From Outcast to Legend: Thiago's Rise

Chapter 4

Thiago stared blankly at his empty fingertip.

Instinctively, he searched the floor around him, wondering whether it had somehow slipped off. But before he could panic, an indescribable sensation emerged from deep within his consciousness that the ring was still there.

More accurately, it had fused into him and become a part of his very soul! The realization sent a shiver through his body.

Closing his eyes, Thiago could clearly sense the ring's existence inside himself. The vast storage space unfolded before his mind once more, and a smile slowly spread across his face.

From now on, no one except him could ever see the ring again. This spatial treasure belonged to him—and to him alone, and no one could steal it. The discovery filled Thiago with overwhelming excitement.

He remembered that there were now three shocking differences between this life and his previous one.

First, the storage space measured eight cubic meters instead of four. Second, the space already contained an enormous reserve of standard gold bars. And third... the ring had fused directly with his soul instead of remaining an ordinary piece of jewelry!

Thiago's heartbeat quickened, as to him, the ring activated with his own blood was fundamentally different from the incomplete version Leandro had accidentally awakened in his previous life.

He didn't yet understand why. Perhaps his rebirth had somehow changed the treasure and Leandro had never truly awakened its full potential. Or perhaps there was another secret hidden within it altogether.

Whatever the answer was, Thiago wasn't in a hurry.

He began with ordinary household items. With a single thought, each object vanished into the storage space before reappearing exactly where he wanted.

Almost absentmindedly, he picked up Vespera's jewelry box from the bedroom dresser. Inside lay several gold necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and rings she had accumulated over the years.

The moment he stored the jewelry inside the spatial space, he felt the storage dimension tremble slightly and the invisible boundaries expand.

Thiago's eyes widened.

To confirm his suspicion, he removed the jewelry, and the space remained exactly the same size. His breathing quickened.

He placed the same jewelry inside once more, but nothing happened. There was no further expansion. "So each piece of gold only works once," he frowned thoughtfully.

To verify his theory, he searched the apartment for every gold item he could find. Old bracelets, broken earrings, tiny pendants, and wedding gifts. Each unused piece expanded the storage space slightly.

Afterward, removing the gold didn't reduce the space at all. The increase was permanent. However, putting those same pieces back inside again produced no additional effect whatsoever.

The result was unmistakable. Gold permanently expanded the spatial treasure, but every individual piece could only be used a single time.

Thiago spent the next hour testing dozens of other materials. Silver, copper, cash, electronics, and jewelry made from gemstones.

None produced any reaction whatsoever. Only gold!

He leaned back against the sofa, and wondered if zombie crystals would have the same effect after the apocalypse.

What about the mysterious treasures that occasionally appeared throughout the flooded world? There was no way to answer those questions now. Those experiments would have to wait until after civilization collapsed.

His gaze drifted toward the mountain of gold bars stacked inside the storage space, and a slow smile spread across his face.

He could sell some of the inherited gold, use the money to buy newly minted gold bars and jewelry, absorb those into the storage space, sell more inherited gold, purchase more unused gold, expand the space again, and repeat the process endlessly.

His excitement grew. "If I can enlarge this space to the size of a football field before the apocalypse..."

He almost laughed aloud.

How much could he store?

Everything humanity would desperately fight over after the apocalypse could be quietly stored away months in advance. The possibilities were limitless.

Of course, the plan required tremendous capital.

Not only would he need money to buy survival supplies, but he also had to account for fluctuations in gold prices. He needed enormous amounts of cash.

Just then, his eyes lit up. In his previous life, he vividly remembered a record-breaking jackpot that would be drawn within the next few weeks.

Thiago slowly clenched his fists.

"The fastest way to build my fortune... is already waiting for me."

For the first time since waking up, genuine hope appeared in his eyes. His future was finally under his own control.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

A thunderous pounding suddenly shook his apartment door. Caius, his father-in-law's rough voice echoed through the house.

"Thiago! Are you deaf? Hurry up and cook lunch!"

"And don't forget to wash the breakfast dishes while you're at it!"

The familiar commands instantly shattered Thiago's excitement, and his expression turned icy. He opened the bedroom door and stepped into the living room.

Calista, his mother-in-law, stood nearby, casually holding two-year-old Evren on her hip. The moment she saw him, she clicked her tongue in annoyance.

"Took you long enough," she scoffed. "A grown man sleeping all morning. What kind of useless husband are you?!"

On the sofa, Nicola barely glanced away from his video game.

"Hurry up already," he muttered. "I'm hungry."

In their eyes, every chore naturally belonged to Thiago.

The memories from his previous life flooded back and a dangerous gleam flashed across Thiago's eyes.

For one brief moment... He genuinely wanted to kill every one of them. But he suppressed the urge. No. There was no need to rush. Death would be too merciful.

This time... he would settle every debt slowly.

Seeing Thiago standing motionless, Nicola paused his game.

"What are you staring at?" he snapped. "You useless refugee!"

He stood up angrily and strode toward Thiago. "I told you to get cooking!"

Nicola raised his hand, intending to slap him across the face as he had done countless times before. But before his palm could descend—

Smack!

Thiago's backhand landed first. The sharp crack echoed through the room.

Nicola staggered sideways, clutching his burning cheek with wide eyes. "You..."

He could scarcely believe what had happened. Thiago looked at him with utter contempt.

"If you want food, cook it yourself. Otherwise... you can all starve to death for all I care."

Calista screamed. "How dare you, bastard! How dare you hit my son!"

In her arms, Evren burst into loud tears. The toddler angrily threw his favorite duck toy onto the floor before stomping toward Thiago with tiny feet.

"You bad Dad!" he cried, trying to kick Thiago's leg.

Once... that small voice would have broken Thiago's heart. He had risked everything to protect this child. He had loved Evren as his own son. But now... he felt absolutely nothing. Only coldness.

While bending down as though to move the crying child aside, Thiago quietly plucked several strands of Evren's hair. The movement was so natural that no one noticed.

He carefully slipped the hairs into his pocket, believing they might prove useful one day. A backup plan was always worth preparing.

Without another word, Thiago turned around. Ignoring Calista's furious shouting and Nicola's curses, he slammed the front door behind him.

Less than ten minutes later, his phone rang. The caller ID displayed Vespera. The moment he answered, her furious voice exploded through the speaker.

“Thiago! Have you completely lost your mind?”

“How dare you hit Nicola? What is wrong with you?”

Thiago listened in silence. When she finally paused to catch her breath, he answered coldly, “I want a divorce.”