Reborn as an Extra Chapter 537: To The Tower of Sea Gazers! Part-1.

"Rare minerals from the spirit realm!? That is a fantastic suggestion! It has been decades since I last laid eyes on such treasures!"

Adventurers rarely venture into the spirit realm, and finding dungeons modeled after that plane is an equally uncommon occurrence.

Consequently, obtaining specialties from the spirit realm is a difficult task, rendering them exceptionally precious and high in value.

"Well... I am not sure how you managed to tame that defiant cube, but since you can control it, letting you have it might be a wise move..."

Kehrid observed the cube as it drifted obediently around Rio, letting out a sigh at its sudden change in temperament.

"On another note, how did your companion manage to get stranded in such a perilous location?"

Shaking his head, Rio replied with a tone of feigned bewilderment.

"To be honest, I am not entirely sure myself... however, as his close comrade, I must go and locate him regardless of the danger..."

In truth, Rio was devoid of emotion and felt no genuine sense of camaraderie toward anyone, yet he had mastered the art of 'acting.'

He performed according to the requirements of any given situation to mimic the behavior of a normal human being.

Even at this moment, he was putting on a display of devastation and concern for Liam, though he felt absolutely nothing internally.

To maintain his functionality and preserve the final remnants of his 'humanity,' Rio relied on this performance, behaving exactly as a loyal friend would in these circumstances.

‘Forgive me, Liam, but I am assisting you for my own hidden motives... do not resent me for being unable to feel sympathy for your plight...’

Had Rio been capable of feeling 'sadness,' he might have lamented his own hollow nature; however, since he could not, he simply continued his 'act.'

"Regardless, try to avoid getting too close to the Tower of Stargazers. Ever since Fabian perished there and a miasmic rift erupted, the entire region has turned into an uninhabitable zone..."

Although the miasmic rift was eventually sealed, land corroded by miasma requires centuries to recover its life force, even after a thorough purification process.

Fortunately, Astra had purified the world following the demon extinction war; otherwise, the majority of the planet would still be a desolate wasteland in the wake of the thousand-year conflict.

"Even though the active miasmic corruption has faded, it remains an unpleasant place. People still suffer from nausea if they linger there for too long..."

"Actually... since you are an S-ranker, you should be fine. Pay no mind to my warnings..."

Rio gave a nod of acknowledgment before asking,

"I was also wondering, is the 'Tower of Sea Gazers' still in operation? Or has it been left to rot?"

Within the original novel, the tower was deserted following the global chaos triggered by Fade, which left many nations in a state of collapse.

In the story's timeline, Fade did not visit the tower until the later chapters, by which point it had fallen into severe disrepair.

"As I mentioned, that fool Fabian died... and he was the one responsible for maintaining that cursed tower!"

"With him gone, there is no one left to look after it... I honestly fail to see why we even built such an ominous structure in the first place..."

The Tower of Sea Gazers is equipped with immensely powerful telescopes designed to provide a vivid view of the 'Sea of Endless Miasma.'

However, almost no one has the desire to gaze upon it!

Simply looking at the 'Sea of Endless Miasma' is enough to shatter a normal person's mind; low-rank awakeners often lose their sanity and succumb to a berserk state. Only those at A-rank or higher possess the mental fortitude to withstand the horror of that unnatural phenomenon.

The 'Sea of Miasma' is a colossal, terrifying entity that spans one-tenth of the known universe.

Witnessing its sheer scale is enough to trigger an existential crisis in anyone.

Furthermore, it is in a state of constant expansion, consuming everything in its path. Its terrifying power to annihilate entire worlds in mere seconds can strike fear even into the hearts of SS-rankers.

The vast majority of demons throughout the universe originate from that dark expanse.

If their particular solar system and galaxy represent the highest density of mana in the cosmos, then the 'Sea of Miasma' is the absolute pinnacle of miasma concentration.

Staring at that bizarre anomaly is equivalent to looking directly into the 'abyss,' an act that can cause severe mental and physical degradation if one is not sufficiently protected.

"I understand. I will keep your counsel in mind..."

Rio was not surprised by Kehrid's palpable fear of miasma or his discomfort regarding the tower.

Unlike Rio, who frequently immersed himself in miasmic corruption, most people avoided even speaking the words 'miasma' or 'corruption,' fearing that the mere mention would make them vulnerable to its influence.

Numerous researchers and elites across the globe have theorized that 'Miasma' is a semi-sentient force; the more knowledge you gain of it, the more it learns about you, adapting to counter your defenses.

It is considered a horrific, indelible curse upon the universe.

Some scientists even suggest that the sea of miasma is the physical manifestation of the universe's natural destructive cycle.

In their view, the sea of miasma will eventually consume everything, leading to the total destruction of the universe, followed by a new beginning and a repeat of the cycle.

Rio, however, did not subscribe to that particular theory.

‘The existence of both mana and miasma feels artificial in this world... viewing 'miasma' as the sole antagonist disrupts the true balance of the natural order...’

Regardless of Kehrid's fears, Rio was determined to visit the tower and observe the sea of miasma for himself.

"I am also curious about King Allen; could you share more details about him?"

Rio sought more information regarding the legendary 'chosen of the heaven and world' who had vanished.

King Allen was not merely a peak SS-ranker; he was the master of two legendary skills and a hoard of potent artifacts.

With the backing of 'Astra,' the world's most powerful healer, he was far from being an ordinary individual.

"Haha, many inquisitive youngsters used to approach me with that very question before I stepped away from it all..."

Kehrid offered a slight smirk at Rio's inquiry.

"My response has always been consistent: as a 'hero,' he was someone you could trust and respect, but as a 'person,' he was incredibly 'dangerous'..."

Kehrid gestured toward the cube circling Rio as he continued.

"He handed over that bizarre artifact as payment for the three legendary swords I forged for him..."

"That should tell you everything you need to know about his bargaining skills! That man was a master of intrigue, and his tactical mind was so sharp that you would feel like a complete fool just trying to discuss strategy with him..."

By the time Kehrid met the King, the thousand-year war was reaching its peak, and Allen had already lived for several centuries.

His long life had transformed him into an incredibly cunning and manipulative figure.

"He was the sort of individual you would want to avoid crossing, even if you managed to surpass him in strength..."