A few seconds later, a passage opened through the wall, and a long stone corridor, illuminated by blue torchlight, was revealed.
"No way...!" I exclaimed aloud, my mouth opening in awe.
A little hesitant, I entered the corridor the secret passage had opened. I walked a few meters and still couldn't see its end.
Just to be safe, I decided to take one of the torches from the wall. There wasn't exactly a logical reason behind it, but it gave me a greater sense of security and control.
However, as soon as I managed to grab one of the torches from the corridor wall, a new secret entrance opened right next to where I had taken the torch.
'This really makes me feel like I'm in Tomb Raider or some Indiana Jones movie' I thought before stepping through the new entrance.
Curiosity would be the death of me sooner or later.
It was a room about forty square meters in size, made of dark stone just like the corridor. On the ceiling, lilac-colored crystals emitted enough light to illuminate the entire space.
The walls were so well polished that the surface was almost as smooth as the tables I used for studying. It wasn't a very elaborate place, but it was still charming.
The passage I had entered through suddenly closed again, but the wall was semi-translucent, allowing me to see outside.
As I approached it again to analyze, I realized that I could probably return to the corridor, but if someone else were in the corridor, they probably wouldn't be able to enter or even see inside the room.
On the wall, writings in Ancient Astarian appeared in a lilac light similar to the crystals on the ceiling. Thanks to this fortunate coincidence, I was able to translate everything easily.
It was a test:
I had to solve fifteen different riddles, and if I succeeded, I could claim a random prize from the solitary square black stone chest in the center of the room.
Apparently, there were no consequences if I failed the challenge.
The riddles appeared one by one, and all disappeared before I could say aloud what I thought the answer was. When the fifteenth question vanished, I was sure I had failed the test, but then the chest opened.
Had I actually passed the test?
All the riddles were related to the ideals, culture, inventions, and traditions of the Astarian people. Some were critiques of the world, and others were filled with humor.
I could only think of possible answers because I had read about them in the book and because I shared some of their values. However, I had only thought abstractly about possible answers and hadn't spoken any of them aloud.
"So the room was able to read my thoughts" I concluded as I approached the chest.
There were no written instructions, and the chest was empty. Had I really failed the test?
I placed my hand inside it and felt something. There was something there.
As soon as I picked up the item, the chest closed again.
[Activating skill "Peer Beyond"
Analyzing the item…
Answer: Infinite Inventory Bag.
Item classification by rarity: unique.
Item classification by function: arcane.
Description: It is a bag that allows the storage of any item, object, or being, as long as it is lifeless. It can also store titles, achievements, attribute points, and experience points of the player. It is a non-transferable item and cannot be used by anyone other than its rightful owner.
Note: The item has an invisibility function to third parties, preventing any kind of perception of the object.]
As soon as I touched it, I was able to see it.
It was a small brown bag, about the size of my hand. It had an adjustable strap that allowed it to be fastened to the body. It was extremely light.
I couldn't identify the material it was made of: it was soft and smooth, but at the same time, it seemed impossible to damage. I decided to tie it firmly around my waist.
I was wondering why anyone would want to store attribute and experience points instead of using them to become stronger and in what kind of scenario that would be beneficial for a player when a new opening appeared, this time on the floor in the right corner of the room.
A staircase of stones, whose end I couldn't see and thus seemed to descend infinitely, was revealed below the opening.
[Profile information analysis completed!]
[Luck is a skill, and an attribute too!]
[Congratulations! You have acquired a new skill!]
[By continuously proving that you are a lucky person, triggering the best possible outcomes in the situations you find yourself in, in a way that cannot be attributed to mere coincidence, you have developed the skill "Stroke of Luck" This skill allows the Luck attribute to be passively utilized, systematically influencing the environment, and, when activated, guarantees a positive outcome for the individual.]
[Luck attribute successfully unlocked!
This attribute is defined by the probability of situations unfolding beneficially for the player.]
[New Achievement!
You have been fully recognized as worthy by the Temple of the Knowledge of Astar and have received the title "Recognized by the Temple of the Knowledge of Astar"]
[New Achievement!
After analyzing your history since the installation of the Player System, you have been recognized by the Global System as a very lucky person and have received the title "The One Whom Luck Smiles Upon"]
It was a lot of information all at once. I needed some time to absorb the contents of so many notification windows.
What caught my attention the most was the mention of the Global System.
"So it was the Global System that recognized me as a very lucky person. System, is there any way for me to speak directly with the Global System?"
[Activating skill "Peer Beyond"
Answering the player's question…
Answer: The possibility exists, but the conditions have not yet been met.]
"What are the conditions?"
[Activating skill "Peer Beyond."
Answering the player's question…
Answer: Information unavailable.]
I sighed. I should have guessed it wouldn't be that simple.
So I decided to change my focus.
"System, could you describe my new skill in detail?"
[Activating skill "Peer Beyond"
Responding to the player's request…
Description of the skill Stroke of Luck:
- Passive function: Allows the Luck attribute to be constantly used to influence the environment to a certain extent, beneficially for the individual. The higher the attribute score, the greater the influence.
- Active function: Allows the individual to use all their Luck attribute points at once, amplifying luck for an instant and guaranteeing a highly beneficial outcome for the individual. The higher the attribute score, the better the result.
- Extra function: When leveling up, basic attributes will increase by an amount equivalent to half of the current total Luck attribute score.
- Warning: The active function of the "Stroke of Luck" skill can only be used once per day, and when activated, it disables the passive function for the next 24 hours.]
"Access my profile."
[Profile
Name: Lilia Costa
Status: Player
Age: 25 years
Species: Human
Level: 1
Experience: 0/10
Attributes:
Strength: 4
Agility: 5
Defense: 2
Endurance: 2
Intelligence: 13
Luck: 5
Class: (Unavailable)
Skills: Peer Beyond (Open skill description); Stroke of Luck (Open skill description).
Achievements: "Recognized by the Temple of the Knowledge of Astar," "The One Whom Luck Smiles Upon"]
"System, does this mean that instead of increasing 1 point in all my basic attributes, I will increase 2.5 points in all basic attributes when leveling up?"
[Activating skill "Peer Beyond."
Answering the player's question…
Answer: Exactly.]
"Holy s***!" I swore aloud. If I thought the Peer Beyond skill was overpowered, I had no words to describe what the Stroke of Luck skill was! Not to mention the new item I had received, the Infinite Inventory Bag!
The system itself recognized me as a "lucky person," which meant I had one of the best possible starts, right?
With the fusion of worlds, chaos must have erupted in most places. The protected zone around the Temple might actually be a positive thing because, although we couldn't leave at the moment, threats couldn't enter either.
With the crops in our greenhouse and the plants in the gardens of Astar, we could probably sustain ourselves for a long time, and considering my parents' planting skills, we might even become self-sufficient.
That's without mentioning all the knowledge and materials I had access to in the Temple.
There was also the optimized training zone near my house, where I could quickly and safely develop combat skills and physical attributes. And then there were the items I had obtained.
If this were an RPG, with the Stroke of Luck skill, the probability of me rolling a high number when the dice were thrown would be higher than for an average person, and the situation would be more likely to turn out well.
If I activated the skill, a high number would be guaranteed, though how high would depend on how many points I had in my Luck attribute.
And after using the active function of the skill, the chances of rolling a high number would be the same as for an average person, meaning I wouldn't necessarily roll a low number.
My gaze fell on the staircase on the floor. Well, if that was the case…
With the torch I had taken from the corridor, which didn't seem like it would go out, I began descending the steps.
I was apprehensive, scared actually.
But I might never have this opportunity again, and considering everything I had in my favor, exploring further might reward me with another overpowered item or skill.
'Besides curiosity, greed might also be the death of me' I thought, but even so, I didn't stop my advance into the underground.
I continued descending the stairs for over twenty minutes, guided mainly by the light of the torch I carried and the occasional lilac crystal stones embedded in the walls that I passed.
The staircase sometimes turned and sometimes continued linearly for a while. I was almost regretting my decision.
'I could try coming back here another time' I thought, but I didn't turn back.
This place wasn't described in the book I read about the Temple of the Knowledge of Astar. Ever since the secret passage opened in the library, I had been testing my luck in the unknown.
"Actually, I think I've been testing my luck in the unknown since I woke up this morning." And so far, it had worked out.
The staircase ended in a large, dark stone hall. To my left, there was a large double door made of dark stone, flanked by two large lilac stones that illuminated a good part of the area.
I approached.
On the door, written in Ancient Astarian, was: "One danger lies ahead."
I tried to see the far end of the hall, but I couldn't. One danger lay behind the doors. This could imply that there was another danger, perhaps even worse, outside of them.
I took a deep breath and, before I could regret it, pushed the double doors open.