I Died and Became a Noble's Heir-Chapter 424: Floor 3

"Anything else?" Death inquired. He knew the impending conclusion, yet expressed a desire for a final transaction.

Pho looked at Rhys critically, his blank white eyes scanning him with precision.

"You have offensive capability now," Pho said. "Defensive equipment. Accessories to enhance your magic and keep you alive. The only thing missing is actual skill and knowledge."

"Thanks," Rhys said dryly.

Sylph’s green glow appeared briefly near his shoulder, her tiny form materializing just long enough to add, "He’s not wrong, though. All this equipment won’t help if you don’t know how to use it effectively."

Then she disappeared back inside him, conserving energy.

"However," Pho continued, "there is one more thing that would be useful. A training manual. Something that teaches proper integration of wind, water, and lightning magic." 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

Death’s glowing eyes lit up with genuine enthusiasm. "Oh! Now we’re talking! I have an excellent selection of skill books and training manuals! Come, come!"

He led them to yet another section, this one filled with books that radiated power similar to the weapons.

"For someone learning to combine wind, water, and lightning," Death said, pulling a book bound in blue-grey leather from a shelf, "I recommend this: Advanced Elemental Fusion Techniques. It covers synergies between different magical affinities, includes exercises to improve control and capacity, has detailed explanations of how to weaponize defensive magic, and, this is the important part. It includes combat techniques developed by legendary warriors who used similar elemental combinations."

He held the book up, and Rhys could feel power radiating from it, even from several feet away.

"There are two versions," Death continued. "The rare-quality version for 5,000 tokens covers general theory and basic techniques. The unique-quality version for 18,000 tokens includes advanced techniques, detailed combat strategies, and personal notes from masters who’ve actually used these combinations in life-or-death situations."

"What’s the difference in practice?" Rhys asked.

"The rare-quality version will teach you theory," Pho answered before Death could respond. "You’ll understand the concepts, but have to figure out practical application yourself through trial and error. The unique-quality version gives you techniques you can practice immediately. Saves you months of experimentation."

"Get the unique quality," Pho said firmly. "Theory is useless without practical application, and you don’t have time to waste figuring things out from scratch."

Rhys made the purchase.

[Purchase confirmed: 18,000 Death Tokens spent]

[Advanced Elemental Fusion Techniques (Unique) acquired]

[Current Death Tokens: 58,000]

The book materialized briefly in his hands. It was surprisingly heavy; the cover was warm to the touch.

"Is that everything?" Rhys asked, feeling slightly overwhelmed by all the purchases.

"Almost," Pho said. "You need one more thing, though it won’t be purchased here."

Death’s skeletal features somehow managed to look intrigued. "Oh? What did I miss?"

"Experience," Pho replied. "All the equipment in existence won’t help him if he doesn’t know how to use it effectively in real combat. Which is why we’re leaving now. He has one hundred days to prepare, and we’ve already wasted an entire day shopping."

"Wasted?" Death placed a skeletal hand over where his heart would be if he had one. "I’m wounded! This was an excellent use of time! The prince is now properly equipped to not die immediately in his first real fight!"

"Low bar," Pho observed.

"But an important one!"

Rhys checked his inventory mentally, reviewing everything he’d acquired:

He’d spent the vast majority of Jack’s gift, but everything he’d purchased worked together. Weapons that synergized with his magic, armor that enhanced his mobility, accessories that would keep him alive, and knowledge to tie it all together.

"Thank you," Rhys said to Death, bowing slightly. "For your help. And for being... relatively honest with the prices."

"Relatively," Death repeated with amusement. "I like this kid. Polite acknowledges when he’s being scammed, and he’s got that haunted look in his eyes that says he’s seen some serious trauma. Plus, he actually listens to advice instead of just buying the flashiest things. Those are my favorite customers!"

"You have disturbing standards," Pho commented.

"I’m the God of Death. What did you expect, sunshine and rainbows?"

They made their way back to the shop’s entrance, Death following them.

"One more thing before you go," Death said as they reached the door. "A freebie, since Jackie boy was so generous with that initial investment, and I genuinely want to see how this turns out."

He pulled a small crystal vial from his apron, filled with liquid that seemed to contain tiny lightning bolts swimming through water currents, all wrapped in miniature wind currents.

"Essence of the Tempest," Death explained, holding it up to the light. "This is special. It’s not just one element. It’s all your affinities combined and condensed with lightning. Drink this when your life is in danger. It’ll temporarily boost all of your magical capabilities by one full rank for an hour, and it’ll enhance the synergy between them. Your wind will carry your lightning, your water will amplify both. Consider it insurance for when you inevitably bite off more than you can chew."

Rhys carefully took the vial, storing it away for later.

"Thank you," Rhys said quietly.

"Don’t thank me. Just survive long enough to come back and spend more money. And tell Jack that his investment in you was either money well spent or horribly wasted. Either way, I’m entertained!" Death’s grin widened.

"Repeat customers are the foundation of any good business, but customers with good stories are even better!"

Pho opened the shop door, revealing the swirling portal that would take them back to floor three.

"Come, prince," Pho said, his voice booming.

Rhys took a deep breath before following Pho.

Behind them, Death’s cheerful voice echoed through the shop one last time:

"Good luck! Try not to die! Or do die, but make it entertaining! Either way, I win!"

The door closed, and Rhys found himself standing in the frozen wasteland of floor three. The temperature drop was brutal from the comfortable environment of Death’s shop to the bone-chilling cold of the ice floor.

Sylph emerged from within him, her six-inch form hovering near his shoulder. Her green aura pulsed softly against the cold blue light of the frozen floor, looking almost warm by contrast.

"That was overwhelming," she said quietly. "But you did well. You listened to Pho, didn’t let Death panic you into buying things you didn’t need, and everything you got works together."

"Except the skill to use it," Rhys admitted.

"That comes next," Pho said, already walking toward the massive fortress visible in the distance. His footsteps left frost patterns on the ice that lingered for several seconds before fading.

"Now stop talking and move. We have ninety-nine days left, and you’re still pathetically weak."

Sylph flew alongside Rhys for a few moments, her wings creating tiny wind currents that were visible in the cold air, before retreating back inside to conserve her energy.

Above them, the frozen sky of Floor three stretched endlessly, and in the distance, Rhys could see the massive fortress ahead. Where some creature called home.

Suddenly, a blizzard started to pick up, and Rhys had to cover his face to figure out what was about to assault him next.