Lein frowned and quickly stopped her, placing a hand firmly on her shoulder. "Not yet," he thought cautiously. They barely knew this old man—he wasn't about to let Laras be influenced by something they didn't fully understand.
Thurok let out a soft chuckle. "No need to worry, Lord Lein. She'll be fine. In fact, she might even receive a blessing," he said in a reassuring tone.
Upon hearing that, Lein loosened his grip slightly, though his eyes remained vigilant. His gaze shifted back to the statue, still glowing gently. A sudden idea sparked in his mind.
"Can I duplicate this?" he wondered, eyes gleaming with curiosity.
Without wasting another second, Lein shot into the sky, approaching the colossal statue. The wind howled around him as he hovered before its chest, where a glowing panel floated in the air.
[Statue of the Fourth Goddess of Light] A sacred sculpture depicting the Fourth Goddess of Light, Akasha Lumen, the entity who governs the Spectrum of Pure Light. Carved from Sanctus Crystal, this statue emits eternal radiance that repels darkness and purifies its surroundings.
Type: Spirit Artifact
- (Luminous Light) Emits a holy aura that neutralizes dark energy.
- (Solar Judgment) Releases a burst of sunlight that scorches enemies.
- (Lunar Purification) Heals wounds and dispels curses.
- (Astra Prophecy - Locked)
- (Absolute Temperu of Light - Locked)
Lein stared at the panel, eyes widening. A spirit artifact? This was more than he'd expected.
Without hesitation, he activated his ability.
[Duplicate (Statue of the Fourth Goddess of Light) x 1.5 million. Confirm?]
In less than a split second, without anyone noticing, 1.5 million replicas of the massive statue were stored neatly within his spatial ring.
Lein let out a breath, a mix of relief and awe flooding his chest. His ability to duplicate high-tier artifacts was truly extraordinary—there hadn't been even a trace of resistance during the process.
Meanwhile, Laras stood before the statue. The divine light flowing from the artifact made her eyes shine with admiration. As if drawn to the power hidden within, she unconsciously raised her hand and pressed her palm against the statue's chest.
Lein watched it all unfold in a blink. The moment her hand touched the sanctified crystal, her body lit up with a blinding glow. A powerful aura rippled through the air, wind spiraling wildly around them. Dry leaves scattered, and the grass swayed as though bowing before the overwhelming presence now filling the area.
"Damn! What's happening?" Lein instinctively stepped forward, ready to pull Laras away if anything went wrong.
Before he could act, Thurok appeared beside him, calm expression unchanged. The old man's eyes gleamed with intrigue.
"Don't worry, Lord Lein. She's advancing to Second-Level Grandmaster."
Lein blinked. "A breakthrough?"
He looked at Laras, now floating a few inches off the ground, her entire form bathed in holy light. She looked like she was receiving divine revelation, as though the presence of the statue was something she had been waiting for all along.
Efan had just arrived, eyes fixed on the unfolding phenomenon. "Master Thurok, is the statue amplifying the light element within Sister Laras?"
"Yes," Thurok replied, gaze still locked on Laras's transformation. "At the Grandmaster stage, progress depends heavily on one's elemental understanding. And Laras has a natural affinity for light that's extremely rare."
Lein watched closely, beginning to understand what the old man meant. The light surrounding Laras wasn't just ordinary energy—this was a pure blessing from the element of light itself.
"Normally, most wouldn't be able to receive this much blessing," Thurok continued, his voice deep and steady. "But her comprehension of light is already so profound that she's drawing far more than others."
Lein remained silent, mind racing. There was no doubt about it—Laras was experiencing something rare: a breakthrough assisted by a sacred artifact. Even among Grandmasters, such an event was incredibly uncommon.
After a while, Thurok finally said with a light chuckle, "Come now, Lord Lein. Let's return. The food's ready. Her breakthrough will take at least a week or more."
Lein jolted. "A week?"
His eyes widened in disbelief. "That long?"
Thurok turned to him, looking genuinely puzzled. "Of course. Why, Lord Lein? Haven't you gone through something yourself?"
Lein froze. His heartbeat quickened as he sensed Thurok's gaze, laced with suspicion. Was the man doubting him? Lein quickly adjusted his expression, putting on the look of someone who had just remembered something important.
"Ahem." Lein cleared his throat and tried to sound more reasonable. "I mean, will Laras be alright if we leave her here alone for a whole week?" There was a hint of concern in his voice.
Thurok nodded slightly, his demeanor calm as ever. "No need to worry, Lord Lein. But if you're still unsure, you can set up a protective formation."
With a single wave of his hand, a nearly invisible layer of protective energy appeared, enveloping Laras and the massive statue. A gentle light shimmered on its surface, a sign of just how strong the barrier was.
"With this protection, not even a Second-Level King can lay a hand on her," Thurok said confidently.
Lein studied the formation carefully, then shifted his gaze to Thurok. The man seemed completely certain of his actions. Even so, a sliver of doubt remained in Lein's heart. After all, they had just met, and Thurok was a Third-Level King. It was hard to fully trust someone in such a short time.
Still, Lein offered a grateful smile. "Thank you, Master Thurok. Your help truly puts my mind at ease."
Thurok gave a small smile in return. "Very well, let's head back. The food's ready."
Without waiting for a reply, he flew off toward the outpost with calm yet efficient speed. Lein and Efan exchanged a glance before nodding and following Thurok back.
Inside the outpost, the scent of food filled the air, making Lein's stomach growl almost immediately. A barmaid brought out several plates of food, placing them on a long wooden table, steam still rising from the dishes. Lein sat down with Efan and Thurok, enjoying the meal as they chatted casually.