CHAPTER 40: MYSTERY!

It wasn’t just mana, though—Leon could feel something else. A strange essence, elegant and soft like silk, hanging in the air. It was... mesmerizing.

Off to one side, beside the largest coconut tree in sight, sat a rectangular pool. It looked natural, simple... yet something about it whispered of depth and mystery. It glimmered under the light like liquid crystal.

Leon stood still, stunned.

His lips slowly curved into a small smile.

This—this—was exactly what he needed.

A moment of peace.

His body ached, his soul strained, his mind heavy... but this place, it felt like the world itself was telling him to rest.

He looked at the pool, then at his bloodied body, and staggered toward it like a ghost.

He wanted to explore. There was so much more he could investigate—so many things he wanted to understand. But for now, only one thing mattered.

Rest. Wash away the blood. Reclaim a moment of silence.

He quietly walked to the pool before sensing something. At first, his brows furrowed. But then, slowly, a smile crept onto his face.

This... this was amazing.

The mana around the pool was so dense it was actually radiating a transparent light-blue glow. At first glance, it was easy to miss. But once you got close and focused, that glow began to shimmer—subtle, yet unmistakable.

Leon loved the sensation of thick mana on his skin. It was like a whisper of power gently licking his wounds.

’Is that the only thing that makes this place special? I doubt it... If not, then what else? I’ll find out, I guess... Time will tell.’ Leon muttered to himself, still walking.

The pool was about thirty meters away.

But barely after walking three meters, Leon began to feel it—pressure.

A heavy, unseen force weighed down on him, making each step harder than the last.

That only confirmed it. This wasn’t going to be easy. Not even close.

But why should he care?

After all he’d endured, what was a little gravity? What was some pressure compared to death itself?

Clenching his teeth, Leon kept walking.

The closer he got, the heavier it became. The gravity intensified with every step.

Seven meters in, and it felt like the entire dungeon was pressing down on his shoulders. His bones groaned. His muscles trembled.

Then...

Ding!

┏━━━━━━༻❁༺━━━━━━┓

[One stat point has been added to Strength]

[One stat point has been added to Agility]

┗━━━━━━༻❁༺━━━━━━┛

His eyes widened slightly, heart thumping with excitement.

’Is this another effect? I can’t wait to see more... Just walking towards the pool is giving me stats? Then what happens when I reach it?’

Of course, as a human being, Leon was greedy.

It was only natural to want more. That’s just the truth of it.

So, heart steady and resolve firm, he pushed forward.

Each step brought new pressure—but also new power. With every meter walked, the system awarded him again and again. Thirteen meters further, and his stats had soared. Strength and Agility had both received thirteen points.

Still, walking was harder than ever. His movement slowed, becoming sluggish—like walking through syrup. Despite the growing pressure, Leon’s eyes stayed glued on the pool.

The reward was near. He could feel it.

No matter how long it took, he would reach it.

Soon, only five meters remained.

The mana was so rich and pure now that it felt like honey for his soul—refreshing, soothing. Better than leveling up.

Then, finally—he reached it.

The pool glistened like crystal. Clearer than glass. He could see straight through to the bottom, where fine grains of sand shimmered like specks of starlight.

Those glowing grains lit up the entire body of water with an ethereal blue hue.

And as if on cue—every ache in his body vanished.

The cuts, bruises, torn muscles—all gone.

He knew the reason.

The pool.

He wanted to enter, to soak his body in that divine water and feel reborn.

But when he saw the glowing sand at the bottom, he hesitated.

Then a voice whispered—low, familiar, resonant.

"Enter."

...!?

It was the system. Or more precisely, the crystal.

Leon didn’t question it. He didn’t need to. The tone held no malice. No deception.

So, he stepped in—carefully.

He moved like a man stepping into a sacred place. He didn’t want to splash the water. Didn’t want to waste a single drop.

The moment his body touched the water, he felt a force lift him—gentle, yet firm.

The water buoyed him, letting him float.

Then came the flood of energy.

His left arm... He could feel it again.

Subconsciously, he looked down.

And instantly regretted it.

A red, vein-like glow spread from his shoulder down to his wrist and fingers—like blood lightning. But overlaying it all was a faint, transparent-blue sheen.

Mana.

Every single injury had healed.

Every sore muscle was soothed.

Every pain silenced.

He felt... whole.

And for the first time in a long while, truly alive.

Leon took a deep breath, heart calm, and decided now was the right time.

He needed answers.

’System... or crystal—whatever you are—you’ve been suspicious lately. So? Got anything to say for yourself?’

No reply.

Ten seconds passed.

Nothing.

A full minute.

Still silent.

Until finally... a sigh.

And then, the cold, monotone voice that had guided him since the beginning.

"I have nothing to say as of now. You’ll have to get the answer yourself... once you’re strong enough."

The tone was calm. But Leon could feel it—the faintest hint of mockery behind the words.

He clenched his fists tightly beneath the water.

The unknown truth. The half-spoken riddles.

The mystery of why everything seemed connected to him. The system... the restrictions... the secrets...

Leon wasn’t sure what he was walking toward.

’The System is underestimating me... I fought, bled, nearly died—yet all it does is mock me?’

Leon’s face darkened as he lay in the pool, mana soothing his body but not his thoughts.

’You’ll regret that... One day, I’ll make you regret ever saying those words.’

His jaw clenched as the glow of the healing pool reflected in his hardening eyes. The calm water couldn’t drown out the storm in his chest.