36 Explore

A week had gone by, Thalia had been welcomed by the Tribe, The Hag told me everything she knew and divinated.

Everything had gone smoothly while we waited for Aria, except for the fact that I had to go exterminate a few beasts not far from the vicinity along with Lupiz and Theo.

"Lucas"

Aria had arrived and hugged me, I was getting used to it and she eventually let me go, she looked at our base of operations, to say the least they had already finished building a two story office.

Locals from Khaltok's tribe which were named Rindlians could be seen going in and out, they were trading goods.

The ones that arrived here with me consisted of around 30 people, 4 of which were my escorts, the rest consisted of construction workers, mages, appraisers and traders that knew the value of the Northerners goods.

The place was well guarded as the mages build a stone wall around the small trading outpost, but judging from the numerous choppers Aria had come with, it looks like things are bound to get lively sooner or later.

"Big Sis."

"Where is the village chief?"

"Back in his tribe, he'll be coming soon."

"Good."

We then both went to the office we've established, although there are a few human outposts but most of them not of this caliber.

Khaltok's tribe the Rindlians were considered already a huge and prospering tribe and they were one of the major traders of the northern continent according to them and that the next tribe near to them was around fifty miles and they were small in number.

"So, according to them, they'll surrender their tribe to us so long as we get rid of their trouble?"

"Yes, the Hag, their oracle which is their leader already told me."

"And you believe the hags?"

"Yes."

"Alright, what do we get in return for doing the dirty work?"

"The actual prize?"

I was wondering if I should tell her, she's already strong enough, even though she's my sister, I knew she was prideful, I wonder.

[ Tell her. ]

'Alright.'

"Yeah, what's the actual meat here, You know I'm here to stabilize things while Father and Mother are keeping things in check back in our home although I asked a leave from my guild for about two months I don't want to waste my time here."

"There is a crystal of immense power there."

"Oh, how strong?"

"Its better if you see it for yourself, it strengthens creatures to an unreasonable amount."

"Interesting, perhaps."

"A normal human can't handle it according to the Old Hag."

"What else?"

"Only I can use it, that's what she said, I'm not joking, I'll hand it to you first if you want."

"Alright let's go and see."

As we both went out, we were greeted by Thalia who had children clinging unto her.

"Er, Greetings Lady Birthington."

"Speak."

"Eek! Ugh I'm Thalia, I want to work under Birthington Laboratories"

"Okay."

"Huh."

"I said Okay, go inside the building find someone named Albert and he'll prepare everything."

"Can I transfer to Research and Development?"

"Suit yourself, so long as you present something worthy of me to take notice I will not kick you out for a year how about that?"

"Ye-Yes!"

Thalia then made way for us as the small children kept bothering her asking for more food, I then told a guard to get what they want, he nodded and told Thalia to follow him and then he will also help her.

We then walked and used our movement techniques, of course I was faster since I've developed Phase Shift and Void Shift, Aria still kept up with me though since she had higher stats than me and that's to be expected.

After ten minutes of travelling we had arrived at a cave, it was infesting with numerous beasts, beasts that looked like mutated lions, wolves, polar bears and what not even a small penguin looked liked it was zombified.

We could see the equipment left behind the tribe as the place was now infested.

"Hmm, they're certainly stronger than your average beast."

"Think we can finish it today?"

"Why not, I'm not sensing a stronger presence, perhaps if we go inside then we'll see."

"Alright."

"Then show me how far you've grown."

I nodded, I then took out a gun with a silencer, it was just a normal glock , but its bullets were seeds, I then readied and aimed to places where they were clumped up.

"Someone sure is enjoying their new toy."

"I just got this about a week ago before I left."

"Alright let's see your proficiency, this place is full of ice and there's little to no vegetation."

Three consecutive silent gun shots were shot, before the beasts could react they were greeted with vines that sprung out mid air.

The vines immediately latched on to different beasts and burrowed underground, I channeled my mana and controlled them from afar as I made the thorns get thicker and larger piercing through the beasts.

My Mana reserves went dry quick but I had artifacts that allowed me to regenerate as fast including my own body.

"Oh."

Aria then moved and killed the fleeing beasts, I still controlled the vines and continued killing the beasts as the field was now filled with greenery, it was gruesome to look at but it was necessary.

After about five minutes of clearing the field Aria arrived at the center and waved at me, I nodded and went down.

"That was efficient but it was against beasts but still good enough."

"Its not like a war is ongoing at least I got some practice in."

"Alright, there's still some more inside, looks like the lights are still up."

I nodded as we entered the cave, it really does look like they're mining here, I then felt faint presences in front of me, I then shot another bullet straight ahead.

There were no vines this time, but after waiting for a minute, I snapped my finger and I could hear howls of pain from afar.

I nodded and Aria and I moved forward.

"Let me handle this, I know why you want me here."

"Well."

Aria then disappeared in front of me and Tear replaced her, as Me and Tear looked at each other we could hear explosions and screams in front of us, the mine shook but returned to normal.

[ See what did I tell you. ]

'Let's just follow her.'

I walked slowly but the sound of howling and screams didn't stop, the smell was worse as when I slowly walked I saw corpses of some beasts that exploded, well It was thank to me since they inhaled the spore and I just blew them up from the inside.

But the deeper I went I could see heads of different beasts cut of, limbs everywhere, bodies torn in half, looks like she let loose this time.

The more I ventured the narrow entrance slowly widened until it was a now a chamber, there was a river inside and I could see Aria's figure, she was standing on a mountain of corpses.

She then pointed me at a direction, I looked and saw that a crystal was floating, it was red.

"Is that it?"

"Perhaps."

But suddenly the ground quacked, and I could hear a loud growl I was unfazed, it was then a large polar bear arrived, it then to my surprise stood up.

"I left this one specifically for you."

I looked back at Aria who stood still, I could see that this bear was stronger than most beasts but it was too large which means it would probably be slow.

I nodded, and instantly shot it with bullets, It looked like it knew what was gonna happen but was surprised nothing happened. It snorted but I laughed it off, somehow it got angry as it roared, it could deafen normal people but it wouldn't have any effect on me.

When it raised its paw I swear it conjured lighting, but I also raised my hand.

"Die."

I snapped my fingers and the beast instantly bursted in front of my, it popped up like a balloon, what remained in his stead was nothing but blood and his insides.

"Your skill really is a cheat."

Aria walked closer to me as we both looked at the crystal.

"So?"

"You go first."

I nodded and jumped towards where it was floating.

'Tear'

[ Hmm, let me try and ]

Tear materialized in front of it, she then injected her mana, purifying it perhaps? after a minute the crystal whose color was red, turned gold, I then looked at Aria and nodded.

She then arrived by my side, when she touched it, it repulsed her and threw her to the wall.

"Damn it."

She coughed up blood, I immediately went near her, it was the first time I saw her like this, she then waved me off.

"I can't, when I was about to inject my mana it rejected me, don't worry about me I'm fine."

[ She's not fine, let me. ]

Tear then merged with my body, inside I allowed her soul to dominate mine, to Aria's surprise she saw my eyes turn blue, Tear then used her mana instead of mine and healed her soul.

"Since when did you become a healer?"

"Your brother has his own secrets"

"I see, I will not pry."

She closed her eyes as she accepted it, it looks like her soul was really injured heavily and she's just not saying anything, I pressed her back and let Tear silently do her work.

After awhile it was finished.

"Oh, not only my soul had healed, it looked like it got nourished as well."

"Please keep this a secret."

"Alright, looks like you've been busy."

"I have been."

"Go its your turn."

I then went back to crystal, Tear was still the dominant soul this time, when I tried injecting our mana, it floated towards me.

[ What the hell! ]

The Crystal was so small, suddenly.

"Ah!"

It went inside me, it dug itself in my body it didn't even bother to phase through!

[ Hold on! Damn it! ]

I gritted through the pain, it freaking pierced through me instead of phasing through! Blood was flowing! Aria held my back, but the pain was unbearable I was sweating I don't know how I'm looking right now.

It was until I blacked out.

-

[ Wake up Bozo ]

'Tear?'

[ Yeah Yeah, You're still alive. ]

'What happened?'

[ You were unconscious for three days. ]

'Anything else.'

[ Yeah ]

{ World Crystal Fragment! 1/4 Collected! }