My Charity System made me too OP

Ravina stepped back. "It's reacting."

From the seal, ghostly projections rose—images of Leon's past trials. The Earth Trial. The Shadow Trial. The Keeper of Souls. Each seal hovered, glowing brighter as they took position within their respective ring.

Suddenly—

CLANG.

A pillar of obsidian and crimson light erupted from the center of the pagoda, spiraling into the heavens, parting the stormy sky.

Then, the gate appeared.

It wasn't a door in the traditional sense, but a massive blood-stained archway hovering in midair. Bones and chains hung from its curved form, and something old… ancient stirred behind it.

Ravina gritted her teeth. "The Vault's opened. But something's… wrong."

From within the arch, a monstrous eye blinked open. Bloodshot. Watching.

Leon narrowed his eyes. "This place... is alive."

A voice, guttural and regal, echoed from the void within.

"You who hold my seals... step forward. Prove you are worthy of my legacy, or become part of it."

The Vault was not unguarded.

From the archway, a massive armored figure emerged—at least twelve feet tall. Its body was carved of dark blood-crystal, veins glowing like lava beneath. A crown of nails adorned its head. And in its hand, it carried a greatsword made of living flesh and bone, constantly screaming.

The First Blood King.

Shub stirred, but Leon raised a hand. "No. This one's mine."

Ravina opened her mouth to protest, but stopped when she saw the glint in Leon's eyes.

He stepped forward alone, summoning his Destruction, Aether, and Blood magic. His form shimmered with barely contained power. This fight would test everything.

And deep within him, the Soul Seal pulsed—freshly awakened, whispering one truth:

"This is where Kings are born... or broken."

"You're alive?" Leon paused, eyes narrowing at the seal before him.

The Soul Seal pulsed, then spoke in a deep, resonant voice, "Each seal is made by me—crafted from parts of my soul, my body, and my affinities."

Leon stepped closer, realization dawning. "You… you're the First Blood King."

The Soul Seal nodded. "Yes."

Leon frowned. "Ravina said something about this being abnormal. So you must be behind it."

The seal's voice softened but held firm authority. "Yes. The trials are meant only for vampires of my bloodline. Not outsiders."

There was a tense pause before the seal added, almost solemnly, "But… if you overcome it, you can earn twice the reward."

Leon raised a brow. "Twice?"

"Normally, one may choose any three items from the vault," the seal explained. "But if you defeat this trial… you may pick six."

The seal faded, and the space shifted. A massive, circular arena unfolded from the blood-soaked ground. Crimson energy surged as the Blood Guardian emerged—a towering phantom of the First Blood King in his Tier III prime, when he had once sacrificed his soul to guard the vault.

Leon cracked his neck, his voice calm and confident. "Alright then..."

Ravina and Shub-Niggurath were forcibly pushed back by a surge of ancient energy, barriers forming around the arena. The field was now sealed.

Only Leon remained.

He stood alone, eyes locked on the Blood Guardian—his own power rising to meet it.

The Blood Guardian moved like a crimson blur, faster than any undead Leon had faced before. Its body flickered in and out like a mirage of blood and soul, its eyes burning with ancient fury.

Leon raised his hand, drawing in mana—his aura flaring a deep black-violet as fragments of Destruction Law crackled through his skin.

"Let's see how a shadow of the past handles the present," Leon muttered, dashing forward.

Their first clash shook the entire arena.

The Guardian's spectral greatsword met Leon's condensed destruction blade—an explosion of crimson and void erupted, sending shockwaves across the sealed battlefield. Leon gritted his teeth as he was pushed back, his feet grinding against the blood-stained floor.

"Haaah..." he exhaled sharply, flicking his fingers to dispel the backlash. "He's stronger than the Keeper... this body is forged from Soul and Blood essence. No wonder this is the final seal."

The Blood Guardian charged again, its strikes relentless. Each swing carried memories—echoes—of the First Blood King's fury, pride, and legacy. Leon ducked, weaved, and countered where he could, but every clash chipped away at him.

After a particularly brutal strike, Leon was flung into one of the arena's pillars. Blood trickled from the side of his mouth.

The Guardian didn't stop.

It appeared before Leon mid-air, ready to finish it. Its blade surged with blood fire—but—

CLANG!

Leon blocked with both arms crossed, mana erupting violently.

"I won't lose," Leon said through clenched teeth, his irises glowing faintly with a golden hue.

Then, behind him—Shub-Niggurath stirred. Though sealed outside the arena, her tendrils coiled, reacting to his pain. Her eyes narrowed at the Guardian.

"If I were allowed in... I'd turn that phantom into dust..." she whispered coldly.

Ravina, however, was watching silently. Her grip on her soul-pendant tightened.

Back in the arena, Leon growled low. "You're made of soul and blood… right? Then let's see how you handle this."

He focused all remaining energy into one palm.

"Soul Burn – Crimson Reversal!"

A black and red flame burst from his hand, slamming into the Guardian's blade just as it struck again. The flame surged into the spectral figure, eating at the blood essence that made it whole.

The Guardian staggered—its body glitching violently.

Leon didn't stop. He spun midair, driving his foot into the Guardian's chest, blasting it back. The arena trembled.

"I've seen your legacy," Leon said, walking slowly toward the faltering figure. "But I'm not here to be your shadow."

"I'm here… to surpass you."

The Guardian let out a final cry, part roar, part whisper—a silent nod of acknowledgment—as it cracked down the middle. Its form shattered into thousands of blood-petals, vanishing into the air.

Silence fell.

The seals around the arena dissolved.

Shub and Ravina rushed forward—but not before the last of the blood petals gathered in Leon's hand and formed a key—no, a crest glowing with power.

"You have passed the final trial. You may now enter the Vault of the First Blood King."

Leon panted slightly, but his eyes gleamed.

"...Six treasures, huh?"

He glanced at Shub, who was watching him with something deeper than pride—possessiveness, even.

Then at Ravina, who couldn't hide the concern and awe in her eyes.

The path to the vault opened before them, lined with blood crystals and ancient runes.

Leon stepped forward.

"Let's go and get our treasures," Leon said as they walked into the grand hall. The room was massive, with countless pillars and a wide variety of items placed on glowing pedestals. Each pedestal had a faint description, though some of the texts were too ancient to read clearly.

"Here it is—the Blood Ascension Pill!" Ravina gasped as her eyes landed on a crimson bead-like pill radiating power. "This is what I want."

"We did say we'd each pick something," Leon smiled, walking over to the pedestal. He gracefully picked up the pill and handed it to her.

"Here, it's yours."

Ravina accepted it with a soft smile. "Thank you..."

[You have donated Blood Ascension Pill.]

[ You have gained.....]

Leon chuckled as he saw the message and gave it away without hesitation, still smiling.

"Now, what else should I choose?" Leon mumbled as he scanned the remaining treasures.

Shubh stepped forward, her voice soft yet firm.

"This time, Master... please take this. It will help you," she said, pointing to a dimly glowing item resting on a dark pedestal. It looked unremarkable—just a dull mineral—but the label beneath it simply read:

"Even the Blood King doesn't of its existence."

Leon raised a brow. "So… you know what it is?"

Shubh nodded. "Yes, Master. That is a drop of Origin Essence, hidden inside this seemingly worthless mineral. If you drink it, you will gain another First-Class Affinity."

She continued explaining, her tone reverent,

"Affinities are divided into classes. Third-Class are elements like metal variants—like your gold affinity. Second-Class includes more refined types like blood and aether. And First-Class… those are extremely rare: Destruction, Creation, Void, and others like them. Time, Space, Life, and Death are also considered closer to First-Class in rarity and power."

Leon nodded, absorbing the knowledge.

"So far, I only have one First-Class Affinity—Destruction. Then Blood and Aether as Second-Class… and Gold as a Third-Class metal variant."

He looked down at the mineral again.

"...Getting another First-Class Affinity would definitely be worth it."

"So, it was this... What a pity. If I had known, I would've used it long ago," said the Soul Seal, its voice filled with faint regret.

Leon simply nodded and took the item in hand.

"Open it," he said, handing it to Shubh.

She gave a respectful nod, then effortlessly cracked the outer shell. A shimmering drop of multi-colored liquid was revealed—radiating a subtle, mysterious power.

"Here it is, Master," she said, respectfully offering it back.

Leon took it calmly and placed it into his inventory, already planning ahead.

He wasn't going to use it directly. Not this time.