100\% DROP RATE : Why is My Inventory Always so Full? Chapter 567 - Fragments

Moments ticked by.

And oddly, the foes remained in dormancy.

This should have been a welcome respite.

It wasn't.

Lucien had long ago understood that quiet from perilous entities seldom signified benevolence. At times, it indicated recuperation. Other times, strategizing. Sometimes, mere forbearance. And possibly, the most dire of all, it implied the adversary had discovered objectives of greater import than immediate assault.

The Primordial Incarnations had not manifested openly.

Aurelia, Seran’s spouse and the Diviner, had pinpointed the general vicinity where their influence was most potent.

The continental expanses of water.

The seas separating continents had perpetually been fraught with peril, but now they harbored a more profound sense of the unknown.

He had perused accounts detailing the disappearances of individuals attempting intercontinental voyages.

Not all who vanished were lacking in strength.

There were Eternals among the missing.

Seran conveyed his thoughts via the communication artifact one evening.

[They are escaping their confinements.]

Lucien absorbed the words.

[In what quantity?]

[Greater than previously. Aurelia ascertains the tally escalates.]

Lucien’s fingers rhythmically tapped the tabletop.

This was an unfavorable development.

The Primordial Incarnations had been contained for substantial reasons. Should an increasing number of them awaken, the oceans would transform from mere transit routes into battlegrounds contested by beings that ought to have remained interred.

[Might we initiate hostilities?] Lucien inquired.

Seran’s response was delayed.

[An inadvisable course.]

Lucien found this statement disagreeable.

He disliked it even more due to his concurrence.

Their knowledge of the Incarnations' subterranean preparations was limited. They were uncertain if the abductions stemmed from latent traps, active entities, minions, regional wards, or something intrinsically linked to the Origin Core itself. The oceans were too vast, too ancient, and too insufficiently charted.

To provoke that hornet's nest without due caution would be sheer foolishness.

Lucien shifted back in his seat.

"Then we bide our time."

Yet, waiting did not equate to inactivity.

...

Concurrently, the creatures originating from the Black Mass had also subsided in activity.

Fewer reports surfaced regarding their emergence from the desolate region.

Once more, this offered Lucien no solace.

Because he recalled the goblins.

The goblins were engaged in experimentation. They were performing genetic modifications upon their own kind, hybridizing themselves with void-born monstrosities.

Lucien possessed no insight into the horrifying forms these experiments might yield in the future.

This lack of foreknowledge troubled him profoundly.

A known foe could be cataloged, simulated, studied, and effectively countered.

But a creature existing solely within an enemy’s research facility represented a concealed threat, a blade poised for an unseen strike.

Lucien could only endeavor to fortify the world against such potentialties.

Such had become the paradigm of his existence.

Preparing oneself before the adversary’s arrival.

Fortifying strength before fragility is exposed.

Establishing connections before isolation proves fatal.

Educating the populace on surviving threats they had yet to conceive.

And looming above even these menaces, the Abyss remained at a remove.

For the present moment.

Alanthuriel had secured a temporal advantage.

The Abyssal Entities had not yet disturbed the established timelines.

Lucien had no precise measure of the years Alanthuriel had actually granted him.

A handful.

Potentially more.

Perhaps fewer.

Yet, a few years, if utilized judiciously, could suffice to reshape the course of history.

By then, it was conceivable that he might unite all five continents.

Thus, Lucien made exemplary use of the intervening tranquil period.

•••

The endeavor to retrieve Origin Core fragments on the Middle Continent transpired over a duration exceeding Lucien's initial projections.

Initially, he presumed the West had already illuminated the applicable strategy.

Locate custodians. Extend advantageous terms. Exert influence.

However, the Middle Continent presented a distinct challenge.

It harbored a significantly greater number of custodians.

A realization that dawned gradually, then with overwhelming clarity.

The deeper the Shadow Information Network delved, the more extensive the compilation became.

Nevertheless, the operations persisted.

Through negotiation, pacts, diplomacy, sustained effort, and the occasional discreet acquisition from factions too corrupt to warrant formal engagement, Lucien successfully amassed thirty additional fragments from the Middle Continent over an extended period.

And upon the unification of the hundredth fragment, the sacred edifice underwent a transformation.

The subsequent pulse was not ostentatious.

It resonated deeply.

Lucien stood before the shrine as the event unfolded.

The conjoined mass of fragments emitted a luminescence akin to an unformed star ensnared within the echoes of a shattered world.

Subsequently, the pulse propagated outward.

The signal’s reach had not merely extended; it enveloped the entirety of the Big World.

And extended even further.

The Lunarians residing on the moon also perceived its influence.

The network had attained a planetary scope.

Or a magnitude sufficiently close to inspire profound apprehension.

Lucien cast his gaze back toward the shrine.

His countenance became grave.

Fragments possessed the capacity to detect other fragments.

This was a known factor.

And with one hundred now amalgamated, it had evolved into something distinct.

A cartographical guide awaiting its delineation.

•••

One morning, Lucien returned to the Origin Core Shrine.

He bore with him two meticulously rendered maps.

The Western Continent.

The Middle Continent.

Both had been meticulously produced by the Shadow Information Network following months of covert operations. They represented the most precise cartographical data available within Lootwell’s archives.

Lucien carefully positioned the maps before the shrine.

Then, his attention turned to the hundred coalesced fragments.

The nascent core emanated a slow, rhythmic pulse.

His hand reached out. This time, it made contact. The instant his fingers brushed against the surface, the world around him transformed. Lucien's senses expanded, and the immediate presence of the shrine dissolved. He perceived the fragments of the Origin Core not as a singular entity but as scattered points of origin across the globe. Taking a slow breath, Lucien began his investigation in the West. He had previously assumed the West had been largely depleted of these fragments. This assumption, however, proved incorrect, causing his eyes to narrow. It turned out there were eight more Origin Core fragments hidden in the Western territories. Two of these fragments were discovered to belong to clandestine factions – small, ancient powers that had remained hidden, deliberately avoiding modern communication networks. Three fragments were traced to individual cultivators, likely reclusive hermits who had withdrawn so completely from society that their very names had faded into obscurity. And the remaining three… Lucien's gaze halted, the subtle pulse drawing his attention toward a familiar locale: the Sareth Region. Specifically, it led towards the Red Dragon. Lucien's expression shifted as he recalled the formidable beast from the Stillness Expedition. The Red Dragon had been a remarkable presence even amongst the ancient beings, not necessarily for its raw power, but for its cunning. Though a creature that had fought alongside humanity during the Millennia War, its true nature leaned towards intricate schemes, self-preservation, incessant hoarding, and deeply ingrained suspicious behaviors. Lucien's eyes fixed on the map. Three Origin Core fragments. These had been concealed beneath layers of defensive arrays and abyssal materials, hidden with such thoroughness that only the Origin Core's own authority allowed him to detect them. This fact alone underscored the Red Dragon's formidable capabilities. The fragments were not publicly held by the Nephralis Sect, and it was highly probable that the sect was unaware of their existence. A faint smile touched Lucien's lips. "A cunning bastard," he murmured. The Red Dragon possessed a private hoard. Naturally, it did; a dragon without a secret stash would have been far more unusual. Lucien gently tapped the marked location once, then commenced his observation. ••• For several days, Lucien meticulously studied the Red Dragon through the subtle resonance emanating from the Origin Core fragments associated with it. He analyzed its patterns, movements, return intervals, the frequency and duration of its visits to the hoard, the deceptive pathways it employed, and the number of times it doubled back to ensure it wasn't being followed. The findings were, to say the least, vexing. The Red Dragon harbored an extreme distrust of everything. It eschewed communication devices, did not rely on sect messengers, and rarely permitted any entity to approach its vicinity. While its visits to the hidden treasure trove occurred at irregular intervals, these were not entirely random; a pattern of paranoia was discernible beneath the surface. A rhythm was established, influenced by suspicion, lunar cycles, ongoing sect activities, and the movements of specific veteran guards within Nephralis territory. One evening, while Lucien was in his office, contemplating the pattern map, Vivian entered. She glanced at the illuminated projection. "Is that a travel route?" she inquired. "Indeed," Lucien replied. "Why are there so many detours?" "Trust issues," he stated simply. She stared at the bewildering, spiraling paths. "That's anxiety given a geographical form." Lucien almost chuckled. "An accurate assessment." After a week of diligent observation, he felt he had gathered sufficient intelligence. He then summoned Astraea, Condoriano, and Saber. The three ancient beasts appeared, anticipating a confrontation. Lucien presented them with the map. "This," he announced, "is the location of the Red Dragon's treasure hoard." The atmosphere in the room shifted palpably. Condoriano's eyes sharpened with interest. Saber leaned forward, intrigued. Astraea's smile widened slowly. Lucien continued, "Three Origin Core fragments are concealed within. It's likely many other treasures are present as well." Condoriano's wings gave a slight twitch. "Are we engaging him in battle?" he asked. "No," Lucien replied. The three ancient beings seemed almost disappointed. Lucien tapped the intricately mapped route. "He personally inspects the hoard frequently. However, I have charted his habits over the past week. A window of opportunity will present itself." Saber's smile took on a predatory edge. "You intend for us to steal from him." "I require the Origin Core fragments to be retrieved," Lucien stated calmly. "If any other dangerous artifacts are present, secure them. As for the remainder of the hoard..." Astraea's smile deepened with understanding. "Understood." Condoriano let out a soft laugh. Saber cracked his knuckles. "This feels rather petty." Lucien's delayed denial caused all three ancient beasts to erupt in laughter. When he detailed the Red Dragon's peculiar habits and provided them with the meticulously mapped access route, their excitement became almost childlike. Condoriano remarked, "He will be absolutely furious." Astraea replied, "Only if he discovers it." Saber grinned, "Oh, he will notice." They shared a laugh together. As Lucien watched them depart, he briefly pondered whether he had just resolved an issue or perhaps instigated a future grievance with the Red Dragon. He then concluded that if the Red Dragon had concealed three Origin Core fragments from everyone for an indeterminate period, it forfeited any right to complain about being robbed with a clean conscience. ••• Lucien returned his attention to the mapping task. The Middle Continent was his next focus. He anticipated finding a substantial number of remaining fragments. Nevertheless, the results that emerged were astonishing.

He had already acquired approximately forty fragments from the Middle Continent through every method available.

Yet, numerous more still remained.

Across the map, lights began to shimmer like celestial bodies unearthed from the ground.

Several of these lights flickered within areas previously designated as hazardous by the Shadow Information Network.

Lucien's visage grew somber.

The sheer concentration of Origin Core fragment holders in the Middle Continent was, indeed, the highest.

It became logical in retrospect.

The Middle Continent had perpetually served as a major convergence point.

Naturally, a greater number of fragments would have accumulated there as well.

Subsequently, Lucien detected multiple signals emanating from, or situated near, the Liberator Main Headquarters.

These were actual Liberators.

A portion of them, it turned out, were still in possession of Origin Core fragments.

Lucien did not immediately succumb to apprehension.

He initiated contact with Seran.

[Several of your people are currently holding fragments.]

The response arrived without delay.

[They will be submitting them to you in due course.]

Lucien knitted his brows.

[And why is that?]

This time, Seran's reply took a noticeably longer period to materialize.

[After they have visited their designated special locations.]

Lucien shifted back slightly in his seat.

His thoughts immediately began to race.

The concept of 'special locations' surfaced once more.

It appeared each of these unique sites was established not merely to aid the Liberators, but also to unveil something that would ultimately propel Lucien's grander journey forward.

Lucien's gaze returned to the map.

The scattered lights across the Middle Continent softly pulsed.

Lucien designated the fragments held by Liberators as items of delayed acquisition.

His trust in Seran was sufficient for this decision.

He then turned his attention to the other illuminated points.

The current holders of these remaining fragments were unaware that the hundred-merged Origin Core had now brought them into the light.

Lucien's eyes took on a steely glint.

He resolved not to act rashly.

The Western territories harbored eight concealed fragments.

The Middle Continent concealed dozens more.

Malevolent sects guarded others fiercely.

Reclusive hermits slumbered upon their claimed fragments.

Hidden factions clung to theirs, desperately hoping that historical obscurity would shield them.

Lucien placed his hand once more in proximity to the Origin Core.

The core's pulse resonated in response.

"Excellent," he murmured, his voice barely a whisper. "Let us now see who still presumes they can remain concealed."