[21]

As I wandered through the New York Museum of Cultural History, I found myself surrounded by an eclectic mix of artifacts. People of all ages milled about, their eyes alight with curiosity as they explored the exhibits.

I passed by various displays, each one holding treasures from different eras of history. Some showcased ancient relics, while others featured more recent acquisitions. Among them were items related to the conflicts between heroes and villains, though I didn't linger too long on those.

In about thirty minutes, I managed to scout nearly the entire area of the museum, noting anything that seemed worth stealing. With my keen eye for valuable objects, I quickly assessed which items held the most potential for my purposes.

Finally, as I blended into a crowd gathered around a particularly interesting piece of armor, I seized the opportunity to discreetly pull out my phone once more. Tapping a familiar button, I activated its modified function, which now served to darken the room and cut off the power supply to the museum.

As the lights abruptly shut off, chaos erupted among the visitors. Some shouted in confusion, while others began to hastily make their way toward the exits, fearing the worst. Amidst the commotion, I moved swiftly, slipping through the crowd unnoticed.

Reaching out, I placed my hand on the item that had caught my attention earlier. With a quick touch, it disappeared, concealed within my inventory before anyone could notice its absence.

With my prize secured, I melted back into the crowd, slipping away unnoticed as the chaos continued to unfold around me.

As the darkness enveloped the museum, I moved swiftly through the halls, my senses heightened with the anticipation of the power's eventual return. Time was of the essence, and I had to act quickly before anyone noticed the missing artifacts.

Dashing through the shadows, I spotted a few more items that caught my eye. A very old-looking book, its pages yellowed with age, seemed to whisper secrets of centuries past. Snatching it up, I tucked it away into my inventory without hesitation.

Next, I came across a golden horn, its intricate designs gleaming faintly in the darkness. Its purpose was incredibly vague to me, but I sensed its value and wasted no time in adding it to my collection.

Further down the hall, a mysterious sword lay on display, its blade glinting ominously in the dim light. Without hesitation, I liberated it from its resting place, knowing that such a weapon could prove useful in the future.

Finally, my eyes fell upon a solid gold mask, its expression frozen in a perpetual state of enigmatic elegance. Its beauty was undeniable, and I couldn't resist the temptation to claim it as my own.

With my arms laden with stolen treasures, I made my way back to the entrance of the museum, my heart racing as I sensed the power beginning to surge back to life. Exiting the building just as the lights flickered back on, I blended seamlessly into the crowd, slipping away unnoticed into the bustling streets of Manhattan.

----------

Finding myself back at the apartment, the stolen artifacts were laid out across the kitchen counter like trophies from my latest adventure. Laurie's eyes sparkled with curiosity as she examined each item, her fingers itching to reach out and touch.

As she instinctively reached for the sword, I quickly intercepted her, my hand closing around hers in a warning grip. "Careful," I cautioned, my tone firm. "That's not just any weapon. It's more dangerous than it looks."

Laurie withdrew her hand, a flicker of disappointment crossing her features at my rebuff. Sensing her disappointment, I pulled her closer while fighting the urge to palm her cute little ass like a basketball, my gaze shifting to the piece of armor resting nearby.

"Look at this," I said, redirecting her attention. "This isn't your average piece of armor. It belonged to an Olympian goddess."

Laurie's eyes widened in disbelief at my revelation, her expression a mix of shock and intrigue. "Wait, seriously?" she exclaimed, unable to hide her astonishment.

I nodded, confirming her suspicions. "Yes, seriously," I replied, my tone solemn. "It's a breastplate that Athena herself once wore."

Laurie's disbelief was palpable, but she seemed to accept my words. "Wow," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "I never would've guessed."

I chuckled softly at her reaction, amused by her disbelief. "Believe it or not, there's more to this world than meets the eye," I remarked sarcastically, watching as a smile graced her features in a knowing way.

I gently grabbed Laurie's chin, turning her face towards mine, and leaned in to kiss her. As our lips met, I finally surrendered to the urge and let my hand roam, grabbing her ass and giving it a firm squeeze. A quiet moan escaped her lips as she pressed herself closer to me, the heat between us intensifying with each passing moment.

When we finally separated, Laurie's eyes were still filled with hunger, mirroring my own desire. However, I knew I had to focus on the task at hand. "I'm going to work on these artifacts for a bit," I explained, reluctantly letting go of her. She let out a disappointed mewl, but nodded in understanding.

As Laurie walked away, I couldn't help but chuckle to myself, realizing just how much my sex life had changed in the past week. Between my encounter with Armena and the daily trysts with Laurie since ingesting the Unity Capsule, it seemed like I was constantly in a state of arousal.

Shaking off the thoughts, I turned my attention back to the artifacts laid out across the kitchen counter. I needed to focus.

[Appraisal function activated. Treasure detected. Book of Many Things - C rank. Also known as the secret volume of Kali, it contains various mystical spells. However, it can also be used to access the dimension of K'un-Lun.]

[Appraisal function activated. Treasure detected. Horn of Proteus - B rank. An Atlantean relic that allows the wielder to summon and control many of the sea monsters and mutates in the ocean. The origins of the horn are unclear, but it may have been a gift from Neptune to Atlantis during his time living among them.]

[Appraisal function activated. Treasure detected. Aegis Breastplate - B rank. Enchanted breastplate belonging to the Greek goddess of wisdom and warfare, Athena.]

[Appraisal function activated. Treasure detected. Holographic Disguise Mask - C rank. The mask's cloaking technology allows the wearer to turn invisible, as well as perfectly mimic the physical appearance of others after scanning them. Madame Masque wore this mask at some point in the past, but eventually discarded it for a new one during a battle with Iron Man.]

[Appraisal function activated. Treasure detected. Ebony Blade - EX rank. Forged by Sir Percy of Scandia from a fallen meteor made up of a primeval matter called Starstone originating from a previous universe, with the assistance of Merlin. Only capable of being wielded by the impure of heart, the magical blade was enchanted to cut through any object, to prevent the death of its wielder, and to deflect any magic, but it also carried a curse that would slowly corrupt any user and cause a lust for violence, bloodshed, and death.]

As I stood among the array of artifacts, my heart raced with excitement and trepidation. The treasures laid out before me were more than just valuable items; they were potential game-changers in my quest for power and protection.

I let out a slow breath, feeling overwhelmed by the magnitude of what I had stumbled upon. The Ebony Blade, in particular, filled me with a sense of awe and unease. To wield a weapon crafted from the remnants of a dead universe was both thrilling and terrifying. I couldn't help but wonder what kind of power it held and what consequences might accompany its use.

The other artifacts also piqued my interest, each holding its own unique allure. The Book of Many Things, with its mystical spells and connection to the dimension of K'un-Lun, brought back memories of childhood heroes like Iron Fist. The thought of tapping into such ancient and powerful knowledge sent shivers down my spine.

Glancing once more at the Aegis Breastplate, I pondered the possibility of merging its protective enchantments with my own mind. Could such a feat be possible? The idea lingered in the back of my head, a seed of potential waiting to be explored.

But it was the Ebony Blade that held my focus. Crafted with the assistance of Merlin himself, the sword was a testament to ancient magic and mystery. As I stared down at it, my thoughts turned to its enchantments and the potential dangers it posed.

Summoning Zyanya, I called upon the system for guidance. "Can you elaborate on the enchantments of the Ebony Blade?" I muttered, whispering at a low-enough volume that Laurie wouldn't overhear. "Specifically, I'm curious if it possesses any safeguards against mental intrusions for the wielder."

[Indeed, Dante. The Ebony Blade is not only a formidable weapon in physical combat, but it also possesses powerful enchantments to protect the wielder's mind. If any psychic were to attempt to breach your thoughts while you hold the blade, it would be akin to plunging into a sea of darkness.]

My eyes widened at Zyanya's answer, surprised and yet satisfied with the response. "Thanks," I said, grateful for the system's assistance.

With a sense of cautious satisfaction, I tentatively stowed the Ebony Blade, along with the Horn of Proteus and the Book of Many Things, into my inventory. Their potential power weighed heavily on my mind, but I couldn't deny the thrill of possessing such formidable artifacts either.

Left with Athena's breastplate and the holographic disguise mask resting on the kitchen counter in front of me, I hummed in thought as I considered some of the ideas floating around inside my head.

It felt somewhat obvious to choose the piece of Olympian-level armor as my choice for improving my mental defenses, but the longer I stared at it, eventually I got an idea that made me switch my attention back to the system.

"Hey, Zyanya. Do you think it would be possible to lodge the Ebony Blade inside my body, you know, like on some Emiya Shirou type shit?"

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The holographic disguise mask is a reference to the animated series: Iron Man Armored Adventures. Whitney Stane, that universe's version of Madame Masque is what gave me the inspiration to choose an item like that for this.

Also, the Ebony Blade. This is a tricky one right here, fellas. If you're expecting Dante to just suddenly become OP as fuck now, you're unfortunately going to end up disappointed. I'm definitely not saying he won't be, but the flow of the story will maintain most of the same pace, as I quite like the gradual speed I've set for this story. He's obviously going to get some benefits for what I've got planned with it though, which will be seen fairly soon. Also, Dante's first encounter with Charles Xavier will occur in a few chapters, at the most.