Chapter 300: Quasi-Tier 6 Relic (1/2)
19th September, the year 334 of Dawn Era. It was still night time, the morning rays of the sun had yet to arrive. Waves churned while the Swarm continued to swim across, heading towards the land in a steady file.
From within the gaps between a Frog's legs, Rhachis Ancestor Strongest surfaced, landing on the water before he sprinted towards the land. He wasn't in much of a hurry, taking care to not damage the items he carried in him.
An hour later, he arrived in the vicinity of Marble City, stopping at the foot of the city walls. He landed on the head of an Armadillo, stomping it to death, the shockwaves causing the surrounding beasts to tumble aside.
Psychic Ancestor Marble's voice resounded in his ears, his tone suffused with unease, ”How did it go?”
”Better than we had hoped,” Rhachis Ancestor Strongest recounted everything that had transpired, wriggling his stomach muscles to fish out two containers. One held the Tier 6 Relic while the other contained the Tier 6 Skep's Heart Crystal.
”Incredible!” Psychic Ancestor Marble praised, the two boxes trembling as he held them, displaying his emotions. His psychic arm inspected them, commenting in praise, ”Even though this isn't a genuine Tier 6 Relic, it has already evolved 6 times. We can slowly Nurture it until the Skill in it is elevated to Tier 6.”
”Unfortunately, it hadn't Nurtured its Tier 6 Skill,” Rhachis Ancestor Strongest lamented, ”Otherwise, its value would have been even higher. Elevating its Skill to Tier 6 pales in comparison to a genuine Tier 6 Skill.”
”Yes,” Psychic Ancestor Marble replied, ”But, this is still good enough. If we had delayed any longer, Parasite would have obtained the Tier 6 Skep. Considering the overall situation, this outcome is already for the best. Besides, the Skill in this Relic has incredible uses.”
”Have you already figured it out?” Rhachis Ancestor Strongest was amazed, ”I thought it would take longer.”
With a sigh, Psychic Ancestor Marble replied, ”It is because I have been researching in this direction for more than two centuries without any result. But, who would have thought a fusion of a Skep's Skills, from Tier 1 to Tier 5 would produce such a result.”
”Before I forget,” Rhachis Ancestor Strongest took out another container and threw it in the air, watching it halt mid-flight. ”The Skeps had used something to drill their way through the earth's crust. It is like another world down there. I just collected some residue as a sample.”
”I'll give this to Atika. She should be able to figure out its mysteries.” Psychic Ancestor Marble then focused on the other two containers. ”Give me the results of your probe. Using the aura fluctuations, I would be able to narrow down the Skills the Tier 6 Skep possessed.”
Hearing his words, Rhachis Ancestor Strongest nodded, watching a marble slab appear before him. He placed his palm on it, unleashing his aura into it, transmitting everything he had sensed and probed.
Once he was done, the surroundings turned silent. Two hours later, Psychic Ancestor Marble replied, ”I got it. Once I cross-reference the evolutionary path of this particular Skep, I'll be closer to the truth.”
He then praised once again, ”I commend you for also bringing its Heart Crystal. Without it, the Relic would have become useless.”
”What do you mean?” Rhachis Ancestor Strongest was confused.
”The abilities of the Skeps are hidden within their energy source, the Heart Crystal in this Tier 6 Skep's case. Those abilities are in no way inferior to the Skills of Warriors and they don't have a theoretical limit to the amount they can possess. But, only the Skep it was a part of can wield the abilities in it. To the rest, it is just an unusable energy resource.”
He chuckled once, ”But, using the Relic, we can draw out the energy from it. With a bit of research, we'll be able to make use of its abilities, in return activating the Skill in it. It seems like the two have become a circuit, only capable of functioning in the presence of each other.”
”Seems complex enough.” Rhachis Ancestor Strongest nodded.
”It is a million times better than to run in the dark as I did in the past two centuries. At least, I can see the light now.” Psychic Ancestor Marble said.
”What is the Skill in it?” Rhachis Ancestor Strongest inquired, gazing at the two boxes hovering before him.
”Energy Heart!”
…
A large bird-type Frenzy Beast flew in the air, its path unhindered. Its beak was mildly curved but was wider than its head. Its throat area consisted of a large sack, connected with the underside of its beak. Its tongue acted as the lid for the sack, sealing something that was squirming within.