Is it because they are the rewards for clearing an 8-level dungeon, two tiers above?
It feels like only the essential treasures are gathered here.
I carefully examined the reward list in order.
First, the ‘Wind Seal’ is a talisman.
It increases agility and reduces wind resistance, making it a fundamental talisman that any assassin or archer class must have.
The ‘Mutant Captain's Hook’ and ‘Black Iron Dagger’ are high-tier secondary weapons. They are likely the best among the equipment rewards in this sewer.
Typically, hook-type secondary weapons provide additional options for navigation-related classes. Giving the Black Iron Dagger to Isabella would immediately boost her combat power.
However, the most eye-catching item among them is the ‘Mutant Monster Rat's Core’ at the end of the list.
'It's a pity it's not a soul, but it's still useful.'
If the soul of the mutant monster rat had appeared, I would have cheered, but the core is also very useful in many ways. Especially, the core of a mutant type has the most essential function.
【Mutant Monster Rat's Core (Material)】
★ A mysterious core that caused the mutation of the monster rat
★ Feeding it to an animal will cause mutation, and it can occasionally be used as a material for special tools or equipment.
★★ Beast Lord: Can enhance ‘animal-type souls’
A hidden option visible only to those with the hidden characteristic ‘Beast Lord’.
The core's most essential function is to enable the enhancement of souls.
‘Hydracon is also an animal-type boss monster.’
By setting, Hydracon is a composite of various animals created by a mad scientist. This means it can be enhanced using the mutant monster rat's core.
However, the soul of Hydracon is something I have never seen before.
I have no idea what changes will occur if I enhance a raid boss monster of a 12-person scale.
‘... There’s something I don’t know.’
A smile came to my face as I faced the unknown.
Even though I shouldn't get excited due to the Iron-Blooded Overlord's Heart, I am excited.
I have played Pangenia almost every day for the past five years.
I am the player who has played Pangenia the longest, and it's not an exaggeration to say that I understand this world thoroughly.
Yet, there is still much in Pangenia that I don't know.
The impossible difficulty that cannot be cleared always stirs a strong desire to challenge.
Behind this is the unknown and the mysterious.
‘... That’s why I can’t quit this game.’
Of course, there is also the possibility that no special changes will occur even if I enhance it.
But I love even that possibility.
<>
So, is there any need to hesitate?
*
I bought a four-wheeled carriage.
I ordered the sturdiest and toughest materials available.
Of course, it was Hudson's money, not mine.
In return, I prepared the horses to pull the carriage.
“......”
Hudson, who was sitting in the carriage, lifted his head and stared straight ahead.
The reason his gaze and mind were stolen was the horse pulling the carriage.
His mouth opened and closed like a goldfish, completely stunned.
‘Is that... a horse?’
What is a horse?
Obviously, a horse is a horse.
A quadruped that runs the fastest and longest among livestock.
But what was in front of him was not an ordinary horse.
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
The ground trembled with each step.
A gigantic body.
A monster with nine heads!
‘Not a horse, but a Hydracon...’
When the Holy Paladin said he would prepare the horse, Hudson bought the carriage without much thought.
It wasn't until they were ready to leave Arcana that he realized what the ‘horse’ was.
It was a Hydracon.
Not a crudely made one, but a fully formed one summoned through a soul!
The boss monster engraved in the soul retains its original form.
Even if they look similar and are of similar levels, their class cannot be compared.
However, it was widely believed that the soul of a Hydracon did not exist.
Chimeras are created, and there is no such thing as an original form.
But it existed. A Hydracon summoned by a soul.
‘... What is that?’
Hudson's eyes looked up at the head of the Hydracon.
One of the nine heads, the one in the center, had a long horn like an elephant's tusk.
This was also a characteristic not found in a typical Hydracon.
Squeak.
Rumble!
“Gaaaah!”
“S, save me!”
“Run!”
The screams coming from outside were from a bandit group near Arcana.
One of the largest and most feared bandit groups that cause the most trouble for merchants traveling to and from Arcana, but they were being massacred like flies by the Hydracon.
Especially the lightning shot from the horn. When the energy is compressed and fired, over a dozen bandits would evaporate without a trace.
Its destructive power is comparable to at least mid-level lightning skills.
“The outside is chaotic.”
“... It's the screams of the Red Hood Bandits.”
“So? It's nothing.”
The Holy Paladin closed his eyes again.
‘Nothing? ’
... Those sounds?
“Please, save me!”
“Kiaaaah!!”
“Mommmmmm!!!”
*
After more than ten days and seven warps, passing through two high-risk, high-level areas.
We have almost crossed half of the central continent, but finding what I want is not easy.
“Is this it?”
“Hmm. It’s already dead.”
Looking at the tree with a blue glow in front of us.
The tree itself is not dead, but the ‘Path of the Spirit’ is already closed.
‘Spirit Tree.’
What I am looking for is a Spirit Tree.
A Spirit Tree is a tree where a spirit is born.
A Spirit Tree temporarily opens a path to the ‘Spirit Realm’.
Only by entering this path can one reach the ‘Tower of Spirits’.
And the tree in front of me now has been a long time since a spirit was born, and the path is closed.
“It doesn’t look much different from other trees to me...”
To Hudson, this Spirit Tree looked no different from any other tree.
What’s the difference?
Tsk. I clicked my tongue and said.
“Can’t be helped. We have to take the risk.”
We can’t waste any more time.
I took out Michela’s sword.
As Hudson and Isabella stepped back, I swung the sword and cut down the tree.
Thud!
The tree’s trunk was cut, and it fell.
At that moment.
Hiaaaah!
Screams and groans echoed throughout the forest.
“It’s a Dryad! Crazy!”
Hudson took out his hammer and guarded the surroundings.
Soon, many Dryads, with the lower body of a deer and the upper body of a human, appeared.
“To cut down a tree that bears a spirit.”
“Humans have lost their fear.”
“Tear them to shreds.”
They were half-fairies.
The forest guardians.
【Lv.7】
Monsters of level 7 or higher!
Their number exceeded fifty.
A tree that bears a spirit is very symbolic to them.
Since it was cut down, they won’t let us go alive.
“...”
Swallow!
Hudson swallowed and tensed up.
Isabella was also in a combat stance. She instinctively knew that a fight with such a large number would not be easy.
I slowly moved forward.
“Open the ‘Gate’. Then I will gift a new spirit to this forest.”
“The human is talking nonsense.”
“Is he crazy?”
Some Dryads aimed their bows.
If they don’t understand, this gamble will fail.
I spoke again.
“The spirit of this tree is already dead. This forest is also dying. I am a Druid, the master of spirits, and I can gift a new spirit to your forest.”
Forests are born from spirits.
When a spirit dies, the forest dies.
And the spirit of this forest died long ago.
If a new spirit is not born, this forest will eventually die.
But that is only possible if they understand.
The simple-minded Dryads who only know how to protect trees are the biggest challenge.
“Kill him.”
“Pierce him.”
“Kill him first!”
... These ignorant ones.
Can’t be helped?
If this fails, I’ll have to open a portal and return to Arcana.
The effort of the past ten days would be wasted.
“Wait. I will listen to your story, self-proclaimed Druid.”
I turned my gaze.
【Lv.9】
A High Dryad with a beard.
It seemed to be the owner of this ‘Rustling Forest’.
I thought it was just one of many forests, but the presence of a High Dryad suggests that the spirit that emerged when this forest was created was quite significant.
‘At least it’s a relief.’
At least it’s a creature that might understand.
“Is what you say true?”
“It’s true. If you open the ‘Gate’, I will go to the Tower of Spirits and bring a spirit to this forest.”