After getting out of the dungeon, we went to the guild to exchange the stones for Valis.
"What do they use these stones anyway?" I asked as I looked at Riveria.
"For adventurers, Magic Stones are the primary loot dropped by defeated monsters in the Dungeon. Adventurers take these back to the Guild and exchange them for Valis, the world's currency. This exchange system is what fuels the entire economy of Orario and makes adventuring a lucrative profession. The bigger the stone, the more Valis it is."
'I know that part.'
"Anything else?"
"Magic Stones are also the world's substitute for electricity and other modern power sources. They are charged with magical power and used as a fuel source for countless devices. The most common use is powering Magic Stone Lamps, which provide the dim, perpetual lighting in the Dungeon and the streetlights on the surface. They also power various modern conveniences in Orario, such as:
Refrigerators for preserving food.
Cooking Stoves.
Elevators in the Guild's tower, Babel.
They even use it for water purification and other large-scale processes."
'That's the essential link in the cycle: Dungeon Monster ----->Adventurer Loot -------> Guild Exchange ------> World Power Source ------> Orario's Wealth and Modernity.'
"Riveria, you can go back. I will take it from here."
"...Fine, but remember to come back as soon as possible."
"Is it about evilos?"
"Evilus. And yes, it's about them."
'...who came up with this stupid name?'
"See you in the manor."
"Ok, bye."
I waved at her until she disappeared from my view.
'Ok, the guild is there, which is not far, but I have to try it'
I thought as I bent a little, and crystals started to form behind me.
1
2
3
"Swish"
I started flying to the guild, and suddenly, the system screen appeared.
[Side Quest: kill 500 monsters in the dungeon.]
[Progress: 246/500]
'Already this is going to be easy with a void tendril there.'
-Meanwhile-
"aaaaah"
"Run away from that thing."
"What the fuck is that?!"
A group of evilus was hunting the monsters and using them for their plans, but out of nowhere, a sharp tentacle shot at one of them, killing him instantly, and his body started to dissolve in the ground.
Monsters also got part of it; the other part managed to run away.
-Back to the surface-
I managed to stop in front of the guild.
Getting inside, I was trying to find Rose.
'There she is.'
"Hi, Rose."
I said as I walked to her to hand her the stones.
"Hi Allen, how was your first dive in the dungeon?"
"There were no monsters to kill, so I don't know about that?"
"No monsters?"
I began to tell her about the events that had occurred in the dungeon.
"If what you're saying is true, then this is a problem."
"How's that a problem?"
"First, the adventurer will not be able to level fast since they took the monsters away. Second is that they might use them at the surface."
"I see."
Good thing I left the void tendril there.
"3,378 Valis take them and go back."
"Ok"
[476/500]
'Damm, why are there so many?'
[Side quest completed]
[Rewards]
Monster scream
Effect: make the weaker enemies paralyzed and fear, while the strong one loses about 10% of their strength (Upgradable)
"..."
Nice, it's upgradable, and I guess that it becomes stronger whenever I get a Boss ability.
[You're right, Host.]
'Good, but I have a question.'
[Ask Host.]
'What are the white lady's abilities?'
[Creation of Vessels: The essential ability to create the shells of the Vessels (like the Knight and the Hollow Knight) to be filled with the Void.
Life and Root Connection: An inherent power tied to life, growth, and nature, reflected in her physical form as a rooted, tree-like being.
Sensing/Foresight: The ability to sense events far from her physical location.
Void Resistance: possessing the Everbloom (a Delicate Flower), which she described as "the first light" and the only means to resist the Void—a significant power she could bestow.]
Hmm, I didn't know she had foresight.
'Oh, well, that's more than enough to know about it.'
I used the Crystal Heart to get to the mansion fast.
'Now that I think about it, I didn't focus on the Grimm Troup, did I?'
[The Grimm Troupe is a travelling band of performers led by the charismatic Troupe Master Grimm. They arrive in Hallownest after you activate a mysterious Nightmare Lantern found in the Howling Cliffs, which calls the troupe to the fallen kingdom.
The troupe's purpose is to perform a dark, immortal ritual:
Their goal was to collect the Scarlet Flames—said to be the essence of a fallen kingdom's fear, terror, and dark dreams.
The Cycle: The Troupe Master Grimm is not a singular being but a vessel for the true power behind the troupe: the Nightmare Heart. The ritual is how this Heart sustains itself and renews its vessel.]
As it finished its explanation, I got inside the manor.
I asked one of the familia members about the goddess's place since the place is big.
"Where is the goddess room?"
"Go this way, then turn left, you will see her room by the door."
"Thank you."
I got to her room, then I knocked.
-Knock-knock-
...
-knock-knock-
Is Loki asleep or something?
I knocked again, but this time it was harder.
-KNOCK-KNOCK-
The door finally opened, and the goddess was shown.
"Can't you see I'm trying to sleep?"
"This is your problem to have squinted eyes."
"What?"
"Nothing, I want to upgrade my Falna."
"Haah, come in."
I got inside her room, and let me tell you something, it was messy with a lot of wine bottles.
"Remove your shirt and lie down."
"Ok"
We went through the same process as yesterday.
---------------------------------
Name: Allen
Familia: Loki familia
Level: 1
Strength: 1184 SS
Endurance: 1149 SS
Dexterity: 1199 SS
Agility: 1144 SS
Magic: 1157 SS
Skill:
Embrace the void: using void tendril to consume the enemy gaining 500% of Excelia.
Drawbacks: The user must be in a state of calm focus and emptiness (a "void" of thought) when delivering the final blow for the skill to activate. Any attack made out of pure rage, fear, or panic will prevent the skill from triggering, as the emotional turbulence disrupts the "void."
Magic:
1. Desolate Dive / Descending Dark
Chant: "Fall to Nothingness
Effect: The user generates a dense, pressurized sphere of black energy (Void) around their body. They then forcefully slam downwards, creating a powerful shockwave that damages all enemies in a small area around the impact point.
Trait: It would have a powerful Guard Break effect, capable of shattering monster carapace or temporarily collapsing weak points in the dungeon floor.
2. Shade Soul / Vengeful Spirit
Chant: "Empty Flash"
Effect: The user fires a fast, crescent-shaped wave of Void energy that travels forward, piercing through the first target it hits and continuing to the next with reduced power.
Trait: It would have an exceptionally high Magical Penetration rating, making it effective against high Magic Resistance targets, but its area of effect would be very narrow.
3. Abyss Shriek
Chant: "From the Deepest Silence"
Effect: The user channels a massive amount of Mind to release an intense, sustained burst of black, coalesced Void energy straight upward. This damages all enemies directly above the user within a significant vertical range.
Trait: This spell would have the highest damage output of the Knight's magic, but it would have a very high Mind cost and a vulnerable full-body-chant time, making it situational.
------------------------------------------
Loki seeing this became shocked about the stats and the skill.
"Is it me or the skill became stronger?"
----------------------------------------