Chapter 16: Super Righteous Sect

Slowly, Elan's breathing deepened and steadied. He visualized his energy flowing from his core, down his arm, and into the ring. He pictured the intricate mechanisms inside the ring, gears, and locks waiting to be turned and opened by his will alone. The connection between his mind and the ring began to strengthen, with a faint pulse of energy resonating back to him from the artifact.

Sweat beaded on his forehead as he concentrated harder, pushing more of his willpower into the ring. He felt resistance, like a heavy door refusing to budge. Elan didn't relent; he gathered every ounce of determination, imagining the door slowly creaking open. His hands trembled slightly from the exertion, but he held firm, focusing solely on the task at hand.

After what felt like an eternity, Elan felt a shift. The resistance began to wane, and the connection between his mind and the ring grew stronger. He pushed further, his intent sharpening to a fine point, piercing through the final barrier. A soft click echoed in his mind, and suddenly, the door in his visualization swung open.

Elan's heart raced with excitement and anticipation. He had finally accessed the Storage Ring. He took a moment to steady his breathing.

"I did it, Arion, I'm in," Elan exclaimed.

"I know. Now focus your mind and see what's inside," Arion instructed.

Elan closed his eyes again, focusing his mind to delve deeper into the Storage Ring. As he directed his thoughts inward, he began to perceive the dimensions of the space within the ring. Before he could even see the contents, the vastness of the space itself took his breath away.

The interior of the ring was an expansive chamber, measuring three meters in length and three meters in height. It was like a small room, an impossibly large storage area contained within such a tiny ring. The walls of this space seemed to glow faintly, outlining the perimeter and giving Elan a sense of its true scale. The sheer size of the storage area defied all logic and understanding.

Elan could hardly believe his senses. How could such a small ring contain an entire room's worth of space? The concept was beyond anything he had ever encountered, both in his previous life as a scientist and in this new world. The technology or magic that created this ring was far advanced, blending practicality with the extraordinary. It was a marvel, an artifact of immense value and potential.

"This is incredible," Elan whispered to himself, awestruck by the ring's capabilities.

He steadied his mind, ready to focus on the contents of this astonishing space. As his senses sharpened and the interior of the ring became clearer, Elan's initial excitement began to wane. He had imagined finding a plethora of treasures and tools, but instead, he saw only three items inside the vast expanse: a sword, an old book, and a token.

The sword caught Elan's attention first. It was a remarkable weapon, one meter long, providing a substantial reach and presence. The blade, one and a half inches wide, was slender yet formidable, striking a perfect balance between agility and power. Its predominantly red color gave the blade a striking and bold appearance, while the sharp edge was black, providing a stark contrast that highlighted its cutting power. The sleek and elongated design of the blade, polished to perfection, reflected light brilliantly, emphasizing its sharpness and menacing look.

The hilt of the sword matched the blade, which was also red, creating a cohesive and unified design. Intricate engravings adorned the hilt, showcasing fine patterns that added an element of elegance and craftsmanship to the weapon. The grip was designed for security, ensuring that the wielder could handle the sword with precision and confidence.

It was a beautiful, well-crafted sword, unlike any Elan had ever seen, exuding both artistry and lethality.

Next, Elan turned his attention to the old book. The cover was a weathered brown, clearly indicating its age and the passage of time. The book had a worn, almost ancient look, and the leather cover was cracked and faded. Across the cover, in elegant script, were the words "Unified Path Technique." Elan furrowed his brow, not understanding what it meant. The title was unfamiliar to him, and he wondered about the knowledge and secrets it might contain.

Elan then examined the golden token. The token was round and made of polished gold. At the center of the token was a radiant sun, intricately engraved to symbolize enlightenment and righteousness. The sun's detailed rays extended outward, emphasizing its importance and power, making it the focal point of the design.

Surrounding the central sun were symbols of justice, such as scales and a sword, intricately woven into the design. The craftsmanship was impeccable, with each symbol meticulously engraved to showcase the token's significance.

The edges of the token were adorned with mystical runes. These runes were finely detailed and evenly spaced around the circumference, representing the sect's values of purity and honor. The runes seemed to pulse with a faint energy, adding an air of mystique to the already impressive token.

Elan noticed there were words inscribed at the top. However, he couldn't discern the words. The combination of the radiant sun, symbols of justice, and mystical runes made the token a captivating and enigmatic artifact.

Despite the impressive nature of the sword, the mysterious book, and the golden token, Elan couldn't shake the disappointment that lingered in his heart. The realization that there were only three items inside the ring weighed heavily on him. The anticipation and thrill he had felt moments before were replaced by a sense of disappointment. The grand, spacious storage area seemed almost empty, a stark contrast to the overflowing treasure trove he had envisioned.

He had hoped for a multitude of treasures, tools, and resources that could aid him on his journey. Instead, he was left with just a few items, albeit intriguing ones.

"Just three items? The owner must have been poor," he muttered to himself.

"Arion, do you know what these items are?" Elan asked.

"I can't tell. My scanning ability can't penetrate the storage ring, but I can see them. Take them out first so I can identify what they are," Arion replied.

"How should I do that?" Elan inquired.

"Focus your mind on the item you want to take out, visualize it clearly in your hand. Picture every detail—the shape, the weight, the texture. Then, with intent, command it to appear before you. It might take a few tries, but you'll get the hang of it. The key is to be precise and confident in your visualization. Your intent must be strong and unwavering, much like when you accessed the ring itself."

"Alright," Elan said.

Elan closed his eyes and took a deep breath, centering his thoughts. He decided to start with the sword. In his mind, he visualized the sword's sleek blade, the hilt, and the feeling of its weight in his hand. He imagined the coolness of the metal and the balance of the weapon. With his mind focused, he directed his intent toward the sword, willing it to move from the storage ring into his hand.

At first, nothing happened. Elan's brow furrowed in concentration. He intensified his focus, channeling all his mental energy into the visualization. He could feel the connection forming, a subtle tug at the edge of his consciousness. He willed the sword to appear, commanding it with every ounce of his intent.

Suddenly, he felt a shift. The sword materialized in his hand, its weight and coolness surprising him momentarily. He opened his eyes and looked at the weapon, a sense of accomplishment washing over him.

Encouraged by his success, Elan turned his attention to the old book. He closed his eyes once more and visualized the old book. He imagined its cover, the feel of the pages, and the weight of the tome. With the same level of focus and intent, he willed the book to appear in his hand. The process felt slightly easier this time, and within moments, the book materialized before him.

He opened his eyes and looked at the two items now before him—a sword and the old book. The only item left was the golden token.

He closed his eyes for the final time, focusing on the token. He imagined its shape, its texture, and the weight of it in his palm. Concentrating deeply, he willed the token to move from the storage ring to his hand. The token materialized quickly, completing the set of items.

Elan opened his eyes, but before he could get excited, his vision began to blur and spin, signaling that his energy was nearly depleted. He felt a wave of dizziness wash over him, a clear indication that he had pushed himself too far.

"Whoa! My goodness. I'm still getting dizzy even though I'm stronger now compared to when I first opened the ring earlier," Elan exclaimed, trying to steady himself.

"If you try to return the items to the storage ring later, you'll probably pass out immediately. You really need to practice so you won't get dizzy anymore," Arion advised.

"Why would I put the items back in the storage ring? I'll do that tomorrow when I have more energy," Elan replied.

Arion thought to himself that it would be best to introduce the three items to Elan after he had fully recovered, as revealing their true value now might overwhelm him and worsen his dizziness. He decided to withhold the information about the two incredible items for now, except for the golden token.

"Rest for a while, and then I'll tell you about these amazing items," Arion said, teasing Elan with a hint of excitement.

Elan could hardly care less about Arion's teasing. It was difficult to get excited when his vision was spinning and he felt as if the world around him was constantly shifting. The dizziness made it hard to focus on anything else, and the thought of more surprises only added to his current discomfort.

Elan closed his eyes, trying to block out the spinning and concentrate on recovering his energy. He focused on his breathing, taking deep, steady breaths to calm his racing heart and ease the dizziness. As he lay there, he felt his body gradually relax, the strain and exhaustion slowly ebbing away. Resting was his top priority now; he needed to regain his strength before he could fully appreciate or utilize the items he had found.

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After some time, Elan felt the dizziness subside completely. His vision had cleared, and he could sit up properly without any discomfort. Feeling much better, he straightened up and looked around the hut.

"Alright, I'm feeling better now. What did you discover about the three items?" Elan said, steadying himself. 

As he asked, Elan couldn't help but think about how amazing these items must be to make Arion this excited. 

"Good, you're finally okay. Let's start by introducing the least impressive of the three items: the golden token," Arion replied.

Elan picked up the golden token and turned it over in his hands, feeling its weight and admiring its craftsmanship. 'If this golden token was considered the least impressive item, then the old book must be something entirely different.'

"Alright, tell me about this golden token," Elan said.

"The token in your hand was from a sect called the Super Righteous Sect," Arion said.