Mage Lian glanced at the monster corpses before speaking, his voice calm despite his exhaustion.
“The knights who followed us on the flying ship will take care of them. You don’t have to worry.”
Michael gave a small nod, though his gaze remained on the fallen creatures.
It was a shame—if he had the space or the contract slots, the corpses could have been valuable assets. .
Of course, he also needed the required strength to revive them, but at the very least, a larger storage space would have allowed him to keep them.
However, this also meant considering how to avoid revealing too much and standing out to Mage Lian.
Mage Lian wasn’t done speaking.
“Your assistance in killing the monsters won’t go unrewarded.”
Michael’s eyes flickered with interest. A separate reward? He wouldn’t refuse that.
In fact, this wasn’t the first reward he was owed in the Land of Origin—at least, in this region.
According to his conversation with Mage Lian on the flying ship, the kingdom was still deliberating on what reward to grant him for his assistance against the strange monster attacks in Everlong Forest.
However, Michael’s focus quickly shifted back to the real prize—the Soul Pool Fruits.
Now only a few steps away from the tree, he could feel the energy radiating from the glowing fruits.
Each one pulsed with an ethereal light.
There were four.
Mage Lian was pleasantly surprised—last time he was here, he had only seen three.
He hadn’t realized he had missed one.
However, this was good. The distribution was already clear.
Mage Lian reached out, plucking two of the Soul Pool Fruits from the tree without hesitation.
Michael followed suit, his fingers grazing the surface of the remaining fruits before securing them in his grip.
[Soul Pool Fruit]
[Rank: Extraordinary Two Stars]
Increases Soul energy and strengthens the soul. Can significantly do the same for one’s mana capacity.
Michael was just about to exclaim in awe as he held the fruits when he furrowed his brows.
The energy within the fruits was… diminishing.
It wasn’t immediate, but it was clear—the glow they emitted was fading ever so slightly.
Michael’s instincts screamed at him.
Michael didn’t waste a second.
He exchanged a glance with Mage Lian, who had also noticed the change.
Without hesitation, the Grand Mage sat down in a meditative pose, cradling the Soul Pool Fruits in his hands.
Michael followed suit, lowering himself to the ground while keeping his senses sharp. He gave one final command to his undead.
“Stand guard. If anything approaches, prioritize my safety.”
His Griffin and Lucky immediately took position.
Taking a deep breath, Michael focused inward, directing his attention to the fruits in his hands.
As he closed his eyes, he could feel the energy within them, pulsing faintly, yet undeniably powerful. There was no need for hesitation.
He immediately took one.
The moment the fruit’s essence entered his body, a wave of energy surged through him.
It wasn’t painful, but it was overwhelming—a rush of warmth spreading through every fiber of his being.
His mana pulsed wildly, his core reacting instantly to the influx of energy.
Beside him, Mage Lian was undergoing the same process.
Flames flickered faintly around him as he absorbed the fruit’s essence, his body resonating with its potent energy.
Michael focused, directing the energy toward his mana pool.
The Soul pool fruit according to Mage Lian is said to increase the soul but it would also massively increase one’s mana pool as a side effect.
Michael had also confirmed this from his skill.
Michael could feel his mana pool expanding.
The sound of notifications rang in his mind.
The power was intoxicating, but he remained steady, ensuring that every bit of energy was properly absorbed.
Minutes passed.
Then, slowly, the intensity lessened. The pulsing energy settled within him, his body adapting to the newfound strength.
However, Michael didn’t wait to observe the changes nor check his new notification and took the second soul pool fruit.
The second fruit’s energy rushed into him, though this time, it wasn’t as overwhelming.
His body had already adapted to the first surge, allowing him to absorb the new energy more smoothly.
The warmth spread through him once again, but instead of a wild torrent, it flowed like a controlled current, expanding his mana pool.
Michael exhaled slowly, focusing on refining the power instead of simply enduring it.
His mana capacity stretched further, a noticeable increase compared to before.
Beside him, Mage Lian remained silent, his expression unreadable as he absorbed the second fruit’s essence.
Faint embers flickered around him, but they were more subdued than before. Even a Grand Mage had limits.
Michael could also feel his something within him stabilizing, strengthening with every passing second.
The lingering effects of the fruits were still settling, but the immediate rush was over.
His grip loosened, and he finally let out a breath.
The glow around them dimmed as the last traces of energy dissipated from the fruits.
Only then did Michael finally glance at his notifications.
And he was stunned speechless.
*******
Outside the Dark Mountain Ranges, the flying ship stood in place like a silent beast.
However, the inside was anything but quiet.
At the tip of the ship, Master Yuan stood alongside one of Grand Mage Lian’s personal attendants and Knight Commander Rachel, the one responsible for overseeing Mage Lian’s travels.
Though they were far from Michael and Mage Lian’s location, their advanced cultivation levels allowed them to subtly sense the mana waves rippling through the air—echoes of the battle against the mountain apes.
“Should we go?”
Knight Commander Rachel couldn’t help but ask again.
Master Yuan, who stood beside him, didn’t respond immediately. His expression flickered with hesitation before firming into resolve.
“The Grand Mage instructed us to wait for him. Going to his side would mean disobeying his orders and possibly hindering him,” Master Yuan said.
Knight Commander Rachel remained silent for a moment before a certain youth’s image surfaced in his mind.
“What was his name… Sir Mic? What about him? Isn’t it dangerous for him to stay close to the Grand Mage right now?”
Master Yuan was momentarily speechless.
Neither of them could have expected that the youth they thought would be a burden was actually the one providing assistance.