Chapter 68: But it’s only worth ten
Light exploded.
Blinding.
Colors swirling.
Everyone stepped back.
Shielding their eyes.
The armor pieces vibrated.
Humming.
The cracks glowed.
Gold light seeping through.
The scattered pieces flew.
Toward the chest.
CLANG.
CLANG CLANG CLANG.
All flying back.
Reforming.
The cracks sealed.
Not completely.
Still visible.
Golden lines now.
But solid.
The humming stopped.
Light faded.
The armor stood.
Complete.
Hovering in mid-air.
Then dropped.
THUD.
Hit the floor.
The gem in the center glowed softly.
On the chest piece—
Nine circular indentations.
Arranged in a pattern.
Three rows of three.
Alex’s gem occupied the center spot.
Eight empty slots remained.
Silence.
Nobody moved.
Nobody breathed.
Master Feng’s mouth hung open.
Beard trembling.
"That’s... that’s impossible."
He stepped closer.
Hands shaking.
"We tried everything. Everything!"
Touched the armor.
It was warm.
With full power.
"Centuries of research. Dozens of masters. Nobody could restore it!"
Rose’s eyes were huge.
Staring.
She walked forward.
Slowly.
Reached out.
Touched the golden cracks.
Her finger traced the lines.
"How..."
Looked at Alex.
"How did you know?"
Alex shrugged.
"I didn’t. Just... felt right."
Caelum stood frozen.
His gem still in his hand.
Glowing.
He looked at the armor.
At the eight empty slots.
Then at his gem.
His calm facade cracked.
"Another piece..."
Whispered.
"This needs nine."
Master Feng grabbed his shoulders.
"Do you understand what this means?!"
Voice rising.
Excited.
"This armor... it’s been a mystery for hundreds of years!"
Shook him.
"And this boy just—"
Gestured wildly at Alex.
"Just fixed it in five seconds!"
Rose’s face changed.
She spun.
Grabbed Alex.
Pulled him close.
Too close.
Their faces inches apart.
Her breath warm.
Sweet.
"Alex."
Her voice intense.
"The vendor who sold you this gem. What did they look like?"
Her hands gripped his shoulders.
Tight.
"You have to remember. Every detail."
Alex’s brain short-circuited.
Too close.
Her perfume.
Her lips.
Her eyes boring into his.
"I... uh..."
"Focus!"
She shook him.
"This is important!"
Her chest pressed against him.
Behind them—
SMACK.
Caelum slapped his forehead.
Hard.
His hand stayed there.
Covering his face.
Body trembling.
Why didn’t I go first?!
The gem was RIGHT THERE!
I was RIGHT THERE!
This honor could have been mine!!
His face went pale.
The armor pieces were on the ground!
I could’ve just... just placed my gem!
His jaw clenched.
Teeth grinding.
I would’ve been the one!
The one who solved a three-hundred-year mystery!
His mouth twitched.
Left side.
Then right.
Spasming.
Me!
Lord of the Water!
Genius of Holy Dragon University!
International champion!
His fist clenched.
Nails digging into palm.
And I got beat by...
Looked at Alex.
Some random kid!
His eye twitched.
Violently.
Master Feng glanced at him.
"Caelum? Are you—"
"I’m fine."
Voice strained.
Too high-pitched.
Cleared his throat.
"Perfectly fine."
Face still pale.
Mouth still twitching.
"Just... observing."
Turned away.
Shoulders hunched.
Muttering under his breath.
"Damn it. Damn it. Damn it."
Master Feng walked around the armor.
Examining it closely.
Alex stared.
Then—
Golden text appeared.
[Unknown Armor - Fragment 1/9]
[Current Effect: Beast HP +100%]
[Note: Pure stat boost. No special abilities.]
Alex blinked.
Just HP?
That’s it?
No flashy powers?
No special skills?
Master Feng straightened.
"Interesting. Very interesting."
"The armor grants a substantial health boost to the contracted beast wearing it. Approximately double their vitality."
Rose whistled.
"That’s S-rank quality. A pure stat item."
Stood up.
Brushed dust off her dress.
"But it lacks special effects. No active abilities. No passive skills."
Paused.
"I’d rate it A-plus at most. Strong, but limited."
Alex frowned.
"What’s the difference?"
Rose looked at him.
"Treasures have grades. F through SSS. S-rank items are already exceptional. They can turn an average Beast Master into an elite."
Gestured around the vault.
"Most items here are S or S-plus rank."
Alex’s eyes lit up.
"What about SSS? Why not put those here for us to pick?"
Rose laughed.
Shook her head.
"Dream on. This is a city-level treasury. SSS-rank items? Those can start wars. Shift the balance of nations."
Leaned closer.
"They’re locked away in the capital. Heavily guarded. You’d need to save the president’s life to even see one."
Alex deflated.
Oh, or I can sleep with the princess and let her give me one, hehe.
"Plus—"
Caelum stepped forward.
Mask back in place.
"This armor is incomplete."
Held up his gem.
"It needs all nine pieces to show its true power."
Walked to the armor.
Pressed his gem in.
Click.
Light exploded again.
Brighter this time.
The armor shuddered.
Pieces shifting.
Expanding.
The chest plate grew thicker.
Shoulder guards widened.
More mass.
More weight.
The golden cracks spread.
New patterns forming.
Then—
Stopped.
The light faded.
The armor stood.
Changed.
Bulkier.
Heavier.
More imposing.
Alex’s panel updated.
[Unknown Armor - Fragment 2/9]
[Current Effects:]
[- Beast HP +200%]
[- Beast Defense +200%]
[- Flexible Allocation: Redistribute bonuses freely]
[Example: +400% HP, +0% Defense]
[Example: +100% HP, +300% Defense]
Master Feng’s eyes went huge.
"What..."
Rushed forward.
Hands hovering over the armor.
Not touching.
Just feeling.
"The energy signature changed. Doubled. And the structure..."
Looked at Rose.
Face pale.
"It’s adaptable."
Rose stepped closer.
"What do you mean?"
"The bonuses can shift. The wearer can choose how to allocate them. All defense. All health. Or split between."
He laughed.
Short. Sharp.
"This is S-plus. Easy."
Grabbed Caelum’s shoulders.
"Do you understand?! Pure stat items are rare enough. But adaptive pure stat items?!"
Shook him.
"This is top-tier S-plus!"
"The most brutal numerical advantage possible!"
Rose’s mouth opened.
Staring at the armor.
"And it’s only two out of nine."
Looked at Alex.
Then Caelum.
"If we find all nine pieces..."
Trailed off.
Couldn’t finish.
Master Feng completed the thought.
"It could surpass SS-plus. Easily."
Whispered.
"Maybe even exceed SSS!"
Silence.
Nobody moved.
The weight of it sinking in.
Caelum lifted his chin.
Head high.
"Thanks to me, of course."
Voice loud.
"If I hadn’t stepped forward and placed my gem, we never would have discovered this armor requires multiple stones."
Paused dramatically.
"My name will be recorded in history. As the one who unlocked the secret of the Nine-Fragment Armor."
Everyone turned.
Stared at him.
Master Feng’s eye twitched.
Rose’s lips pressed together, checking Alex’s juicy butt.
Alex grinned.
Stepped forward.
Cupped his hands.
Bowed slightly.
"You’re absolutely right, Brother Caelum! Thanks to your contribution, your name will definitely go down in the history books!"
Straightened.
"And thank you so much for the gem!"
Gestured to the armor.
"Really appreciate it!"
Caelum froze.
His expression blank.
Wait.
His gem.
In the armor.
Alex’s armor.
The armor Alex broke and claimed.
His eyes widened.
Mouth opened slightly.
No.
He spun.
Rushed to the armor.
Grabbed the chest piece.
His fingers dug at the edges.
Trying to pry it out.
Nothing.
It didn’t budge.
He pulled harder.
Nails scraping metal.
Still nothing.
The gem was locked in.
Permanent.
Caelum’s hands dropped.
Stared at the armor.
At his ten-thousand-spirit-stone gem.
Now part of someone else’s treasure.
His face went blank.
Then his eyes snapped to Alex.
"We duel."
Voice cold.
Steady.
"Winner takes the armor. And the glory of solving this historical mystery."
Alex blinked.
"Why would I duel you? I already have the armor."
Caelum’s jaw tightened.
"You can’t just... take my ten-thousand-spirit-stone gem like that."
Alex scratched his head.
"But it’s only worth ten spirit stones."
Silence.
Dead silence.
Caelum’s eye twitched.
His mouth opened.
Closed.
Opened again.
No words came out.