Chapter 929: Alternate Timeline: A Quest for second path

[Ding! You accepted the hidden quest.]

[You opened the Credit Limit system. 160,000 credits have been added to your limit.]

[You unlocked the Unique Weapons category. Everything except the Unique Items section remains locked.]

[Platinum-grade Purification Stone purchased. 50,000 credits have been deducted from the credit limit.]

[The Purification Stone has been sent to the inventory.]

[Your remaining credit limit is 110,000 credits.]

Kiara let out a long breath, the kind that escaped only after a risky bargain had been sealed and the ink had dried.

The notifications hovered before her like merchants counting coins one by one on a wooden table.

One hundred and sixty thousand credits.

The number itself carried weight.

It was invisible, yet she could almost feel it pressing against her shoulders, like a velvet cloak embroidered with gold and stitched with debt.

At the same time, a platinum-grade item now rested in her inventory.

The trade was complete.

Whether it was a wise decision or the first step into a beautiful financial trap was a question that only time could answer.

"Open inventory," Kiara said.

A soft shimmer appeared before her eyes.

She reached into the inventory and drew out a radiant stone the size of a small apple. It settled into her palm with a pleasant weight, smooth and cool against her skin, and a pure white glow flowed from its surface like moonlight condensed into crystal form. The light washed over her fingers and painted silver highlights across her face.

She inspected it.

Purification Stone

Grade: Platinum

Effect:

1. Removes all debuffs from the target.

2. The target can be a living or non-living thing.

3. Removes any type of seal on the target as long as it is of Sky grade and lower.

4. If the target is a living being, restores vitality and ether energy (Max: peak-6-star).

5. If the target is a non-living thing, restores its condition to its peak (Max: platinum grade).

Note: This is a one-time use item and can only be used on a single target. Disappears after usage.

*

Kiara turned the glowing stone over between her fingers.

Its light was pure and tranquil, like a calm lake beneath a full moon, but her expression was anything but serene.

"Hm."

Her lips pressed into a thin line.

"The effects are excellent."

That much was undeniable.

The stone was like a divine physician compressed into a single disposable crystal.

Yet her merchant’s heart still winced.

"It is a pity," she muttered, "to spend so many credits on something that will vanish after one use."

For a few moments, she stared at the stone in silence.

Then she closed her fingers around it and shook her head. "Still, the money is already spent. Crying over spilled milk does not refill the bowl."

Her eyes drifted to Caleb Crescent, who lay unconscious on the bed.

The old king breathed evenly, completely unaware that a small fortune had just been wagered on his life.

Kiara leaned back in her chair, her mind already racing in another direction. "Before waking him, let me see what new toys this debt has bought me."

A glimmer of excitement replaced her earlier hesitation.

Her thoughts began to line up one after another.

What did she lack?

She had an amulet that amplified her magic.

She had gloves that increased her crafting efficiency.

She possessed two powerful, unique skills and two bloodline abilities.

She had Zion and Noah, two loyal androids who obeyed her without hesitation.

She had artillery capable of striking down seven-star rank experts.

She had an attack helicopter that turned the sky itself into her hunting ground. Not to mention her summoning beasts.

And if this quest was completed, she would soon gain a weapon that could rule the waters.

Kiara tapped her chin thoughtfully.

"So what am I missing?"

Her brows furrowed.

Then, like a spark landing in dry grass, an idea flared.

Attributes.

The thought instantly seized her attention.

The last time she had considered buying an attribute, she had stepped back after seeing the cost.

Back then, she had been standing at the edge of a river, admiring the far bank but lacking a bridge.

Now the bridge was there.

It was made of credit.

And although that bridge swayed over a canyon called Debt, it was still a bridge.

Kiara straightened.

"Open Store."

The categories unfolded before her.

Only Bloodlines remained grayed out.

She selected Attributes.

*

Basic: 50,000 credits

Fire, Water, Earth, Lightning (owned), Wind, Light, Dark

Variant: 75,000 credits

Metal, Shadow, Sound, Space, Magnet, Crystal, Gravity, Oil

Advanced: 100,000 credits

Ice (owned), Wood, Poison, Plasma, Lava, Storm, Glass, Acid, Sand

Super Advanced: 1,000,000 credits

Not available. Reach System Level 6 to unlock.

*

Kiara blinked.

"Super Advanced?"

That category had not existed before.

For a brief moment, her imagination galloped freely.

What kind of attributes hid behind that locked door?

Time?

Void?

Chaos?

Concepts that sounded less like powers and more like divine signatures.

But she quickly reined in her thoughts.

"That is a mountain to trek for another day."

Her system was only Level 3.

To reach Level 4, she needed one million gold coins in transactions.

That goal was already within sight.

Level 5 would demand several times more.

Level 6 was a distant summit veiled in clouds.

By then, perhaps her credit limit would be so large that today’s worries would look laughable.

But future dreams were like stars reflected in water.

Beautiful, but untouchable if one forgot to watch where one was stepping.

Kiara focused on the present.

As her gaze moved down the list of Variant attributes, Most names slid past her eyes like scenery outside a carriage window.

Metal.

Shadow.

Sound.

Gravity.

Then her eyes stopped on a specific one.

Space.

A slow smile curved across her lips.

Among all powers, Space was the one that grabbed her attention the most. Even in her past world, if someone had conducted a survey and asked the people what kind of superpower they want to have, for that, they would even be willing to give up five to ten years of life expectancy, most of them would answer "Teleportation." It is the most desired superpower across generations.

Even in this world, people would want that power, so that they can travel to any place they want.

Even Kiara desired that power.

She exhaled, making the decision.

"Alright."

Her finger hovered over the option for a heartbeat.

Then she pressed it.

"Purchase Space Attribute."

[Ding! You purchased the Space Attribute. 75,000 credits have been deducted from the credit limit.]

[Ding! Your remaining credit limit is 35,000 credits.]

[Ding! Space Attribute has been integrated into the character.]

[Ding! Spirit Path detected: Summoner.]

[Ding! No Space attribute beasts exist in the system.]

[Ding! Error.]

Kiara’s smile vanished.

She stared at the final notification.

For a moment, the room became utterly silent.

Even the crackle of the lamp seemed to retreat.

"No Space attribute beasts?"

Her eyelid twitched.

A sharp breath entered her lungs and stopped there.

The feeling was painfully familiar.

It was the sensation of ordering a grand feast, paying in full, and then being told the kitchen had no food.

Her fingers tightened against the edge of the chair.

"You fu..."

The word escaped her lips.

Several less polite words rose behind it like soldiers eager to charge, but experience had taught her caution.

The system had a remarkable talent for punishing disrespect.

Kiara swallowed the rest of her outrage.

Still, the frustration burned hot in her chest.

Seventy-five thousand credits.

Three hundred and seventy-five thousand gold coins.

She paid a fortune.

And the system had only now decided to mention this little inconvenience.

Before she could voice her complaint, another notification appeared.

[Ding! Mandatory Quest for the Second Spirit Path has been triggered.]

Quest: Awaken Second Spirit Path

Description: Certain attributes, such as Space and Sound, do not have corresponding beasts and are not recommended for the Summoner path. To solve this issue, the host must awaken a second Spirit Path.

Complete the following tasks:

1. Sell a firearm not designed or manufactured by the system.

2. Upgrade the system to Level 4.

3. Increase Ether Points to at least 100,000.

4. Sell at least one weapon of every type that can be mass-produced by the system (excluding Exclusive weapons).

Reward: Choose Mage or Assassin.

*

Kiara read the quest slowly.

Her irritation eased.

Then it faded.

Finally, a thoughtful smile appeared.

The system had not cheated her.

It had merely hidden another staircase behind the door she had just opened.

What had seemed like a trap was, in truth, an invitation.

And the reward?

A second Spirit Path.

Kiara grabbed her chin in thought.

This was not a setback if she thinks about it.

If anything, this was an opportunity disguised as a headache.

"Very well," she murmured.

She dismissed the notifications.