Chapter 44: Cosmic Shop
Chapter 44: Cosmic Shop
From what Leon understood, passive abilities were supposed to activate on their own without any conscious effort. So when he checked his affinity rank, a question formed in his mind.
’Does that mean my actual affinity rank was 3, and after the increase, it went to 5?’
He considered it seriously for a moment. It was possible. But then he remembered—Seraphine’s lightning affinity was also rank 5. If his had only been 3 to begin with... that felt disappointingly low in comparison.
’So even after getting a divine treasure, I was still two ranks below her?’
The thought sat wrong with him.
Driven by curiosity, he closed his eyes and focused, wondering—What if the ability didn’t activate on its own? What if I needed to will it into effect?
---
[Passive Ability: Elemental Crown]
→ Effect: When used, all elemental affinities are increased by +2 ranks, regardless of their original tier.
---
The moment he focused on it, he felt it—an immediate surge in awareness. His connection to the elements sharpened, and deepened. It was like stepping from candlelight into open sunlight. The difference was stark, undeniable.
He got to his feet and walked across the stone-tiled floor of his room to the tall mirror standing against the wall. It had a dark wood frame etched with swirling patterns of wind and flame—a gift from Seraphine, though she’d never said so aloud. Standing in front of it, he examined his reflection closely.
There was no visible change. No glowing marks, no crackling aura, not even a faint shimmer. And that was... comforting.
He couldn’t feel even the slightest bit of mana leaking from his body. There was no drain, no resistance. It felt like this ability wasn’t something he used—it was something that was. A natural extension of himself.
He let out a breath of quiet relief.
He already drew too much attention as it was—especially with his eyes. Silver-white irises etched with a pristine cross at the center, surrounded by a swirling halo of color that shifted with the light.
’Hmm. The eyes really are kind of mesmerizing.’
If he saw someone else with those eyes, even he would’ve done a double take. Maybe stared a little too long.
Now fully certain the ability was active, he called up his system interface to see the change firsthand. And sure enough, the confirmation was there.
But something else caught his attention too—two unfamiliar entries below the standard status panel. New system functions, newly unlocked.
---
[Character Information]
Name: Leon
Level: 1
Class: Elemental Paragon (SSS)
Age: 10 (Soul Age: 19)
Race: Human
Cultivation: Apprentice Rank
Affinity: All (Rank 7)
Strength: 8
Agility: 9
Stamina: 9
Mana: 1000
Intelligence: 100
Skills: None
Technique: Mana Body Enhancement (Adept Rank)
— [COSMIC SHOP] —
— [COSMIC CHAT] —
---
Leon stared at the new value.
’Rank 7... That’s high. It has to be.’
Excitement stirred in his chest, but it was quickly followed by a quieter thought.
’But how high is high? What’s the scale? Is 7 close to the max—or just a stepping stone?’
He didn’t know. And that bothered him. Seraphine had never spoken about maximum affinity ranks, and he doubted most people even had access to that kind of information.
’I’ll have to find out eventually... but not now.’
For now, he was still a first-level nobody in the eyes of the world.
He took a breath, steadying himself. His eyes shifted toward the faintly glowing icon labeled.
[COSMIC SHOP].
’Let’s see what kind of things this shop has to offer’
And with that, he reached toward the unknown once again.
[Cosmic System Shop Interface]
– Payment Type: Casualties Registered by System
– All prices calculated by the Cosmic System based on existential value loss.
– Once the purchase is made there is no going back.
– Your identity is protected by the Cosmic System.
___
1. Chrono-Stasis Ring (Legendary – Item)
Freezes time for exactly three seconds. Usable once every 24 hours.
Price: 9,000,000
Vendor: Lord of Time and Space
_____
2. Ethereal Step (Epic – Skill)
Teleport a short distance instantly. Cooldown applies.
Price: 710,000
Vendor: Blink McTwist
_____
3. Inferno Blade (Epic – Weapon)
A sword wreathed in eternal flame. Passively increases fire affinity.
Price: 1,700,000
Vendor: Captain Burnbottom
____
4. Static Pulse Core (Rare – Item)
Generates a one-time shield that nullifies lightning damage.
Price: 125,000
Vendor: The Current Collector
____
5. Void Grasp (Rare – Technique)
Immobilizes enemies with a surge of shadow energy.
Price: 200,000
Vendor: Shady Steve
____
6. Gale Dancer’s Cloak (Rare – Armor)
Boosts wind affinity and agility-based evasion.
Price: 180,000
Vendor: Madam Breezy
_____
7. Frost Fang Technique (Epic – Technique)
A deadly piercing strike that chills the target’s soul and slows movement.
Price: 910,000
Vendor: Sir Chillington
_____
8. Mana Reservoir Pearl (Epic – Item)
Permanently increases total mana pool by +300.
Price: 350,000
Vendor: Professor Overflow
____
9. Phoenix Feather Amulet (Legendary – Item)
Revives the wearer upon death, once.
Price: 2,500,000
Vendor: Resurrecto Maximus
_____
10. Elemental Surge (Legendary – Skill)
Temporarily raises all elemental affinities by one rank for 60 seconds.
Price: 3,000,000
Vendor: Lord of Time and Space
_____
11. Seismic Tremor Step (Rare – Skill)
Every footstep sends out shockwaves that disrupt balance nearby.
Price: 190,000
Vendor: Stomp McGraw
_____
12. Mystic Mirror Shard (Rare – Item)
Reflects one spell back to its original caster.
Price: 270,000
Vendor: Reflection Rick
_____
13. Arcane Shackle (Rare – Technique)
Binds a target’s mana flow for five seconds.
Price: 320,000
Vendor: Warden Wink
_____
14. Dimensional Pocket Cape (Rare – Item)
A cloak that contains a pocket dimension for storage.
Price: 220,000
Vendor: Hoarder Harold
_____
15. Hourglass of Reversal (Rare – Item)
Rewinds time in a 3-meter radius by three seconds. Single-use.
Price: 120,0000
Vendor: Professor Time-a-lot
_____
16. Mirror of True Self (Rare – Item)
Reveals the target’s truest nature. Useful for interrogation or emotional ruin.
Price: 80,000
Vendor: Lady Whatsername the Unstable
_____
17. Feather of Dimensional Drift (Epic – Item)
Lets the user blink into an adjacent dimension for up to 10 seconds.
Price: 150,000
Vendor: Duke of Nope
____
18. Coin of Absolute Luck (Epic – Item)
Flip it. One outcome brings glory. The other, ruin. No in-between.
Price: 210,000
Vendor: Gambler X of the 7th Table
____
19. Cradle Seed of Elements (Divine– Item)
Once planted in the body, gradually enhances all Possessed elemental affinities.
Price: 790,000,000
Vendor: The Keeper of The Dimensions
____
20. Chain of Infinite Anchoring (Rare – Item)
Immobilizes any creature of your level or lower. Blocks all teleportation.
Price: 250,000
Vendor: Granny Clampjaw
____
21. Tome of Eternal Practice (Epic – Item)
Simulates 10,000 hours of training in your mind. Usable once per day.
Price: 6,000,000
Vendor: Archivist of the Unskimmable
____
22. Cloak of Singular Focus (Rare – Armor)
Nullifies all illusions, mental attacks, and distractions.
Price: 180,000
Vendor: Monk Dave the Barefoot
____
23. Shard of Unburnt Ice (Rare – Item)
Grants a permanent magical shield that blocks fire damage.
Price: 95,000
Vendor: Queen Chillington IV
____
24. Mark of Hidden Step (Rare – Skill)
Perfect stealth for 15 seconds. Cooldown: 24 hours.
Price: 300,000
Vendor: Mister Peekaboo
____
25. Lantern of Soul Echoes (Epic – Item)
Speak with one spirit of your choice for 60 seconds.
Price: 1,000,000
Vendor: Warden of Last Whispers
____
26. Seed of Stormlight Heart (Legendary – Item)
Implants within the user and evolve their lightning and light affinities over time.
Price: 15,000,000
Vendor: Lord of Lightning and Luminance
____
27. Scepter of Spatial Folding (Rare – Item)
Grants localized teleportation and storage manipulation for one hour.
Price: 380,000
Vendor: Baron Bagspace the Twisted
____
28. Vial of Second Breath (Epic – Elixir)
Restores all physical health instantly. Can revive near-death states.
Price: 320,000
Vendor: Dr. Fixme the Skeptical
____
29. Whistle of the Boundless Mount (Rare – Summon)
Summons a spectral steed that adapts to terrain and danger.
Price: 220,000
Vendor: Stablemaster "Neigh Means Neigh"...