Karl carefully picked up the ring from the ground. Only after moving away from the Forgotten City did he examine it closely.
The ring lay quietly in his palm.
It was unadorned, smooth and cool to the touch, with a simple yet elegant design and flowing lines.
Though it was clearly just a plain band, it seemed to possess a strange magic that made it impossible to look away.
A few inconspicuous words were engraved on the inside.
Karl sounded them out softly:
"Gu...na..."
"Whoosh!"
Those two syllables seemed to flip a switch. The ring suddenly trembled and slipped onto Karl's finger of its own accord.
It chose the ring finger of his left hand.
"Click!"
The ring clamped around his finger. Karl felt a slight sting, then everything returned to normal.
On closer inspection, a faint trace of blood could be seen inside the band, seeping into the ring. The ring itself seemed to be undergoing some strange change.
A sudden inspiration struck Karl, and he spoke again:
"Guna!"
"Buzz..."
The ring suddenly glowed.
One object after another appeared out of thin air in the light, lining up in orderly ranks like soldiers awaiting their general's command.
There were seven pieces in all.
A helmet, a breastplate, elbow guards, gauntlets, a skirt of armor, knee guards, and greaves—in other words, a complete suit of armor.
Following the feeling in his heart, Karl held out one hand and clenched it.
"Whoosh!"
The armor hovering around him suddenly gathered together and flew toward his body.
Each piece found its proper place and fitted itself into position, encasing Karl from head to toe.
"Clack!"
With a sharp click, a warrior clad in dark armor stood in his place.
The armor rose like a towering mountain, radiating a solemn, murderous chill.
Every part,