THE KEY TO ABSOLUTE POWER

Diaval sat at his usual desk in his room, his fingers drumming absentmindedly on the polished wood.

His eyes were fixed on the mask lying before him, its dark, ominous presence almost palpable.

Despite its seemingly normal appearance, anyone with a shred of magical sense could detect the powerful demonic aura emanating from it.

This was the Mask of Mammon, a relic of immense power and dark history.

He remembered reading about it in the novel detailing Adrian's rise to power.

'This mask was one of the main reasons, that bastard was untouched,'he mused stroking his chin.

The mask had been found in a hidden dungeon, and with it, Adrian had gained incredible strength and influence.

Mammon, the demon god, also known as the Prince of Greed and Lord of Gambles, had imbued the mask with a unique ability: anyone harboring killing intent or bloodlust towards the wearer would find their power greatly reduced by 70%, while the wearer would gain an equivalent boost in power.

"Sounds like one of them cheat hacks in games..."he scoffed a bit and then smiled.

"But if it was a cheat...that means noone would've known about it,"he said.

"The author ofcourse had to make a clear path for Adrian to acquire this without much effort."

"Normally to find this kind of items, one would need luck beyond comprehension,"he said looking at the mask that glowed for a second.

It was a formidable artifact, and now it sat on his desk, its intricate design hiding the malevolent force within.

Diaval leaned back in his chair, recalling the events that led him to possess this powerful item.

***

After being scammed out of the land, and returning with Eldric, Diaval had excused himself, saying he needed to take a detour and would be back soon.

In truth, he had gone to acquire the Mask of Mammon.

He had remembered from the novel how Adrian received a black, intricately designed key with a demonic skull from a merchant he had helped.

"Aah, getting it just like that, I must commend the author for spoon feeding the precious main character."

"But luckily for me, I'll acquire it before he does."

Diaval knew exactly where to find this merchant.

With a swift motion, Diaval had taken to the skies, his wings beating rhythmically as he flew towards the bustling market where valuable goods were sold.

The market was a vibrant hub of activity, with stalls displaying a myriad of relics, treasures, and rare artifacts.

The air was filled with the sounds of haggling and the chatter of merchants and customers.

Landing gracefully, Diaval made his way through the crowded market, his eyes scanning the stalls for the merchant.

Finally, he spotted her: a woman with sharp eyes and a shrewd expression, her stall filled with an array of exotic items.

Her name was Valeria, a well-known trader of dungeon loot and rare rewards from across Ranora.

Approaching her stall, Diaval put on a friendly smile.

"Good day, Ms.Valeria. What treasures do you have for sale today?"

Valeria looked up, her eyes assessing him quickly.

"Ah, a discerning customer. I have many fine goods today. Rare relics, powerful artifacts, and unique items from dungeons all over Ranora."

She began to show him some of her finest wares.

The first was a shimmering necklace that glowed with a soft blue light. "This is the Necklace of Nymph's Grace. It grants the wearer enhanced agility and the ability to breathe underwater."

Next, she presented a small, intricately carved box. "This is the Box of Eternal Whisper. It contains the voices of ancient spirits who can offer wisdom and guidance."

She moved on to a beautifully crafted dagger with a dark blade. "The Shadowfang Dagger. It allows the wielder to move unseen and strike with deadly precision."

Valeria then held up a delicate ring with a fiery gemstone. "The Ring of Inferno. It gives the wearer control over fire, enabling them to conjure and manipulate flames."

'As a dragon I don't see how that is useful...'

'But perhaps it greatly increases ones fire output to its maximum potential...still it all depends on ones initial mastery of the element,'he mused looking at the ring and then putting it down.

Finally, she showed him a set of runes etched on a flat stone. "These are the Runes of Ancients. They enhance magical abilities and can amplify spells."

Diaval admired the items, but none of them were what he was seeking.

"These are impressive, Valeria, but I'm looking for something else. Do you have anything more... unique?"

Valeria raised an eyebrow and then disappeared behind her stall. She returned with a small box, opening it to reveal a collection of keys.

"These are dungeon keys. Each opens the way to a different dungeon, where great challenges and rewards await. You can go in alone or with a party. Defeat the boss, and you get your loot."

'Jackpot!'

Diaval's heart raced.

Among the keys, he spotted two that matched the description from the novel: black with intricate designs. He knew one of these could lead to the dungeon where the Mask of Mammon was hidden.

Valeria offered the keys to him. "You can have these, no charge."

But Diaval wasn't having any of it. He knew their true value.

"I appreciate the offer, but I insist on paying. These keys are worth far more than you might think."

He handed her a pouch containing 1000 gold coins. Normally, a dungeon key wouldn't cost more than 200 gold coins, but Diaval didn't regret spending the money. Unlike the scam with the land, this purchase felt right.

Valeria's eyes widened in surprise and gratitude.

"This is an absurd amount, but I cannot complain, thank you, I hope you find what you're looking for."

Diaval nodded, taking the keys and heading back home. As he flew, he couldn't help but think about the power the Mask of Mammon would grant him.

For someone like him, lacking in strength and power, this mask was more than just a cheat—it was a lifeline.

Upon returning to his room that night, thoughts were being formed by each passing minute.

He knew he had to find the right dungeon, and among the nine keys, only two matched the description. He would have to test his luck.

"Knowing myself and even the original Diaval," he muttered to himself, "we both have shitty luck."

But luck or not, he was determined. The Mask of Mammon would be his, and with it, he would change his fate.

"A lazy bum like me, that mask is my only way to great power...."

"Only then till I have achieved that kind of power can I be truly content with living a low life."

///NEXT CHAPTER: LUCK MINUS ONE