Yi Qiang sat in his inn room, looking over the Spatial Stone. He had decided to leave the voucher be, as it would require some leg work, and Yi Qiang wanted to finish everything else before he visited... wherever he needed to visit. So, hoping it would provide a hint as to what he needed to do, he Analyzed the gently-glowing object.

Spatial Stone

Use: Grants 20 Inventory slots.

A stone crystallized from the essence of spatial power. Infuse mana or equivalent energies to use.

The archer assumed "equivalent energies" included Qi, so, without hesitation, injected the golden energy into the stone.

There wasn't much of a visible reaction, but the moment his Empyrean Qi entered the Spatial Stone, Yi Qiang felt something pop inside of him. It felt like there was a lock inside of him that had snapped open, releasing whatever it contained.

Congratulations!

You have unlocked the Inventory!

You are within the first 1000 players to do so!

Yi Qiang couldn't help but frown. It looks like I can't always beat dumb luck. And with as many players as there are, there are bound to be people luckier than I am. Though, I can't say I've exactly had a curse over my head...

Anxious to put his new Inventory to use, Yi Qiang first willed the screen into existence. He had long discovered that the system was easily controlled just through thought, which was equal parts convenient and intimidating. Yi Qiang put the worrying thoughts out of his head and looked at what he could do.

Inventory:

Filled Slots: 0

Empty Slots: 20

The archer's eyes narrowed. How exactly do I use the inventory?

Yi Qiang took out a silver coin from his bag.

He willed it to enter his inventory, imagining its appearance into whichever spatial realm was within him that served as the basis for his new ability.

Much to his glee, the coin disappeared. Yi Qiang looked back up, checking the table that represented his inventory's size.

Inventory:

Filled Slots: 0

Empty Slots: 20

Currency: 0G, 1S, 0C

Upon learning that he could put all of his money into the inventory without even taking up any inventory slots, Yi Qiang immediately dumped all of his coins into the newfound luxury. That's convenient.

To test to see how he could retrieve the things he stored easily, Yi Qiang willed two gold coins to appear in his hand. The moment he made that mental command, much to the archer's delight, two glistening yellow circles revealed themselves in his palm. Seeing this, the Chosen could not hold back his grin.

Unfortunately, Yi Qiang didn't have much to his name. Everything that he did have, he planned to sell, too, since it was mostly equipment that Yi Qiang had already outgrown. Regardless, he put everything he was previously carrying around or leaving in his inn room into his inventory, which was a surprisingly satisfying process.

I guess this is as good a time as any to sell everything.

Yi Qiang grabbed the doorknob and turned it, exiting the inn and heading to the same vendor he bought his bow from seemingly years ago. The merchant had been kind to him, and Yi Qiang was glad to pay back that kindness by taking his business to the man.

The archer didn't know how the merchant would feel about his own bow being sold back to him, used. Yi Qiang certainly did not expect to get the same price for it, but he figured it would still serve a greater purpose with another adventure than with someone who made everything he needed out of the potent Empyrean Qi.

After asking a passerby for directions, Yi Qiang arrived at the man's familiar shop.

"Hello, I'm looking to sell quite a few items."

The bored-looking vendor perked up, before narrowing his eyes.

"Hold on... I recognize you..."

Yi Qiang grinned, watching recognition appear in his eyes and then joy.

"You're the one I sold that bow to! The Chosen! You look so much stronger, I guess you haven't really wasted your time, huh?" The vendor laughed self-consciously, "I can't say I've done the same. Anyway, what do you wanna sell? I'll buy most anything unless it's something incredibly rare I'm not confident in selling."

A young man walked out of a merchant's store, a satisfied smile on his face.

I can't say I know much about prices, but from the man's expressions, it looked like I got a pretty good deal.

Now 100 gold richer, Yi Qiang looked up at the sky. It was around 5 hours after noon, which should give him plenty of time to finally use that armory voucher of his.

He held high expectations for the royal family's equipment, as he figured the difficulty of getting the ticket would match its value. Of course, that made him wonder just how incredible the Divine Reformation Elixir was, but it was useless.

Soon enough, Yi Qiang found himself at the entrance of the palace, staring up at the huge building. He had met the Second Prince at the guard's barracks, so the Chosen wasn't very familiar with the power of the royalty of the city.

This colossal edifice, however, gave him a pretty good idea of it.

Guards protected the similarly giant entrance, who Yi Qiang quickly approached. He held out his voucher and spoke to them.

"I received this as a reward for a tournament. Do you happen to know where I could use it?"

The guard on the left nodded, beckoning for the archer to follow him. The walked through sprawling hallways, each as grandly decorated at the last before the two stopped in front of a large, pure metal door.

More surprising than how formidable the door to the armory looked was the person waiting in front of it.

Maria stood, her back straight and her eyes ready for combat at any moment.

Why is she here? Yi Qiang could not help but wonder. She already won... she looks like she wants something. I might not have to pay close attention to find out her driving goal. He hesitantly stepped forward.

If she wanted to kill me, I would be incapable of truly resisting it.

"What is it you meet me for?"