Sitting atop the obsidian throne, Eiden watched the last echoes of moonlight play across the vast chamber. The girls had gone off to sleep, the great castle had fallen into silence, and he last had time to think.
But then—he noticed it.
The crystal on the throne armrest glowed quietly. Unlike before, when its misty heart simplyed, now it cast a gentle pale blue light, pulsing with a slow heartbeat. Eiden frowned. leaned closer.
> "Was it always like this? Is it… reacting to somethingHe reached out. The moment his fingers brushed the surface, a melodious voice, neither loud nor, sounded in his mind—bright, alluring, and ever so slightly smug:
**"How may I be of service, my Lord?"**
Eiden jerked back in surprise, almost falling from the throne. He gathered himself, cleared his throat, and replied warily,
**"Uhh… hello? Are you… talking to me?"**
The voice answered with a polite, amused warmth.
**"Indeed. To whom else would I speak here but my new master?"**
Eiden tried to act unfazed. After all, cool overlords don't freak out when their magic items talk back.
**"And who—or what—are you exactly?"**
**"I am an ancient artifact My name is Anestea, forged long ago for those chosen by fate. Now, by right of mana and spirit, I am yours."**
His heart leapt with excitement. tried to keep his tone steady.
**"Anestea… Alright. Tell me more, then. What do you know about yourself? And… about artifacts in?"**
A warm current pulsed through the crystal. Anestea began speaking, her voice like a teacher telling secrets in a fairy tale:
> " fall into five grades, my Lord. Would you hear them?"
Eiden nodded, more eager than he'd ever admit.
**"First, there are expendable artifacts—arrows, bombs, trinkets that vanish with use. Then, there are long-term artifacts: blades, rings, and wands with limited charges or. Next, the permanent artifacts—sturdy, patient, eternal, lasting as long as form endures or their magic is restored.
But permanence does not equal power, Lord. A mighty arrow may humble a meager ring…"
Her grew a shade deeper, almost reverent:
"Above these, there are willed artifacts—items with self, mind, and judgment. They choose their bearers, guard their secrets, and may act of their own for aid or annihilation.
And highest, the soul-bound artifacts… as I have now become. Soul-bound artifacts forge a tie between themselves and the master, persisting through life, death, and even reincarnation. We are rare—and always strong. A soul-bound artifact may work miracles at the right call."
Eiden felt shivers run up his spine.
> "So're… soul-bound now? To me?"
"You provided your—your mana—and in return, I have pledged to your soul. This bond defies theft,, and even worlds."
He sat up straighter, emboldened.
What about your own abilities? Do you have a special power like the other soul-bound artifacts?"
A faint chuckle echoed in his skull.
"I am… all-purpose. You will find I offer many forms: vision communication, guidance, memory, defense, even destruction and creation. Yet, this strength is my weakness; I shall never surpass soul-bound blades in battle nor soul-bound tomes in magic. But in versatility, I have no peer. I commune now with you in thought—so speak in your heart, I shall reply."
Eiden took a deep breath, letting the information sink in. It was like getting a legendary item on his first day—he felt both lucky and intimidated.
> "What about this world's power system? I saw something about halos and circles before… what does it mean?"
Anestea replied smoothly:
"All here are born empty, Lord. To wield strength, mortals must absorb the core of a slain monster. Upon their first absorption, a circle—a 'halo'—appears above their crown, visible or hidden by will. The more cores one claims, the more halos they attain, but only one at a time: low, mid, high, supreme. None may skip steps—a weak core must be consumed first, then greater as strength grows.
>
> Each bestows powers akin to the nature of the monster—strength, light, poison, illusion—so there is no fixed divide between sorcerers and warriors. Circle by circle, they climb… until the eighth, the fatal gate. Then, all halos may be shed, and a single extinction-class core absorbed—if survival is possible."
Eiden was silent a while, mind racing with possibilities.
> "So… I could get crazy powers if I the right core? …And the crystal—Anestea—can help me find or analyze them?"
A gentle pulse was all the answer he needed. He grinned. Things were starting to make sense.
had a mysterious, beautiful castle. Faithful servants.
And now, a talking soul-bound crystal.
"Not bad for my first week," he mused, a half-smile forming as he leaned back on the throne.
" the games begin…"
Eiden leaned back, processing everything Anestea had revealed. This "circle" system sounded both game-like and perilous. A sudden curiosity struck him—he needed to know more about his new body.
**"Anestea..."** he said, summoning confidence, **"can you scan me? How many circles do I have?"**
He felt a pleasant tingle travel through him, like warm water running through his veins. The crystal pulsed, and words shimmer in the air—glowing, floating letters only he could see.
> **Subject Eiden**
> **Status: Sovereign Host**
> **Soul Circles: 8**
> **Circle Contents: [Empty] [Empty] [Empty] [Empty] [Empty] [Empty] [Empty] [Empty]**
He blinked. Eight circles. That was… the max, wasn't it? His heart raced with anticipation. The corners of his mouth twitched, almost breaking into a mad grin.
"Eight… isn't this, like, the final boss setup? Am I OP or what
But then, Anestea's voice rang in his thoughts, gentle but puzzled:
" rare sight indeed, my Lord. But… all your circles are entirely. Not even your eighth holds a core. This… should not be possible."
iden's excitement flickered. "Wait, not possible? Shouldn't there at least be one crazy core left—the extinction one, or whatever you called it?"
She replied, sounding almost concerned:
"Normally, the eighth circleonce awakened—cannot be shed, for no being may extract an extinction-class without destruction. Yet in you, every circle is vacant. No, no affinities. Only pure, vast energy... as if you are a vessel, primed but unfilled."
Eiden gaped for a moment, then let out a nervous laugh. "So—I'm just a battery? All charge, no abilities
"That is a fitting analogy, my Lord."He considered sulking, but then straightened up and slapped his cheeks.
"Well, so what? If the old owner could survive out there, I can too. Eight open circles… means eight to collect the best powers. Like a blank save slot in a game—just waiting for the right loot drops!"**
A crooked smile broke across his face—half defiant, half thrilled.
"Alright, Anestea. Looks like it's hunting season. Next monster we find, let's see what I can become."
The crystal glimmered approvingly, and the vast silent castle seemed just a bit more full of possibility.
Eiden tilted his head, another question brewing in his mind. "Anestea, does everyone in this world have a… halo? Or a circle?"
The's gentle voice replied, "No, my Lord. Only a small portion of the world's population—fewer than nine percent—possess circles. Most live their entire lives without ever awakening one."Eiden's mind flicked back to the training grounds he'd spied with the crystal earlier. Now it made sense—of the girls, only Lumia and five others had been practicing magic, while the rest simply watched or handled chores.
"Wait. So the others… most of them really don't have anything? That's kinda rough," he muttered.
But Anestea's tone carried a hint of excitement. "If you wish it, I can bestow circles upon others. I can forcibly open or create circles using your own energy. You possess far more than enough—the surplus not even dent your reserves."
Eiden blinked, stunned. "Hold up. You mean… you can make normal people awakened? Just like?"
"Yes, my Lord. With your permission."
He let out a low whistle. "Now that—now's game-breaking. I can give anyone a chance to become strong, not just the chosen nine percent…"
Eiden's lips curled into a slow grin, possibilities blazing across his mind. "Alright, Anestea. Let's keep that trick up our sleeve for now. I might just have to bless my crew in the future."
Inside, he was already imagining it: an unstoppable team, each with their own unique circle, all loyal to Azerith—and to him.\n\nA blank slate, eight empty rings, and the power to bestow greatness upon others.
For a true gamer, it felt like the ultimate mod.
Eiden reclined his throne, mind racing with new possibilities. Power to awaken circles, endless reserves of energy, and now—an entire castle and artifact at his fingertips. But one looming gnawed at him:
> "Where are we, anyway?" he muttered. "This place feels… off. The mist, the monsters—"
Heipped the floating crystal, focusing his will. "Anestea, can you me exactly where we are on the world map?"
For a moment, nothing happened. Then the crystal brightened, spinning slowly in Eiden's hand. Hazy lines glowing symbols danced around its core, coalescing into a translucent living map that hovered before his eyes.
The map showed a vast continent, dotted with kingdoms labeled with flowing script. But the castle's location was buried deep within a massive blot of swirling gray—an enormous region labeled only as "THE FORBIDDEN L."
> "We are in the Forbidden Lands, my Lord," Anestea intoned, her voice fuller, as if echoing from the mist itself. " region is notorious for its peril. Monster grades here are, on, several ranks higher than anywhere else in Mazuria. It is perilous even for heroes and archmages. Survival is rare."
Eiden gulped, forcing a smirk to hide his nerves. "So you're saying we're smack-dab in one of the worst areas? Convenient."
Anestea continued, "The mist and fog are constant, but they are primarily a product of castle itself. This fortress, Azerith, is a rare half-willed artifact. It possesses intelligence, and can execute commands, itself, and alter its layout—but it lacks full self-awareness."
\u003e "So… like an advanced AI," Eiden mused, fingers drumming the throne. "Smart as heck, not, you know, alive. Just… almost."
The crystal thrummed as if in agreement.
He took a breath, focusing. "Alright, let's try something else. Can you scan for monsters in the nearby area? I want every threat mapped."
The crystal spun again, runes flashing bright. Before long, dozens—no, hundreds—of red and orange blips appeared outside the walls. Each glow pulsed with a different shape: lupine shadows, slithering forms, winged horrors against the foggy black.
"Warning," Anestea chimed, "High-grade monsters are densely clustered in the Forbidden Lands. There are seven predators, class Omega or higher, within ten kilometers of Azerith. The creature destroyed earlier in defense of the guests was of Alpha grade—dangerous enough to decimate a knightly order."
Eiden's eyes widened. He felt a chill—even if his new body dulled those old human fears.
"I… took out an Alpha that easily? Either this body is a total cheat, or the castle's powers are broken—or both."
He let the possibility, then grinned.
"Looks like we're right in the middle of a monster nest, guarded by a semi-sentient castle, shrouded in mist no one else can enter. Heh. Guess it's like a dungeon stronghold on New Game+ difficulty."
leaned forward, new purpose in his gaze.
"Alright, Anestea. Next step: let's prepare the castle defenses. And… keep an eye out for anything that seems like it has its own mind. I have a feeling everything around here is smarter it looks."
As the magical displays faded and the mist roiled protectively around Azerith, Eiden couldn't help but laugh this is getting interesting.
*To be continued…