100\% DROP RATE : Why is My Inventory Always so Full? Chapter 551 - Spirits

Lucien and the four women wasted no time.

Once their preparations were concluded, they passed through the Covenant of Pathless Sovereignty.

As their leap concluded, they found themselves upon the Middle Continent.

The environment that greeted them was hardly welcoming.

Visible waves of heat emanated from the ground. Cracked shelves of black stone stretched across the terrain. Further on, sharp volcanic ridges jutted towards the heavens, and between them, rivers of molten rock flowed like unhealed wounds.

The air carried the taste of ash, minerals, ancient fire, and intense pressure.

Lucien observed the volcanic expanse before them.

The system's indicated coordinates urged them deeper.

"Let's proceed," he stated.

They moved with haste.

The further they ventured, the more severe the environmental conditions became.

A quietude settled over the four women.

Even Marie ceased her usual witty remarks.

Before long, they arrived at a formation partially concealed by a circle of basalt cliffs.

Initially, it resembled a ruined shrine.

However, as they drew closer, their senses perceived the outer stone disintegrating, revealing its true nature.

It was a chamber.

Much like the special chamber Lucien and Seraphine had previously encountered.

Within, an instant-teleportation array was situated.

Yet, this array possessed unique characteristics.

Its overall shape was circular, but four distinct corners extended outwards, serving as elemental anchors. Each corner contained a different set of inscriptions, not yet illuminated. The center of the array was vacant but held an active presence.

Lucien sensed its anticipation. A familiar curiosity surged within him once more.

Marie stepped forward first.

Her eyes had narrowed in concentration.

"The system has guided us on how to activate this array."

Kaia, Sylra, and Marina all nodded in agreement.

Lucien also nodded.

Without further deliberation, the four of them took their positions.

Each woman positioned herself at a different corner of the array.

Marie stood at the location where earth-attributed inscriptions lay dormant beneath the stone.

Kaia moved towards the water-inscribed markings, despite the absence of any visible water within the chamber.

Sylra took her place where the air itself seemed more receptive and potent.

Marina positioned herself at the fire corner, where a faint warmth pulsed along the etched lines.

Lucien observed them intently.

He understood that this array was not for just anyone; it required four specific responses before it would fully activate.

Lucien proceeded to the center.

The moment he stepped into the center, the array emitted a single pulse.

The four women turned their gaze towards him.

Marie's expression was notably serious.

"Luc, we are about to activate it."

Kaia added gently, "If anything feels amiss, please exit the center."

Marina looked at him and attempted a smile.

It appeared more subdued than usual.

"Or just do your usual impossible thing."

Sylra spoke softly, "Be cautious."

Lucien offered a faint smile.

"I should be the one saying that to all of you."

Marie shook her head.

"Too late for that."

Then, their auras surged powerfully.

Four distinct colors converged inward.

They met at the center, directly beneath Lucien's feet.

The array sprang to life.

For a fleeting instant, Lucien felt an awareness observing them.

Then, the chamber dissolved around them.

•••

They materialized within another minuscule world, suspended in the vastness of the void.

The initial sensation that struck them was not one of peril.

It was a profound sense of familiarity.

A peculiar wave of nostalgia permeated the atmosphere, gently pressing against their hearts, much like a melody they had never heard yet intuitively knew its conclusion.

The women became motionless.

Before them stretched an immense vista.

It was breathtakingly beautiful.

To one side, verdant hills undulated under a deep azure sky, their slopes adorned with abundant flowers and low stone formations.

In the distance, a volcanic ridge emitted a soft plume of smoke, its fiery nature subdued and warm rather than destructive.

On another side, rivers meandered through crystalline valleys before cascading into misty depths.

Above it all, the wind swept freely through tall grasses, carrying the mingled scents of rain, ash, earth, and sunlight.

Marina's lips parted slightly.

"This place appears familiar."

Kaia whispered, "I sense it too."

Sylra placed a hand over her chest.

"Yet, I have no recollection of ever being here."

Marie gazed across the landscape with a rare expression of bewilderment.

"It feels like returning to a home I've never inhabited."

Lucien remained silent, recalling a similar sensation he had experienced with Seraphine.

He discreetly activated his Structural Insight ability.

The world around him transformed into intricate patterns of lines and inscriptions.

Lucien began to absorb the details he could perceive.

He noted the inscriptions beneath the grass, the balancing lines connecting the four distinct regions, and the harmonious flow of each element towards a central point before receding without conflict. This world had not formed by chance; it had been meticulously crafted to preserve memory.

The four women had already started moving.

They seemed to be following an unseen presence.

Lucien followed in their wake.

•••

Eventually, their path led them to a waterfall.

It cascaded from a high cliff of pale stone into a deep blue pool below. Swirling mist formed soft veils around the falls, and the air in the vicinity felt considerably cooler. Behind the curtain of descending water, a dark opening beckoned into a cavern.

The four women halted simultaneously.

Their expressions shifted in unison.

Marie looked towards the cave entrance.

"The system indicates we must enter."

Lucien surveyed the cavern, his gaze lingering on its depths.

"I will accompany you," he stated.

Kaia turned towards him, her eyes already conveying an apology before she uttered a word.

"Luc..."

That single word was sufficient. He understood.

Had it been possible to bring him along, they would have extended the invitation immediately. But no such offer was made.

This particular challenge was one they had to face on their own. Lucien offered a faint smile.

"It is quite alright."

Marina appeared torn. "My prince..."

"I shall remain nearby," Lucien assured her. "If any hint of trouble arises, do not hesitate to call out."

Marie let out a single, albeit tense, laugh. "That, I can certainly do."

Sylra offered him a subtle nod. Kaia returned a gentle smile.

And so, the four of them proceeded into the cavern concealed behind the cascading waterfall.

Lucien maintained his watch until the falling water obscured them completely from view.

Only then did he turn his attention elsewhere. He ascended into the sky.

If this small, contained world was an artificial construct, it must have been either separated from a larger entity, replicated from an existing place, or preserved from a bygone era. Lucien was determined to uncover which of these was true.

He soared above the waterfall, his Structural Insight ability still active as he surveyed the expansive world below. The more he analyzed, the more his conviction grew.

This location was not merely a unique or special place. It was a preserved echo of a genuine, real-world location.

Somewhere within the vast expanse of the Big World, a land akin to this might have once existed. And somehow, it bore a connection to the Liberators. Or at the very least, to these four women.

Lucien's expression became grave. "What exactly are these locations?" he inquired softly.

The only response the world offered was the sighing of the wind.

• • •

Within the cavern's confines, the four women advanced deeper. Silence reigned amongst them. Even Marie, usually so vocal, remained quiet.

The cavern should have been enveloped in darkness, yet it was not entirely so. The air carried a subtle scent of damp stone, ancient embers, pure water, and something else, something warmer.

A sense of habitation permeated the atmosphere. Their pace gradually diminished.

Then, the cavern opened up, revealing its contents.

At the end of the path lay a humble, makeshift dwelling. A small fire pit was situated near one wall. A woven rug adorned the floor. A low wooden table occupied the central space. Against the side wall rested a bed, covered by simple blankets that appeared to have been meticulously folded long ago, never to be disturbed again.

This simple scene impacted them more profoundly than any display of grandeur could have.

Marina's eyes welled up before she could fully comprehend the reason why.

Marie swallowed hard. "It feels as though I have been here before."

Kaia slowly shook her head. "No," she whispered. "It feels like we belonged here."

Sylra's hand brushed gently over the surface of the table. "Or belonged to the one who resided here."

No one offered a response. They moved forward as if on instinct, without conscious decision. Each step felt guided by an ingrained habit, resurfacing from forgotten depths within.

Marie gracefully walked to the rug and assumed a cross-legged position upon it, as if she had practiced this posture countless times before.

Kaia approached the fire pit and settled down beside it with a stillness that caused her eyes to shimmer.

Sylra took a seat by the low table, her hand resting naturally along its edge.

Marina moved to the bed and sat down. Her fingers clutched the blanket tightly, as if she had once defended that very spot with her entire being.

For a fleeting moment, an absence of any event occurred. Then, the inner world of the four women began to unfurl.

A radiant golden light erupted from their bodies, manifesting the Will of the World. It ascended from the four of them, coalescing into four luminous panels suspended in the air. Four distinct perspectives. Four deeply held memories. Four ancient paths converging once more.

The women gazed in astonishment. And then, the visions commenced.

• • •

They witnessed a world that predated even their own existence, a time before conscious thought or spoken language. The Earth, initially, entered a state of slumber—not an absence of being, but a profound patience. Stone endured immense pressure. The soil absorbed countless memories. Mountains recalled their emergence from the ocean depths. Every footprint, every root, every buried bone, every fallen structure, every seed pressed into the dark earth left an indelible mark, a lingering essence.

Then, one day, the accumulated memories within the earth coalesced, granting it a form of self-awareness. Beneath the roots of an ancient tree, a small sphere of brown-gold light materialized. It trembled, not yet comprehending its own vitality.

• • •

Fire ignited elsewhere, not as an agent of destruction, but as a source of warmth. It manifested in volcanic exhalations, in crackling hearths, in trees split by lightning, in the heat of flowing blood, and in the intense hunger of stars mirrored in mortal flames. It had burned for eons without questioning its purpose.

Then, a momentous transformation swept through the world. Above a bed of cooling lava, a brilliant red-gold orb sparked into consciousness. It completed one rotation, then flared with surprise at the realization of its own existence.

• • •

Wind awoke high above a secluded valley. It had traversed all realms—through swaying grass, across vast oceans, between towering mountains, within the very lungs of living beings, around beating wings, and through desolate ruins. It had carried voices eons before understanding their meaning.

Finally, it perceived itself. Within the calm eye of a silent storm, a pale green orb formed. It drifted uncertainly, then began to dance.

• • •

Water achieved consciousness beneath the gentle patter of falling rain. It had flowed through rivers, coursed through blood, streamed as tears, filled the immense seas, emerged from springs, gathered in clouds, and coursed through hidden veins beneath the earth's crust. It had reflected countenances that never returned and borne grief too profound for mortal hands to carry.

Then, sentience coalesced within a crystal-clear pool bathed in moonlight. A blue-white orb rose from the water's surface, pulsing softly.

• • •

The four women observing these unfolding visions trembled uncontrollably.

The landscapes were recognizable. The earthen incline. The molten rock crest. The gusty canyon. The shimmering pond under the moon. These were the same locations they had observed in the outside world. Marie murmured, "These are..." Kaia completed her sentence. "Spirits?" Marina gazed at the vision, her eyes glistening with tears. "Why do they feel like I've known them before?" Sylra remained silent, her gaze fixed intently on the spectacle. The visions persisted. The four nascent spirits were yet unaware of their own identities. They appeared as small, spherical, radiant entities, little more than consciousnesses of the elements encased in luminescence. Lacking hands, faces, or voices, they nevertheless possessed an understanding far beyond that of newborns, for eons, they had been intrinsically part of the world before their individual awareness dawned. Their experiences predated their sense of self. This ancient knowledge enabled their movement. It allowed them to comprehend. It was the reason they instinctively knew that an entity had facilitated their genesis. Each unique spirit perceived a distinct filament. This filament stretched towards something superior. Something that had endured harm. Something in a state of anticipation. Consequently, they embarked on the pursuit.