[Aiden’s POV]
Few minutes passed, as I lay there on the ground with my eyes closed, letting the body recover itself. System didn’t exaggerate when it told me that Primarch is an Apex form of living being.
Within ten minutes, I felt my body recovering. It wasn’t a full recovery, but I was sure if I rested for a few hours, I would be back to my peak.
I sat myself up, ache in my bones were still there but it was getting better. Thane, at a little distance from me, was eyeing a sphere, probably the core of the boss monster.
"System, what did I get as loot from chest? The loot dropped from monster were worthless." I asked.
My expectation after receiving the S-rank reward had gone very high; I also recognized that, but that was my new reality.
[You have obtained 3 items from chest]
[1. Regalia of ???; 2. Death Core; 3. ??? Keystone]
Slightly confused, I asked, "Why are there question marks system?"
[Your Insight Eye cannot get more information at your current level.]
"But I haven’t had any problem until now. So what changed?" I further added.
[Your eyes give you complete information up to your power level, basic information above your level, and question marks at a much higher level.]
"Okay, so the boss was much higher ranked. Well, in retrospect that make much sense and his rank also appeared locked when I checked him."
"So what now? I am sure you can get me the information if you scan." I said, trying to coax the system. It failed spectacularly.
[I could but I won’t. I could help you appraise whatever you obtain from Gacha.]
[However, you obtained this from the dungeon, and if it’s not available to you, it means you are not ready for it.]
In a way, the system was right; I should stop over-relying on the system. It gave a jump start, no more than a jump start, that everybody can only dream of.
"Boss...Boss Aiden," Thane’s words broke me out of my stupor.
"Okay system, thanks for the words," I replied, "Now we have a crown and a key with question marks. Let’s store them in inventory."
"So what are you going to do with Death Core?" I asked looking at Thane.
"This core is giving me a feeling that I could use this to evolve myself. After I held it in my hand, I was sure of that." Thane spoke somewhat hesitantly.
Holding the core in my hand, I checked its description.
[Name: Death Core]
[Rank: Unique]
[Uses: This core can be used to form Necromantic weapons. It can also be used to evolve an undead summon.]
"Here you go then." I handed the core to him.
"It would take time, so wait until we go outside," I remarked.
"You don’t have to worry about that boss. You could carry me, or should I say wear me," Thane immediately spoke.
Confused, I looked at him questioningly, but the next second, something absurd happened. Thane skeletal figure was replaced by a floating cloak looking cloth.
"See, it’s totally cool," a sound came from the cloak, awfully similar to Thane.
Stretching my hands towards it, I tried to touch it, but it immediately flew and put itself on my body.
"It’s creepy," I said. I was bracing for bones and stench but somehow, the Thane turned cloth felt smooth from inside. There was no discomfort, and even the stench was gone.
Most of all I felt my stamina recovering rapidly; at the rate it was going, in an hour I would be completely rested.
"You felt it too, didn’t you Boss? In this mode whoever wears the cloak will recover their stamina at an increased rate." Thane spoke.
"Okay, this will do," I agreed.
"It won’t take too much time, but I will be completely knocked out, so please look after me, boss." Thane requested.
I nodded and looked at the blue notification panel.
[Do you wish to exit the dungeon?]
There was no option, it was probably verbal. "Yes," I spoke.
Next moment, I felt my body being pulled into a tunnel of space. I was pretty sure normal cultivators don’t feel such things; it was probably high senses of my body.
Few moments later, I found myself in the familiar environment of dungeon entrance. I looked around for Seraphine but she wasn’t there, though I had told her myself that she should stay away from public eyes.
After looking at my surroundings, I walked towards the city. I had told her to go around that area. As I took few steps, my senses flared up, my eye darted around but I didn’t find anything suspicious.
"Maybe, it’s because Thane is under evolution," with this thought, I brushed that feeling aside and made my way towards the gate.
Walking for a few minutes, I was thinking about the strange situation with the final boss monster. I was half torn about telling the situation to dungeon authorities or just keeping silent about it.
My thoughts were also curious to witness the evolved form of Thane. "System, can all my summons grow in power or evolve like Thane?" I asked noticing the situation.
[Every summon has different scenarios and different power system but in short, yes they could. You will understand more as you use Gacha.]
"Ahh... I forgot to check the most important thing, my reason for coming to the dungeon," I exclaimed, remembering to check Origin Points.
Summoning status panel, I checked. There the tab was glowing amidst the golden-rimmed panel, but my face had a brighter glow.
[Origin Points: 30275]
"We are so going on a Gacha run, after I meet Seraphine." I was already expecting some powerful things.
As I was making list of things I needed from gacha, a silver-white haired lady came into view. There was a smile on her face, as I looked at her, a warmth welled up inside my heart.
’How long has it been since I saw such happiness on someone’s face upon my arrival?’ I thought as painful memories of childhood surfaced but the beaming smile of Seraphine was a good ointment to these old wounds.
"It’s good to see you in such good health, Master Aiden," Seraphine spoke as she came in proximity.
But suddenly, she stopped and her expression changed to that of caution and worry. Before I could ask anything, she asked first, "What’s that on your body, Master Aiden? It reeks of death. Please get rid of it, it could be dangerous."
’Ohh, that’s what spooked her, but I don’t smell anything,’ I thought internally.
"It’s not what you think. Let me tell as we enter the city and you don’t have to worry, I am 100% sure it can’t harm me," I addressed her worry.
"But, it’s giving an aura of death. I am an angel hybrid and use holy magic so I can sense that clearly. It disguised itself as a cloak to get close to you." She insisted.
"Okay, listen..." I started telling her about the situation related to Thane as we walked together.
But suddenly, my senses started acting again, much stronger this time. I stopped midway, Seraphine also look tensed. She stepped forward, shielding me.
"Be on alert, Master Aiden," she spoke with a serious tone.
Next moment, a group of people came forward with one person leading them and 5 people trailing behind. Their body language was enough to tell that they are going to be bad news.
"Oh, my...my, I guess the rumors are true that exiled young master Aiden is roaming around with a beautiful ’angel’ in tow. I didn’t think you would survive that dungeon, you are not so worthless as your clan thinks you to be," the leading person spoke with lazy arrogance.
"Don’t sully the name of my master with your dirty tongue," Seraphine quipped back.
But my focus was on the him when he spoke with emphasis on angel. I immediately used my Insight Eye and the result were not something I expected.
[Name: Hoshin Tamagi]
[Rank: ???]
[Threat: Very Dangerous]
The rest were of Grandmaster rank; I had just fought one Grandmaster-ranked monster with everything on the line, and now there were 5 people of the same level led by a higher-rank person.
However, I noticed Seraphine wasn’t phased at all; there were no signs of any discomfort or fear on her. Before I could speak, a voice from the cloak entered my ears.
"Why is there an angel here and why are we are facing by enemies again? Is there a 31st Floor you didn’t know about Boss Aiden," Thane commented as he woke up from his evolution.