THE GENERAL'S DISGRACED HEIR

The system mart tab, a digital portal to a realm of possibilities, shimmered into existence. A welcoming message greeted him: ["Congratulations for opening the system mart. You have received 10 dimension coins,"].

"Well, this is a joke," David muttered, his voice laced with disbelief. Ten measly coins for opening a system mart? He felt like a pauper in a casino. "I expected at least a thousand as a welcome bonus," he grumbled, his tone dripping with sarcasm. A paltry sum, but coins were coins, he reminded himself.

The menu unfolded, a digital marketplace of the unexpected. Familiar items, the staples of earthly existence, were laid out with clinical efficiency. Milk cartons, lotions, and even seeds - a bizarre assortment of products. Electronics, a staple of his world, were conspicuously absent. "Thought so," David mused. A wry smile tugged at his lips.

It seemed the system had a peculiar sense of humour.

Before spending his precious gift voucher, he decided to explore the depths of this digital bazaar. The "Heroes" section, a tantalizing prospect, drew his attention. With a surge of anticipation, he clicked the tab. No free coins this time, but the possibilities were endless. The heroes, a pantheon of digital warriors, were a testament to human imagination and technological prowess.

It was a world of endless potential, a realm where dreams could be purchased.

Nonetheless, the heroes section was the most fascinating and simultaneously the most frustrating part of his browsing.

[Heros.]

Aeloria Stormbringer - The Tempest Mage - 15,000,000 dc

Kaelith Silverflame - The Phoenix Sorcerer - 15,000,000 dc

Isolde Frostheart - The Icebound Enchantress - 15,000,000 dc

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Queen Artoria Pendragon - Saint Saber - 20,000,000 dc

Elysia Shadowbane - The Nightfall Huntress - 17,000,000 dc

Mira Lightforge - The Radiant Smith - 5,000,000 dc

Valen Emberstrike - The Inferno Knight - 19,000,000 dc

The list of heroes was a digital pantheon, a gallery of potential champions. Each entry was a testament to mighty ingenuity, a spark of imagination given form. His heart pounded with anticipation as he scrolled through the list, envisioning an army of heroes at his command. But reality, in the form of astronomical prices, quickly doused his enthusiasm.

His coin purse, currently holding a mere four hundred thousand, was no match for the exorbitant cost of these godly warriors. With a heavy heart, he made a mental note to return when his fortunes had improved.

The weapons and armour section was the next stop on his digital odyssey. A dazzling array of equipment, both mundane and extraordinary, filled the screen. Swords that hummed with enchanted energy, armour that seemed to defy the laws of physics - it was a feast for the eyes.

[Weapon & Amour]

Ebonblade - Sword of Eternal Night - 97,000,000 dc

Frostcliver - Axe of the Glacial Warlord - 100,000,000 dc

Stormcall - Staff of the Tempest Sage - 77,000,000 dc

Sunfire Aegis - Shield of the Dawnbringer - 50,000,000 dc

Dragonscale Plate - Armor of the Draconic Guardian - 139,000,000 dc

Shadowrend - Dagger of the Void Stalker - 200,000,000 dc

Celestial Bow - Archer's Promise of the Stars - 250,000,000 dc

Thunderstrike - Hammer of the Skyforged Titan - 60,000,000 dc

Phoenixheart Robes - Garb of the Reborn Magus - 700,000,000 dc

Moonlit Veil - Cloak of the Nocturnal Sentinel - 390,000,000 dc

As he browsed through the impressive array of gear, his eyes widened at the even more outrageous prices. "This is ridiculous," he thought. The price tags were a sobering reminder of his financial limitations. To equip himself, let alone an army, would require a fortune beyond his wildest dreams. The dream of a fully armed hero, once a vibrant vision, faded into the distance.

The potions tab mirrored the previous sections, further dampening David's enthusiasm for the system mart. After about thirty minutes of browsing, he was relieved to find that the products in the mart weren't as prohibitively expensive as those in other tabs.

A box of honey lotion, priced at five thousand dimension coins, contained a dozen units, while a set of five cheese wheels was listed at seventy thousand dimension coins. David's goal was to find something versatile and reproducible to kickstart his venture business.

After a while of scrutinizing various items, the silence was broken by his sudden exclamation. "Eureka!" David shouted, his eyes gleaming with newfound excitement.

***

The first rays of dawn painted the room in hues of gold and pink, awakening Seraphina from her slumber. A heavy weight pressed against her chest, a warm intrusion into her dreams. Her eyes blinked open to reveal Luna, sprawled across her like a contented feline. With a gentle nudge, Seraphina pushed her back onto the bed, finally able to breathe normally again.

She stretched slightly, slipping out of bed and wondering where David might be.

A blood-curdling scream shattered the tranquillity, echoing through the tavern. Luna's golden eyes snapped open, scanning for her master. Realizing David wasn't there, she quickly sprang from the bed, dissolving into a wisp of dark shadows. Seraphina, her heart pounding in her chest, followed the sound downstairs. The tavern, once a bastion of peace, was now a stage for an unknown drama.

Following the commotion downstairs, Seraphina entered what appeared to be the tavern's kitchen. She found a familiar group surrounding David. Of course, it had to be David causing all this morning chaos.

The waitress, her eyes sparkling with admiration, clung to his arm like a lifeline. On the other side, Luna, a guardian turned reluctant participant, glared daggers at the woman, her form a dull silver silhouette against the bright kitchen. The tavern owner, a rotund man with a perpetual sheen of grease, held an object with the reverence of a religious relic.

The waitress, undeterred by Luna's menacing glare, upped the ante."Hey, mister, do our tavern a favour," she purred, her voice laced with honey. "I'll treat you to a good time," she flirted. Her grip tightened around David's arm, a silent claim of ownership. David, caught in the crossfire of desire and protectiveness, seemed to melt under their combined assault.

"That man is a genius among geniuses! With this, the world of confections will explode!" he declared, leaving Seraphina bewildered and clueless.

"Young lord?!" Seraphina called out, desperate for David, who was blatantly flirting with the waitress, to explain the situation.

David, with a mischievous grin, finally turned his attention to Seraphina. "It's nothing extraordinary," he replied, his voice laced with amusement. "Just a little culinary alchemy." His eyes, sparkling with mischief, held a promise of further revelations.

Seraphina wanted to probe further, but David cut her off. "Before you ask anything, try this," he said, gently extricating himself from the waitress's embrace. He handed her a small, black object that resembled a smooth pebble.

"What is this, a sweet?" she asked, unimpressed by its plain appearance.

"Just try it," David urged, a smile playing on his lips.

Seraphina's fingers trembled as she examined the sweet in her hand. Her eyes widened with curiosity and a hint of trepidation. A rich aroma wafted up to her nose, unlike anything she had ever encountered. She brought the small, dark pebble to her lips, feeling its smooth surface against her skin.

As she took a tentative bite, the chocolate began to melt on her tongue, a cascade of velvety sweetness that sent shivers down her spine. Her eyes fluttered closed, and for a moment, the world around her ceased to exist. The taste was a symphony of flavours—deep, complex, and utterly enchanting. It was as if the very essence of the stars had been captured in this humble treat.

A soft gasp escaped her lips, and she opened her eyes, now shimmering with delight. "By the ancients," she whispered, "it's like tasting pure magic." She savoured each bite, letting the chocolate dissolve slowly, relishing every second of this newfound pleasure.

For Seraphina, the world of chocolate was a revelation, a glimpse into a realm of indulgence and wonder she had never known existed. In that moment, she felt a profound connection to the simple joys of life, reminding her that even in a world of magic and peril, there was always room for a bit of sweetness.