53 Resurgence (1/2)
When we finally reached the Lava Hot Springs Underground Dungeon, we felt a strong presence awaken.
Fluosh
Our hearts were suddenly filled with a strong pressure, however, unlike the previous time, we have become way stronger than before, and we were able to stand against such overbearing pressure just fine. Redgaria didn't feel any pressure at all, and the wyvern brothers felt a welcoming feeling.
As we reached the massive red door a strong and elder voice talked through our hearts.
”Aaah… Kireina… You are back… With my children too… And… Wait… Is he…?”
Redgaria didn't let the Wyvern Overlord finish and greeted him.
”So, you are the famous Wyvern Overlord, right? Hahaha! I never thought I would be able to meet you without the intention of killing you! This world is full of surprises, isn't it? Hahaha!”
The Wyvern Overlord was surprised over the personality of who once was his feared enemy. He remained silent for some time and slowly talked again.
”I never thought that such a situation would happen… It seems that Kireina has enslaved you…? I can feel it… Then, there is nothing to fear anymore… Kireina, you have fulfilled my task… You have my greatest thanks…”
I laughed a bit and looked towards the dissatisfied Redgaria, it seems that the Wyvern Overlord completely ignored him and only talked to me.
”It was very hard, but we reached an understanding at the end, Redgaria may seem like an insane man, and he is, but he also has a reasonable side”
The Wyvern Overlord seemed to laugh for a bit, but it was too tired to compromise on the act of laughing.
”Haha… I believe your words, Kireina”
Abellona and his brothers have been kept silent for the moment but couldn't contain the urge to talk with their father.
”Father! We have missed you so much!”
”We have become stronger for your sake, father, to avenge you! And to avenge our mother!”
”We will defeat the Human Kingdoms!”
The Wyvern Overlord laughed a little bit and released a warm aura that enveloped his children as if he were tightly hugging them.
”My children… There is no need for revenge… I was the one who let himself be sealed in the first place… To save the rest of the forest…”
Abellona yelled.
”But Father! The Humans did not fulfill their promise to the full extent! They killed every Emperor class and above monster in the forest! Leaving all the races completely defenseless! Due to this, tons of intelligent tribes died to the hands of the non-intelligent monsters from the outside!”
The Wyvern Overlord sighed.
”I know… But that is long in the past, Kireina has unified almost every intelligent race of the forest… This is more than what I would have accomplished if I were unsealed… My children, stop resenting the Humans… Please, let me rest in peace, knowing that my children won't run towards their death…”
The wyvern brothers were surprised over the Overlord statement.
”R-Rest in peace? F-Father…”
”So it's true…”
”Father, you are already on the blink of death?”
The Wyvern Overlord voice became slower and sadder.
”Yes… I would have died long ago if it wasn't for this seal… Although it drained my life force, it also has kept me alive this many years…”
Redgaria rubbed his chin with his thin hand and decided to speak in.
”Hmm… So what we need to do to take you out alive is find a way to unseal you without destroying the seal?”
I glanced at the necromancer with confusion.
”How is that even possible? Wouldn't his body be too weak to even move anyways?”
The Wyvern Overlord sighed once again.
”Its impossible, Redgaria… My body has already decayed into an irremediable state, the moment the seal is modified, I would crumble into dust…”
Redgaria rubbed his chin once again thinking about another solution.
”Hey, Wyvern Overlord, are you okay by becoming a Soul Core?”
It seems that Redgaria can extract the Wyvern Overlord powerful soul and put it inside a Soul Core, the wyvern would lose his skills and stats, but he would technically still be ”alive”.
After thinking it for a while, and seeing his children sad faces over their father died, the Wyvern Overlord ultimately decided to accept such an offer, as it would grant it the opportunity to remake his life with his children at his side.
The process to do this wasn't as complicated as I thought, Redgaria asked me and the wyvern to donate some of our blood as he created a massive magic circle in front of the door.
”Very well, Wyvern Overlord. Extracting your soul will be extremely painful, and it wouldn't so far to say that you would experiment with the same feeling as death for some time. Are you prepared?”
The Wyvern Overlord braced himself, and with the support of his children, he answered with a strong conviction.
”I will… Come back! I will protect my home once again, with my children… Yes, Redgaria, I'm ready”
Redgaria kneeled down and with just a touch of his finger, the whole magic circle was illuminated on a bright crimson color. At the same time, he chanted a powerful spell.
”Hear my call, oh supreme empress of the abyss, Hel. I call upon you to ask for a request. I offer you this sacred blood in exchange, give me the power to take the soul out of the living… [Forbidden Death Arts: Soul Extraction]”
Redgaria grabbed a big red sphere, that seemed to be the next recipient of the Wyvern Overlord, and raised it over its head.
Suddenly, a powerful force called upon the presence that was lying across the massive door.
A powerful orange-colored soul came from that place, as it slowly settled inside the Soul Core.
The big red Soul Core shined on a bright orange with some red tones, as if it were engulfed on powerful flames.
When the Wyvern Overlord regained consciousness, he was able to slowly float and speak through his soul.
I decided to appraise the powerful Soul Core, as I felt that the Overlord soul was incredibly powerful.
[NAME: Shadrach
[CLASS: NONE
[RACE: Rank 3 Blazing Overlord Soul (Red Spirit Crystal Soul Core)
[STATS: [Sealed]
[SKILLS]
[Sealed]
[Titles]
[Sealed]
After seeing its stats, it was obvious why his soul made such pressure, it was because he was Rank 3!
According to Redgaria, rank 3 Soul are incredibly powerful, even to the point of being able to materialize the mental image of themselves and create a semi-solid form to move around. Its power would be based on their Soul Stats.
However, Redgaria told me that even if he could materialize a semi-solid form of itself, it wouldn't be as strong as having an actual body, if he had an actual body, he could infuse the power of his soul on it, making it even stronger.
While the Wyvern Overlord used his soul to embrace his children, Redgaria asked him if he was okay by having an Undead body.
”An Undead body…? I don't think I could… I'm sorry, Redgaria, but I wouldn't like to be an Undead. It's just a personal preference”
Redgaria looked at the floating Soul Core with an angry expression on his face, as if the Overlord offended him greatly.
”Tch, you are just wasting your potential like that. With a new body, you could use your soul to enhance it, increasing its growth speed and magic power through the roof”
I offered the Wyvern Overlord with other bodies that could be implanted with its Soul Core, from Demon Slimes, Flaming Salamanders, Spiders, Trolls, Goblins, etc. But the old wyvern didn't like any of that, saying that it would be a disgrace to use such a weak being body.
Even Redgaria could be seen as having a displeased face, away from his usual relaxed demeanor.
”What with this old lizard?! If you're so picky you will never have a body again!”
”Then I won't… I will know when it's time to find a new body!”
I could see some hostility between the two growing in as I tried to stop the two from keeping the show. Meanwhile, my wives played around the Underground with the other Wyverns, unaware of what was going on.
Suddenly, an idea came across my mind.
”Ah! How about my sword?”
The Wyvern Overlord Soul Core flew towards me with curiosity.
”A sword? Hmm, how strong is it? Is it a legendary sword?!”
The Wyvern Overlord seemed quite fine by becoming a Legendary Weapon, as it would be ideal for his status.
I quickly called upon my Greatsword, and after some seconds, it came rushing like a silver-colored thunder.
Flash!
After checking on its status, I noticed it had already leveled to 50/50 and it was ready to evolve, according to the system, it needed my approbation to evolve yet.
When the Overlord Soul glanced at the majestic demon sword, I could feel his eyes shining with amazement.
”T-This is an incredible sword! It can even self-evolve? I take it! I take it!”
Redgaria couldn't believe that the former governor of the forest preferred an inanimate object than his precious Undead.
After discussing for a while, Redgaria ultimately agreed on inserting the Soul Core inside the Greatsword.
The sword conveniently enough had a small slot to put on a gem, probably to enhance its capabilities, and the Soul Core was able to fit just fine.
The Wyvern Overlord soul slowly expanded across the sword and quickly took control of it.
Suddenly, a system message popped out of thin air.
[Rank 3 Blazing Overlord Soul (Red Spirit Crystal Soul Core): Shadrach] has been successfully incrusted on your [Cursed Ocean Demon Bone Greatsword]
[Initiate Synthesis?]
[>Yes No]
”Synthesis?”
After talking it for a while, Redgaria told me that it was a way for the Soul and the Weapon to fuse and evolve at the same time. Readjusting the power of the weapon to the current Soul Rank.
Shadrach (Wyvern Overlord) told me that it was fine, as he could obtain new power. He didn't mind being my weapon at all and even was happy over it.
”Then… Yes”
Fluosh!
Suddenly, the powerful greatsword shined on a bright red light for several minutes, changing its shape.
After the light slowly dispersed, a completely new Greatsword was left.
Unlike its bony and spiky appearance, this new Greatsword seemed to be made of a shiny red silver. Its handle seemed to be decorated with the red scales of the Wyvern Overlord himself. And on over it, a beautiful Wyvern head was made using the save red silver.
The sword was engulfed on powerful flames and I could feel the full aura of Shadrach on it.
Ding!
[Synthesis success]
*This Synthesis counts as a daily one, resulting in only 8 skill fusions this night.
[NAME: Shadrach
[CLASS: Legendary Living Weapon (Greatsword)
[RACE: Heaven Shattering Flaming Overlord
[LEVEL 01/80 EXP 00000/50000 STATUS: FINE
[DURABILITY: 650/650 MP: 260/260
[ATTACK: 362
[MAGIC: 324
[SPEED: 216
[ESSENCE: 157
[NEW SKILLS]
[Advanced Durability Regeneration] [Wyvern Overlord Sword]
[Quick Flaming Reflexes] [Wyvern Overlord Powerful Presence]
[Overbearing Pressure] [Fire and Lava Magic Creation and Manipulation]
[Fast MP Regeneration] [Sacred Nirvana Fire] [Wyvern Overlord Solid Form]
[Flaming Soul] [Wyvern Overlord Flaming Heart] [Lava Coat]
[Wyvern Overlord Magic Reflecting Scales]
[NEW TITLES]
[Legendary Weapon] [Wyvern Overlord Soul]
Even Redgaria who hated the idea of the Overlord becoming a sword was amazed and fascinated.
The power of the sword jumped several leaps and even became a [Legendary Weapon] after its evolution.
Shadrach was so happy over getting back some of its power that it began to spin like a flaming tornado around. However, it suddenly stopped and activated its new skill [Wyvern Overlord Solid Form] has a powerful light emerged from the sword.
Flash!
The light expanded several meters until almost filling the whole room, and when it dissipated a new being that I've never seen before was in front of us. It was the true Wyvern Overlord at its peak of his age. His new body was sturdier and was made out of flesh, however, if one cut a piece of it, the flesh would quickly dissipate into the light.
The Wyvern Overlord reminded me of Abellona but it was three times as big, it had shiny dark red scales around its body, and its tail and arms had deep black scales. His back was covered on several spikes that seemed to be made of red diamond. While its wings were incredibly wide and had beautiful red markings across the membranes. His head was crowned with several golden horns. Every time the Wyvern Overlord breathed; I could see powerful flames from his nostrils.
Abellona and his brothers were amazed by this, so much that they began to cry with happiness, hugging the flesh body of their father, they could once again experiment his warm embrace.
”Impressive… I never thought that such a thing was possible, Kireina, this wouldn't have been possible without your incredible Blessing. Obtaining a skill like that greatsword through fusing so many skills gained with your Blessing. And when Synthetizing it with my soul, this new form was acquired. I can even take the shape of my former self at the peak of my age when I was a strong and brave young adult”
Although the new Wyvern Overlord didn't regain his full strength, it wasn't so far from my won power, I could already see us as equals in a lot of terms. But I was still superior in things like skills and spell variety.
After such events, Redgaria looked at me with an impressed smile.
”Kireina… You can change the future of others. Hahaha… I hope this can apply to my sister…”
I could see some grievance and sadness accumulate on the old necromancer's face as I patted his shoulders.
”Don't worry, you have proven yourself enough. I will make sure to retrieve her soul, with your help, of course”
Noticing the conviction on my eyes, Redgaria couldn't help but explode in laughter.
”Bwahahaha! Okay, okay! Relax there, ”Heroine”! Hahaha! Of course, you will!”
”It seems like I cheered you up somehow, you look better when you're laughing and taking it easy”
While celebrating, a strong earthquake filled the room, making several rocks fall from the ceiling.
I quickly cast a solidified magic shield and protected everyone around.
When the earthquake finally stopped, the powerful magic chains over the dungeon door slowly dissipated into dust as the door opened itself.
After the door opened, we were greeted by the Wyvern Overlord bones and ashes.
Redgaria laughed at what remained of Shadrach original body.
”Hahaha! You really became a pile of dust!”
On the back of the big pile of bones and ashes, I could notice a very long stairs that went all the way down. Not even Shadrach knew how big was this dungeon he was sealed in. He told me that even after using its full aura to inspect the deeps of the dungeon, he couldn't find the last floor. He also felt several spirits that were in a similar position than him, being sealed inside while slowly draining their power.
Shadrach calculated that there were around 30 different floors, but he only reached 12 with his aura.