When I arrive at Lumi's room, the air is still cool.
Thank God, I've made it, I think to myself.
However, as I push the door open, I see Sophia holding Lumi’s hand.
And the ring, it's in pieces.
“SOPHIA!” I shout, rushing towards her.
“Jack... you're... back…” Sophia murmurs, her voice barely a whisper.
“No, no, you fool, why the heck are you doing this? Do you want to die so badly!?”
“But… I can’t let… Lumi.. die…”
Dammit.
I was wrong. The ring couldn’t hold up after all. After it broke, it was Sophia who has been using her own body to absorb Lumi’s rampaging mana. Yes, she’s a mage, but the problem lies in the foreign magical energy. Each person’s mana is unique; compatibility is rare. Absorbing mana from another person without a skill to do so is like receiving blood from a type B person when one is type A. It’s extremely dangerous.
As I pry their hands apart, Sophia collapses into my arms.
“Hey, are you okay?” I ask.
“I'm alright…” Sophia replies faintly. “But... Lumi…”
“Don’t worry, I have the flower. Leave it to me,”
As she hears that, a gentle smile blooms on Sophia’s face before she passes out. I let her rest on the floor.
Now, it's time to save the wolf girl.
As I proceed to take the Etherbloom out of the box, the room grows hotter. It's been less than a minute since I separated Sophia from Lumi, and she is already burning up again. I take the flower out. In my hands now lies an extraordinary beauty of the deep dungeons.
“So, this is Etherbloom,” I whisper, in awe.
Its appearance is like an exquisite orchid. Its petals, a translucent sapphire blue edged with silver, unfurl elegantly, capturing and reflecting light to create an ethereal glow. At its heart, a soft, pulsating azure light ebbs and flows. Tiny bioluminescent specks within the petals flicker like stars. As I hold it in my hands, my mind is noticeably more calm.
Now, the method of its use. It’s neither to be consumed nor burned; no extraction is necessary. The process is simple: Ethereal Absorption. It sounds really complicated, but all I need to do is place the flower on top of Lumi’s forehead, and hope for the best.
As I do so, the Etherbloom glows brightly and majestically. Then, it begins to spin, slowly transforming into an ethereal form and sinking into Lumi’s skin.
Lumi's breathing becomes faster, her brows furrowing.
“One, two, three…” I count the seconds, “six… come on…”
The books say it should take roughly twenty seconds for the flower to merge with a person’s body.
However…
'Eighteen… FUCK!'
The Etherbloom suddenly jumps out, attempting to fly away! I quickly grab it and place it back inside the box.
So, the worst-case scenario has happened.
'It’s a stubborn one, huh?' I sigh deeply.
The Etherbloom has rejected Lumi.
I try placing it on Lumi again.
It immediately jumps away.
“Dammit.”
The average success rate of Etherbloom absorption is only forty percent. The higher a person's level, the higher the success rate. Lumi is just a child.
Is absorbing the Etherbloom really possible for her?
Well, there is still another possible way to make this work.
As I'm thinking that, the door swings open.
“Jack!” Yumi shouts, rushing into the room, panting heavily. “Haa… ha… how… how can I help?” she asks, out of breath.
“Perfect timing!” I exclaim.
With Yumi here, there's hope.
“Please,” I say, placing a hand on her shoulder, “there's something only you can do.”
Yumi's Divine Blessing is Whispering Leaves. She can communicate with plants and has been practicing diligently all this time. Therefore, I hope she can somehow convince that stubborn flower.
When I arrive at Lumi's room, the air is still cool.
Thank God, I've made it, I think to myself.
However, as I push the door open, I see Sophia holding Lumi’s hand.
And the ring, it's in pieces.
“SOPHIA!” I shout, rushing towards her.
“Jack... you're... back…” Sophia murmurs, her voice barely a whisper.
“No, no, you fool, why the heck are you doing this? Do you want to die so badly!?”
“But… I can’t let… Lumi.. die…”
Dammit.
I was wrong. The ring couldn’t hold up after all. After it broke, it was Sophia who has been using her own body to absorb Lumi’s rampaging mana. Yes, she’s a mage, but the problem lies in the foreign magical energy. Each person’s mana is unique; compatibility is rare. Absorbing mana from another person without a skill to do so is like receiving blood from a type B person when one is type A. It’s extremely dangerous.
As I pry their hands apart, Sophia collapses into my arms.
“Hey, are you okay?” I ask.
“I'm alright…” Sophia replies faintly. “But... Lumi…”
“Don’t worry, I have the flower. Leave it to me,”
As she hears that, a gentle smile blooms on Sophia’s face before she passes out. I let her rest on the floor.
Now, it's time to save the wolf girl.
As I proceed to take the Etherbloom out of the box, the room grows hotter. It's been less than a minute since I separated Sophia from Lumi, and she is already burning up again. I take the flower out. In my hands now lies an extraordinary beauty of the deep dungeons.
“So, this is Etherbloom,” I whisper, in awe.
Its appearance is like an exquisite orchid. Its petals, a translucent sapphire blue edged with silver, unfurl elegantly, capturing and reflecting light to create an ethereal glow. At its heart, a soft, pulsating azure light ebbs and flows. Tiny bioluminescent specks within the petals flicker like stars. As I hold it in my hands, my mind is noticeably more calm.
Now, the method of its use. It’s neither to be consumed nor burned; no extraction is necessary. The process is simple: Ethereal Absorption. It sounds really complicated, but all I need to do is place the flower on top of Lumi’s forehead, and hope for the best.
As I do so, the Etherbloom glows brightly and majestically. Then, it begins to spin, slowly transforming into an ethereal form and sinking into Lumi’s skin.
Lumi's breathing becomes faster, her brows furrowing.
“One, two, three…” I count the seconds, “six… come on…”
The books say it should take roughly twenty seconds for the flower to merge with a person’s body.
However…
'Eighteen… FUCK!'
The Etherbloom suddenly jumps out, attempting to fly away! I quickly grab it and place it back inside the box.
So, the worst-case scenario has happened.
'It’s a stubborn one, huh?' I sigh deeply.
The Etherbloom has rejected Lumi.
I try placing it on Lumi again.
It immediately jumps away.
“Dammit.”
The average success rate of Etherbloom absorption is only forty percent. The higher a person's level, the higher the success rate. Lumi is just a child.
Is absorbing the Etherbloom really possible for her?
Well, there is still another possible way to make this work.
As I'm thinking that, the door swings open.
“Jack!” Yumi shouts, rushing into the room, panting heavily. “Haa… ha… how… how can I help?” she asks, out of breath.
“Perfect timing!” I exclaim.
With Yumi here, there's hope.
“Please,” I say, placing a hand on her shoulder, “there's something only you can do.”
Yumi's Divine Blessing is Whispering Leaves. She can communicate with plants and has been practicing diligently all this time. Therefore, I hope she can somehow convince that stubborn flower.
