Chapter 209: Five Stars [1]

Chapter 208

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Episode 52 - Five Stars [1]

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Burst!

I smashed the display case and grabbed the vial.

From within it, I instinctively felt something drawing me in, as if it were urging me to take it directly.

I lightly shook my head.

’Does this have some kind of attraction effect?’

What I was holding in my hand was something called the Essence of the Divine.

The only ingredient so mysterious that it could only be obtained if the Tree of Dreams and Wishes personally bestowed it upon you.

’I can certainly feel countless indescribable things, and this is only a single drop.’

Of course, there was no such thing as a spring or anything similar.

The drop was simply a tiny droplet that somehow emerged from the Tree of Dreams and Wishes.

I had no idea how this single drop came into existence, taking a thousand years to become this liquid.

’Well, I should take a look with the system’s help.’

With a thought, a window appeared in my mind, and the information on the Essence of the Divine was revealed.

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Name: Essence of the Divine.

Category: Ingredient.

Description: A drop born from the Origin through the seed of a World.

Use: It can be used as the main ingredient to awaken the Divine Body.

Note: The Essence of the Divine is formed only once every thousand years and originates from the Origin.

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I pursed my lips. I wanted to say something about it, but then I kept my mouth shut.

’The Origin again.’

The villainess who escaped the previous day, when I killed the Apostle, had revealed many things I never knew.

Such as what a Dark Destiny might truly be, the Fable, and the Origin to which the Gods and other beings are bound.

’What exactly is this Origin? What kind of connection does it have with me, and why am I one of the Origin’s Chosen?’

But whatever the truth behind the Origin was, I was already so deeply involved that there seemed to be no turning back.

So, for the time being, I carefully stored the vial in my Inventory.

Then I noticed the strange fruit displayed in the same showcase.

I tilted my head in confusion and asked,

"Master, what is this fruit?"

An idea crossed my mind, but I had to confirm it with my master.

She answered almost immediately.

〖It’s called the "Flower of Dreams and Wishes," and as you can probably imagine, the reason it’s displayed alongside the Essence of the Divine is that the fruit also comes from the Tree of Dreams and Wishes.〗

"Then it’s an elixir."

〖Yes, although I never had the time to find out what kind of effects it has. The Tree of Dreams and Wishes told me it was the finest fruit it had ever ’raised.’〗

"..."

"Ah, I see..."

I thought about it for a second. Then another screen appeared, and I read its information.

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Name: Flower of Dreams and Wishes.

Category: Elixir.

Description: A fruit born from the dream and desire of a daughter who fell into the void. Since then, the Consciousness has nurtured it.

-[Effect]-[Mana increases by 50%]

-[Effect]-[Two Traits can be awakened from your greatest dream and your greatest desire]

-[Effect]-[The children of the Tree of Dreams and Wishes will feel more drawn to you]

Note: It is recommended to consume this fruit once you are certain of your greatest dream and your greatest desire.

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After reading the elixir’s information twice, I was left slightly bewildered and stunned.

An elixir capable of awakening two Traits with nothing more than a single condition was something I had never heard of, nor was there any record of it.

Certain conditions must be fulfilled to awaken a Trait.

Of course, since no one knows which Trait they might awaken,

there is no guide listing the conditions required to awaken Traits.

After all, Traits are inherently powerful.

’So I can obtain two Traits simply by eating this... but about my greatest dream and desire...’

Honestly, that left me deeply puzzled.

What exactly does my greatest dream or my greatest desire mean?

My greatest desire could very well be resolving everything related to my Dark Destiny, or it could be my wish to live peacefully with my sister.

On the other hand, I’m not sure what my greatest dream is.

A dream could be a goal or something I long for, but then, what exactly is that dream?

’Mhm, no... I’m honestly not sure...’

I figured it would be better to keep the elixir for the time being.

’Besides, the note says it’s best to consume it once I know—or at least have—a dream and a desire.’

But that didn’t mean I couldn’t awaken both Traits.

The note warns me that if I follow its advice, the Traits will be more powerful.

But if I ignore the note and eat the fruit now, I could awaken any weaker Trait, or even a useless one.

’Then I’ll keep it until I’m certain of my dream and my desire.’

With that in mind, I turned around and walked toward the exit.

I had already come to retrieve what I needed, so there was no reason to stay.

It was finally time to advance to Five Stars.

But just then, my master’s voice stopped me.

〖If you’re going to advance to Five Stars now, you’ll need a place rich in mana.〗

"Oh, I already know that. I have a place in mind, although it would take me a few days to get there."

I had planned to enter a low-density Mana Channel.

After all, in a normal Mana Channel, I could only remain for less than a minute.

Otherwise, my body would fade away and become part of the Mana Channel’s mana.

〖That won’t be necessary. I know a place you can access immediately. First, go to the room with the Teleportation Circles and use the one in front of an altar.〗

"And that will take me...?"

〖To a Mana Channel that House Everblack used for those who were about to advance to Five Stars.〗

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The space around me shifted after I used the Teleportation Circle.

It seemed I was inside a cave. The sound of water echoed softly against the walls.

The scent of damp earth and the density of mana in the air felt like the waves of the sea.

I extended my senses throughout the entire cave.

It was a vast cavern, filled with streams that floated through the air, while others flowed like ordinary rivers.

A Mana Channel had the shape of a river, but at the same time, it didn’t behave exactly like one.

One example was the current of water (mana) floating directly above where I was standing.

I could see a gray color, or perhaps it was colorless. Since it was mana rather than water, I could see it with perfect clarity.

Just then, Liora flew out, joyfully flapping her wings as she disappeared somewhere in the distance.

"Do fairies love places like this?"

Most likely they did, because Liora’s reaction was truly astonishing.

On the other hand, the cave was enormous. I walked slowly while inspecting my surroundings.

There were spacious areas prepared for meditation.

They were arranged in rows, with five meters separating each meditation spot.

After wandering around for a while, I found a gentle current of mana.

"This one is perfect."

After using Mana Sense, I gave a slight nod. Then I took the materials out of my Inventory.

An Obsidian Flower, ten Ascension Stones, and finally, the Essence of the Divine.

Ironically, awakening the Divine Body required only those materials.

The last one was, at best, impossible to obtain, naturally catalyzing transcending the physical and mortal bodies of humans and other races.

After removing the materials, I quickly stripped off my clothes and stepped into the water (mana). Then the materials floated in front of me.

I removed the cork from the vial after breaking the seal that had originally been placed on it.

The moment I pulled out the cork, the atmosphere around me changed in a strange way.

But, using all my concentration, I paid no attention to my surroundings.

Using Gravity, I manipulated the vial and slowly drew the liquid out from inside it.

A tiny droplet shimmering with countless colors floated faintly in the air. I "looked" at it for a second before moving the other ingredients.

The Obsidian Flower and the ten Ascension Stones moved closer, and then I poured mana into them.

Dark Mana surged from my body and enveloped the flower and the ten Ascension Stones.

Crack!

An overwhelming pressure erupted all at once.

Using Mana Sense, my senses, and my own mana, I blended the three together.

The flower and the stones shattered into pieces. Then I manipulated my mana to condense it, creating a kind of liquid.

Finally, I moved the remains of the flower and the ten stones into the Dark Mana liquid.

The three fused together, and a faintly glowing dark light emerged. A slightly different form of Dark Mana came into existence.

Next, I mixed the Essence of the Divine with the black liquid.

Then I used every bit of mana I had to blend the two liquids together.

"....?"

The very next second, a tremendous energy erupted, and without wasting a single moment, I manipulated Gravity and guided the droplet floating before me into my mouth.

I swallowed it, and in the blink of an eye, a chain reaction erupted throughout my body.

Without hesitation, I finally shattered the chains that had bound me. I gathered the mana of the Mana Channel.

At last, I began my advancement to Five Stars.