39 Conquer
[Dungeon Clear: Great Earth Spirit (100% damage dealt)
Clear Conditions: Dungeon Boss Great Earth Spirit (1/1).
-Since the <Player > dealt more than 50% damage, the rune and items will go to them. The <Player > may choose to share the items if needed.
Completion Rewards: Dungeon Rune, Spirit Feather (Light), 50.000 SP, 15000 EXP, +20 Status Points.]
[You are able to conquer this dungeon.]
[You are able to absorb its core.]
'Why is it Light if Rallaka is of the Earthen element?' Aria raised a brow.
The Spirit Feathers.
These were common to be dropped or procured through the subjugation of spirits. The drop's chosen element will correspond with the spirit's own.
On its own, it might seem a bit useless, but in good hands it was highly beneficial. It could be used as an ingredient to craft things with it, or even be absorbed as a source of energy to nurture oneself. It had many benefits aside from that, and was a sought after item due to its rarity and all.
She asked Rallaka about the matter, but he was also unable to respond.
Shrugging it off as a coincidence for now, Aria stored the items inside her inventory.
"Savior-nim?" Jin-kyung tilted her head, wondering why Aria was making swipes at the air. She saw nothing floating, so Aria looked like she was delusional.
She chose not to question the woman's action, but it still bothered her.
"...Right," Aria realized her mistake and made a light cough. "We are done here."
"Done... The dungeon is cleared? You defeated the boss?"
"Yes," Aria replied.
"But the boss... That is the boss, right? A spirit.. Contract? I didn't know that you could do it this way!" Jin-kyung rambled on.
Her ability seemed to have activated by itself, judging from how her reactions occurred. Revelations were made to the girl. Even though she wasn't supposed to be able to see Rallaka, she could with the help of her power.
"The dungeon rune is here, do you still not believe me?" Aria gripped the ochre stone she received tightly. It had a reflective surface that glimmered in certain angles, just like a beautiful gem.
She was offered two options yet again.
To absorb the power contained within the stone, or to 'conquer' it.
She didn't know what was being conquered, but it certainly enticed her.
'It's better to find out early.' Aria didn't really care about gaining new Mains. The [Scarlet Vines] she obtained previously hadn't been used up until now.
It wasn't like she didn't know how to use it, it was just that her level of proficiency had to be trained in order for the skill to be on par with the rest.
Gaining the new skill, she noticed that it was rather hard to use it. Sluggish movements. Disconnected actions. It wasn't smooth at all, a contrast with her fluid fighting style.
This special quality made it a displeasing feature for her.
She ought to try the other option served to her this time.
'Conquer.' Aria commanded.
She was getting used to the System. The commands also started to become natural for her.
Like the System was continuously merging with her.
The notifications started.
[The 'Conquer' process has been started. 1 C-ranked Dungeon Rune will be consumed.]
[Absorbing life force from current dungeon. Please confirm the objects you want to leave untouched.]
'Is there even any material left? Rallaka absorbed it all.' Aria grumbled.
As if taking that as her answer, the System continued.
[Seclusion complete. Mobilizing the rune to contain the dungeon's energy.]
[Absorption complete.]
[Result: Retrieved 120 Life Force.]
[Automatic process: Constructing 'Rebirth' Skill Foundation with obtained life force. 100 units of life force will be consumed.]
['Rebirth' skill formed.]
[Next phase: Form. Insufficient Life Force. 20/10000.]
'Rebirth?'
"Savior-nim, what happened?" Jin-kyung sensed the change in Aria's expression.
Everything has been confusing for the girl, and she found Aria's presence to be mystical- out of the world.
Aria lowered her gaze to ponder on the matter.
The concept of rebirth was nonsensical to someone like Aria, who lived off proven testimonials and data.
Although many people sought this unnatural term, no one succeeded. Perhaps you couldn't let off the possibility of them losing their memories after experiencing the rebirth, thus rendering them unable to leave records for people to discover the truth, but Aria begged to digress.
Even something as absurd as Unity had a written prophecy with proper instructions and cryptic journals along with evidences that proved the phenomenon. The items mentioned in the script: the bullet; the flame; the binding rope; the Unitium; and the last unmentioned ingredient could be discovered.
Whereas, rebirth was only researched by a group of fanatics that strongly believed their story, having not made any improvements in their testings.
'Could the occurrence I went through be considered rebirth?' Aria pondered.
Indeed, through the entire journey spanning across thousands of years, Aria had kept her consciousness awake.
However, it was a fact that her body shouldn't have been able to patch itself up after undergoing the flame's torture.
Her condition was without a scratch- albeit overcome with hunger. Even that was solved the moment she levelled up.
Her status, if she was truly the Aria Schreiner from the past, wouldn't be as low as it is now.
The System.
<Players >.
Levels.
The sudden appearance of isolated dungeons that inhabited monsters from her time.
If anything, didn't she accidentally undergo 'rebirth'?
Or was it transportation to a realm similar to hers, a vision of the future?
Shaking her head, she decided that this matter required more attention in the future. Alas, the current priority was getting stronger. She had to investigate on whether the Unity mentioned in the prophecies still existed, or not.
"Nothing much. The rewards just confused me a bit." Aria replied.
Jin-kyung nodded in acceptance, not asking anymore questions.
"Indeed, it is such a shame that the hundreds of goblin corpses were all eaten by... that thing, right?" Jin-kyung commented.
She couldn't hear or see Rallaka, but she could feel the gluttonous spirit.
