novelraw Chapter 121: The Perfect Nest
Chapter 121: The Perfect Nest
The passage beyond the archway sloped downward once more. The faint pull that had guided me through the vault grew stronger, beating faintly in rhythm with my own heart. Dust still blanketed the floor, but the deeper I went, the more I sensed the thick traces of residual mana permeating the air.
Eventually, I emerged into another chamber—smaller than the last, yet far more pristine. The walls were smooth, their surfaces engraved with aged runes that spiraled inward toward a circular emblem at the center. Streams of faint light seeped from the cracks above, illuminating a single, circular basin in the middle of the room.
The moment I stepped closer, a faint warmth brushed against my skin. The pull vanished, replaced by a tranquil stillness that felt… alive.
“So, this is the place,” I murmured.
The basin was filled with what looked like condensed mana—a translucent, viscous liquid that shone faintly like liquid crystal. The ambient mana here was denser than anywhere else in the Forgotten Vault. Even without activating Mana Sense, I could tell this area was saturated with concentrated magic energy. It was a place similar to the Oasis of Memory in the sixth scenario: a natural convergence point of mana.
This place wasn’t just an ordinary chamber inside the Forgotten Vault. It was the very heart of the Great Wilderness—the central node where all surrounding mana veins converged, forming the core of this isolated world.
And then, it struck me why it had been calling to me.
“This… this place is perfect for them…”
I reached into my inventory and took out the two divine eggs I had obtained as the hidden reward of the fifth scenario. The white one was flawless and smooth to the touch, while the black one seemed to absorb the light around it and was hard like polished obsidian. Even now, they pulsed faintly, as though sensing the environment around them.
When I first acquired them, I couldn’t determine how to hatch them—even with the knowledge I retained from my time as a God-King. I knew that a mana-rich environment would be necessary, but places like the Oasis of Memory weren’t suitable, since they existed within confined scenarios. Furthermore, the System provided no instructions, and Inspect Eye revealed nothing but vague descriptions about requiring a “special environment.”
But now, standing here, I understood that this place met every condition perfectly. It was not just suitable; it was designed for this very purpose.
Carefully, I lowered both eggs into the basin, and they reacted the moment they touched the liquid surface. Ripples spread outward in perfect circles, and strands of energy rose like fine threads, coiling around the shells in a delicate weave of light and shadow. The reaction was neither violent nor unstable; the place itself acknowledged their presence and welcomed them home.
“You two really were waiting for this,” I said quietly.
Although faint, I could feel the beings within the two eggs acknowledging my presence, forming an intangible bond. I then stepped back, observing the basin as the energy flow gradually stabilized. Judging by the rhythm of the mana, it would probably take several weeks before either egg showed any sign of hatching. I would return when the time came—perhaps not alone next time. I wasn’t sure yet.
“Hmm… an incubation chamber,” I murmured. “Maybe that’s what this whole area was meant for. A sanctuary for divine life.”
Whatever was sealed within these eggs, one thing was certain: Once they hatched, the balance of power in the coming Battle of Divine Will would shift dramatically. And when that happened, I intended to be the one standing at their side as their master.
Before leaving, I retrieved five empty glass vials from my inventory and carefully filled them with the mana liquid from the basin. This condensed mana was an invaluable alchemical ingredient used in the creation of top-grade potions and elixirs. Even in its raw form, simply consuming a small amount would instantly restore one’s mana to full capacity, or perhaps even push it slightly beyond its natural limit.
Condensed Mana
Grade: Rare
Type: Alchemical Ingredient
A concentrated form of pure mana drawn from a naturally stabilized mana vein. Highly reactive yet stable in controlled quantities, it can replenish mana reserves instantly or serve as a key catalyst for crafting advanced potions and elixirs. May risk mana overstrain if consumed recklessly.
I just so happened to know a few secret elixir recipes that surpassed the Elixir of Harmonic Balance by leaps and bounds with condensed mana as their core ingredient. Most were far beyond my current skill level to replicate, but there was one I could likely concoct. It wasn’t the strongest by any means, yet it required the fewest materials and offered a solid return for the effort.
After securing the vials, I took one last look at the basin and the two divine eggs resting peacefully within it. Seeing that everything was in order, I turned and began retracing my path toward the passage that led out of the Forgotten Vault.
Getting back meant passing through Medusa’s chamber again, but this time, I already knew what to expect. I suppressed my presence, activating Stealth Movements before casting {Mass Alteration} to lighten my body until my footsteps made no sound at all. Just before stepping into the chamber, I summoned another Echo Construct. The clone formed quietly at my side, and I commanded it to dash in the opposite direction.
The moment its footsteps echoed across, Medusa reacted, turning sharply toward the sound. The snakes on its head hissed in unison, and its petrifying gaze flared like a burst of deadly light aimed straight at the decoy.
“Now!”
Seizing the opening, I propelled myself forward with {Gravity Launch}. The sudden burst of acceleration sent me gliding across the ground in near silence. This time, I didn’t even glance toward the creature, focusing solely on reaching the exit ahead.
Behind me, I heard the faint shattering sound as the construct met its inevitable end.
The construct has been destroyed.
Rest in peace, duplicate me.
By then, I had already reached the far side of the chamber. Without slowing down, I slipped through the exit and crossed the threshold back into the winding passageways beyond.
Only when I was several corridors away did I finally stop to catch my breath.
Gravity Magic has leveled up.
“Much smoother than before,” I muttered, allowing a faint smile. My control over my unique magic had improved, and the spell’s efficiency was also higher than ever. With the most dangerous part of the Forgotten Vault now behind me, I was able to go outside with relative ease, retracing my path until the exit came into view.
Once outside, the air felt much fresher, which was a complete contrast to the stiff air inside. I took in a deep breath and took one last look at the inverted pyramid before making my way back across the wilderness toward the portal that would return me to Fantasia. But as I approached the clearing where I had first arrived, faint echoes reached my ears. There was shouting, weapons clashing, and bursts of magic flaring through the haze.
“…A battle?” I narrowed my eyes and climbed onto a nearby boulder for a better view.
From my vantage point, several groups of divine warriors were locked in fierce combat. One side had two dozen members and was organized, coordinated, and clearly well-prepared. The other side consisted of independent divine warriors, scattered and disordered, desperately trying to hold their ground. I immediately recognized the organized faction, the ones that were likely to initiate this confrontation; they were the same ones who had followed me into the Great Wilderness.
It seemed that after losing track of me, they had shifted their focus toward the divine warriors near the portal. They had waited patiently until most of the hunting parties were at least a hundred meters from safety, then struck without hesitation. Just as I expected, these divine warriors carried ill intent. The timing of their ambush wasn’t coincidental either. They had waited until the others were exhausted from hunting before striking. How wicked.
Bolts of mana arced through the air as the organized group pressed its advantage. One of the hunted divine warriors tried to flee toward the portal but was caught mid-run by a volley of projectiles before he could reach it. The attackers didn’t even loot the body; they simply moved on to the next target.
Their precision and formation made it obvious that they were trained killers, most likely remnants of Graham’s surviving faction or a clandestine guild operating in the shadows. Yet, despite their coordination, their overall strength wasn’t particularly impressive. All of them were average Gimmel-rank divine warriors, lower than me in levels. Sure, they might be dangerous to common divine warriors in Fantasia, but other than their numbers, the rest was not worth mentioning.
“Ha. Total losers. Too cowardly to face real threats, so they prey on the weak.” Though I must admit that I was partially responsible for causing this scene. After all, if I hadn’t drawn their attention earlier, these divine warriors might not have become their targets. Which meant it was only right that I cleaned up the mess. And if I was going to intervene, I might as well make it count.
I reached into my inventory and pulled out the Mask of a Thousand Races, slipping it over my face. My features changed instantly, reforming into the visage of Lord Genesis. Doing this would not only avoid drawing unwanted attention to my real identity but it would also serve as a perfect opportunity to raise Genesis’s reputation among the divine warriors. If they saw a mysterious savior appear out of nowhere, faith would follow.
“Let’s make this interesting,” I murmured, turning my gaze toward a nearby pack of hyenas hiding behind a rocky ridge.
[Bone-Gnashing Hyena – Lv.53]
[Bone-Gnashing Hyena – Lv.50]
[Bone-Gnashing Hyena – Lv.51]
…
Dozens of them. A perfect test subject. I wanted to use this chance to test something fun.
I quickly cast {Gravity Launch}. The ground beneath my feet cracked as I propelled myself straight into the center of the pack. The shockwave blasted outward upon impact, sending several hyenas tumbling through the air. The rest froze and trembled, their eyes locking onto me with a mix of confusion and fear.
Before they could scatter, I extended my hand and invoked, “Grant Plausibility.”
You have used Grant Plausibility.
A surge of golden light burst from my palm, spreading outward in rippling waves that washed over the creatures. Their bodies convulsed violently as the energy coursed through them, causing the beasts to howl and thrash, but the resistance quickly subsided. One by one, their eyes flared crimson, burning with bloodlust and clarity.
You have strengthened the pack of Bone-Gnashing Hyenas for fifteen minutes.
The pack of Bone-Gnashing Hyenas has been put into obedience for fifteen minutes.
A total of 156 Plausibility has been consumed.
There were thirteen hyenas in total, so twelve plausibility each. In return, the creatures’ strength spiked dramatically; their levels skyrocketed by nearly twenty, crossing into the Gimmel rank. Their muscles swelled beneath their fur, making them look like jacked panthers.
“Good, it’s a success.” I smiled, watching them bow their heads in submission. “Now then, go hunt your new prey.”
At my command, the creatures turned toward the ongoing battle in the distance. The organized band of divine warriors was still fighting nearby, unaware of what was coming for them. The hyenas let out a unified snarl before sprinting across the field at them.