Chapter 128 Serena has a Destruction Core?
Black Dragon Gate Arc
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(POV: Lumiere)
Currently, I was in one of the rooms at the Del Silva Medical Center.
Mimosa stood by Serena's side, her eyes never straying from her.
Serena lay before her, consumed by the dark energy that emanated from within. The black scales that adorned Serena's body remained a haunting reminder of the transformation she had undergone.
My mind was swirling with disbelief and questions, a maelstrom of confusion and concern.
Stellaria however, didn't seem too bothered.
And based on what she told me, we had a lot to be worried about.
I turned to her, desperation etched across my face, "What you said before, are you sure?"
She told me all this was happening because Serena absorbed the heart of the Black Dragon King of Destruction, Valtara.
Stellaria sighed nonchalantly. "Yes, how many times do I have to say it?"
"Wow, a lot really did happen the day those people attacked." (Lumiere)
"Indeed, it's slightly disadvantageous at this venture." (Fasit)
"But it's not exactly the heart." Stellaria casually dressed her hair.
"Hm?" I raised an eyebrow.
"What do you mean...?" Fasit inquired.
"You see, high ranking dragons possess something known as a Destruction Core." Stellaria calmly replied.
I raised an eyebrow, curiosity mingling with concern.
"A Destruction Core?" I questioned, my voice laced with uncertainty.
I moved to sit on the edge of the bed, lowering my gaze to Serena's unconscious form.
"Yes," Stellaria explained. "A Destruction Core is well... a powerful artifact derived from the heart of a high ranking dragon. It contains concentrated and volatile energy, representing the essence of destruction itself... that's basically it."
"Oh my." Fasit uttered.
I remained silent however.
Stellaria's tired yawn cut through the heavy atmosphere, reminding us all that it was still the middle of the night.
"There are various types of Destruction Cores, tailored to each dragon," Stellaria continued, her fatigue adding a hint of vulnerability to her voice. "But I don't know the exact one Serena possesses."
Fasit sat beside me on the bed, her hand comforting on my back.
"It'll be fine," she said.
I let out a weary sigh. "I hope so."
Stellaria glanced at us with a raised eyebrow, emitting an air of indifference.
"Why are we acting as if Serendipi- I mean Serena's about to die?" Stellaria questioned, her tone almost casual.
Fasit's sounded exasperated as she replied, "Because she is. Look at the darkness surrounding her."
Stellaria shook her head dismissively.
"You're both overreacting," she said.
"Eh?" I blinked in surprise.
"We just need to absorb the excess destruction energy emanating from her. It's not as bad as you think. Jeez, you guys... honestly." (Stellaria)
I stood up abruptly.
That shouldn't be too hard," I exclaimed, partly relieved.
Stellaria's expression grew serious.
"It's not as simple as you think," she warned.
My enthusiasm wavered as uncertainty crept into my mind.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
Stellaria floated gently into the air, crossing her legs in a meditative form.
"Absorbing destruction energy without the proper affinity or resistance to it would simply atomize you in seconds. It's pretty dangerous." (Stellaria)
I gulped.
"So that's out of the list," I muttered, my hopes deflating.
Fasit let out a tired sigh. "Well, it's called destruction energy for a reason. I guess it makes sense."
I rubbed my chin thoughtfully.
"I'm surprised you don't know much about Destruction Cores and dragons," I remarked to Fasit.
She shrugged helplessly, her frustration apparent. "My father never had any scrolls on them, so I couldn't read anything about them."
Placing my hands gently into my pockets, I pondered aloud, "Why in the realms would Serena absorb the Black Dragon?s power?"
Stellaria floated by my side, her vibrant energy emanating from her as she began to speak. "You know," she stated, a mischievous twinkle in her cobalt blue eyes, "Serena and I are both Trifects. We're beings made of pure energy, so it's only natural that we're drawn to other sources of energy."
Puzzled, I nodded, but a frown creased my brow.
"But Serena is different," I said, my voice filled with concern.
Stellaria simply shrugged, a smirk playing at her lips.
"Let's just say that, at the time, she wasn't quite herself."
Fasit, sensing the undercurrent of secrecy, interjected. "Wasn't quite herself?"
Stellaria, now lounging in the air with her legs crossed and her hands behind her head, spun lazily as she replied, "Oh, never mind. It's not important."
I felt a slight annoyance at Stellaria's nonchalant attitude. "Can't you do something?" I asked her, a trace of frustration seeping into my voice.
Sighing, Stellaria's smile remained gentle, "As strong as I am, this field of energy is beyond my specialty." She shrugged right after.
Deep in thought, I pondered on the situation until suddenly, my status board appeared before me, displaying a recommendation.
「 Suggestion:
Your new Apex Skill 『Voracious Queen: Adephagia』 gained as a bonus from Curse King and Demon Lord candidacy has the following sub-skills:
- [Soul Gorge] :: The harrowing ability to absorb souls and extract their essence. Gains victim's accrued mana points, experience, abilities, and skills, assimilating them into their own repertoire of power.
- [Soulbound Encasement] :: It can imprison spiritual bodies and souls, suspending them in an eternal stasis or employing them as power source.
- [Makeshift] :: Can bend primordial black matter, <<Eterna Noctis>>, to user's will.
- [Accelerated Regeneration] :: Limited to disintegration.
- [Noctis Resist] :: Grants limited resistance to magical and physical attacks.
- [Siphon] :: Can skim off all forms of physical energy.
- [Consuming Void] :: A failsafe survival skill with boundless consumption that could plunge all of existence into eternal darkness. 」
Stellaria, hovering behind me, peered at the skill and nodded approvingly. "That could work," she remarked.
"Somehow I think 『Beginner's Luck』 has something to do with this.." I said.
"Hm?" Stellaria raised an eyebrow. "That aside, you're pretty much a Grade 0 level threat."
"Grade 0?"
"Never mind that, focus on removing the excess energy."
"Oh, right."
I approached Serena.
Calmly, I extended my hand, and used [Siphon].
Primordial black matter oozed like a sinister, slimy substance from my outstretched hand, twisting and turning in a mesmerizing vortex. It slithered towards Serena, encircling her in an otherworldly embrace, drawing in some of Valtara's aura that enveloped her being.
As the inky black substance merged with Serena's essence, both the energy and the unnerving matter dissipated into nothingness.
"Oh?" (Fasit)
The extracted energy would now be safely confined within my soul collection, ensuring no harm would befall me.
Fasit's eyes glistened with admiration, "Excellent as always, Great Lumiere."
I grinned in response, flashing a thumbs-up.
Stellaria hovered with an ethereal grace. She chimed in, "Well, well, I wouldn't expect anything less from my charming future husband!"
I chuckled nervously. "Uh... sure."
Just then, Mimosa, her gentle footsteps barely making a sound, entered the room.
"How's Serena doing?" she inquired softly.
I shook my head solemnly, my gaze locked on Serena's serene face as she lay in a peaceful slumber.
"Lirien and Bluestella are still unconscious," Mimosa informed me.
I stretched my arms, my eyes still fixed on Serena's sleeping form.
"I don't expect them to awaken anytime soon," I replied.
Fasit's smiled. "Don't worry too much, my lord," she offered, her voice warm and soothing.
Mimosa nodded sympathetically.
I sighed, my gaze never wavering from Serena's still face.
"It's not her physical well-being that troubles me," I confessed, a hint of unease tugging at my words.
"Hm?" Stellaria raised an eyebrow.
"With Valtara's heart gone, the Human Continent might just be in trouble with the Aurelian Empire." I spoke calmly.
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