Chapter 2052: Using Various Items |
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As the fragments of the dungeon cores merged into one, I witnessed the truth behind them: a beautiful yet empty sphere of crystal, brimming with dimensional energy. .
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[Empty Dungeon Core (SS Grade)] x3
A Dungeon Core without any Attribute that has not yet been planted in an area rich in Mana and Miasma.
Once planted in a designated area, the Dungeon Core draws in the surrounding elements of the environment and begins to wield Dimensional Essence, creating a pocket dimension.
The size of the pocket dimension depends on the amount of Mana and Miasma absorbed during its creation.
Once formed, the Dungeon can be upgraded using Divine Materials and EXP.
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"Perhaps that’s why I was so compatible with them?" Yggdra wondered.
"Now what?" Beelzebub buzzed closer. "Are you going to use them here? This place is already a dungeon."
"Yeah, I guess I can save them for now..." I paused. "Wait, what would happen if I planted a Dungeon Core inside something that’s alive? Could that even work?"
"I believe it wouldn’t," Alice said. "The living being would likely explode, die, and be absorbed along with everything else."
"Unless you merge it the way familiars evolve and absorb materials...?" Yggdra suggested.
"But what would that even create? A Dungeon Spirit?" Beelzebub wondered. "No, that doesn’t make any sense, right? Who would ever volunteer for something so dangerous?"
We all turned to look at Beelzebub.
"...Huh?"
"You want to become strong no matter the cost, right, Beelzebub?" I asked with a grin.
"What are you implying...?" His wings fluttered nervously. "Wait, you want me to—? No, definitely not! What if I die?!"
"You wouldn’t die," I said. "So don’t worry."
"What makes you so confident?! There’s literally no reason for you to be so confident!" he cried. "Wait—Sylphy!"
"How about we begin your evolution, Beelzebub?" I asked, drinking one of the elixirs I had obtained. "Burp... wow, this is really hot. Is this some kind of spicy juice?"
As I downed an entire bottle, I felt my Magical Power surge. Waves of Fire and Spirit Attribute Runes flooded into me, followed by Wood and Nature Runes that spread across my Physique and Magic Circle. I considered giving some to Ignatius, but the Curse Attribute runes made it wiser to keep him purely Fire. I drank them all and soon felt pleasantly drunk.
[You have Consumed: [Cursed Fire Spirit Elixir (S+++ Grade)] x7!]
[You have received 70,000 Fire, Spirit, Wood, Nature, and Curse Attribute Runes.]
[Your Magic Circle: [Tier 9: Rank 2: Divine Spiritual Alchemist Fairy Princess Magic Circle] has Ranked Up to Tier 9: Rank 3!]
[Your Physique: [Tier 9: Rank 2: Divine Blazing Thunder Yggdragon Princess Physique] has Ranked Up to Tier 9: Rank 3!]
[Your Psyche: [Tier 5: Rank 2: God Devouring Infernal Abyssal Thunder Demon Soul Psyche] has Ranked Up to Tier 9: Rank 3!]
[Your Spiritual Heart: [Tier 5: Rank 2: Divine Abyssal Cursed Rainbow Demonic Spirit Heart] has Ranked Up to Tier 9: Rank 3!]
"S-Sylphy, are you okay?!" Alice asked.
"Guuhh... I’m fine!" I said.
"I think she’s drunk..." Furoh muttered.
"W-Who are you calling dumb?" I snapped.
"That’s not what I said, Master—Gaaah! Stop stretching my cheeks!" Furoh cried.
"Well then, why are you in the form of such a cute little puppy?" I asked, still irritated.
"Master, don’t get drunk," Yggdra said gently, patting my head as soothing healing energy flowed through me. "Better?"
"Eh?! What happened?" I blinked in surprise. "Wow, I guess I did get a little tipsy."
"A little tipsy isn’t enough to describe it!" Furoh complained.
"Stop complaining all the time, Furoh. It’s fineee..." I laughed. "Anyway! Aquarina is... wait, what the hell are you guys doing?"
Besides those with me, the rest of our familiars were with Aquarina, fighting a swarm of giant wyverns and lizards made of burning wood and wreathed in cursed flames. While we talked, we kept moving, eventually reaching the Second Layer of the Burning Forest.
The area had changed. Black cursed fire had spread even farther, and giant specters of cursed flame now wandered the scorched woods. At the center stood a colossal tree—the Blazing Fire Spirit Tree once worshipped by dwarves as a minor spirit deity of the mountain. Precious magic ores had grown beneath its roots, which the dwarves mined daily under its protection.
Now the tree had been twisted by the curse into a monstrous, corrupted entity. It burned eternally with black and purple flames, its bark covered in glaring red eyes. The sight was deeply eerie, though still too distant for us to engage.
"That has to be the final boss..." I said. "But we still haven’t found the Second Boss yet. Furoh, can you wait? I want to evolve Beelzebub first."
"Of course, Master. I’m not impatient at all. I feel comfortable in this form anyway," he replied. "And I can always copy someone else’s appearance if needed."
"Good." I nodded. "Okay, Beelzie, let’s make this quick. This was supposed to be a date with Aquarina, but I keep getting distracted."
I have already examined the Skill Scroll Fragments. With Alice’s help, I learned I could combine different fragments to create unique scrolls with random origins. While multitasking and preparing the materials for Beelzebub’s evolution, I experimented with them.
Ding!
[You have combined [Burning Forest Tree Monster Skill Scroll Fragment (B+ Grade)] x7 + [Frozen Forest Monster Skill Scroll Fragment (C Grade)] x11 + [Divine Spirit Forest Beast Skill Scroll Fragment (S+ Grade)] x6 + [Divine Spirit Sea Beast Skill Scroll Fragment (S+ Grade)] x6]
[You have created: [Random Divine Spirit Skill Scroll (S+ Grade)] x5!]
"Random, huh?" I mused. "Well, that’s better than being locked to just fire or ice. Though I’m not sure I want even more Skills right now. It feels strange, but I’d rather focus on my original ones. Having too many at this point feels somewhat pointless—most new skills at low levels wouldn’t offer much. Still, I can use them as materials for the familiars or as gifts."
My past self would probably slap me for thinking that. I used to obsess over leveling every skill. It was all I had back then. Now my plate is so full it’s ready to burst.
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