Chapter 134: Gathering of Monsters & Treasure

Although the monsters’ cries echoed in Aurelius’ ears, when he followed them and tried to track them back to their source, he was surprised to discover that their owners were not nearby at all.

Even with his current speed, it took several minutes before he finally reached his destination.

He had been worried throughout this time.

What if the monsters managed to obtain the treasure and left before he even got there? Wouldn’t he have wasted his precious time?

Thankfully, his worries soon proved meaningless.

Even until he arrived, the cries had yet to stop. If anything, they had only grown louder as time passed, evidence of their owners’ excitement.

Using his concealment skills to hide his figure and aura, blending into the surrounding environment, Aurelius slowly approached their source.

Soon, he came face to face with the voice’s owners.

Monsters. Dozens of them, each separated by only a few dozen feet.

This was a strange scene. Monsters were territorial creatures and would never gather like this.

However, the reason behind this strange action was soon revealed.

It was a tiny puddle of silver liquid, from which a similarly-colored flower grew. The liquid seemed to be both metal and not, flowing like mercury.

This characteristic was shared by the flower as well, making it look beautiful and majestic.

Silverheart Lotus.

This term instantly emerged in Aurelius’ mind, having seen its description in one of the books in the Ernst Academy’s library.

With its identity known, he quickly realized why so many monsters had gathered here.

The value of the Silverheart Lotus could not be understated.

Unlike other extraordinary materials, which could be used to refine Potions, forge Relics, or at best enhance Base Stats, the Silverheart Lotus was different.

It could allow an Awakener or a monster to awaken a new skill or Talent upon consumption.

The resulting ability varied depending on the state of the Silverheart Lotus and the compatibility between it and the user.

The Silverheart Lotus before Aurelius had almost fully bloomed!

Given only an hour or so, it would reach its peak state and be ready for consumption.

As for its compatibility with him, Aurelius might have worried about it in the past.

However, with the Engraving effect of the Mutated Demigod’s Physique, he could always make up for it.

The Silverheart Lotus was related to water, moon, and life. As long as he engraved related skills into his Demigod’s Physique, he would surely improve his compatibility with it.

The more Aurelius thought about it, the more he felt that the Silverheart Lotus was truly perfect for him! If he was lucky enough, obtaining a powerful ability was entirely possible.

His eyes flashed with anticipation. He wanted to rush forward and collect it.

Yet he ultimately suppressed the impulse.

He knew that he was far from the only one in the clearing. Besides him, there were several other competitors.

And these beings were not weak at all.

[Level 26 Crimson Gale Wolf]

[Level 31 Millennium-Frost Lizard]

[Level 27 Fiery-Eyed Ape]

[...]

Interface after interface floated in Aurelius’ vision.

The weakest monster in the clearing was still at Level 25. It was not that no weaker monsters had tried to approach this place, but those that did had been driven away, or worse, eaten.

Only the strongest monsters remained, waiting for the flower to bloom and for a battle to break out.

Aurelius frowned. He quickly activated his skills to strengthen his own concealment while moving a few dozen feet away.

He could not afford to be discovered by them. Otherwise, as the lone human among a pack of monsters, he would inevitably be targeted.

Under normal circumstances, he wouldn’t have shown such fear. However, the monsters here were more than enough to threaten him!

’Moreover, these are only the monsters out in the open. There must be some smart monsters hiding just like me,’ Aurelius judged, trying to find the hidden opponents.

Unfortunately, without the other beings’ figures in his field of vision, he could not activate the Level Interface.

This made him sigh.

He suspected that his finding of the Silverheart Lotus was the result of his increased Luck. However, it didn’t seem to have come for free.

Danger accompanied the opportunity.

Even so, Aurelius didn’t rush to leave.

The monsters would eventually fight to decide the treasure’s ownership. If a suitable opportunity arose, Aurelius could very well become the final winner.

With that in mind, Aurelius began waiting patiently, mirroring the movements of the monsters around him.

His gaze remained focused on the Silverheart Lotus while he slowly counted the time in his mind.

One minute. Two minutes. Three...

Time slowly passed.

The silver liquid beneath the Silverheart Lotus began to grow less and less. It moved upwards and seeped into the flower, accelerating its growth.

Aurelius’ initial estimation was slightly off.

Less than half an hour later, the liquid had been completely absorbed.

The silver color of the Silverheart Lotus grew deeper.

With a click, its petals opened and erupted with a captivating moonlight-like brilliance.

Anyone who saw this scene would instinctively become immersed in its beauty.

At least, that was the case for humans. For monsters, though...

Boom!

The moment the Silverheart Lotus bloomed, several powers erupted.

The monsters moved toward the flower in unison, attempting to grab it first and make a run for it.

The one closest to it was none other than the Millenium-Frost Lizard, which happened to be the strongest among them.

Its blue talons reached out, ready to tear off the stem and harvest the flower in one fluid motion.

Before its claws could reach the flower, however, several skills fired toward it from every direction.

Fireballs. Wind blades. Physical attacks.

All the other monsters targeted the Millenium-Frost Lizard as though they had agreed beforehand, preventing it from obtaining the treasure.

A sea of skills engulfed the lizard.

Soon, an agonizing scream came from its mouth as several giant wounds formed on its body. The scales protecting it were torn apart. Puddles of blood formed beneath it.

The only good news for the lizard was that the other monsters did not follow up on their attacks and try to kill it.

Instead, their gazes shifted toward the Crimson Gale Wolf, the monster now closest to the Silverheart Lotus.

Boom!

Another sea of skills fired out.