Jazmel sat in his quarters, sinking into the embrace of a worn but comfortable sofa. He had made it back to his room without interruption, though Melle had appeared just as he reached the door. She insisted on standing guard, sensing his need for solitude, and he thanked her kindly before shutting himself away from the world.
He needed this time alone.
As the door closed, Jazmel took out the soul shard and let it rest in his palm. It was an unusual artifact. Most items he'd acquired from the labyrinth emanated a subtle warmth, a pulse of mana that was palpable to his attuned senses. But this shard was different—it was cool to the touch, its chill seeping into his skin. It wasn’t discomforting, but the contrast in temperature was striking, almost unnatural.
Paldane, his companion, had crawled from his collar and sprawled across the bed, eyes half-closed in feigned watchfulness. But Jazmel knew better; the creature was already dozing, lulled by the room's quiet.
Jazmel clenched his fist around the shard, feeling its fragile structure yield to his grip. His heart skipped a beat, fearing he had destroyed it, but as he opened his hand, the shard dissolved into a swirling mist, a smoke-like substance that hovered in the air before him. Instinctively, he breathed it in. The mist filled his lungs, and immediately, a cold shock rippled through his entire body.
Suddenly, his awareness expanded inward. Not just his perception attribute, which allowed him to sense the world around him with clarity, but something deeper. He could see within himself, his consciousness delving into the very core of his being.
It was both unnerving and oddly soothing—a paradox of sensations. Jazmel felt a peculiar calmness in this new self-awareness, yet there was an underlying discomfort in the intimacy of the experience.
DING!YOU HAVE ABSORBED THE CONTENTS OF THE SOUL SHARD!YOU HAVE AWAKENED YOUR SOUL ATTRIBUTE!THIS IS RARE BEFORE MASTER TIER!EXP GREATLY ACCRUED!LEVEL UP!LEVEL UP!CONGRATULATIONS! YOU HAVE HIT LEVEL 100!
The notifications echoed in his mind, but they barely registered as the system’s energy enveloped him like a shroud. His body reacted violently, his tyrant nature resisting the intrusion. His core struggled to find harmony with the surge of power, and for a moment, he felt like a coiled spring, ready to snap.
DING!WHEN UNDERGOING A MASTER TIER TRIBULATION, YOUR SOUL POINT MUST BE UNLOCKED.
…
…SOUL POINT HAS BEEN UNLOCKED!ALL MASTER TIER TRIBULATIONS WILL REQUIRE AN ITEM FOR THE SOUL! REMEMBER THIS ALWAYS!YOU ARE NOW READY TO UNDERGO A TIER TRIBULATION FOR MASTER TIER! WILL YOU BEGIN?
Y/N?
There was no hesitation. Jazmel had been preparing for this moment ever since he met Baek. He had felt the man’s strength, the calm stability he radiated, and Jazmel knew he needed that power—to be that steady presence for his faction.
He settled into a meditative state, drawing his chosen items from his rings, ensuring they were ready.
DING!MASTER TIER HAS UNLOCKED YOUR SOUL!YOU WILL NEED A TIER TRIBULATION ITEM FOR YOUR SOUL ALSO!
The system’s reminder was unnecessary; Jazmel had already secured his soul item, a soul gem gifted to him by Solis the Primordial. Perhaps she had foreseen this moment, but regardless, he would use whatever was necessary to grow strong enough to protect his people. That was his driving force—the sentiment that had pushed him to pursue strength relentlessly. He would not endure the pain of losing another like Patton. He couldn’t.
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TIER TRIBULATION BEGINS!TIER TRIBULATION INCOMING!TIER TRIBULATION ITEMS PRESENT!WILL YOU USE THEM?
YES.
TIER TRIBULATION OF THE SPIRIT: WHAT WILL YOU USE?
The Celestial Carp was the first item he chose. As it merged with his spirit, he felt a vast pool of energy expand within his core. The carp swam through this pool, its presence pushing the boundaries of his mana reserves, stretching them far beyond what he had ever known. It was as if the carp was drawing in the essence of the cosmos itself, filling him with a depth of mana that felt infinite. This newfound reservoir of energy settled into him naturally, and with it came a profound understanding of the responsibilities and power that came with being a Master Tier.
TIER TRIBULATION OF THE MIND COMPLETE.1/4.WHAT WILL YOU USE?
Next, he summoned the Gourd of Sanctity, an item he had intended to gift to Araea, the queen of the Teneriel forest. The gourd thrummed with a tranquil energy, its peaceful hum resonating through him. Without hesitation, he pulled it into his mind. The gourd shattered, releasing its contents—a soothing balm that spread across his thoughts, easing the burdens he had carried for so long. The gourd’s essence washed over him like warm olive oil, softening the hard edges of his psyche, lifting the weight from his heart.
TIER TRIBULATION OF THE BODY COMPLETE.2/4.WHAT WILL YOU USE?
For the body, he had selected the Elder Tyrant Bone. As it integrated into his form, Jazmel braced for pain, but none came. Instead, his bones thickened, becoming denser and more robust. The bone connected with his spine, sending strength through his joints and muscles, enhancing his physicality in ways he hadn’t imagined. He was already a formidable presence, but now his strikes would carry the weight of mountains, his endurance fortified by the legacy of the tyrants before him. His vitality surged, the system pushing his physical limits higher and higher.
DING!TIER TRIBULATION OF THE BODY COMPLETE.3/4.
The final item, the Soul Gem, was unlike anything else. It had not been prepared by his own hand, and its origins were a mystery even to him. But now, it glimmered with a steady, dull light, pulsating softly as he drew it into himself. The gem melded seamlessly into his being, its light suffusing his soul with a quiet, profound stability. For the first time, Jazmel could truly feel his soul—a deep, expansive presence that resonated through every fibre of his existence. His high perception allowed him to see deeper within, to witness his soul’s transformation as the gem enhanced it, bringing a firmness and unity to his entire being that he hadn’t known he lacked.
DING!TIER TRIBULATION OF THE SOUL COMPLETE.4/4.
…
…
DING!
…CONGRATULATIONS ON COMPLETING YOUR MASTER TIER TRIBULATION!+5 PER
+5 INT
+5 WIL
+5 STR.…
YOUR SOUL POINTS HAVE BEEN ADDED TO YOUR STATUS SCREEN.INTELLIGENCE + WILLPOWER = SOUL POINTS!CONGRATULATIONS ON ACHIEVING MASTER TIER!
YOU HAVE DONE WHAT FEW OTHERS HAVE MANAGED!
…DING!
FURTHER REWARDS WILL BE PROVIDED!
CONGRATULATIONS ON ACHIEVING MASTER TIER I!!
…
Jazmel stretched and it felt as if he was stretching truly for the first time. He was still exhausted and now that he was within master tier, he was fatigued beyond, but the system wasn’t done with him. No, it had more rewards for him.
DING!
…
YOU HAVE COMPLETED YOUR MARCH OF THE MONARCH PLOT!
FULLY COMPLETING THIS, HAVING DONE SO BEFORE MASTER TIER!
AND NOW, MANAGING TO REACH MASTER TIER!!
CONGRATULATIONS!
AS A REWARD, YOUR OUTPOST HAS BEEN UPGRADED!!
YOUR OUTPOST HAS NOW BECOME A STRONGHOLD!
WELCOME LORD BLACK WING OF THE BLACK WING STRONGHOLD!
CONTINUE ADVANCING THROUGH THE LABYRINTH!
REAP YOUR REWARDS!!
…
Exhausted, Jazmel laid on his sofa and fell asleep, he would check the upgrades to the outpost when he woke up.
