The Archfiend System

CHAPTER 19: THE CORRUPTED SCALE

Klein woke the next morning with his body still aching from the previous day's battle.

He stretched carefully, feeling the soreness in his muscles. Fighting a Level 15 Corrupted Elder Dragon had taken more out of him than he'd realized.

He pulled up his system interface, eager to examine the loot he'd received.

The Corrupted Dragon Scale and Elder Dragon's Heart Fragment sat in his inventory, their icons glowing with a legendary quality that made his other items look dull by comparison.

Klein selected the Corrupted Dragon Scale first.

CORRUPTED DRAGON SCALE (LEGENDARY)

Description: A scale torn from a Corrupted Elder Dragon. Contains immense chaotic energy. Can be used for crafting armor, weapons, or consumed to permanently enhance existing abilities.

Warning: Consuming this item carries significant risk. The chaotic energy may overwhelm the user.

Klein frowned at the warning. His system had the Chaos attribute, which should make him more compatible with chaotic energy than most System Bearers. But "significant risk" wasn't something to take lightly.

He moved to the second item.

ELDER DRAGON'S HEART FRAGMENT

Description: A fragment of an Elder Dragon's heart. Contains pure dragon essence. Can be used to enhance dragon-type abilities or increase maximum mana capacity.

Effect: +500 Maximum Mana

Klein's eyes widened. Five hundred mana was a massive boost. His current maximum was two thousand, so this would increase it by twenty-five percent.

"No warning on this one," Klein muttered. He selected the fragment without hesitation.

The item dissolved into particles of light that flowed into his chest. Klein gasped as warmth spread through his body.

His mana reserves expanded, and he felt stronger, more capable. The sensation faded after a few seconds, leaving him energized.

He checked his status.

STATUS:

Name: Klein Slash

System: Divine Archfiend System

System Level: 13

System Grade: S

Mana: 2500

Attributes: Chaos

Title: Storm's Inheritor

Klein smiled. The upgrade was already paying off. But the Corrupted Dragon Scale remained in his inventory, its potential tempting him.

A knock on his door interrupted his thoughts. "Big brother?" Mara's voice called. "Are you awake?"

"Yeah, come in."

Mara entered, carrying a newspaper. Her expression was a mix of excitement and concern. "You're all over the news again."

She handed him the paper. The front page showed a photo of Klein in his Archfiend form, diving toward the Corrupted Elder Dragon. The headline read: "DIVINE ARCHFIEND SLAYS CORRUPTED DRAGON...LEVEL 13 AT 24 YEARS OLD!"

Klein groaned. "Great. More attention."

"People are calling you a hero," Mara said, sitting on the edge of his bed. "Some are even saying you might break into the top 20 System Bearers worldwide."

"I'm nowhere near that level yet."

Mara looked at the newspaper, then back at him. "You're getting stronger so fast. Sometimes it scares me."

Klein set the paper aside and met her eyes. "Why?"

"Because I'm worried you'll forget about us," Mara said quietly. "You're becoming famous, joining a powerful guild, fighting monsters most people only see in nightmares. What if you don't need us anymore?"

Klein felt his chest tighten. He reached over and pulled Mara into a hug. "That's never going to happen. You and Gramps are the reason I'm doing this. Everything I've achieved, every fight I've won...it's all been for you."

Mara hugged him back, her voice muffled against his shoulder. "Promise?"

"Promise."

They stayed like that for a moment before Mara pulled away, wiping her eyes. "Okay. I believe you." She stood up, trying to regain her composure. "Gramps made breakfast. You should eat before it gets cold."

"I'll be right there."

After Mara left, Klein looked at the Corrupted Dragon Scale again. He needed to make a decision about it, but not today. For now, he'd focus on the present.

---

At the Titan's Fist Guild Hall, Klein found the place buzzing with energy. News of their successful A-rank raid had spread, and guild members crowded around Seris's team, asking questions and congratulating them.

Boomer stood on the stage in the training hall, his voice booming over the crowd. "Listen up, everyone! Our team didn't just clear an A-rank gate...they took down a Level 15 boss! That's the kind of strength that puts Titan's Fist on the map!"

The guild members cheered. Klein tried to slip through the crowd unnoticed, but Boomer spotted him immediately.

"There he is! Klein S'roar, our rising star!" Boomer pointed at him, and suddenly all eyes were on Klein.

Klein felt his face heat up. He wasn't used to this kind of attention, especially not from people he actually respected.

Boomer continued. "Klein jumped two levels in one fight and earned legendary loot! At this rate, he'll be challenging for the top 10 within the year!"

More cheers erupted. Klein waved awkwardly, trying to deflect the attention. Raze appeared beside him, grinning.

"Enjoy the spotlight while it lasts," she said. "Tomorrow, someone else will do something crazy, and everyone will forget about you."

"Can't wait," Klein muttered.

Seris descended from the second floor, her expression calm but focused. She made her way through the crowd toward Klein. "We need to talk. Follow me."

Klein followed her to a private training room on the third floor. The space was empty, lined with reinforced walls designed to withstand high-level combat. Seris closed the door behind them and activated a privacy barrier.

"What's going on?" Klein asked.

Seris turned to face him, her golden eyes serious. "That Corrupted Dragon Scale you got...you're thinking about consuming it, aren't you?"

Klein blinked in surprise. "How did you know?"

"Because I would be thinking the same thing." Seris crossed her arms. "Legendary items are rare, and the power boost from consuming one can be significant. But that particular scale is dangerous."

"My system has the Chaos attribute," Klein said. "Shouldn't that make me compatible with it?"

"Yes and no." Seris paced the room. "Your Chaos attribute means you can handle chaotic energy better than most. But that dragon was corrupted...its energy is tainted, unstable. Even with your attribute, there's a chance it could damage your system or cause you to lose control."

Klein frowned. "So you're saying I shouldn't use it?"

"I'm saying you should be careful." Seris stopped pacing and looked at him directly. "If you're going to consume it, do it in a controlled environment with people who can stop you if something goes wrong."

Klein considered her words. She was right...rushing into something this risky alone would be stupid.

"Alright," Klein said. "If I decide to use it, I'll make sure I'm not alone."

Seris nodded. "Good. Now, there's another reason I wanted to talk to you." She pulled out a folder and handed it to Klein. "The guild received a request for a B-rank Dungeon Gate raid. It's in three days, and I want you on the team."

Klein opened the folder, scanning the details. The gate had appeared on the outskirts of the city, in an abandoned industrial zone. Early reconnaissance suggested it contained mechanical-type monsters.

"Mechanical monsters?" Klein asked.

"Rare, but not unheard of," Seris explained. "They're usually tougher than organic monsters because they don't have traditional weak points. But they also drop valuable materials."

"Who else is going?"

"You, me, Raze, and a few others. It'll be good experience for you." Seris paused. "Also, I want to see how you handle a different type of threat. The Corrupted Dragon was powerful but straightforward. Mechanical enemies require more strategy."

Klein nodded. "I'm in."

"Good. Use the next three days to rest and prepare. Train if you want, but don't overdo it."

As Klein turned to leave, Seris called out to him. "One more thing."

He looked back.

"You've been climbing the rankings fast, and people are starting to notice. Some of the higher-ranked members aren't happy about it." Seris's expression was unreadable. "Watch your back."

Klein felt a chill run down his spine. "Are you saying someone might try to sabotage me?"

"I'm saying that ambition brings out the worst in people. Just be careful."

Klein left the training room with a lot on his mind. He'd been so focused on getting stronger that he hadn't considered the political side of guild life. Titan's Fist might not have strict rules, but that didn't mean everyone played fair.

As he walked through the halls, he noticed a few guild members giving him sideways glances. Some looked impressed, others curious. But a few looked resentful.

Klein kept walking, his hand instinctively moving to where his system interface hovered invisibly. He'd fought monsters and System Bearers alike. If someone wanted to challenge him, he'd deal with it.

But first, he had three days to prepare for the next Dungeon Gate.

And he intended to make the most of them.