To The Third Outerlayer

The Treasury was filled to the brim with gold, relics, and artifacts.

It was a feast for the eyes since Albrecht had vast knowledge when it comes to relics, artifacts, and their uses. This was all thanks to the System who continously provided him with the information.

Anastasia had little to no idea what the relics and artifacts were all for. Still, it amused her when she saw Albrecht's reaction upon their entrance into the treasury.

"Thousand Sun Pocketwatch. Chalice of Rebirth. Scope of Reversal. These are all legendary artifacts and relics. If adventurers knew this place they're going to raid it for sure." Albrecht muttered to himself. "Anastasia, you shouldn't inform anyone of this place. Okay?"

"Uhn~" Anastasia nodded her head. "You don't have to reserve yourself, Albrecht. You can take anything you want... just not everything, ehe~"

"Then, I'll graciously oblige on that offer." Albrecht smiled. He wanted to hoard everything in this treasury, but he didn't want to forcefully take everything. Besides, just one or two relics or artifacts would be enough.

"Before anything else... we need to look for the Divine Mystic Herb, Fruit of the Winetree, and the most important of all.. Basil Leaves." Albrecht said, twirling his thumb in the air as if he was giving Anastasia an extemporaneous lecture about the ingredients for the cure.

"Just those three?" Anastasia was surrprised. The ingredients that Albrecht listed down was anything but extraordinary.

The Divine Mystic Herb and Fruit of the Winetree were common ingredients. In fact, the vampires use them to cook their everyday meal.

The same goes for Basil Leaves. They literally have a plot of land reserved for the cultivation of basil plant.

"Not... really. Once we gathered all those ingredients, we have to look for the Mother of Life Cooking Pot and mix the ingredients there. Don't worry about it, though. I know where it is." Albrecht responded.

"Ah~ so that's why no one was able to find the cure." Anastasia finally understood. If the cure for the sleeping sickness was made from common ingredients... then it would only be a matter of time before a cure was discovered. However, it would be quite difficult to obtain the cure if a certain divine artifact was needed. Judging from the name of the artifact that Albrecht mentioned, Anastasia assumed that it was a divine artifact.

"Where exactly... is it?" Anastasia asked out of nowhere.

"It's... in the Sixth Outerlayer of Ground Zero. Don't worry about it, though. We can get it in time." Albrecht reassured her. Nevertheless, there was a hint of anxiousness in his voice, and Anastasia picked up on it.

As if on cue, Albrecht heard a resounding 'ting' in his mind, and a window popped up in front of him.

[An emergency quest had been issued]

[Emergency Quest (Time Quest): Cure Chieftess Theresa Whitelock of her Sleeping Sickness

Quest Difficulty: S-Rank

Time Remaining: 11:36:41

More information: Theresa Whitelock's sleeping sickness had entered its final phase. Her Zecian Aura had gone haywire, and she only had twelve hours before she dies. Procure the cure. Cure her of her sleeping sickness]

Albrecht was about to step forward but instead, he took a step back and almost exclaimed at the top of his lungs. Fortunately, he managed to maintain his composure as he stole a glance at Anastasia.

Anastasia stood beside him. She grew worried due to the sudden shift in Albrecht's complexion.

"I-is everything all right?" Anastasia asked.

Without hesitation, Albrecht started gathering a couple of items in the treasury. He didn't speak a word, and Anastasia had a lot of questions in her mind.

In total, he got about three artifacts or relics (Anastasia had no idea what they were, but they were probably important) and then he proceeded to head out of the treasury.

"Albrecht, what's going on?"

"I have to go." Albrecht responded with a grim expression on his face. In his mind, he started calculating whether he could make it in time or not.

There was no way he could make it in time. Nevertheless, he was going to try.

"I'm coming with you." Anastasia offered without hesitation.

"No, you're not going anywhere. You're staying right here." Albrecht strictly said, grabbing Anastasia by the shoulder. "Your mother... stay by her bedside and wait for my return."

"What are you talking about? My mother is not going anywhere. I'm coming with you."

"Your mother... she's going to die in twelve hours... and I'm not sure if I could get the cure on time. If anything, you should spend the remaining hours with her." Albrecht gritted his teeth in frustration. He knew just how painful it was to lose a loved one. That's why he wanted to ease Anastasia's pain, at least.

"I'm still coming with you." Anastasia pouted his lips as she grabbed Albrecht by the cheeks. "Look.. I wouldn't be able to sit still knowing that I could've done something for my mother. I'm sure she'll understand."

"Sigh~ if you really want to come, then we have to go. We're going to the Third Outerlayer." Albrecht felt like he had just lost an important battle. "We need to defeat the Guardian of the Third Outerlayer, The Frost Elf, Drujinn. Do you still want to come?"

Albrecht knew the running history between the races of Ground Zero, thanks to the System and its treasure trove of information. The Vampire Tribe and the Frost Elf Tribe were mortal enemies since the dawn of time. It was only recently that they've forged a temporary peace and went on their separate ways and lives.

However, if a vampire was found in their territory, or vice versa, it might ignite the spark of war, and the two tribes would be at each other's throats once again.

"I'm still going." Anastasia said. "We already know how to disguise ourselves as humans so you don't have to worry about that."

Sigh~

As the two of them left the treasury, Albrecht made a run down of the plan in his mind. 'So... first I need to defeat Drujinn, the Guardian of the Third Outerlayer... and then I have to go straight to the Fourth Outerlayer, and find the Zecian Portal that would lead to the Sixth Outerlayer. And then... I need to locate the Mother of Life Cooking Pot.'

Just thinking about it gave Albrecht a slight headache. He let out an exhale of dejection. 'I can do this... easy peasy...' He repeatedly muttered in his mind.