Theo stared at the screen with wide eyes.
Several large golden tickets were displayed on the screen, a few lines describing each option plastered underneath them.
[Would you rather—]
Choose two options.
Option A: Gain five random S-rank Resource tickets
Option B: Gain ten Summoning Circle Engraving Tickets
Option C: Gain two Shattered Core Restoration Tickets
Option D: Gain ten Curse Removal Tickets.
Option E: Gain twenty-five Mana Signature Concealment Tickets.
[Note: Host is allowed to grant tickets to others.]
...
His gaze settled on the final line.
’I can give these away?’ he thought, stunned.
Theo quickly shook his head before looking back at the system screen.
’’No,’’ he muttered. ’’That’s not even the craziest thing.’’
His gaze swept over each of the golden tickets, slowly raising an eyebrow.
’’What’s with these rewards? And why are they... tickets?’’
Falling silent for a moment, Theo simply shrugged.
As he began reading the sentences underneath each ticket, his eyes couldn’t help but widen gradually.
The first option was straightforward enough.
Even without knowing exactly which resources he’d receive, Theo knew their value could easily rise above two hundred million dollars.
But as his gaze landed on the second option, he couldn’t help but freeze for a moment.
’’Summoning Circle Engravements?’’ he muttered, his mouth falling open. ’’Is this... the same thing I have?’’
But the system didn’t offer a response.
Many thoughts raced through Theo’s mind.
’If I give these to the others, wouldn’t they be able to get contracted beasts like Feng?’
His heart began beating faster just thinking about it.
When he’d promised Jim their strength would increase drastically over the next three weeks, he’d never imagined it would happen like this!
’’There’s no doubt about it,’’ he said, nodding once. ’’I have to take that as my first reward.’’
With that settled, his gaze dropped to the remaining three options.
’Shattered Core Restoration... Curse Removal... Mana Signature Concealment...’ he repeated their names.
One thing immediately stood out among them.
The more extraordinary the effect seemed, the fewer tickets the system offered.
Theo’s gaze first settled on the Shattered Core Restoration Tickets.
He knew exactly what a shattered mana core meant.
For most hunters, it was a fate worse than death. Years, sometimes decades, of growth would disappear in an instant.
And depending on how strong an affinity one had... they could even perish alongside their core!
’Now, I don’t know anyone with such an injury,’ he thought. ’But that doesn’t mean they won’t be handy in the future.’
Theo made a mental note of the option before quickly moving on to the next.
They were ten Curse Removal Tickets.
Compared to everything else, curses were something he knew very little about.
’They could be very useful,’ he thought. ’But the curse element is incredibly rare. Even after so many months, I’ve yet to run into a person who can use it.’
That only put one question in his mind.
’Are the tickets worth it compared to the other rewards?’
Theo immediately shook his head.
’’There are people out there who can still dispel curses,’’ he muttered lightly. ’’I’ve never seen someone repair a shattered core.’’
As for the last option?
Theo barely spared the Mana Signature Concealment Tickets a second glance.
They were useful, but not useful enough to compete with the other options.
His gaze returned to the Shattered Core Restoration Tickets, and this time he didn’t hesitate.
’’System, I’ve made my choices,’’ he called out, tapping on Options B and C.
The moment his finger touched the two options, both golden tickets lit up.
A bright flash swept across the screen before the remaining three tickets quietly faded away.
[Choice confirmed.]
[Granting rewards now...]
The golden system screen suddenly began to ripple like water.
One after another, twelve golden tickets with strange text flew out of the screen before gently drifting down toward his hands.
Theo raised an eyebrow as he stared at them.
’’So these are reward tickets...’’ he muttered.
Just then, the system screen changed in front of him.
[Congratulations! Rewards have been granted.]
Whoosh!
The golden window vanished into thin air only a moment later.
As everything fell silent, Theo couldn’t help but glance at the twelve tickets resting in his hand.
’’Right...’’ he muttered, scratching his cheek. ’’How are these supposed to work?’’
He carefully picked up one of the Summoning Circle Engraving Tickets and turned it over several times.
’’Do I just have to tear it?’’
A blue window immediately popped up in front of him.
[Note: Tearing another Summoning Circle Engraving Ticket is inadvisable. Two summoning circles are too much for the heart to bear, resulting in certain death.]
Theo’s expression didn’t change one bit.
’’I know,’’ he said, waving the window away. ’’But thanks for confirming that I have to let someone else tear them.’’
He flicked his fingers, opening the system space beside him.
Without another thought, he stashed the tickets away for the moment.
As the system space closed once more, a grin slowly spread across Theo’s face.
’’Tomorrow’s going to be interesting,’’ he muttered lightly. ’’The others are in for a nice little surprise anyway.’’
He collapsed back onto his bed with an even wider smile.
Soon, his friends would all have contracted beasts to help them.
Not to mention, they’d gain a huge boost toward the Gold Core stage just like he had in the past.
After a moment, he let out a deep breath.
’’Enough of that now,’’ he muttered, closing his eyes. ’’If I want to reach Gold Core within a month, I have to concentrate.’’
Just like that, time rapidly started passing by once more.
...
The following morning arrived before Theo knew it.
As soft sunlight shone through the massive windows beside him, he couldn’t help but yawn.
Stretching his arms over his head, Theo climbed out of bed with a loud groan.
’’Let’s get started,’’ he muttered, rubbing his temples.
After quickly washing up, he glanced toward the system space with an amused smile.
Today, he was going to change his friends’ lives forever.