NOVEL WEB Chapter 22: The Neutral Zone and the Three Gifts of Fate
The Neutral Zone and the Three Gifts of Fate
When Danilo opened the colorful treasure chest, a blinding, radiant light burst forth, flooding the entire floor. Before he could react, he felt his body being pulled, as if by a silent whirlpool—and in the blink of an eye, everything changed.
❖ You have been transported to the Neutral Zone.
— "Neutral... zone?" — he murmured, confused.
Suddenly, a deep weakness overtook him. He dropped to his knees, feeling as if something had been ripped from within. A dark light left his body and shot away at extreme speed, vanishing like an illusion.
"What the hell was that?" he thought, shaken.
The space around him was incomprehensible. There was no ground, no ceiling, no horizon. The glow of stars surrounded him from all sides, as if suspended in a cosmic sea of pure existence.
❖ Yes. The Neutral Zone is a special place, outside any domain. Few beings ever get the chance to visit it.
— "And why was I brought here?"
❖ It is a privilege reserved for those who open special treasure chests. Sometimes, the energy contained is so immense that releasing it distorts space. If it happened in a local atmosphere like Earth, it could trigger violent collapses.
— "So... I'm about to receive an amazing treasure?" — he asked, eyes lighting up, already forgetting what had just happened, assuming it was a step into the Neutral Zone.
❖ That depends on your luck.
— "Luck... Damn it, I've never been lucky! The goddess of fortune always favors others..." — he grumbled.
But then he remembered: he had +300% Luck thanks to the Chaotic Patriarch Seal. He quickly opened his status panel — and what he saw left him speechless:
❖ The bonuses from the seal were FULLY ACTIVE. Not locked to the Golden level, but completely functional.
— "This... is this real?" — he asked aloud.
❖ The Neutral Zone is outside the jurisdiction of any world. Restrictions do not apply here.
Danilo laughed out loud, overjoyed.
— "HELL YES! This is amazing! I can't wait to see the treasure!"
Suddenly, three lights appeared before him. Danilo frowned.
— "Three? Wasn't it supposed to be just one?"
❖ Yes. But your luck... defies the heavens.
— "HA!" — he laughed even louder. — "I'M A LUCK MONSTER!"
But the smile disappeared a second later.
In front of him materialized:
A small white deer with golden stripes;
A shimmering green orb;
A piece of yellowed parchment.
Danilo's eyes widened.
— "A... bambi? A ping-pong ball? And some kind of celestial toilet paper?! ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!"
❖ Check the status of the rewards. And stop complaining. — the system replied, clearly annoyed.
Danilo sighed and obeyed. When he read the descriptions, his world spun:
🎁 Nine Heavens Deer (Sealed Bloodline)
Description: A spiritual creature beloved by the heavens.
Bloodline: Time and Void.
Origin: During a battle between the Monarch of Time and the Monarch of Void, the blood of both fell onto the native planet of the Nine Heavens Deer. A single egg absorbed the chaos of that fused energy. Instead of dying, it survived—evolving into a unique creature.
Activation: Requires stimulation by something powerful.
🎁 Primordial Farm (Super-God Rank)
Description: A divine farm, with hidden abilities and limitless potential.
Functions: The user must discover them over time.
🎁 Opportunity
Description: An ancient scroll.
Mission: In 5 hours, reach floor 10 of the Abyss Tower while remaining at level 1.
Reward: An incredible opportunity.
Note: If you level up, the mission will fail.
Danilo froze. A mix of euphoria and tension surged through his body.
— "What's required to activate the Deer's bloodline?" — he asked, already forming ideas.
❖ Something powerful. Your own blood may suffice.
— "And if..." — he hesitated. — "What if I fuse its bloodline with mine?"
The system paused before replying:
❖ That has never happened before. But it is likely possible.
Danilo snapped his fingers.
— "Then let's find out..."