Trove

"The System is the one who told me all of that. She has a will by itself, but what I know is that the System is not my work, nor something I created. The Keeper and Protector was always here with me when I was still living, but now, I don't think there will be anyone like them to help you." Avalon said in despair.

"Even your knowledge can fail you sometimes." Vin said, obviously disappointed about it.

"This Labyrinth is the second one I got on. I saw the civilization in the first one bloom and become flourishing."

"When I got there five years later, the population grew to millions, but as I think now, they are probably trillions."

"Dragons, due to their strength, power and might, can live up to a thousand years and be observers of the rise of civilizations, but due to the blood of different beings inside the first dungeon, they managed to bring their bloodline in act, and the population in wonders."

"Gradually, the bloodline thinned out, but every five years, that's ten years inside the Labyrinth, the dragons manage to produce kins. Phoenixes, gryphons, pegasus, yeti and qilins. Those are just examples of them."

"Inside this Labyrinth, I think the dragonoid resides here. So, best of luck." Avalon said and looked at Vin.

"Thank you for that." He said and looked at the shelves.

But as soon as Avalon stepped on the door, something big happened.

[Ivory and Ebony]

[Inspection Complete.]

[Inspection has been upgraded : Analysis.]

[Unique Skill has been obtained.]

[Mega Inventory.]

Mega Inventory : Upgrades the size of the Inventory.

[Unique Ability has been obtained.]

[Mega Breakdown.]

Mega Breakdown : Breaks up a skill, talent or an ability.

[Connect has been upgraded : Synthesize.]

[Synthesize has been fully upgraded.]

[System : Requesting permission to Synthesize all manifestations, skills, talents and abilities.]

"Huh?" Avalon was surprised, at the same time, a crack can be seen at the white ceiling.

The crack continued for a while, and the whole place quaked.

"What did you do?" Avalon asked. He looked at Vin curiously, only to find out that the boy absorb every single thing inside the space he has. None remained in the whole space, even a page of a book.

"Avalon, its a disaster. Help me finish my core." Vin said and then he walked towards Avalon.

--------------------------------------

BAM!

A table flew and it broke into splinters. There were people inside the room, but they seemed to be unfazed.

"Oi, oi, oi, do not break those limbs again. They are forged from dragon alloy and zodianite. That is basically a price you cannot pay if you suddenly break it." A man said, looking at the other that has his left arm and right leg became prosthetic, but due to magic, he can move again like normal.

"Tch. These toys of yours wont even add to my power. Destroying them and finding a more worthy blacksmith is a mors viable option." The man with prosthetic arm and leg said.

"Report!" A man opened the door and knelt.

"Lord Dariel, Lord Darius, His Highness has arrived." The man said.

The two then stood up, brushed themselves and stood with pride. They then walked towards the door, to greet the man who will be coming shortly.

A moment later, a king, clad in his battle armor, cape, he even has his crown on him. If anyone can compare, Dariel and Darius share the same face as the man.

"Brothers, I've come." The man walked and hugged the two who greeted him as he arrive.

Dariel smirked, Darius was obviously uneasy, and the man has a mocking smile on his face.

"Okay enough dilly-dally. Let's talk about business." Dariel said as he pushed the man's arm away.

"Let's go, Darion." Darius said as he walked after Dariel.

They sat on a new table, for Dariel kicked the first one that was prepared earlier. Tea was served by the maids, and then report papers came in.

"Basically, this planet's habitants moved away. I cannot handle all the lands so I am giving three continent to each of you." He said while sipping the tea.

"That's good. The problem is how would we populate this place." Darion asked.

"That's your problem." Said Dariel.

"You did not call us here just to distribute lands, aren't you?" Darius asked.

Dariel smiled at his younger brother. He then also looked at the other and pulled a cylinder.

The cylinder is blue im color. It has lids of glistening crystals and there were eight circles full of intricate lines inside.

If only Vin and co. is here, they will know that these eight are from the Supremes that were killed a few months ago.

"S-S-Sedimentation?"

Darion was rattled. He looked at the cylinder with greed.

"I will give you one, do not worry." Dariel said.

Like the other manifestations, the tenth manifestation also is divided to ten sections.

First, Cyclic. This section of tenth manifestation gathers mana from the surroundings to add to its might. It is also the weakest one for it has the longest incantation and lowest output. These are common in planets that are ruled by only one Supreme. This manifestation is characterized as "mana sucking" ones. It converts outer energy into its own, and it makes the user lose life force in exchange in maintaining it.

Second, Medium. This section is the ones that gathers mana, and uses itself to power up the mana output. It also has long incantation, but a higher damage output due to powering up of the manifestation. This section is characterized as "mana conductor". It means that it can help mana flow and make it more potent. Due to mana flowing towards inside, the outer shell: the human, will have a backlash of getting bloated with mana all the time. Making them overflow, and die at young age.

Third, Sedimentation. The highest form of tenth manifestation in the Outskirts. In this section, the manifestation acquires, releases and purifies the mana. The mana will be filtered before it gets inside the shell, purifies it, distributed towards all of the body and releases unused and bloated mana. The effects make the shell live longer than ordinary lifespan. The purified mana makes the crystal lid more alluring due to its effects.

Also, the universe is divided into four categories : the Outskirts, the Outer Circle, the Inner Circle and the Central.

"The prize is a bit alluring, brother. What must we do to be worthy of the things you offer?" Darius asked with a smile.

"Enough with the facade, sly foxes. I just want you to kill these people for me." He then passed tapped the paper they all are holding, and there, the profile of twenty-one people.

"Oh, my lovely niece is here." Darion looked at the profile of a girl in the picture.

"I might as well give her to you, Darion." Dariel looked at the portrait of his daughter with disdain.

"Such a waste that you chose that lowly insect over your family." Dariel said and looked at the beamy Darion.

'Keep that promise, brother. She will be my favorite toy. Her icy cold demeanor will become such of a lowly wife that begs his husband to punish her everyday. I will play with her until I am satisfied.' Darion said in his mind.

"Sure thing brother." Lust took over Darion as he flip through the pages.

"Oi, Darion. Can you at least give the other fresh fruits to me?" Darius then said, as he was sniffing the lower body of the portrait of Ven. Lewdness can also be seen in his face.

"Whatever suits you. In any case, Darion, are you participating in the Glorious Annual?" Dariel asked.

"What credit does that give me?" Darion asked.

"Naive. When you win there, you can lay on top of anyone your eyes seem to acknowledge as a beauty because you are the champion. Women are simple-minded. If you have money, fame and strength, they will let you use them as much as you want. They will see it as honor and not disrespect. They revere the strong, and the weak are treated as trash." Darius smirked.

"Such a shame we can't participate because I have seven seals now." Darius added

Author's note: So basically here, Darius and Darion does not know the idea of seals, marks and glyphs. I use "manifestation" outside their conversation and use "seal" because they do not know what a seal is.

"Too bad watching is also prohibited. Also, the Central is too secretive that the participants' memories of the tournament is erased." Dariel added as he poured tea to his cup.

"The system permits use of underhanded tactics, and more as the memories are erased after. The recordings are not shared, but they have a power level graphs to see how far is the winner to the loser." Dariel said, obviously bitter to the judgment he received when he participated.

"Huh? Grand?" Darius raised his eyebrow, seeing the fine young lady he is sniffing has a ring to her name.

"Yes, they will be collateral targets. The main target is his brother, Vin." Dariel said as he flipped another page and showed them.

A tall young man, gray hair, gray eyes, and his facial features were all accurate.

"Sou, investigate these three. Why would the infamous Grand Family, who soared thirty years ago and decline two years after has their blood kin in the Outskirts?" Darius said and a black clad person appeared before him.

The black clad person pulled the paper in front of him and licked the portrait of Ven from her leg up to her thigh and then to her chest. The face of the person then cam into view.

His eyes are all black, no pupils, no iris. His cheeks has scars of battle, but what's making him scary is the two red streaks on perpendicular to his eye, and the one red streak that goes from ear to ear. His teeth are like a saw, and his tongue is longer than a normal person.

"She is, my Lord." He chuckled. "However, her powers are still dormant. She may be able to unlock it a hundred years, no, a thousand years in the minimum run." He smiled.

"Very well. Let her be my prey then." Darius licked his lips, and Dariel looked at the two beasts in front of him.

"Just give me the head of this boy. I will give you more than you ask of me." He said and he flipped the page again to show he image of Vin.

"Oho, what is this, brother? You lost to a kid?" Darion laughed.

"G-G-G-G-Grand?" Sou was startled.

"What?" Darius asked.

"Th-That kid. I implore that you call a Une or a higher rank. Dealing with him will be a hard thing. Even a fledgling rank will be challenged. Also, Deux rank can handle them easily, but with your stature, Deux ranks wont easily accept a Sedimentation section seal. Even this planet is too small for them." Sou added.

"You overestimate him, Mr. Scarface." Darion said with a smug look on his face.

"You are just a lowly servant of my brother. I do not even know why he did hire you." Darion chuckled.

"Im sorry, my mistakes." Sou answered before Darius xan even react.

"Good boy." Darion said as he sit down and smile.

"My dear niece, I wonder how delicious your meat is." He said in a low, husky voice.

-------------------------------------------

"Mana Rush!" A swing of his sword, and the core of the Centaur flew out of its body. He ran and catched it before it can hit the ground.

"Gotcha." He said and then he wiped his sweat.

"Thanks for that, Avalon." He said, as he wiped the green ooze from the core. He looked at the distant place where he knew the people he left were.

"That core will be helpful to you. Store it for now, and you will have a use for it when the time comes." Avalon said.

Vin then jumped up, and looked for the place where Ven and the others are. And then it happened.

{Hidden Labyrinth Quest}

{Slay the Guardians}

{1/20}

"Hey, Ava, System. Do you see this?" Vin inquired.

"Yes?" Avalon anwered, but in a "asking if it is true" manner.

[Part of the System has been found.]

[Defeat the other System to accumulate.]

"Avalon, do you know what is happening?" Vin asked.

"No?" Avalon said, unsure if he knows it or not.

[{System : Accumulation Ritual has been activated.}]

Two notices at the same time, appeared into view.

{System's Guardians will defeat the Successor to acquire the part of System.}

[System's Successor will defeat the Guardians to acquire the part of System.]

[{Accumulation Ritual : Commence.}]