Chapter 53: Checking Rewards

Raphael stepped away from the grand lancet window and moved with effortless grace across the plush carpet of the master chamber. The physical fatigue that had weighed him down after the grueling double-boss confrontation was entirely gone, replaced by a deep, surging reservoir of pure, unrefined Sovereign mana.

Vanessa had already told him the truth. It seemed that the knights he summoned became aware of the system and their purpose sometime after they were summoned. Vanessa knew about the system, but chose to keep it a secret, not ever blurting it out unlike his idiot past self.

He raised his right hand, making a brief swiping gesture through the cool air.

With a crisp, metallic chime, the system interface expanded before his vision, illuminating the dim, ambient light of the bedchamber with glowing, silvery-violet text.

[SOVEREIGN INVENTORY & SYSTEM REWARDS]

[Claimable Event Rewards:]

- B-Tier Starter Pack [Unopened]

- Five B-Tier Gift Cards [Unredeemed]

- Mid-Tier Castle Materials [Consumed - Castle Constructed]

- Dungeon Core [Bound - Domain Stabilized]

---

Raphael’s luminous silver eyes scanned the floating ledger. His broad steel greatsword and heavy battle axe had both been shattered beyond repair during his brutal clash with the Old King. Right now, his only weapon was the seven-foot crimson blade he had claimed from the tyrant, which currently rested against the stone wall near the entrance of the chamber. While devastatingly powerful, it was a heavy, singular weapon that didn’t fully complement his dual-weapon playstyle.

"Open the B-Tier Starter Pack," Raphael commanded, his deep voice echoing through the room.

The system window flashed brilliantly, dissolving into a cluster of shimmering, golden particles that reassembled into a detailed breakdown of his newly acquired assets.

[B-TIER STARTER PACK OPENED!]

[Item 1: Vanguard of the Eclipse Dual-Blade Set [B-Tier Weapon Set]

- Description: A pair of matched, void-forged weapons: a four-foot longsword and a curved parrying dagger, crafted from compressed dark adamantine and inlaid with high-frequency mana channels.

- Effect: Increases attack speed by 35% and seamlessly integrates with high-density mana reinforcement.

[Item 2: Sovereign’s Shadow-Grip Gauntlets [B-Tier Relic Gear]

- Description: Form-fitting, dark leather gauntlets reinforced with obsidian knuckles and etched with spatial runes.

- Effect: Reduces weapon draw latency to zero and amplifies physical kinetic impact by 25%.

[Item 3: Manual Upgrade Scroll: Dual-Weapon Mastery (Tier 4)]

- Unlock: Grants immediate mastery over Tier 4: Spatial-Split Flurry.

---

Raphael extended his hand, and a wave of dark, violet mist materialized in the air before him. From the mist, two dark, leather-wrapped scabbards dropped into his grip, followed by a pair of sleek, black leather gauntlets that hummed with a subtle, magnetic pull.

He slipped the Sovereign’s Shadow-Grip Gauntlets onto his hands first. The dark leather instantly shifted and contracted, fitting perfectly over his broad palms and knuckles like a second skin. He flexed his long fingers, watching as the embedded obsidian runes glowed with a faint, silvery-violet light in response to his mana flow.

Next, he unsheathed the longsword from the dual set.

SHRRRRR-KLINK!

The blade cleared the dark scabbard with a razor-sharp, crystal-clear chime. The metal was a matte-black adamantine, four feet of seamless, dark perfection that absorbed the ambient light of the room. Running along the fuller of the blade was a razor-thin, violet groove that pulsed in rhythm with his heartbeat. He drew the accompanying curved parrying dagger with his left hand; its weight was impeccably balanced, acting as a natural extension of his broad arm.

"A fine set, Sovereign," Vanessa observed from her seat near the pillar, her dark relic-staff resting quietly against her shoulder. "The adamantine core will easily handle the full output of your Sovereign’s Veil without fracturing under the kinetic load."

"It’s a massive upgrade from E-tier iron," Raphael said, giving the blades a swift, testing dual-cross cleave that cut through the air with a high-pitched, whisper-quiet hiss.

He resheathed both weapons, mounting the dual scabbard harness across his broad back. He then turned his attention back to the remaining interface window.

"Now... the gift cards."

[REDEEM FIVE B-TIER GIFT CARDS?]

- Option A: Convert all 5 cards into direct System Shop Credits.

- Option B: Exchange for random B-Tier Skill Books / Domain Modules.

- Option C: Targeted Selection (Select specific categories from the System Shop).

---

"Targeted Selection," Raphael chose without hesitation. Random draws were a gamble he had no desire to take when he could explicitly target his strategic weaknesses. The system shop catalog expanded, categorizing thousands of high-tier items, spells, and domain enhancements into clear, structured tabs.

"Vanessa," Raphael spoke, his silver eyes scanning the endless lists. "Our defense against mental and acoustic attacks on the chain bridge was abysmal. The Banshees’ sonic scream bypasses standard physical armor completely."

"Indeed, my Lord," Vanessa agreed smoothly. "A Sovereign must possess an unassailable mind. Physical durability is meaningless if the consciousness guiding the blade is compromised."

"First card: Mind & Soul Protection," Raphael instructed the system.

[CARD 1 REDEEMED: Aegis of the Unyielding Sovereign (B-Tier Passive Skill)]

- Effect: Grants absolute immunity to low-to-mid-tier mental interference, fear-based debuffs, and acoustic disorientation. High-tier mental assaults are reduced by 60%.

---

A cool, refreshing surge of energy washed over Raphael’s brain. The lingering, faint ringing in his ears from the Banshee attacks vanished instantly, replaced by an impenetrable, icy clarity that settled deep within his consciousness.

"Second card," Raphael continued. "Movement and Spatial Authority."

- [CARD 2 REDEEMED: Shadow-Step Flash (B-Tier Movement Skill)]

Effect: Allows instantaneous, short-range spatial relocation through shadows up to thirty meters. Cooldown: 5 seconds.

---

"Third and Fourth cards," Raphael declared, his baritone deepening as he locked onto the domain management tab. "Domain Fortification and Automated Sentinels."

[CARD 3 REDEEMED: Domain Defense: Aegis Runework (B-Tier Stronghold Module)]

- Effect: Inscribes the outer walls of the fortress with high-density protective barriers capable of repelling C-Tier siege attacks automatically.

[CARD 4 REDEEMED: Garrison Core: Shadow-Guard Constructs x10 (B-Tier Domain Minions)]

- Effect: Summons ten permanent, void-forged stone sentinels to patrol the ramparts and chain bridges of the stronghold.

---

Outside the master chamber, the deep hum of ancient machinery echoed through the castle as glowing silvery-violet runes flared across the outer ramparts. Along the massive chain bridges, ten towering, eight-foot constructs forged from dark stone and void energy materialized, taking up silent, eternal posts along the perimeter.

Raphael looked at the final card hovering on the screen.

"Fifth card: Manual Upgrade Scroll. Dual-Weapon Mastery (Tier 4)."

[CARD 5 REDEEMED: Manual Upgrade Scroll (Tier 4)]

- Effect: Consumes the scroll to immediately master Tier 4: Spatial-Split Flurry.

Raphael selected [CONFIRM].

The final golden card dissolved into a blinding beam of pure white information that shot directly into his forehead.

Raphael’s eyes flared brilliant violet as vast, complex martial pathways opened within his mind. He saw hundreds of dual-weapon strike combinations, spatial angle calculations, and techniques designed to split a single blade swing into multiple overlapping spatial cuts simultaneously. The physical muscle memory burned directly into his nerves and tendons.

He reached back, drawing the Vanguard of the Eclipse longsword and dagger in a fluid, seamless motion.

Raphael executed a swift, two-handed strike toward the open air of the chamber.

SHRRRR-BOOM!

A single physical swing of his blades manifested three distinct, overlapping silvery-violet spatial arcs that cut through the air simultaneously, leaving three distinct, humming trails of displaced space in their wake before dissipating harmlessly.

Raphael lowered the dark blades, a cold, satisfied expression settling onto his face. His overall combat capacity had not merely doubled; it had evolved into a completely different tier of lethality.

"With these upgrades, your combat efficiency has reached the upper limits of B-Tier," Vanessa noted, stepping forward with a subtle, respectful bow. "You are more than ready for whatever awaits outside these walls."

"The gear is set," Raphael said, resheathing his new dual blades with a crisp metallic snap. "Now, it’s time to check what the Bureau is doing while we’ve been building an empire."