[Common – Spider Goblin Monster Soul Stone Lv. 215]
[Rare – Shadow Wolf Monster Soul Stone Lv. 218]
[Rare – Stone Goblin Monster Soul Stone Lv. 205]
[Common – Spider Goblin Monster Soul Stone Lv. 199]
[Elite – Shadow Wolf Monster Soul Stone Lv. 219]
Broken nodded slowly as he reviewed the list of Monster Soul Stones he had obtained. Two Common, two Rare, and one Elite-grade-and that last one was a Shadow Wolf.
He couldn’t help but wonder if the Shadow Wolf Monster Soul Stone would be the perfect match for Pawpaw, given that Pawpaw also had an affinity with the Shadow element.
“Gaia… I’m sure you’d like one of these Monster Soul Stones. Is there any particular one that catches your eye?”
Gaia was quiet for a few moments. “Master… Thank you for the offer. But, I’m currently watching my diet, so I want something specific before I eat.”
“Seriously? Wasn’t it just recently that you devoured a Demon monster soul? And what type of monsters are you looking for now?”
“Monsters with Water, Earth, or Nature elements.”
“Okay,” he nodded. “Just let me know if you change your mind later. You can have your pick of these before Pawpaw and Polly get their paws on them.”
His thoughts then drifted to Blaze-one of his other beasts. He wondered if any of these Monster Souls might be suitable for Blaze too. It had been quite some time since he last summoned Blaze, and he couldn’t help but worry if that long absence affected the creature’s mental state.
Did being kept unsummoned for too long impact a beast’s condition? He wasn’t sure, but it was something he’d have to find out.
Finding Monster Soul Stones with the specific attributes a beast desired would be quite a challenge. Maybe he could plan a hunt for such a creature later. However, one thing was clear: he needed to supply Monster Souls that matched the needs of every beast contracted to him. On top of that, he also required Monster Soul Stones for upgrading his equipment.
With all the monsters from last night, he had only managed to get five Monster Soul Stones. That was actually a pretty good haul, considering how rare they could be.
Broken then proceeded to offer some Monster Cores to Gaia, holding them near the ring in his hand. One by one, the Monster Cores vanished without a trace.
For now, he decided against giving Polly a Monster Soul Stone-she had only just undergone
a transformation, and she needed time to grow accustomed to her new abilities.
Turning to Ivana, who still had a smile playing on her lips, he called out, “Ivana…”
“Yes?” she responded.
“Do you also consume items like these?” he asked in a flat tone.
Ivana let out a soft chuckle. “No, I’ve never tried. But if you want, I’m willing to give it a shot. Who knows, I might sprout wings like Polly.”
“Are you serious, Ivana?”
“Are you serious, Broken?!”
For a moment, they stared at each other, and then they both burst into laughter, the tension lifting as they enjoyed this moment.
A few hours later, Maylock finally arrived, sauntering over to where Broken and the others were enjoying lunch.
“Hello, Lord Maylock!” Anna called out, waving her hand.
Maylock took a deep breath, his gaze sweeping over the gathered group, and then joined them, taking a seat next to Broken.
“Food?” Ivana offered, gesturing to the spread, and Maylock nodded, accepting her offer.
“I heard about the conclusion of the epic battle last night from Starfall,” Maylock said after a moment, picking up a piece of bread. “She sent me a detailed report.”
“And what about Toberry?” Broken interjected. “Shouldn’t he have arrived before you?”
Maylock chuckled, shaking his head slightly. “That foolish Alchemist got ambushed by monsters right after logging in and died on the spot.”
“Oh, Toberry…” Ivana sighed, her face wrinkling in sympathy.
“Nah, it’s only fitting,” Maylock replied nonchalantly. “He was always a bit too careless.”
“But still, I’m sure he came intending to help. It’s just that the situation was that intense, that dangerous,” Ivana responded.
Maylock gave a slow nod. “Perhaps. But considering that this all ended in success, and Livelywood was our only true casualty, I’d say we achieved a significant victory.”
He turned towards Broken, a wry smile tugging at his lips. “You really are something else, Broken. A monster in your own right.”
Broken nodded slowly in response to Maylock’s comment. Then, a thought resurfaced- something crucial he hadn’t had the chance to discuss with anyone yet. He hadn’t even informed Starfall about it. Deciding now was the right moment, he turned to Maylock.
It was about what had happened when he first logged in, and how he managed to get to Ivana and the others so quickly.
“I met two faeries-twins, a boy and a girl. They looked like teenagers, judging by their stature. Their names were Cedric and Cecilia.”
Maylock nodded, his expression curious. “Go on.”
“These two faeries were right there the moment I logged in. They immediately offered their help and explained what was happening. Cecilia, the faery girl, used her magic to conjure a portal for me, allowing me to arrive directly at the center of the monster attack.”
He paused for a moment before continuing. “That’s how I managed to get here just in time.” Everyone around him leaned in, visibly intrigued by this new information.
Maylock nodded slowly, and Broken continued, explaining the quest he’d received and the details surrounding the challenge.
“A Faery Knight?” Maylock echoed, nodding thoughtfully. “Just as I suspected. This is their doing.”
Maylock went on. “A Knight Commander issued the quest for you to deal with the monster attack. And the twin faeries helped you reach this place quickly using teleportation magic. I have to admit, that faery girl was pretty impressive, wielding a skill tied to an Ancient Element like that.”
“Any conclusions?” Broken pressed.
“Not sure yet,” Maylock replied. “But it strikes me as odd. If their Knight Commander issued the challenge to you, but then those two faeries helped you… it seems like there may be some internal disagreement. Perhaps this Knight’s actions aren’t fully supported by the others, possibly not even by their Tribe Leader.”
Maylock nodded again, this time more assured. “And given the affinity that has formed between you and the Tribe Leader, as well as the Knight, it seems you can reasonably trust
their leader, Broken.”
“That’s your conclusion?”
“Yes,” Maylock confirmed.
Broken nodded slowly, allowing Maylock’s words to sink in. The others watched in silence, captivated as the pieces of the puzzle began to align, although there were still questions lingering about the faeries and their Knights’ true motives.
“I think we should thank those two faery twins for helping us, don’t you?” Ivana suggested.
“Yes, absolutely… I haven’t had the chance to thank them properly yet,” Broken replied. “But I’m sure we’ll meet them again.”
Suddenly, Yann leaped to his feet. “They’re here!” he exclaimed.
His abrupt movement startled the others, and they quickly stood up, their gazes turning to
where Yann was pointing.
In the distance, dozens of pale-skinned children with pointed ears, and delicate facial features were slowly approaching. Their unique appearance made it unmistakable-these were faeries, members of the Moonlight Fae Tribe.
Maylock observed the approaching group and commented dryly, “Well, I guess they’re here to
collect you, Broken.”