Riven paused at the edge of the gate and glanced back one last time.
The light of the dungeon's exit shimmered faintly behind him—his last chance to turn back.
But something tugged at him. A whisper that crackled like static deep in his skull.
[…Seek the void… if you want the reward.]
It didn't sound like a voice. It sounded like a glitch in the world itself.
Riven clenched his fists.
His gut had never failed him before.
He turned away from the light and stepped deeper into the dungeon.
The stone walls were darker now. Wetter. The air felt heavier, almost like it was pressing down on his shoulders.
Soon, he reached the place where the others had fallen.
Blood stained the floor.
Torn gear, shredded leather packs, splintered weapons—all lay scattered like discarded toys.
Around them, the monsters gathered.
At least six.
Misshapen limbs. Teeth too long. Eyes that reflected a sickly yellow glow in the dark.
They hunched over the remains, feasting.
Riven walked past them.
None moved.
None even looked at him.
As if they sensed something… unnatural around him.
He kept going.
The path shifted beneath his feet. Where there had once been walls, a new corridor twisted upward, carved with strange symbols and ancient scripts he didn't recognize.
He climbed.
The air grew colder, then warmer. The dungeon no longer felt like a dungeon—it felt like something older.
Eventually, he stood at the base of a ruined temple.
Massive stone pillars loomed, cracked and leaning, choked with vines glowing faintly blue.
Time had forgotten this place.
A forgotten god's bones, buried under layers of myth.
Cautiously, Riven stepped through the arched entrance.
No traps triggered.
No defense mechanisms, no curses.
Only silence.
The hall stretched long and narrow, lit by dim, floating embers that flickered like lost souls.
Faded murals lined the walls—depictions of worlds collapsing, stars shattering, and golden shards scattering across the sky.
He walked until the path ended.
A single chamber opened at the bottom.
Circular. Quiet. Almost too quiet.
At its center hovered a golden orb. Roughly the size of a melon. It spun slowly, casting reflections that rippled like water.
The moment Riven entered, the static returned.
[…Step forward… and prove your qualification.]
His breath caught in his throat.
Slowly, he moved.
The moment he stepped past the first circle engraved into the floor, a pulse of light passed through him.
Cold. Piercing. Like someone had just scanned every inch of his soul.
He stopped.
A blue screen appeared in front of him.
Floating. Glowing.
[Analyzing subject…]
[Match confirmed.]
[Information recorded.]
[You qualify to receive: The Shard of Reality.]
Riven's eyes sharpened.
"The what…?"
He had heard of S-tier artifacts, hidden dungeons, even legacy inheritance systems…
But this?
Never.
Not in any black market auction. Not in any ancient ruin database.
Not even whispered among the underground elite.
"What… is this?"
The system replied.
[The Shard of Reality is a divine fragment capable of altering existence.]
[Only those selected may inherit it.]
[Would you like to awaken and bind to the system?]
Riven hesitated.
He had never awakened.
Everyone else had—classmates, colleagues, rivals.
But he was the "normal" one. The rich guy with no power, no class, no blessings.
Now?
"Awaken."
He said quietly.
The orb flared for a second.
A breeze swept through the chamber.
Not wind. Something deeper. Something from within.
He felt it peel open a door inside his body.
[Awakening complete.]
[Status initializing…
Name: Riven Vale
Age: 21
Occupation: ???
Affinity: ???
Level: ???
Class: ???]
Riven frowned.
All unknown?
Even "Investor" was missing?
That didn't sit right.
But before he could question it further, another notification slid into view.
[You have obtained: Shard of Reality (1/1000)]
He opened the item menu.
There it was.
A small crystal shard, glowing softly, as if it contained a universe inside.
Its description sent a chill down his spine:
[A fragment of the primordial law.
When all 1000 shards are reunited, the user may rewrite reality itself.
A single shard can enforce one absolute rule once. After that, it becomes inert.]
Riven read it twice.
Once wasn't enough.
Rewrite reality?
That wasn't just power.
That was godhood.
"How does it work?"
[Assign a law. It must be short, direct, and singular in concept. Once a shard is used, it cannot be used again.]
Riven's heart pounded.
One rule.
Just one.
He thought hard.
Immortality? Invincibility?
No.
Too flashy.
Too reckless.
Then the answer hit him.
His greatest weapon had never been strength or skill.
It was money.
Wealth.
The power to buy kingdoms, shift markets, own secrets.
He whispered the command.
"Unlimited money."
The shard flashed.
[Law accepted. Linking to system wallet…]
[Ding! You now have unrestricted financial resources.]
Another screen appeared:
[Balance: ∞]
[You may withdraw currency, gold, credits, or system tokens at will.]
Riven stared.
He tapped the screen, requesting 10,000 credits to buy the potions.
A sleek black card materialized in his hand.
Physical. Heavy. Real.
He tried 1 million to buy another F-class dungeon on the market.
Instant.
No delay.
No confirmation. No cooldown.
His hands trembled slightly.
"…This… This is real. Now I don't need to rely on loans to expand my business."
Unlimited money.
Truly unlimited.
This wasn't a relic.
This wasn't a scam.
This was a treasure beyond imagination.
He glanced at the now-dim shard in his inventory.
Used.
One out of 1000.
Which meant…
There were 999 more out there.
Each one capable of rewriting a piece of the world.
Riven's heart thudded.
Not from fear.
But from something stronger.
Desire.
Power.
Purpose.
Riven stood in the empty chamber for a while longer, the dim golden glow of the orb fading behind him. He stared at the blue screen hovering in front of his eyes.
"System, is there a way to find the other shards of reality?"
He asked, his voice low but steady
No answer.
The blue interface flickered once, then vanished.
"…System?"
Nothing.
Just silence.
It was like the static voice had never existed.
Riven exhaled and ran a hand through his hair. His heart was still beating fast, but the rush was fading, replaced by a twinge of regret.
He had used the first shard on something as basic as unlimited money.
He could've used it to find more shards. He could've multiplied his odds.
"…Too late for that now."
He muttered.
He shook his head. There was no point lingering on what could have been. That wasn't how investors survived. The best investments weren't perfect—they were timely.
And this was just the beginning.
Riven turned and headed back toward the surface.
As he stepped out of the dungeon gate, daylight hit his face. Bright. Blinding. Almost too real after the darkness below.
But he wasn't alone.
A crowd had gathered outside. Police officers, dungeon regulators, and another adventurer team in black combat gear were stationed around the perimeter.
The buzz of static radios and quiet murmurs filled the air.
An officer spotted him and rushed over.
"You! Are you alright? Are you from the Vale-sponsored team?"
Riven nodded calmly.
"I'm fine."
"Where are the others?"
"…They didn't make it."
He replied simply.
The officer's face tensed.
"We'll need a report."
"Of course."
The adventurer team glanced at him, surprised that someone had walked out of the dungeon alone. They looked at each other, whispering, but didn't ask further.
The officers ushered Riven into a car and drove him home.
He said little on the way.
Only when the sleek, tinted vehicle rolled past the private gates of his estate did he finally exhale.
Home.
The mansion loomed ahead, its glass walls reflecting the soft sunset. The staff opened the door, ready to fuss over him—but he waved them off.
"Leave me for now."
Riven headed straight for his private study, locked the door, and finally opened the system again.
The familiar blue screen appeared.
[Status Window
Name: Riven Vale
Age: 21
Occupation: ???
Affinity: ???
Class: ???
Level: ???
Skills:
— Investor's Intuition (Rank: EX)
— Keen Eye (Rank: EX)]
His eyes widened.
"Two EX-ranked skills?"
That wasn't normal.
EX was supposed to be near-mythical. A rank most never even glimpsed. And he had two?
He tapped on each to check the descriptions.
[Investor's Intuition (EX)
Allows the user to instinctively sense favorable opportunities. Choices made based on gut feeling are far more likely to lead to successful or beneficial outcomes.]
[Keen Eye (EX)
Enhances perception in detecting value. Items, people, and situations will reveal subtle clues others miss, allowing the user to spot hidden potential and great deals.]
Riven sat back in his chair, eyebrows raised.
It was like the system had tailored itself to who he already was. His instincts had made him a billionaire without powers—now those instincts had become actual skills.
But that led to another question.
If he had two EX-ranked abilities… why hadn't he ever seen anyone flaunt something like this?
Riven thought back to the people he'd met.
Hunters, dungeon clearers, corporate elites.
Some were definitely powerful.
But they were always cautious.
Hidden.
That's when it clicked.
Of course.
People hid their best cards. Power wasn't for show—it was leverage.
EX-ranked skills weren't just rare. They were a secret weapon.
Riven leaned forward and narrowed his eyes at the screen.
"…Then I'll hide mine too."
No need to draw attention.
Let the world think he was still just a rich fool with no powers.
Let them underestimate him.
He would use the system quietly. Efficiently.
Like a true investor.
And when the time came—
He would own the game.