Chapter 23: The Vault

Chapter 23: The Vault

 Darius's eyes quickly adjusted, revealing a room that was meticulously preserved. The air, thick with a sense of antiquity, buzzed with mana. Walls of finely cut stone, aged yet undamaged, enclosed a space where nature and magic intertwined. Moss carpeted the floor in an ever-shifting dance of life and decay, flourishing then dying.

 In the center of this mystical chamber, his eyes beheld a sight that took his breath away. Mana Crystals filled the space. The crystals, each emitting a mesmerizing light show, lay arranged in what seemed like a deliberate pattern. The sheer number and variety were staggering.

Darius felt his cultivation technique instinctively kick into gear, responding to the overwhelming presence of mana. The crystals, glowing wondrously, seemed to beckon him, promising untold power and secrets.

 Darius stood transfixed, his eyes widening to their fullest, "Beautiful..." he whispered, almost breathless. The semi-circle of crystals arrayed before him glimmered with an irresistible allure. Even at a cursory glance, Darius observed their detailed arrangement, categorized neatly by their origin and quality. The sight was a breathtaking display of wealth.

 Darius turned towards his parents, his expression a picture of disbelief. "C-can I..." he stammered, his voice tinged with a mix of awe and trepidation.

 His parents beamed at him, their smiles wide and genuine. "Everything is yours, little wolf," his mother declared, her silver hair catching the light in a multicolored shimmer. She wrapped her arms around Jarek, watching Darius with affection. Unnoticed by him, a trace of sadness flickered in her eyes, eclipsed by his excitement.

 Darius stepped forward, his feet sinking slightly into the moss that blanketed the floor. It was a peculiar sensation, like walking on a living, breathing carpet that pulsed with a constant rhythm. "Mana Crystals of every grade," he murmured, eyes scanning the first impressive collection. "Low, mid, high... must be a million low grade, half a million mid, and... half a million high?" His voice trailed off, awed by the sheer volume. 

 High-grade crystals were a rarity, their worth, was ten times a mid grade, a mid grade was ten times a low grade. These naturally formed crystals, containing all five elements, were primarily used in magitech and served as the main source of currency in Gaia. 'An army could be swayed with these,' Darius thought, the realization of the fortune before him setting his heart racing.

 Mana Crystals, in their varied grades, presented a visual feast for any magic practitioner. Typically refined to fit within the palm, these crystals shimmered with elemental mana - reds and oranges, blues of varying shades, greens and white, browns and yellows, and vibrant purples. The low-grade crystals emitted a dim, pulsing glow, their shapes irregular and rough-hewn. In contrast, the mid-grade crystals shone with a brighter, more consistent light, their forms well-defined and more polished. The high-grade ones, however, stood out distinctly. Their radiance was the most intense, pulsating like a robust heartbeat. Their bases radiated a pure white light, the key visual marker setting them apart.

 Darius's gaze shifted to the next section, where smaller piles of crystals lay. The light they emitted was more intense, each crystal radiating a purity of color that captivated him. His azure eyes were ablaze with excitement, these were not just any crystals. Their brilliance and clarity surpassed those he had seen before.

 Darius stood awestruck amid the glittering array. "So many Chaotic Crystals, each one...there must be over nine thousand!," he murmured, more to himself than anyone else, his hand instinctively reaching to his jaw. His eyes danced over the collection, sighing softly, "'Earth, Fire, Wind, Water...my heart." He theatrically clutched his chest. 

 The Chaotic Crystals, while sharing a similar grading system as mana crystals, were vastly different in their purity, each embodying a single elemental force. These were not for casual use. No, these were the key to his cultivation, a concentrated source of elemental power.

 Formed inside Chaotic Mana Regions, these crystals were unique. Larger than the usual mana crystals, each bore a distinct single color. Unlike regular mana crystals, these couldn't be resized without compromising their purity. Thankfully, they were mostly manageable in size, rarely exceeding the dimensions of a human head, with those being high-grade. The grading of Chaotic Crystals depended not on purity, which remained consistent, but on their size.

 Darius, still processing the incredible sight of the second section, moved to the third. As his eyes took in the sight before him, his legs suddenly buckled, sending him tumbling onto his backside. Behind him, his father's chuckle resonated in the air. "Cores?!" Darius exclaimed in disbelief. 

 This section was a vast collection of Beast Crystals, varying in size and elemental nature. A quick scan suggested there were at least 100,000 of them. But the true shock came from the sight of two cores at the center of the pile: one ablaze in fiery red, the other a serene white with a swirling pattern of green. The rarity of these cores, nestled among the myriad of crystals, left Darius in awe.

 Beast Crystals, sourced from the bodies of Mana Beasts, are distinct in their round shape. With each ascending grade, their surfaces grow smoother, their hues more vivid. The grade of these crystals is directly linked to the origin beast and its evolutionary stage, not necessarily its strength. This results in crystals of the same grade often possessing varying power levels.

 Beast Crystals are common, but the formation of a Mana Core is an exceptional rarity. These cores represent the pinnacle of crystal potency on Gaia. Renowned for their immense mana reserves, Mana Cores also manifest unique, unpredictable effects. These effects vary greatly, potentially aiding in elemental comprehension or, as some tales suggest, even bestowing a secondary elemental affinity upon the user. Typically, Mana Cores develop within legendary Mana Beasts that have attained their humanoid form. While there are rare instances of non-humanoid Mana Beasts forming these cores, such occurrences are few and far between, adding to the mystique and value of these extraordinary crystals.

 Darius's attention snapped back to his father's voice, echoing from the All-Room where he stood, an arm around Amara. "Those two Mana Cores," Jarek began, his tone infused with reverence, "were left by Warwick. The fire core," he gestured towards the red, flaming core, "came from a humanoid Manticore. Warwick fought it in a relentless one-on-one battle that lasted two days." The pride in his voice was palpable as he continued, "And the wind core," he pointed to the swirling green and white core, "was obtained from a battle against a swarm of War-bees, the largest ever recorded on Gaia. Warwick, alongside two other Legend rank knights, confronted the swarm. It was a grueling battle where they were nearly forced into retreat. But Warwick broke through to the center of the swarm and found the queen... a humanoid War-bee."

 Darius, his voice laced with reverence, quietly spoke, "A World-ender." He slowly rose to his feet, reluctantly shifting his gaze from the mesmerizing crystals. He brushed off his clothes and walked back towards his parents. His thoughts lingered on the concept of World-Enders, the apex predators among Mana Beasts. Known for their control over other beasts and immense strength, even in their humanoid forms, these beasts stood apart, presenting a challenge insurmountable for a lone Legend Knight or Archmagus. The mere thought of confronting such a being both thrilled and sobered him.

"A swarm led by a humanoid War-Bee could devastate kingdoms, potentially eradicating all life on Gaia," Darius remarked, a hint of awe lacing his words. Amara, standing beside him, had a trace of fear flickering in her eyes at the thought of such a formidable foe. Jarek, looking from Darius to the pulsating Mana Core, added, "Warwick nearly lost his life in that battle. They managed to isolate her from the majority of the swarm, which gave him the chance to land the fatal blow." As he spoke, his admiration for Warwick Valdene was palpable, his voice rich with respect.

 Darius imagined the magnitude of a World-Ender swarm. In his mind, he visualized War-Bees, the weakest of which were the size of a rabbit, their numbers vast and formidable. His father's revelations about additional family history ignited a fervent desire within him. 'Someday, I will hunt for Mana Cores myself,' he thought, his eyes sparked with an unquenchable thirst for growth and power. Lost in thoughts of his future conquests, he momentarily became lost in his daydream.

Snapping back to the present, Darius noticed Jarek leaning closer, a playful yet knowing look in his eyes. "And that is only the first room," Jarek said.

 Darius, overwhelmed by the sheer scale of resources before him, couldn't help but question aloud, "What more could I possibly need at this point?" The wealth of crystals and cores already promised him years of dedicated cultivation. The thought of what lay beyond the other doors baffled him, considering the magnitude of what he had just witnessed.

 Jarek gestured towards the adjacent door, his voice steady and proud. "In there, you'll find magic herbs, ores, woods, seeds – a trove of natural treasures matching the first room in worth." He then moved closer to Darius, his expression solemn. "And that third door," he continued, pointing to another door, "holds our military legacy. Every knight skill, spell, crafting method, and alchemy recipe. It's where we keep our sacred texts, the real essence of the Valdenes' knowledge."

 Darius stood in awe, his thoughts swirling. 'This is unbelievable,' he mused, contrasting his past life's trials with his current fortune. 'A inheritance freely given, no deadly trials attached.' He marveled at the stark contrast between his two lives: one a struggle in the dirt, the other a flight through the heavens. The promise held within these three rooms alone could propel his cultivation to new heights. Curiosity about the remaining three doors ignited within him, fueling his excitement.

 Jarek's gaze turned towards the fourth door, his eyes sparkling with a unique intensity. "Beyond this lies our armory, filled with weapons and armor accumulated over generations," he explained. His words carried a tone of pride as he mentioned the collection. Turning towards the fifth door, he added, "And there...we have the artifact room."

 "Primordial Artifacts?" echoed Darius, his voice tinged with disbelief. In his mind, a wry thought surfaced, 'Looks like I'm on my way to becoming one of those pampered young masters.'

 "To be honest there are not many artifacts inside, but each one will still be of great help to you, so do not feel dissapointed," Amara chimed in, her tone soft yet earnest. Darius knew of her fascination with artifacts. Most of these relics were from the time of the Ancients, ancestor's to Gaia's elder races from the Primordial Age. This was an era of tumultuous land formation and raw, chaotic mana. The Artifacts from that age, known for their immense power, were shrouded in mystery. Their crafting methods were largely lost, with only a few replicated by the mage towers, sparking the evolution of the world's magitech.

 Darius, feeling a mix of exhilaration and fatigue, turned his attention to the last door. "And behind that final door?"

 Jarek's smile broadened slightly as he revealed the purpose of the final room. "That last door leads to a beast farm, Darius," he said, glancing at his son's expression with a twinkle in his eye. "Right now, it's empty of any beasts. Should you choose to raise any, you'll need to provide suitable game and crops for them. Besides, it's a good space for stretching your legs." His tone was casual, almost teasing, as he awaited Darius's reaction.

 Darius swayed slightly, a sheen of sweat on his brow. He looked towards his parents, his voice faint and uncertain, "Do I need to undergo a trial to unlock each door?" His eyes, clouded and unfocused, searched their faces for answers. "Is there a need to grow stronger or... perhaps confront an ancestor's spirit?" His words trailed off, hinting at the exhaustion that gripped him.

 Amara and Jarek shared a look of puzzlement. "No, son, nothing of that sort," Jarek replied, his brows furrowed in confusion. Clearing his mind, Jarek gently ruffled Darius's hair, "One last thing, but let's step out of the Vault first." Leading the way, Jarek and Amara moved to the center of the All-Room. The array beneath them glowed to life as they gestured for Darius and Haku to follow.

 Darius, with a hint of reluctance in his voice, questioned, "Do we have to leave already? We just got here." He dramatically beckoned Haku and trudged towards the array in the center, where his parents stood waiting.

 "Exit," Jarek announced, prompting the portal to reappear, revealing the same vast expanse of space that had quickened Darius's pulse before. "Up, Haku," Darius called out swiftly.

 Darius, flanked by his parents, each with a reassuring hand on his shoulders, stepped out of the family vault. He cast a lingering glance over his shoulder, his face still etched with excitement and disbelief. The six doors he left behind held the key to his ascension, to reaching the pinnacle of Gaia and restoring his family's honor. 'Patience,' he reminded himself, the doors disappearing from view as they crossed the portal's threshold.