SSS-Rank Talent: Super Upgrade System
Chapter 106: Jackpot!

Chapter 106: Jackpot!

Ayra, now mostly dry and warmed by Daniel’s magical campfire, had forgotten her embarrassment, her focus entirely on the mysterious black chest.

Lia’s calm composure returned, but her grey eyes held a spark of intense curiosity.

Even Nyx had stopped trying to dig a hole to the center of the world and was now sniffing cautiously at the ancient metal box, a low, inquisitive whine rumbling in her chest.

"Alright," Daniel said, taking a deep breath. "Here we go."

He placed his hand flat against the center of the lid, focusing his intent, channeling a tiny fraction of his own energy into the strange, swirling patterns.

The air crackled with anticipation, the only sounds the lapping of the lake, the crackle of the flame, and the thumping of three expectant hearts.

He felt a faint resonance, a connection formed by his victory over the chest’s previous guardian.

The patterns on the chest flared with a brilliant golden light.

The deep hum grew louder, and with a soft, satisfying hiss, the lid of the Mountain and Sea Chest dissolved into glowing particles, revealing the treasures inside.

The inside of the chest was lined with soft, velvet-like darkness that seemed to absorb the light. Floating calmly in that void were two items, each glowing with immense power.

The first was a magnificent bow, its frame not of wood or metal, but formed from solidified golden clouds that swirled and shifted with slow, ethereal grace.

The bowstring was a single glowing strand of white energy, pulsing with a steady, powerful rhythm.

It looked less like a weapon and more like a piece of divine art.

"Whoa," Ayra breathed, her eyes wide.

"That’s... that’s the prettiest looking weapon I’ve ever seen.

I bet it shoots rainbows and makes your enemies feel bad about their life choices before they explode."

Daniel reached in and took the bow. It felt surprisingly light in his hands, yet it hummed with a contained power that made the A-Grade gauntlets on his hands tingle.

His Nexus Interface chimed instantly, providing the details.

[Item: Flying Feather Mystic Bow]

Grade: A

Attack: +3000

Effects:

Self-Condensing Arrows: Can form arrows from raw ambient energy, no physical ammunition required.

Max Strength Threshold: 10,000

Daniel let out a low whistle.

An A-grade bow with an attack power of +3000 was already a phenomenal weapon, far surpassing his cobbled-together C-grade bow.

The self-condensing arrows meant he would never run out of ammunition, a huge tactical advantage.

But it was the max strength threshold that truly caught his eye.

A limit of 10,000. His own base Strength attribute was already well over 6,000 before any skill-based amplifications.

His old bow would have turned to dust under that kind of pressure. This weapon could actually handle a significant portion of his power.

"This is a massive upgrade," Daniel said, a grin spreading across his face.

He felt like a child on his birthday, handed the keys to a sports car after weeks of riding a tricycle.

"A-Grade is nice, Vance," Ayra said, peering over his shoulder. "But are you just going to leave it like that? Seems a bit... under-tuned for you."

Daniel’s grin widened. "You know me so well, Ayra."

He focused his will, the familiar, hungry hum of his Tier 2 [Soul Assimilation] talent building to a crescendo.

He poured his power into the A-grade bow, not just to enhance it, but to fundamentally reforge it in the crucible of his SSS-Rank potential.

The golden bow didn’t just shimmer; it flared with a light so brilliant it momentarily outshone the twin moons.

A deep, resonant thrum resonated from the weapon; a sound that spoke of creation and transformation.

The golden clouds of its frame swirled faster, growing brighter and more distinct. The energy string pulsed with an intense, nearly blinding light.

The wind howled as the weapon’s very nature was transformed.

When the light subsided, the bow in Daniel’s hands looked different.

It was still crafted from golden clouds, but now they were tinged with streaks of pure white light, and the entire weapon radiated an aura of divine, undeniable power.

His Nexus Interface chimed, the notification glowing with the regal, golden hue reserved for true legends.

[Soul Assimilation successful on A-Grade Equipment: Flying Feather Mystic Bow!]

[Item Reforged and Amplified by SSS-Grade Talent Synergy!]

[Item Evolved: Flying Feather Mystic Bow (A-Grade) has become FLYING CLOUD MYSTIC BOW (S-Grade)!]

Daniel’s heart hammered against his ribs. He eagerly checked the new stats.

[Weapon: Flying Cloud Mystic Bow]

Grade: S

Attack: +7000

Max Strength Threshold: 100,000

God’s Effect: Elemental Condensation - Allows the user to seamlessly fuse multiple elemental energies like Fire, Frost, Lightning and Wind into a single, devastatingly explosive projectile.

The power of the explosion scales with the number and potency of the fused elements.

He had to read the stats three times to believe them. An attack power of +7000 was astronomical for a ranged weapon.

A max strength threshold of 100,000 meant that even with his B+-Grade [Savage Might+] skill active, the bow wouldn’t even begin to strain.

It was a weapon truly worthy of his power.

But the God’s Effect... that was the true prize. [Elemental Condensation]. He had already assimilated A-grade control over Flame, Frost, and Lightning, and a C-grade control over Wind.

The ability to fuse all of those into a single, catastrophically explosive arrow? The thought was staggering.

He could create his own personal tactical nuke, delivered with the speed and precision of an arrow.

"My combat strength," Daniel murmured, his voice filled with a quiet, dangerous awe, "just more than doubled. Again."

"Let me see! Let me see!" Ayra demanded, bouncing on the balls of her feet like an excited child.

"Does it shoot exploding kittens? Please tell me it shoots exploding kittens!"

Daniel just laughed, a deep, satisfied sound.

"Something even better, Ayra. Something much, much better."

He looked at the S-grade bow, then back at the black chest, where the second item, the heavy crystal gauntlets, still floated serenely.

His harvest was only half complete.