Ding!
A crisp chime echoed softly in Alex's ears.
[You have completed your "Tier-10" Advancement Task.]
The first notification he received after the climactic death of both Lich and Nocteron wasn't a message of victory or recognition.
It wasn't even about the [Chosen Games] coming to an end.
No, what he received was something far more personal, far more anticipated.
This was the task he'd been pushing toward the entire time.
Through all the challenges, through every sacrifice and every moment of overwhelming struggle, it had been for this.
[Final Step Completed: Survive the "Chosen Games."]
[Reward: The answers you seek.]
Those words hung in the air longer than they should have.
Alex's eyes remained still, fixed on the message as if it might vanish if he looked away too soon.
His chest rose and fell slowly, heavy from exhaustion but no longer burdened by the need to keep fighting.
He was finally going to receive the reward he had wanted all along.
