Gathering Wives with a System Chapter 446: Rewards Of Moonline-Trial, Royal Moon Dragon

Somewhere in an unknown location.

"...Was that a dream?"

The man propped himself up from the bed. One hand went to his forehead, pressing as though to calm a restless turmoil inside.

"No..." he whispered, his eyes sharpening a bit. "That wasn't merely a dream. It felt entirely different."

Legs swung over the bed's edge, he rose and paced a step before halting by the window. Dim light from outside offered scant comfort. His thoughts still swirled with echoes of voices, immense pressure, and that eerie feeling of existing far beyond normal bounds.

"A Quest..." he breathed softly.

Accepting that truth, the bewilderment on his face started to dissolve. Gradually, it sharpened into resolve. A sly grin tugged at his lips.

"He really played us for fools by claiming he came from the future," he grumbled with a low chuckle.

Back against the wall, he cocked his head as if speaking to an invisible foe.

"You sly bastard..." he went on. "Daring to deceive me with a stunt like that."

Silence fell briefly. Then came another soft laugh, devoid of any real mirth.

"I swear I'll cross paths with you for real. And when that happens, I'll pay you back in full."

...

In yet another mysterious spot.

A lone hill lay serene under a vast sky, gentle winds rustling through the high grasses. Atop it grew a solitary tree, branches fanning out to dapple the earth with dancing shadows.

A youth lounged against its trunk, cradling an odd stringed instrument in his lap, slumbering without a pluck.

A subtle melody rode the breeze, yet he remained unmoved.

Not until his eyebrows furrowed.

Suddenly, his eyes snapped open.

He blinked lazily, acclimating to the brightness, then yawned softly. Rubbing his eyes with one hand, he stretched, lingering in that drowsy limbo.

"Such an odd dream..." he murmured.

Hand dropping, he gazed forward blankly for an instant.

Then he stiffened.

The fog lifted in a flash.

"...Hold on."

Straightening up, the instrument nearly slipped as recollections flooded back vividly. Unlike typical dreams, no details blurred—everything stayed crystal clear.

"...That wasn't a dream. It was a person's Quest," he murmured.

A languid smile crept over his features, banishing prior drowsiness.

"Master's existence is turning thrilling."

Head thrown back, he peered through the leafy canopy. Sunlight danced in his eyes amid the swaying boughs.

"Shall I encounter her?" he pondered aloud.

No haste colored his voice, only keen intrigue and true wonder.

Moments later, a soft chuckle escaped him.

"...Yes. I ought to."

...

Around the globe in various spots, additional awakeners roused from slumber.

Some stirred puzzled, dismissing the visions as exceptionally lifelike dreams. Others dwelled longer, motionless in quiet reflection over the scenes and words witnessed.

A handful knew it at once.

A Trial.

No ordinary one, but something vastly surpassing prior ordeals.

The Moonline-Trial.

The truth dawned gradually yet clung tenaciously once grasped.

Its implications for Isaac? Only future days would unveil them.

...

Selene’s POV

[Moonline-Trial completed.]

[Successfully defended Ladder of Heavens for six months.]

[Calculating reward.]

Selene remained motionless while notifications scrolled before her eyes.

[Rewards gained:]

1. Species Evolution Potion

2. Class Evolution Ticket

3. Moon Dragon Royal Bloodline Potion

4. Moon Dragon Royal Stamp

5. 100 Gold Coins

6. Attack-type Relic (Imperial Grade) x1

7. Defense-type Relic (Imperial Grade) x1

8. Shattered Moon Sub-Dimension

The extensive roster overwhelmed her at first glance.

Before delving deeper, her surroundings warped dramatically.

Briefly, blankness engulfed everything.

Then—

She blinked.

Now she stood within Isaac’s home.

Same living room. Same table. Same tranquil air as prior to the Trial.

A soft noise pierced the hush.

A chest materialized upon the table ahead.

Selene ignored the reward container.

Slowly, her eyes drifted to her palms.

"...I finished the trial," she breathed.

Reality felt distant.

She'd braced for utter devastation. The Moonline-Trial crushed souls routinely. Survival unscathed defied all expectation.

Yet here she was.

Far from simple, though.

Sleepless nights demanded constant vigilance, lest one slip erase all gains. Talks proved deadlier than combat, a misplaced phrase risking endless setbacks.

Doubt had loomed in dire instants.

Failure nearly claimed her.

But it hadn't.

Hands lifted to shield her face.

Shoulders shook.

A muffled sound broke free—half laugh, half cry.

"I truly pulled it off..."

Emotions surged: relief, shock, profound thanks, and an indescribable depth.

Tears trickled past her fingers.

She let them flow.

Minutes passed before composure returned. Hands lowered, breaths evened, though redness lingered in her eyes.

She dabbed her cheeks swiftly.

Next, fingers touched the Soulbind Pendant at her throat, activating it.

Space rippled before her.

Three forms emerged shortly after.

"We are back," Isaac announced, scanning the space until landing on Selene. "Congrats on completing the trial."

"Thank you," Selene answered, smiling faintly.

"Congratulations, Selene. Now, I will go back to the farm. I need to recharge myself. Please pardon me," Avery said.

Selene nodded. "Of course."

Avery departed without delay, vanishing as silently as she'd come.

Quiet settled anew.

Just three left now.

Isaac let out a soft breath, retrieving his device and linking to the net.

"Let me check the date," he murmured, navigating screens. "Looks like only one day passed here while we spent six months in the Trial."

Selene's eyes widened. "Only one day?"

"Yeah. Time difference is pretty extreme," Isaac confirmed.

He halted, summoning his status panel. A sharp whistle followed.

"I still have all the skill levels I gained in there. It should be the same for you two," he noted.

Selene verified at once.

Alice followed suit.

Agreement came with nods.

"It’s all there," Selene confirmed softly.

Alice folded her arms pensively. "That’s... better than I expected."

Isaac dipped his head. "Yeah. We basically kept all the growth without losing anything here."

Stretching a touch, his gaze shifted to the table's box.

"I want to check what happened to the seeds, artifacts, and livestock I brought back. But first... you should go through your rewards," he suggested.

A brief pause, then a frown creased his brow.

"Actually, you might want to check them alone. Sorry, I didn’t think that through."

"It’s fine. Let’s check together," she replied with a subtle smile.

Isaac studied her briefly before agreeing.

"Alright."

Selene approached the table, lifting the box's lid.

First came two tiny vials into her grasp.

She examined them intently, scanning system details.

"There’s a Species Evolution Potion. This should help me reach Apex rank. But there’s also a Moon Dragon Royal Bloodline Potion... which should be a type of bloodline evolution potion. Why are there two bloodline evolution potions?"

"Maybe the bloodline potion gives you additional abilities," Alice offered.

Selene's face lit up somewhat.

"That could be it," she agreed.

During the Trial, she'd delved into Royal Moon Dragons. Even partial powers would transform her strength.

No delay—she fished out a delicate, ornate stamp next.

"This is... the Moon Dragon Royal Stamp. It says I can command all ruins left behind by Moon Dragons," she read aloud.

Isaac arched a brow.

"With the bloodline and that stamp... doesn’t that basically make you royalty now?"

Before Selene replied, Alice quipped lightly, "Of course she is a royalty. Haven’t you been putting your hand on only princesses until now?"

Isaac went rigid.

Mouth parted for rebuttal, he clamped it shut.

Selene flushed crimson.

She dove back into the box, feigning ignorance.

"I—I’ll check the other items," she stammered, voice wavering.

Two further items emerged.

"This is a weapon... and this is a defense-type relic. Both are Imperial Grade. But I’ve never heard of such a grade."

Her gaze lifted.

"What exactly is Imperial Grade?"

Isaac's demeanor shifted sharply.

"Imperial Grade?" he echoed gravely. "Let me see those."

They possessed merely two such treasures before.

One: Treasury Chest of Evergold, yielding daily gold tied to territory power.

The other: Blight-Steel Centipede, Catherine's whip-blade.

Both priceless beyond measure.

And suddenly—

Selene clutched two extras.

Isaac drew near, eyes locked on her holdings.