Reborn as an Extra Chapter 555: There are infinite possibilities! Part-5.

With Rio now aware of that elusive 'plateau,' concerns about the cube of possibilities failing vanished entirely.

The desired possibility had been unearthed by Rio amid endless threads of fate and infinite destinies.

The cube could now simply pinpoint the plateau's position by examining destiny threads from nearby creatures in the area.

Rio's personal interference wouldn't disrupt it, ensuring no glitches occurred.

'That avaricious orc proved immensely helpful this time... yet his background remains shrouded in enigma...'

'Was he slain by that shadow dragon perhaps?... and subsequently transformed into a malevolent spirit twisted by miasmic taint?'

As he advanced in stealth, Rio pondered strategies for confronting the formidable SS-rank shadow dragon.

'Direct combat with it remains beyond my current capabilities, yet retreating without gains isn't an option...'

'A mere fragment of his soul and recollections would suffice... perhaps I should request it outright?... hmm... that sounds unwise...'

Raji herself, acquainted with Rio for years, shivered in unease when he revealed his ability to delve into her soul and extract memories given the opportunity.

'It's not as if I'd truly act on it, but the invaluable memories and techniques of SS-rankers hold irresistible allure...'

Memories and abilities from an SS-ranker spark envy in all; even a brief insight into their core foundations can propel one's own prowess forward dramatically.

'Delving into Principal Raji's memories would elevate my frost elemental techniques to devastating heights, with damage soaring beyond measure!'

'Uh... ahem! Cough! Cease these notions, fool... Focus on serene ideas... right! Joyful ones...'

The image of Lia's adorable visage surfaced in Rio's thoughts, shifting his mood from elation to gloom once more.

'Argh... how soon until I reunite with her!! Sigh~ Oh Liam, once you're in my grasp, Liam! I'll thrash you senseless for burdening me with all this toil...'

Despite his grumblings over the labor, Rio cherished the opportunity to venture into this realm.

'Miasmic crystals, huh... these are truly remarkable treasures...'

Rio examined the dense miasmic crystal clutched in his palm, repeatedly probing it with his sword intent and mastery over miasma.

Mana crystals were familiar to Rio from before.

Such crystals form when intense miasma density solidifies under the influence of mana currents and spatial distortions nearby.

Typically, superior mana crystals emerge only in dungeon depths, though advanced tech allows lab and factory production nowadays.

In contemporary society, vehicles and armaments rely on mana crystals for power, as this pristine fuel generates zero pollution.

Furthermore, since mana embodies pure energy, transforming its crystalline form into usable power requires no additional hassle.

Back in Rio's former world, nuclear setups boiled water via reactors to drive turbines for electricity, a process riddled with waste.

Yet mana crystals stand out as steady, non-toxic to radiation, eco-conscious, plentiful, and versatile—their mana serves directly as electrical substitute without conversion!

No transformations needed whatsoever!

'Fascinating... Even in crystalline state, miasma acts in stark contrast to mana...'

Contrasting mana crystals sharply, this crystallized miasma exhibited wild instability, potent radioactivity, lethal toxicity, savage destructiveness, and utterly freakish traits.

While mana crystals lock energy in a compressed, quiescent solidity under immense pressure, miasma crystals teetered on the edge of chaos!

The packed miasma within clung together precariously, held in its volatile configuration by sheer coercion.

'It's no surprise debates rage that miasma possesses partial, or greater, awareness of its being...'

Nothing else explained why this volatile miasma crystal hadn't detonated; it lurked, seeking victims.

Indeed, miasma crystals maintain their fragile equilibrium solely because the embedded corruption craves expending energy to ravage and annihilate living beings maximally!

No alternative justifies how this self-loathing, universally hostile material endures stability!

'It's akin to bitter foes allying against a common foe, only to resume their feud afterward...'

'Miasma excels at devising ever-more ingenious ways to wreak havoc across the globe...'

The crystal in Rio's grip hadn't erupted thanks to the restraint imposed by his sword intent and miasma command.

Without that, it would have detonated instantly, unleashing force capable of ripping spacetime for a brief span.

'This item poses extreme peril... Carrying it is like strolling with a nuclear bomb tucked away...'

Merely by persisting, it radiated intense corruption and radiation across tens of kilometers; direct contact could corrupt even top S-rankers into demons on the spot!

Immunity shielded Rio, leaving him unperturbed.

'Incidentally... what if I consumed this crystal?... After all, corruption can't touch me... It could serve as my 'emergency fuel' since each holds millions of calories...'

'The energy surge could forge a robust physique in seconds from a single nibble... though only viable for me...'

Rio stowed the miasmic crystals, then clasped his hands to summon and channel miasma.

Seizing ambient miasma, he wielded his superior control to squeeze it with brutal force.

Infusing the gathered miasma with crystallization intent via sword intent and control, he compelled an on-site miasma crystal into existence.

Space and time elementals accelerated the process, enhancing the crystal's stability and potency!

One slip, and the coerced miasmic corruption burst with cataclysmic power, igniting a colossal blast that hurled tons of rubble outward!

A city-sized crater materialized in a blink, its shockwaves pulverizing boulders dozens of kilometers distant.

'Uh... have I just... devised a novel nuclear weapon single-handedly?...'

At the crater's heart, Rio rubbed his neck sheepishly, stunned by the raw devastation this power wrought.

'Excellent, henceforth, this becomes my fresh A.O.E. technique... though the drawback is its unsuitability near urban zones or in group battles...'

'In truth, a mana variant could substitute for miasma... yet it would still deliver widespread A.O.E. harm, endangering allies...'

Truthfully, Rio's repertoire of A.O.E. assaults outstrips his other abilities; solo operations suit him far better these days.

'Sigh... Nostalgia hits for eras when unleashing full might spared teammates from peril... I've traversed far along my 'path' to power...'

'This 'path'... It grows ever more isolating...'

Shaking off the reverie, Rio pressed onward, resuming his trials.

Yet another error sparked a tremendous blast! Still, Rio persisted undeterred.

He aimed to forge a semi-stable miasma crystal portable without spontaneous rupture, demanding relentless experimentation.

Such perilous, intricate endeavors inevitably breed errors and hurdles, precisely what Rio sought.

By pushing his miasma control to extremes, he honed it toward superior mastery—this proved an ideal approach.

Should Rio succeed in artificial miasmic crystallization, his miasma arts would ascend dramatically, rendering him vastly mightier.

'I've truly morphed into a training fanatic and relentless worker... sigh... perhaps 'Scientist' Rio Flash, the modest and affable one, fits from here on...'

The journey to the plateau stretched long, so Rio resolved to seize every idle moment for rigorous self-honing.

Fortunately, miasma saturated the surroundings, banishing any fear of depletion.

Should need arise, a morsel from a miasmic crystal would flood him with surplus vigor!

'This trial brims with boundless potential!'