"Is his mental state really that bad? He's literally slapping himself..." Julius muttered, his voice low but sharp as he glanced toward the boy. Then, turning directly to the old man, he added, "Are you sure we shouldn't put him to sleep? Leaving home must have taken a serious toll on him."
Magnus didn't even flinch. His piercing gaze remained on Maximus, watching the boy with an unreadable expression. "No need. Let him be. If he's going to break over something this small, he'll never survive what's coming. This is just the beginning."
Julius frowned, his eyes clouded with uncertainty. "You really plan to put that much weight on such a small child?" His gaze flickered to Maximus, who stood there in silence, confusion reflecting in his innocent eyes.
Max, of course, had no idea that the two men were speaking through the Mind Arts, their conversation flowing unseen and unheard by anyone else.
"He's the only way out," Magnus finally admitted, his voice carrying the weight of centuries. "Maybe this is for the best. We've been searching for him... for so long and finally."
Julius inhaled sharply. "And if he gets hurt in the process? Or worse dies? Don't you think it's cruel? This isn't like you, old man."
Magnus remained eerily silent for a moment, then exhaled as his eyes lifted toward the twin suns hanging in the sky. "Who knows what goes on in Eldorado's mind?" he murmured. "Only he can say what fate he has decided for the boy."
Julius didn't respond. Not immediately. A long pause stretched between them, heavy and suffocating.
Then, as if trying to shake off the grim mood, he changed the subject. "So… is he really their son? Not just someone carrying their bloodline through time?"
Magnus's expression didn't change, but his eyes darkened with something unreadable. "He is the direct son of that woman," he said at last. "I felt it the energy of the Time Cocoon beneath the ground, mere feet away from his home. There's no doubt. That monster created the cocoon three thousand years ago, sealing her newborn inside. It was so strong that time outside passed normally, but within it... the child remained untouched by time. Somehow, after all these centuries, that cocoon must have opened. And that old woman… she must have found him and taken him in."
His voice was calm, almost emotionless, but there was something beneath it something like wonder.
Julius narrowed his eyes. "Don't tell me you read the mind of that mundane woman."
Magnus sighed. "It was a special case. You know I despise such methods, but this time... it was necessary. We're talking about the awakening of the direct and only heir to the Forgotten Throne. The son of those monsters. As Grand Councillor of the Arcane Order, I have a duty to ensure the truth. And sometimes... the laws must be broken for the greater risk."
Julius didn't argue.
Magnus simply exhaled, shaking his head slightly. "I was just making sure. If the boy's background had been suspicious, if that woman had been from some hidden lineage..." He trailed off. "Forget it."
Still, despite himself, Magnus couldn't suppress his amazement. "That woman… she created something so powerful it lasted over three thousand years?" He let out a slow breath, shaking his head. "Time magic itself is already a near impossibility. They say that even stopping, rewinding, or accelerating time for a single second requires the entire mana of the Central Continent combined. And she—she managed to sustain it for three thousand years?"
He remained still, but his grip on his cane tightened ever so slightly.
"Even dragons might feel ashamed," he muttered, half to himself.
Julius looked at him. "There's no need for you to fathom it." His tone was as cold as ever. "Besides, even someone like you hesitates to speak her name." His voice dropped lower. "That alone shows the kind of thing she was."
At this, Magnus slowly turned his head toward him, his expression devoid of emotion.
---
Max was entirely unaware of the silent war waged between the two ancient relics standing nearby. Not that he would have cared even if he could hear their cryptic conversation because, at that moment, something far wilder had captured his attention.
His eyes widened, nearly turning into gold coins as a translucent screen materialized in front of him, vibrating with notification after notification.
[Ding! Guilt detected.] [Ding! Hope detected.] [Ding! Absurdity detected.]
[+1 MP] [+1 MP] [+7 MP]
Ding! Ding! Ding!
The alerts kept ringing in his head, making him glance over his shoulder at the two old men, who stood in eerie silence, their expressions shifting in some deep, unreadable exchange.
"Are they... in love with each other?" Max mused, his face twisting at the absurd thought.
He recalled a few scandalous novels the village girls whispered about in hushed voices. A shiver ran down his spine, his stomach churning. The mere idea made him want to puke.
If Magnus or Julius had the ability to read his thoughts at that moment, they probably would have thrown him off the magic carpet without hesitation just to rid the world of his nonsense.
"Well, whatever. Everyone has their own... tastes. Not my hen, not my monkey… but I will charge admission to the zoo this became!" Max smirked, suppressing a laugh, his attention snapping back to the screen in front of him as the numbers continued to climb.
[MP: 1500/1500]
These two ancient antiques were a damn gold mine. Just by standing there, they had unknowingly pumped nearly 400 MP into his reserves.
Max had no clue what these stats meant, but watching the numbers rise sent a thrill through him. It was like playing a game not that he knew what game is either.
"Wait… if I slap myself, do I get more points?" he wondered. Then, a more unhinged thought struck him. "What if I... remove my pants and cough! No, no, focus, Max!"
Shaking his head, he forced himself to concentrate on the translucent panel before him. Something else nagged at his memory.
"I heard a few dings back when I was at home, didn't I?"
As if responding to his thoughts, a new notification popped up, nearly making him jump.
[Ding! Two available chests detected. Would the host like to open them now?]
[Yes] | [No]
Max blinked. "What the hell is that?" He asked in his head, testing the screen.
[System Response]
Host Inquiry Detected: "Reward Chest? What's that?"
Initializing Explanation…
[Emotional Treasure Chest System]
Reward Chests are special manifestations of extreme emotional energy directed at the Host. When someone experiences an overwhelming emotional reaction whether admiration, hatred, fear, love, or sheer awe their emotions reach a breaking point, triggering the formation of a Treasure Chest.
The strength of the chest is determined by:
The intensity of emotions (How deeply the target feels about you)
The strength of the target (The more powerful they are, the greater the potential rewards)
Chest Grades:
Silver Chest (Moderate Emotional Outburst)
Gold Chest (Strong Emotional Surge)
Platinum Chest (Extreme Emotional Overload)
Diamond Chest (Unprecedented Emotional Collapse)
Mythic/Crystal Chest (Legendary Emotion Explosion - RARE)
Chest Function: Each chest contains randomized rewards such as skills, artifacts, abilities, or rare objects.
The higher the chest's grade, the stronger the possible rewards.
The Host's unique talent passively amplifies reward quality, except for Mythic/Crystal Chests, which transcend external influence.
Conclusion: To obtain more powerful rewards, push people's emotions to their absolute limits whether through awe, despair, admiration, or sheer terror. Make them break… and let the treasures explode forth.
Would you like to open the chests now?
[Yes] | [No]
[Two chests available. Would the host like to open them at the same time?]
[Since this is the host's first time opening a chest, permission is granted for a special boost… Confirm in the next three seconds to receive unique rewards.]
[Yes] | [No]
[3...]
"Wait… what?!" Max's mind reeled as he read through everything.
[2...]
He still had so many questions, but seeing the countdown, instinct kicked in.
"YES!" he mentally screamed before he could second-guess himself.
[Ding! Congratulations! Chest opening in...]
Suddenly, two ornate chests materialized before him one a radiant gold with a lightning-shaped lock, the other a mesmerizing diamond with a crystalline lock.
They floated in midair, spinning slightly, exuding an almost divine aura.
Max's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Damn… these look cool."
Then, with a metallic clink, both locks fell away. The chests cracked open, their lids rising ever so slowly…
And then
A blinding flash of light erupted.
One half of his vision glowed gold, the other crystal-clear as an ethereal voice chimed.
[Ding!]
[Congratulations! You have acquired two skills.]
[Gold Reward Chest]
Skill Name: Gambler's Groin Gamble
Type: Nonsensical Magic Skill
Effect: A high-risk, desperation move targeting the enemy's or friends balls.
Activation Chance: 2% on any melee attack.
Required MP: 100 MP
Success: Target's strength is randomly multiplied or divided by 10 for 30 minutes(Special hit 0.1 percent chance of triggering multiply strength or decreasing by 1000 times).
Failure: The debuff affects the MC instead.
Cooldown: None.
Side Effects: May result in awkward conversations, lasting grudges, or unexpected respect.
System Note: A skill befitting a true risk-taker. Fortune favors the bold or punishes the reckless.
[Diamond Reward Chest]
Skill Name: One Punch Hug
Type: Nonsensical Magic Skill
Effect: A bizarrely compassionate punch that may unexpectedly heal the target.
Activation Chance: 20% on any punch.
Required MP: 100 MP
Success: Heals minor scratches or fully revives the target even from death(randomly determined).
Cooldown: None.
Side Effects: May induce nosebleeds, psychological trauma, or complicated friendships.
System Note: A fist of paradox capable of dealing pain and mending wounds. Expect confusion, gratitude, or a restraining order.
---