Chapter 887: Alternate Timeline: Velkazar Statue
Kiara stood still for a moment after the Emperor's departure, the faint echo of footsteps fading beyond the entrance as silence slowly reclaimed the Nexus Store. The air felt lighter now, yet her mind remained busy, turning over everything that had just happened like gears refusing to stop.
"Open… Quests," she said quietly.
A translucent screen flickered to life before her eyes.
[ You unlocked all models of Bolt Action Rifle]
[ You unlocked all models of Lever Action Rifle]
[ You unlocked all models of Semi-automatic Rifle]
[ Upgrade crystal has been sent to the inventory]
[ Statue of Velkazar has been sent to the inventory]
Kiara's gaze sharpened as she read each line carefully, her fingers tapping lightly against the counter in a steady rhythm.
"So many unlocks at once…" she thought.
The feeling was strange.
A quiet surge of progress.
A sense that something bigger was forming beneath the surface.
She opened the quest list.
*
MAIN QUESTS:
Main Quest I: Sell a total of 10000 firearms
Reward: Submachine gun (All models)
Main Quest II: Become Rank-6
Reward: Host's share increases to 70% permanently, and 16000 credits.
Main Quest III: Create ten types of weapons at the factory (In progress-0/10)
Reward: A random ether version of the host's designed weapon
*
SIDE QUESTS:
Side Quest I: Earn a total of 100000 gold coins from selling the weapons created by the system excluding the bullets and ammunition (In progress-14.3%)
Reward: Ether Pistol
Side Quest II: Sell Exclusive weapons to ten different people (8/10)
Reward: C-4
Side Quest III: Spend a total of 500000 credits
Reward: Amulet of Diyu
Side Quest IV: Tame ten monsters (4/10)
Reward: Taming skill
*
Kiara's eyes lingered on the last reward.
"Amulet of Diyu…"
She leaned back slightly.
"Another mysterious item."
There was always something hidden behind these rewards.
Something that only revealed its true value later.
"System," she said, her tone thoughtful, "explain the Amulet of Diyu."
[ Amulet of Diyu is an artifact that belongs to the King of Hell. It allows the host to summon a demon and form a contract.]
Kiara blinked once.
Then a slow smile formed.
"That… is actually interesting."
Not just interesting.
Useful.
Dangerous.
The kind of reward that could change the balance of power if used correctly.
But she pushed the thought aside for now.
"Focus on what I already have," she reminded herself.
*
She opened her inventory.
Among the items, one slot stood out.
A shifting image.
A dragon made of flowing colors.
Its form flickered between hues, like light refracted through crystal.
Kiara tapped it.
[ Do you want to place the Statue of Velkazar inside the store or integrate it with the system?]
She frowned slightly.
"Explain."
[ Option one allows the host to pray once every week with a 50% chance to receive a random reward. Luck affects the reward, not the probability.]
[ Option two integrates the statue into the system. The host receives a reward with 100% certainty, but the cooldown increases to 14 days.]
Kiara fell silent.
Her fingers tapped slowly.
"Fifty percent chance… versus guaranteed reward."
Her thoughts moved quickly.
"If I leave the store again like before, I would have to carry the statue with me."
"That is inconvenient."
"And unreliable."
She made her decision.
"Integrate it."
The statue vanished from her inventory.
[ Integration in progress. Please wait 20 minutes.]
Kiara exhaled softly.
"Now… what else."
*
Her gaze shifted to the Upgrade Crystal.
A faint irritation surfaced.
The memory of being misled by the system still lingered.
"This time… no hesitation."
She used it immediately.
The energy flowed into her.
Silent.
Invisible.
But she could feel the subtle change.
Her ether responding.
Adjusting.
Growing.
With nothing else to do, she leaned back and waited.
*
Twenty minutes later—
[ Statue of Velkazar has been successfully integrated with the system.]
Kiara straightened.
"Open the statue."
A new interface appeared.
At its center was the image of a radiant dragon, its body shimmering with layered colors that seemed almost alive.
Below it—
A single option.
Wish.
She pressed it without hesitation.
The button dimmed instantly.
A timer appeared.
13 days, 23 hours, 59 minutes
At the same time—
[ You received a buff: +1 strength for 24 hours.]
Kiara blinked.
"…A buff?"
A short laugh escaped her.
"So it gives temporary effects too."
She flexed her fingers slightly.
There was a faint difference.
Subtle.
But noticeable.
Still—
"Strength is useless for me right now."
She sighed.
"Of all things…"
Yet she did not dwell on it.
Even a small gain was still a gain.
*
"System… open gallery."
The moment she gave the command, her focus shifted completely.
The relaxed mood disappeared.
Now—
Work.
A large order waited.
Weapons were easy.
Simple.
Efficient.
But ammunition…
That was different.
Time-consuming.
Precise.
Relentless.
"Two hundred thousand bullets…"
Kiara rubbed her temple.
"If only I had another helper."
Her gaze drifted briefly toward Allen and Noah Spencer.
"They can assist… but not create."
A limitation.
An annoying one.
Still—
She began.
The production process unfolded step by step, each action smooth yet demanding. The faint hum of the system filled the air as materials converted into ammunition, one batch at a time.
Minutes passed.
Then more.
Forty minutes later—
[Your ether quality has increased to High.]
Kiara paused.
A quiet satisfaction settled in her chest.
"Finally."
*
Meanwhile…
Inside the Imperial Palace, the atmosphere was far less calm.
In a guest chamber, a young girl sat beside a bed.
Serestia Phoenix.
Her fingers held a book, but her eyes rarely stayed on the pages.
Instead, they kept drifting toward the unconscious figure lying beside her.
"Why hasn't he woken up yet…" she murmured softly.
Her brows furrowed with concern.
The room was quiet.
Too quiet.
Until—
Bang!
The door swung open.
Everson Drake stormed in.
His expression was dark.
Fury barely contained.
"Uncle?" Serestia stood up immediately. "Is everything alright? What did Father say?"
"We will not get justice here," he said sharply.
Then he paused.
His expression shifted slightly.
"I apologize, Princess Serestia."
"We are leaving."
"Immediately."
She froze.
"What?"
At that moment, two more figures entered.
Before Everson could speak again, Darryon Drake stepped forward.
He explained everything.
Each word weighed heavy.
Each detail sharpened her frown.
"Kiara… a Beast Emperor…"
Serestia's eyes narrowed.
"In that case… Father will try to befriend her."
"I expected that," Everson said bitterly.
"But I still hoped…"
He clenched his fists.
"I waited two hours."
"And in the end… he refused."
Silence followed.
Then he turned.
"Elder Darryon, prepare the carriage."
Just as Darryon moved, Serestia stepped forward.
"Wait."
Her voice was firm.
"I will speak to Father."
"As long as I am here… I will not let my friend suffer injustice."
Without waiting for a reply, she rushed out.
*
Inside the Emperor's chamber—
Alexander Phoenix stood calmly, brush in hand, writing on a scroll.
The strokes were steady.
Controlled.
He did not look surprised when she entered.
"Serestia," he said, setting the brush aside.
"Come in."
"Father," she said immediately, her voice firm, "you cannot ignore justice for personal reasons."
"You are the Emperor."
"You must be fair."
The words came fast.
Direct.
He listened quietly.
Then asked,
"If the victim was not Kristof Drake… would you still react the same way?"
She froze.
Only for a moment.
"But Uncle is your friend," she said.
"How can you turn your back on him for a stranger?"
"And that person…"
Her voice sharpened.
"…might be supplying weapons to our enemies."
Her eyes burned with frustration.
"Her loyalty is questionable."
"And yet… you choose her?"
Alexander Phoenix sighed softly.
"You do not understand."
His voice was calm.
"But firm."
"Today… I realized something."
"It is best not to make her an enemy."
Serestia scoffed.
"She is not a Supreme Being."
"The sects can destroy her."
"If you give the order—"
He did not respond immediately.
Instead, he looked at her.
Long.
Carefully.
Then—
"Fine."
Her eyes lit up.
"Tomorrow, I will invite her to lunch."
"If the matter cannot be resolved…"
He paused.
"I will proceed as you wish."
Her face brightened instantly.
"Thank you, Father!"
She rushed out.
The door closed behind her.
*
Alone, the Emperor smiled faintly.
"Silly child…"
He picked up the brush again.
"…they will withdraw on their own."
His hand moved.
Ink flowed.
But his thoughts were elsewhere.
In a store.
On a girl.
And on a small golden beast that refused to leave a certain pair of arms.