Silence reigned in the shop, broken only by the rhythmic hum of the two capsules where Baros and Rakan fought the battle of their lives. Above the devices, the crystal screens displayed a breath-taking spectacle. This was no mere game; it was a clash between the "Pride of Astoria" and the "Cruelty of Lordran."
1. The First Player's Spoils: The Harvest of the Peak
While the onlookers were mesmerized by the screens, Leon reviewed his System interface. His masterstroke in slaying the Asylum Demon had not gone unnoticed in the System's records.
[System Alert: Processing "First Kill" data for the first Boss.]
[Rewards Acquired for the Host (Leon):]
Asylum Demon Soul: Can be converted into 15,000 souls or forged into a unique weapon later.
Passive Skill [Pro's Eye]: Allows Leon to see the "weak points" of opponents in the real world (Astoria) based on their movement patterns.
Personal Mana Upgrade: Leon's mana surged to Rank 2 (Elite Level). It did not flicker with fire but was dense and cold, flowing through his veins like liquid steel.
Instant Expansion Key: Authorization to upgrade the shop to Level 2.
Leon felt a new power surging within. It was not the glaring, shouting strength Astoria bestowed upon its warriors, but the power of "Absolute Stillness." He could now perceive air particles in motion, as if the world had slowed down just for him.
2. The Desperate Battle: The Curse Unveiled
On the screens, the situation was dire. Baros was panting, his heavy armor in Lordran half-shattered, his virtual hand bleeding. Rakan leaned heavily on a broken sword, having lost much of his health.
The Demon was merciless. With every strike, Baros and Rakan realized they were not just fighting a beast, but "History" itself. At the moment the Demon finally fell beneath their simultaneous, desperate stabs, the body did not vanish. Instead, a cinematic vision flooded their minds.
They saw an ancient world filled with dragons and fog, followed by the ignition of the "First Flame." They witnessed the world splitting between giants and humans and the fading of the light. But the greatest shock was the sight of the Darksign—the burning ring that turns humans into the "Undead".
"The light... it is vanishing..." Rakan whispered inside the capsule, virtual tears welling in his eyes. Baros saw how the "Light" in Lordran was used to sacrifice humans and how the Lords there abandoned their world as the darkness took hold.
This was the revelation. In Astoria, they were taught that Light is "Absolute Good" and eternal life. But in Lordran, they saw that Light could be a "Curse" that forces people to burn their souls to prolong a dying world.
Baros and Rakan emerged from the capsules in silence, their eyes carrying the weight of knowledge no human in Astoria was meant to possess.
"Master Leon..." Baros said, his voice trembling. "That world... Lordran... is it just a game? Or is it a mirror of what will happen to us here when the sun tires of its burning?"
Leon smiled bitterly. "Lordran is a story of 'Sacrifice.' Now, you have the insight to know that the power you hold in Astoria is but a thin crust over a bottomless abyss."
3. The Great Transformation: Birth of the "Ash Hub"
When the glow cycle ended and Leon closed the shop, the update began. The System handled everything. By the next morning, the dilapidated wooden shack was gone.
The shop had expanded magically. The crumbling walls were replaced by polished "Dark Stone" that absorbed light rather than reflecting it.
Space: The hall was now vast, resembling a royal palace but with a dark, luxurious theme.
Equipment: Five sleek black capsules lined the room, surrounded by faint blue auras of stabilized mana.
Refreshment Corner: A marble counter appeared, holding shelves of "Enhanced Ashen Tea" and "Estus Flasks" (limited for in-store recovery).
Monitors: Above each capsule, a crystal screen displayed player stats (Level, Souls, Equipment), making the place look like a military operations center.
4. A New Character: A Shadow from the Sorcery Tower
As Leon took in the scent of the new shop, he heard light, rapid footsteps. It was neither Baros nor Rakan.
A girl entered wearing a long purple robe, her head covered and draped in magical amulets. She carried an ancient leather scroll and moved with extreme caution, as if fearing the Astoria sun.
She was Seraphia, personal assistant to the Empire's High Mage, known as "The Silent Reader." She had heard Elina's rumors at the Academy about a "World of Ash" and "Burning Light".
"Is this the place where people speak of the 'Philosophy of Death'?" she asked, her voice like the rustle of old parchment. She looked around in awe; the mana here was "Pure" and "Free of thermal impurities"—unlike anything she had studied in the Tower.
[System Alert: Potential "Researcher" class customer.]
[Name: Seraphia. Rank: Tier 3 Mage. Status: Lethal Curiosity.]
Leon smiled, gesturing toward one of the five new capsules. "Welcome to the only place where books do not lie, Seraphia. Here, you will not read about power... you will live your own death to find it."
At that moment, Baros and the rest of the elite arrived, freezing in their tracks. "Master Leon! Did you build a fortress in a single night?" Cale shouted.
Leon, coolly wiping a new capsule, replied: "The space has grown, and the story has only just begun. Who among you is ready to take the first step toward the 'Hydra' or the 'Bridge Wyvern'?"
Seraphia trembled as she pulled out a bag of rare magic stones. "I want in... I want to know what made Elina stop laughing and start staring into the shadows."