Chapter 32: Kill The Boss II
"What's with that face? I'm just teasing you back for 'Hold me tightly, senior,' remember?"
Noir gritted his teeth, forcing a smile and holding his temper.
"That was an accident..."
Nor let Fotia down, allowing her to stand by herself.
There was a little problem, though, like when she refused to stand on her feet and got carried instead. But everything went well in the end.
They waited for the electricity on the surface to subside before checking on the monsters' remains. There were supposed to be two monsters, but the remains of the fairy were nowhere to be found.
Was it because it's too small that it turned into dust when lightning struck it?
If that was the case, they should be content with scavenging just the remains of Mandragora.
Speaking about Mandragora, Noir had read in a book that every part of this monster was valuable, whether money-wise or production-wise.
That said, if someone could bring a whole Mandragora in one piece, it would be more fantastic if they opted to sell it.
However, this type of Mandragora was a problem.
It was not your ordinary Mandragora but a boss monster. At least, that's what was written in the Wonderland Rift's guide. But, it was actually an ordinary Mandragora but larger.
The boss monster was the little fairy that produced golden glitter, which could be processed into magic powder.
But well, since people believed the Mandragora was the boss monster, whether they brought it in parts or as a whole—unless they could sneak and slip out from the watching eyes, both would invite trouble.
Even if they were to smuggle the Mandragora, they could only sell it in the black market, or else they would be arrested for multiple charges.
"Alright, I got the essence."
The essence in Fotia's hand was blue-colored. It would increase 4 progress points (PP) upon absorption.
Supposedly, blue-orb monsters were ridiculously strong. It would be impossible for a beginner Resonant, who hadn't attained their first ascension, to defeat them.
Noir was an exception. He was abnormal to begin with. His [Stormbringer] wasn't a Resonance he got from revelation or from completing the first trial. It was his original power the Sovereign triggered in his old world.
With the abnormality, Noir not only defeated the Mandragora, but he also killed it in a single strike.
A feat impossible for most Neophyte-rank or beginner Resonants. Even a Disciple-rank or elite Resonant would have a hard time facing a Great Mandragora that was supported by the fairy.
"And the Fairy Dust!"
On Fotia's other hand, a small bottle containing glittering powder rested. Not much was known about its uses other than being processed into a magic powder that would be useful for the mage Resonants.
Noir checked his progress panel.
//Ascension Progress 100%
Class (Soft Essence) 1030/1000
Soul Depth (Solid Essence) 530/500
*Visit the 'Magnitude Tower' to ascend.//
"I think I accidentally absorbed the boss' essence."
Fotia looked at him.
"Oh. That's good."
The Resonant Ascension Progress had a rule. That was to no longer register the points if a Resonant had hit their maximum numbers.
Other than that, the system also wouldn't count the essence of the lower rank than the Resonant's rank to prevent the abuse.
For example, the rank or class after Neophyte was Disciple.
The Disciple-class Resonant couldn't gain points if they were to absorb a white essence. They needed the green orb and above if they wanted to progress.
However, the boss monsters were an exception. No matter how low the rank of the boss essence was, the Resonant could still gain points from them.
It also bypassed the limit rule of the progress points, which was why Noir's progress exceeded the required numbers. Unless he went through ascension, he wouldn't get any stronger and couldn't gain more points from monsters.
"Yeah. Anyway, where is this 'thing' you mentioned?"
"Right..."
Fotia rose to his feet. Extending her hand, she sucked the Mandragora's remains into her palm.
'Huh? What is that?'
Noir had never seen nor read about something like that. But, as a person who was knowledgeable about fantasy stories, he assumed it was spatial magic or something that resembled an 'inventory.'
Still, the question was how Fotia used it.
Noir watched as she walked towards the wall and did something to it as if interacting with an invisible puzzle.
Suddenly, the ground trembled, and a secret entrance revealed from the wall Fotia had decoded.
"Follow me."
They went into the secret entrance, finding another long walk of a straight, singular path. Fortunately, it wasn't as long as the other tunnel.
After a 3-minute walk, they arrived at the large chamber. Its ceilings jutted out, creating a dome-like appearance. Six statues lined the walls; three on the left and three on the other side.
What fascinated them the most wasn't the chamber. But the treasures piled up in this room. They varied in shape, value, or use.
Gold coins and antiques could be exchanged for credits. Equipment could be worn right away. More importantly, Noir could find a Curio that expanded his brain capacity so he could store more knowledge.
"There are too many treasures that make me confused and uncertain. I don't know which I should take with me... So, what if I just do this?"
Noir raised an eyebrow as he watched Fotia stretching both her hands forward.
Just like she did to the Mandragora, her hands became a vacuum, devouring all the treasures like a glutton.
At that moment, Noir realized it was not her hand that sucked the treasures but the ring with a cube on it.
After the ring devoured all of them, it spewed an item out as though its stomach was too full and couldn't contain any more of the items.
"Here's yours."
Fotia threw an earring to Noir.
"That's the Curio you're looking for. The one that can expand your brain capacity."
Turning to face Noir, Fotia smiled.
"With this, we've completed everything within this rift. It's time to head out before the League's members find us."
It was like Fotia said. Their rebel little mission was done. The promise of giving Noir 'something' had been fulfilled, too. Yes. That thing was what Noir looked for—a Curio that allowed the expansion of his brain capacity.
Now the problem was how to avoid encountering securities on their way back. Noir didn't want to get extorted by them, though, it was his own fault for breaking rules; exceeding the quota limit, killing a boss monster, and claiming someone's life (the Indigo Society's member).
At the perfect timing, a notification window popped up, telling him that the rift would be closed after 24 hours. At the very back of this room, a return point also appeared.
"Finally, our return point is ready to pick us up. Let's get out of here, Noir."
Noir squinted his eyes at Fotia. He was sure of his suspicion by now. Putting it aside, he followed her to the return point.
The moment they stepped inside, they found themselves standing outside the rift.
Noir was about to panic until he noticed that the League's members were absent at the outpost.
As a group of people approached them, Fotia stepped forward.
"Then, thank you for your cooperation, Noir. Let's meet again in the academy."
Those people seemed to be her group before they entered. Noir watched as she was scolded by the instructor.
Sneering, he walked away from the rift.
It was such an eventful hunt. So much happened in a day.
He went to the toilet, waiting for his transformation to wear out.
After ten minutes, his body returned to its original appearance.
He changed into his student uniform, not forgetting to also wear the second-year badge he found on the academy grounds a few weeks ago.
Pulling his FT Phone, Noir registered a new note.
"Fotia Ustrina. A potential protagonist who comes from the future. A time traveler."
Shoving his FT Phone in his pocket, Noir got out of the toilet and joined the group of students who were about to leave the place because a problem occurred.
A serious problem that could cause a global crisis.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone