I woke up from a long sleep, stretched my body, and rolled my shoulders. The mental fatigue had completely disappeared.
There truly is nothing more refreshing than a nap after fighting to the death. That said, I don't think I ever want to go through that experience again.
The skill [Nirvana] has a cooldown of 30 days, so I'll definitely have to be extra cautious for the next month.
Oh, right, the stat reduction thing.
Better check that right away!
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HP: 445/445
MP: 2400/2400 (+400)
SP: 485/485
Attack: 21505 (+387)
Defense: 21701 (+380)
Magic: 20420 (+379)
Speed: 28085 (+427)
Skills:
[Appraisal Lv7], [Poison Resistance Lv7], [Venomous Fangs Lv8], [Spider Silk Lv9], [Intimidation Lv6], [Sensing Lv7], [Stealth Lv7], [Endurance Lv6], [Fear Resistance Lv6], [Patience Lv4], [Holy Mana Lv5], [Holy Magic Lv7], [Vitality Lv6], [Invincible Shield Lv5], [Calm Mind Lv4], [Loyalty Lv4], [Faith Lv4], [Heaven's Net Lv7], [Plunder Lv6], [Wanderlust Lv3], [Enhanced Vision Lv6], [Enhanced Hearing Lv5], [Enhanced Smelling Lv5], [Enhanced Tactile Lv5], [Enhanced Tasting Lv5], [Paralyzing Evil Eye Lv7], [Poison Mist Lv6], [Prophecy Lv4], [Drill Leg Lv6], [Sleep Resistance Lv5], [Adamantine Body Lv9], [Focus Lv8], [Soul Attack Immunity], [Auto HP Recovery Lv7], [Flash Lv8], [Evasion Lv7], [Auto SP Recovery Lv7], [Corrosion Resistance Lv6], [Heaven Eye Lv7], [Soul Magic Lv2], [Rapido Lv5], [Hyper Memory], [Parallel Will Lv5], [Scan Lv9], [Pain Resistance Lv8], [Gluttony Lv5], [Big Eater Lv5], [Ravenous Devour Lv5], [Support Evil Eye Lv0], [Soul Chain Lv5], [Accuracy Lv6], [Inference Lv4], [Insight Lv6], [Virtual World Lv4], [Spirit Magic Lv2], [Spirit's Protection Lv2], [Soul Repair Lv4], [Soul Link Lv4], [Blade Leg Lv6], [Mana Sensing Lv4], [Mana Manipulation Lv4], [Dark Mana Vein Lv5], [Child of the Darkness Lv3]
Skill Points: 280
Hmph…
Stats really did go down, but it's not that bad, is it…?
Still, after a near-death fight, to not gain any stats or skill levels—and even lose some—that's a massive loss.
I'll have to see if that eye can make up for any of it.
I didn't hesitate and entered the Virtual World to check the situation.
Once inside, I saw the eye had been sealed by chains controlled by Seina, with Meradis also lending significant support.
"You're finally up? You slept longer than a pig."
The moment we met, Seina hit me with a complaint.
How long did I sleep?
"Three days."
Three days…?
Still seems too short. Hehehe.
"Stop joking around. Come here and let's talk business. What do you plan to do with this eye?" Seina asked.
I walked up and observed the eye for a moment.
Hmm…
Now that I take a closer look, this thing is actually pretty freaky. Despite being called an "eye," there were numerous pupils inside it, constantly moving, showing it was still resisting. However, its resistance was negligible.
You couldn't find out anything?
"Other than the fact that the amount of Dark Energy left inside it is minimal, there's nothing worth mentioning." Seina answered with a disappointed expression.
I was a little stunned.
Is it really that useless?
"Even the Inference system can't analyze anything from it. All information related to the Dark God is blocked." Seina said in a resigned tone, clearly having tried everything and still coming up empty.
"I believe the eye is a part of the Dark God's body that fell off. It may contain some of the Dark God's memories. If we can access them, we might be able to trace its path." Meradis offered a new piece of information.
But how are we supposed to do that…?
I don't recall having any skill that allows me to read another creature's memories.
"I can help." Meradis smiled.
Really?
"Yes. The spirit race specializes in the realm of the mind, so we have many useful skills. Even though I've followed the path of a corporeal spirit, I still retain those abilities."
Then I'll leave it to you, Meradis.
"Leave it to me."
Meradis stepped closer to the eye and began casting a skill—but was suddenly stopped by Seina.
"What's wrong, Seina?" I asked.
"Invading the Dark God's memories is not something safe. First, she should soul link with you, Shiraori, so that you can deal with any lingering Dark Energy inside."
Oh, that's a very reasonable suggestion.
No one objected, so Meradis and I quickly performed Soul Link.
I could feel her spirit energy intertwining with my own mana—a strange sensation, both familiar and novel, as if our very souls were resonating at their deepest level.
Although I had previously soul linked with both Seina and Suzu, doing so with Meradis gave me an entirely new feeling.
I'm not sure why… Perhaps it's because she belongs to a special race, and so the sensation is naturally different…?
Well, I'll think about that later. For now, I need to focus.
A gentle wave of light radiated from Meradis, wrapping around the eye that was shackled by magical chains.
"Let's begin!" Meradis whispered, her gaze completely focused.
I nodded without saying anything else, standing ready to provide support if needed.
She raised her hand, and intricate magical glyphs appeared in the air.
"Memory Spirit Ritual." Meradis murmured, and instantly, a soft light from her hand spread to the eye, beginning to penetrate deep within.
A sharp, screeching sound rang out, and I felt an immense pressure rebound.
"Don't worry, I'll handle it."
I reassured Meradis while activating Child of the Darkness to absorb the Dark Energy that was trying to escape.
"The residual power in this eye is still overwhelming…" Meradis muttered. "Shiraori, you need to brace yourself. If we touch a sealed memory, the reaction could be far worse than this."
"Just do it. I'm not afraid."
I replied while reinforcing my defenses with Invincible Shield.
Even though I was immune to Dark Energy, it was still better to be cautious.
Meradis continued casting her magic.
Each layer of seal was peeled away, and with each one, more Dark Energy burst forth.
Previously, Seina had said there wasn't much energy left, but apparently, most of it was hidden beneath these layered seals.
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Nai wa!
I've only been absorbing for a few minutes and the skill already leveled up twice?
That just proves how abnormal this remaining Dark Energy is—completely different from the kinds I've been absorbing before.
I could consider this as the very essence of the eye. Even though I was a bit surprised, I also felt thrilled. The stronger it is, the more stats I'll gain. If it can offset what I previously lost, that'd be perfect.
Can't believe something this convenient exists. If only I could keep the eye permanently and turn it into a farming tool…
But I'll need to discuss that with Seina and Suzu later.
…
<<14574 units of Dark Power absorbed. MP cap increased by 1475 points>>
<<14574 units of Dark Power absorbed. All stats increased by 10%>>
Oh damn, look at those numbers!
Still, after such an intense first burst, the remaining Dark Energy wasn't much.
Moments like these are truly rare.
"Focus!" Seina reminded me.
Ah, right.
I refocused, and vague images flashed through my mind— like they were drifting up from a bizarre dream. Shadowy figures moving through a chaotic space… Screams… Maniacal laughter… And— a pair of hellish crimson eyes staring directly at me.
"Stop!" I shouted, feeling like I was about to be consumed by something uncontrollable.
"Calm down, Shiraori! That's just a sealed fragment of memory—I'll take care of it." Meradis said. Her voice remained steady, but it was clear she was under immense strain.
I clenched my fists, sensing the tension thickening in the air.
"The Dark God… the end of all shadows…"
A strange voice echoed inside my mind. It didn't sound like anyone I'd ever heard before—cold, sharp, like a blade slicing through my soul.
"Don't listen to it!" Meradis reminded me, her voice snapping me back to reality. "That's just a residual will of the Dark God. Don't let it manipulate you!"
"Got it!"
I gritted my teeth and activated Parallel Will, creating a temporary consciousness to separate my thoughts from the invading energy.
The pressure eased, but it was clear—this wouldn't be easy.
Finally, the light from Meradis's hand turned pure white. A stream of clear images appeared in both our minds.
"This is…" Meradis murmured, her voice trailing off.
I saw a scorched wasteland, skies blackened, mountains burning. At the center of it all stood a massive, blurry figure. But the many crimson eyes it had were clear and vivid.
That was the Dark God—Leviathan.
"It's… recovering… by devouring everything…" I mumbled, clearly feeling the Dark God's intent through the memory fragment.
This eye must have been a lost part of its energy.
The investigation ended swiftly.
Most of the images were just the Dark God wandering and consuming everything in sight. As for the eye—it seemed to have suffered some kind of damage, causing parts of its body to fall off and drift through the universe.
Hmm…
Could it have been attacked?
But who could possibly stand against such a being?
Suddenly, an image flashed through my mind—a person, blurry and indistinct. But he had appeared once before and helped me when I crossed the Void Rift.
The thought made my body tremble uncontrollably. If that's true, then I am nowhere near safe.
Meradis looked at me with concern in her eyes. "We can't let it regain its power. This eye must either be completely sealed—or… you'll have to absorb it."
"A… absorb it?" I frowned, unsure if it was safe.
"That's right." Seina chimed in. "You could try using Gluttony. If you absorb it, you might not only prevent the Dark God's return but also gain more power for yourself."
I thought for a moment, then nodded.
Alright. If this is the only way to stop the Dark God, I'll do it.
"Wait!"
Just as I was about to act, Suzu's voice rang out.
"What's wrong, Suzu?" Seina asked.
"This eye… Before you absorb it, there's still one thing we can do." Suzu said quickly, afraid I might absorb it too soon. "Remember the "Malice" skill I told you about? This is the perfect opportunity to acquire it."
Oh? A bonus too?
My nervousness instantly turned to excitement and anticipation.
"Yes, just follow my instructions."
Suzu approached and grabbed the eye. Then she told me to link my soul with the eye and begin absorbing its emotions…
Huh??
"It's simple logic. The Dark God has devoured countless beings, so the resentment it accumulated is incomparable. As long as you can absorb enough of those emotions, you'll meet the requirements for the skill."
Ah, I see.
Let's give it a try.
"But remember—keep your mind steady. Don't let yourself become careless just because you have skills."
Understood.
I focused and reached deep inside the eye.
Soon, I found the negative emotions Suzu had mentioned. They surged toward me like a flood, attacking through the soul chain.
But I wasn't afraid of them anymore.
All of them—
As they struck me, I absorbed them without hesitation. And after a while, the system notification rang out.
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Nice!
After that, Meradis and Seina worked together to stabilize the eye. Meanwhile, I activated [Gluttony]. A dark, shadowy mist wrapped around the eye, and I felt its massive energy pour into my body.
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