently 150 years.]
[One year of lifespan can evolve your RELAM one time.]
I froze. Evolution by lifespan? Does that mean I am going to die if I use it? No… if the system works this way, it must provide a way to grow lifespan, right?
> [Sorry. You need to increase your lifespan yourself.]
"What?" I whispered.
> [Eat healthily and exercise.]
My head throbbed. Great. I had just gotten godly knowledge, a divine gift of wisdom, and now the system wanted me to… live responsibly?
I collapsed onto the grass, groaning, letting the soft field absorb my despair. Dian sat beside me, whining about his legs.
"Damn, my legs hurt," he muttered. "So, are we going in or what?"
"Shut up," I groaned. "My head is pounding like a war drum."
A few minutes of silence passed. Then hunger made itself known — gnawing, insistent.
"I'm hungry, man," Dian complained. "We don't even know how long we've been here."
"True," I said, reluctantly sitting up. "Let's go inside the palace. Maybe we can find something to eat."
We moved forward, the grass crunching softly beneath our feet. The palace loomed before us, and as we approached, the grandeur of the structure became clearer. The walls shimmered with faint magic, the light glinting as if the building itself were alive.
Inside, a vast hall awaited. There were no paintings, no furniture — just doors, stretching endlessly in neat rows. 207 in total, each one a gateway to a potential power. Stairs rose to higher floors, promising more doors, more mysteries.
I looked around, stunned. Dian stepped ahead, his curiosity overcoming caution. "Look at all of these… doors."
Before we could investigate further, something remarkable happened.
A faint glow began to emanate from several doors simultaneously. One. Then another. Then another. Slowly, nine doors at once, each a distinct hue, opened themselves. From within, light spilled out, growing into shapes.
Weapons.
One by one, they hovered out of their respective rooms. Nine weapons, each radiating an aura of power. And as if guided by instinct, they all turned towards Dian.
Dian froze. The moment the first weapon — a spear with golden runes etched along its shaft — hovered before him, his mouth fell open.
The second weapon, a bow strung with glowing threads of energy, floated next. He reached out cautiously, and it hovered closer, resonating with a soft hum that vibrated through the air.
I watched silently, my heart pounding in a strange mixture of awe and envy. The palace, the weapons, the legacy of the ancient heroes — it was all real. And all of it had chosen him.
"Dian," I whispered, barely audible. "Those… those weapons are picking you."
He turned to me, eyes wide, trembling slightly. "Why me? I didn't even do anything."
I didn't have an answer. Part of me wanted to be angry — another part of me was silently thrilled. My systems had been giving me wisdom, preparing me, and yet the universe kept throwing surprises like this at us.
The third weapon — a pair of gloves imbued with unseen power — floated before him, and with a tentative hand, Dian touched them. A surge of energy shot through him, and I could almost see the flow of mana bending around him.
The fourth weapon, a sword glowing with an ethereal light, aligned itself perfectly in his grasp. His body stiffened, then relaxed, as if recognizing an old friend.
The fifth and sixth weapons followed — each one testing, aligning, and choosing him with unmistakable purpose. My mind raced. Nine weapons. Nine heroes. Nine inheritances. And he's chosen by all of them.
Dian's hands were shaking. He was trembling, and yet, the power thrummed around him. His aura began to radiate outward, filling the hall with light that made the doors glow brighter, more vibrant.
I took a step closer. "Dian… are you okay?"
"I… I think so," he stammered, still holding one of the weapons. "It's like… I can feel them. Like they know me. Like they're part of me now."
I nodded slowly, my mind still reeling. "You've been chosen. That means you're the inheritor of these heroes' legacy."
He looked at me with wide, incredulous eyes. "But… what about you, Rivan?"
I swallowed. My system remained silent. My "True Ego" powers, my stone blacksmithing ability — all of it was still there, humming quietly, but nothing had chosen me. My mind raced. Maybe this is a test. Maybe the weapons are just the first step. Or maybe… maybe our paths are different.
I took a deep breath and tried to focus. "It doesn't matter right now. We need to understand the palace first. These weapons… they're only part of the story."
Just then, the ninth weapon — a massive scythe imbued with shadow energy — hovered into view. It paused mid-air, then gently lowered itself before Dian. The light surrounding it flared, and for a brief instant, I thought the entire palace might collapse under its brilliance.
Dian stepped back, overwhelmed. "Nine… nine of them… all mine?"
I nodded. "Apparently so. The inheritance chose you. That's your path, Dian."
He laughed, a shaky, breathless sound. It was a mix of disbelief and awe. "I… I don't even know what to say. This is insane. I never… I never expected…"
"Yeah," I muttered, trying to ignore the gnawing jealousy I felt. "Welcome to being chosen by destiny, I guess."
As the glow from the weapons settled, I noticed the doors behind them — the remaining 198 doors — still glowing faintly. Each seemed to pulse with a heartbeat of its own.
> The palace was alive.
And whatever lay behind those doors, whatever inheritance waited for the next inheritor… I knew one thing for certain: our journey had only just begun.
I turned to Dian. "Let's explore, carefully. These weapons might have chosen you, but there's more to this place. And more to us than we realize."
He nodded. His hands were still trembling as he held the weapons close, but his eyes were now bright with determination.
For the first time in days, I felt a strange warmth in my chest.
Maybe… maybe we could survive this.
Maybe… we could thrive.