Chapter 223: Spark

Chapter 223: Chapter 223: Spark

Isn’t this just like going out to eat, hating the food, and then smashing up the owner’s restaurant?!

Who does that?!

Seraphina Sinclair hurriedly put away the remaining Fog Condensation Residue, then checked to see what was wrong with the weapon.

[Enhancement Failed!]

[This is a B-level Weapon and cannot be enhanced using basic enhancement materials!]

Seraphina Sinclair: "..."

’Right.’

’So this really is a world with a "strict hierarchy."’

The situation now was that this item couldn’t be used on B-level Weapons, but it could be used on D-level Weapons.

However, D-level Weapons were too low-level to be enhanced twice.

So...

’The best weapon the Fog Condensation Residue can enhance is a C-level Weapon, and it can be enhanced multiple times?’

Seraphina really wanted to find a C-level weapon to test this, but unfortunately, while she had two B-level Weapons and a B-level weapon schematic, she hadn’t seen hide nor hair of a C-level Weapon.

There were three portions of Fog Condensation Residue left.

Frustrated, Seraphina could only put them away.

As for the Iron Ingots...

They weren’t of any use right now, so Seraphina stored them away as well.

She stared out the window for a while, then suddenly lay down flat on the floor.

Seraphina was particular, but not *that* particular.

This patch of floor was clean, and she always changed into her loungewear before getting into bed anyway.

Thinking about this, Seraphina felt a bit out of place in this world again.

Other survivors ate a limited variety of food, while her three daily meals were never the same and were even cooked and served to her. Other survivors wore the same set of clothes indefinitely, patching them up and continuing to use them even after they were torn by monsters, yet she actually had dedicated sleepwear.

As Seraphina pondered this, the corners of her mouth curved into a smile.

When they entered this world, everyone was at the same starting line. She had her Sunflower to thank for everything she had now, but her own contributions were absolutely indispensable.

Content, Seraphina Sinclair sat up and opened a new bottle of mineral water for herself.

In an era where water was more expensive than food, the simple act of twisting open a bottle cap was almost like popping a bottle of champagne.

Seraphina took a sip and opened the regional channel to take a look.

The instance summary hadn’t arrived yet, and the regional channel was already starting to question if the rewards had been withheld. Or maybe the system was harboring some ill intentions; otherwise, why would it take so long to distribute the rewards?

Seraphina had been a little anxious before opening the regional channel, but seeing that everyone else was even more anxious than she was, she calmed down.

After dinner, Seraphina started a fire.

The soft glow of the flames flickered across her face, melting away some of the sharp-edged calm from the day and adding a touch of warmth. She sat down by the fireplace and casually picked up the bestiary to flip through it.

The F-level monsters were almost all unlocked, with only one or two squares still grayed out.

’I’m quite looking forward to unlocking them all. If there was a server-wide announcement and reward for collecting all the fish, there must be one for all the monsters, right?’

Just as her fingertips brushed over the last two gray icons, wondering what rare creatures she had yet to encounter, the long-overdue system notification finally popped up before all the survivors in an unprecedentedly grand fashion!

[Congratulations, survivors, on making it this far. The first stage is now officially over! You have successfully crossed the threshold of survival, but please remember, this is only the beginning. As you ignite the Embers of civilization, gazes from the darkness are quietly focusing on you. The real test is only now beginning.]

This time, unlike the usual panels, the text appeared as a burning golden flame, branding itself deep into the survivors’ optic nerves the moment they saw it, carrying an indescribable sense of solemnity and shock.

Seraphina Sinclair sat bolt upright, her breath catching for a moment.

’The first stage... is over?’

’What does that mean?’

’Is the difficulty going to increase again?’

Before she could think it through, new information cascaded down below the burning golden text:

[Instance: The Choice at the Mist Outpost is officially over!]

[Calculating rewards...]

[Survivor Seraphina Sinclair’s Team Contribution Assessment: S-Class!]

[Survivor Seraphina Sinclair’s Personal Performance Assessment: S-Class!]

[Overall Rating: S-Class!]

[Detected that survivor Seraphina Sinclair successfully completed the hidden mission "The Arrival of Reinforcements." Additional rewards will be distributed along with this instance’s summary! Please wait quietly!]

’Still have to wait?’

This time, Seraphina was getting genuinely impatient.

’Forget the instance, just tell me what this "first stage" is all about!’

But it was as if the system was deliberately antagonizing her, completely ignoring her internal screams.

After delivering the bombshell news that "the first stage is over," the burning golden text slowly dissipated like spent Embers, and a new panel popped up to summarize the instance.

[This was an official instance! Therefore, all survivors who made it out alive will receive an incentive reward!]

[The incentive reward includes Black Fog Coin x20 and delicious small bread x2!]

’Oh.’

’The reward even doubled?’

Despite her sarcastic thought, Seraphina tore open one of the small breads the moment the reward arrived.

No one would turn their nose up at food.

Seraphina was no exception.

The regional channel, which had been a stream of curses aimed at the system, fell significantly quieter after the small bread was distributed, as if a Heart Clarity Spell had been cast. The insults vanished.

It was immediately replaced by a flood of comments marveling at how delicious the food was.

"Holy shit! This small bread... I’m crying, I’m actually crying!"

"This is so damn good! So soft and sweet, it’s amazing! If I could get a small bread every time, I’d be willing to run an instance every day!"

"Sob... the last time I ate something this good was... during the last instance..."

"Twenty Black Fog Coins! That’s a fortune! With the small bread, I feel like I’ve come back to life!"

"Who was it that wanted to settle scores with the system? Step up! I’ll fight anyone who dares to say a bad word about the system now!"

"My mind is telling me this is a sugar-coated bullet from the system, but my tongue and stomach are saying: ’This sugar-coating is delicious! Bring on the bullets!’"

"Three bites, just three bites! I couldn’t help myself and ate it all... The party involved is now filled with regret, so much regret..."

"Pace yourselves, friends! This could save your life in a critical moment!"

"Save my life? This *is* my life! Eating this is the only time I feel human!"

Seraphina didn’t post any messages, but she completely understood how they felt.

The fact that even she, with food made by her waiter, was this excited about the small bread spoke volumes about its appeal.

As she thought this, she suddenly raised a hand to cover her eyes.

’No.’

’It’s just too delicious!’

’What on earth did the system put in these? How are they made?!’

Seraphina didn’t eat the second one.