CHAPTER 194: CHAPTER 194 - DROPS

It was already afternoon when Lucien finally closed the last book.

Stacks of tomes surrounded him like towers. It was his battlefield of knowledge. Many of the onlookers from earlier still lingered, pretending to browse nearby shelves while secretly watching him.

Since Eirene, the famous "Flower Fairy" of the West Continent, had shown interest in him, everyone wanted a chance to be associated with the Wolf Beastman. In a city like Aurion, a single nod from her could change one’s destiny.

But Lucien’s distant and dismissive demeanor quickly discouraged them.

He had no time for opportunists.

When he left, they scattered... going back to their own business as if nothing had happened.

Lucien returned to the Luminous Rest Inn. Marie was still in meditation, her aura steady and calm.

He didn’t disturb her. Instead, he sat near the window and quietly organized his thoughts.

He had learned much during his stay at the library.

The world had changed greatly after the Millennia War. Kingdoms had risen and fallen and the power balance among the Thousand Races had shifted dramatically.

Countless forces still contended for the Origin Core fragments.

Too bad... there wasn’t any useful information about the Laws. What he found was mostly superficial knowledge... basic definitions, vague theories, and poetic interpretations.

He wanted to learn more of the structure behind Laws, their formation, and the way they intertwined... but the Grand Library of Aurion seemed to lack that section entirely.

But he found a useful book called "Faces and Names of the Power-Bound."

It listed the famous powerhouses still active across the continents. This would help him avoid ignorance of the world, to understand its systems, its powers, and its dangers. More importantly, it would teach him whom not to offend in the Big World.

Among them, Eirene’s name appeared. Eirene, the Flower Fairy, leader of The Verdant Veil Consortium, the largest merchant network in the West Continent. Her age, however, was curiously blurred out.

He also found out that most known origin core fragment holders were no ordinary beings.

Most of them were backed by Eternal Realm entities. These beings are so ancient that some had survived the Millennia War itself. Each was an existence that could alter the course of a continent.

Lucien fell silent at that thought.

To gather all the fragments meant facing those beings... and the monsters from the Black Mass.

He shook his head.

That wasn’t his goal. He only wanted to create a safe haven. A home where his people could live freely.

He sighed and turned his gaze to Marie who was still meditating.

Both of them were in the Transcendent Realm. It’s the stage where one’s essence must be refined to harmonize with the Law they had integrated. Strength came not through power alone but through comprehension.

For Lucien, that path was steep. The Law of Creation was complex.

But he wasn’t in a rush. Enlightenment could not be forced.

He then took the time to inspect the drops he had obtained from the slain Nephralis and Varkhaals.

***

Nephralis Drops

Common

• Draconic Scale Fragment – A fragment of a dragon’s scale. Durable material for forging high-quality equipment.

• Charred Essence Dust – Residue of a Nephralis’ internal flame. Commonly used as a potent alchemical powder.

Uncommon

• Molten Heart Core – A condensed ember that can keep a forge burning. The higher the mana infused, the hotter it burns.

• Blood Vial – A drop of Nephralis blood, hot to the touch. Temporarily boosts fire resistance and vitality.

Rare

• Scale of Ancestry – A rare material that grants minor resistance to elemental damage.

• Heartflame Residue – The essence of a dragon’s inner flame that can reignite ruined mana vessels. (Only works for those with fire-attributed mana vessels.)

Epic

• Nephralis Soul Core – Imbues weapons with powerful elemental effects.

• Soulbrand Claw – A claw imbued with soul energy. Deals true damage that bypasses defenses and strikes directly at the soul.

Legendary

• Scale of Dominion – A living scale that grows stronger alongside its wielder, offering immense fire and magic resistance.

• Crown of Embers – Grants command over lesser dragons and complete immunity to fire.

Mythical

• Essence of the First Flame – Contains the original draconic fire; can forge divine-tier weapons or awaken dormant flame spirits.

• Infernal Core – Holds the primal Law of Fire. Grants mastery over flame.

***

***

Varkhaal Drops

Common

• Shadow Residue – Used in basic stealth potions and inks for shadow enchantments.

• Whispering Cloth Scrap – Slightly silences movement when stitched into garments.

Uncommon

• Obsidian Vein Dust – Pulverized remains of Varkhaal; strengthens and hardens weaponry.

• Gloom Essence – Grants temporary invisibility or allows shadow melding for a few seconds.

Rare

• Soulshade Fragment – Absorbs weak light spells and converts them into mana.

• Umbral Thread – Woven from condensed shadow; binds spirits or reinforces magical artifacts.

Epic

• Core of the Black Halo – Concentrated darkness that enables teleportation through shadow portals.

• Cloak of the Abysswalker – Allows the wearer to traverse dimly lit areas undetected.

Legendary

• Varkhaal’s Wraith Sigil – Summons shadow familiars bound to the wielder’s will.

• Crown of Hollow Night – Channels the darkness of the void; grants immunity to illusion and fear effects.

Mythical

• Essence of the Infinite Night – Can blot out sunlight across vast regions for a limited duration.

• Shadow Core – Contains the primal Law of Darkness; allows manipulation of existence through shadow.

***

Lucien fell silent.

He had a lot of Crown drops now which was almost funny. He couldn’t possibly wear them all at once... or maybe he could stack them. That thought lingered and he made a mental note to experiment later.

Also, he noticed something peculiar. The Nephralis here mostly dropped fire-related items.

The truth was, not all Nephralis wielded fire. It just so happened that the Nephralis sect in this continent focused heavily on the Law of Fire. They acted like battle maniacs which surprised Lucein.

The Nephralis he knew back in the Mural World were regal and proud. They were creatures of wisdom, not rage.

They were scholars, the greatest kind, whose powers were symbols of enlightenment... not destruction.

He recalled what he’d read earlier in the library. Even among the great races, factions had formed. Each one diverged, following its own path. The Nephralis were no exception.

Lucien sighed.

In the end, it was still a good thing. He had obtained two new powerful drops... one holding the Law of Fire and the other, the Law of Darkness.

A huge gain.

But he didn’t rush to study them. Not yet.

He exhaled deeply.

’I should get another room. No point in saving money,’ he thought, deciding to rent one for himself. Privacy was worth the cost.

Then... he turned his attention to the skill cards he had acquired.

***

Infernal Burst – Unleashes a cone of searing flame that burns both body and soul. Power scales with the user’s vitality.

Molten Blood – Burns toxins or curses out of the body at the cost of health.

Void Slash – A strike that slices through space itself, bypassing armor and defense.

Slip Through Shade – Allows teleportation between shadows within a certain radius.

***

Lucien smiled faintly. He had at least two of each skill cards.

He didn’t really need something like Molten Blood. His body was already immune to most curses but it could be useful for others.

His gaze shifted to Marie, still meditating quietly nearby.

’I should let her learn a few of these,’ he thought. ’The more skills she has, the better our chances of survival...’

Lucien decided to stick with her. Marie would be a valuable ally. She could be an anchor and a potential cornerstone for the home he planned to build in the Big World.

Just then...

Marie’s eyes fluttered open. For a moment, silence filled the room as her gaze met Lucien’s.

She blinked. "Do you make a habit of staring at people when they don’t know it?"

Lucien didn’t answer right away. His expression was unreadable.

Marie smirked, leaning back lazily. "What, lost for words? Don’t tell me you think I’m too pretty?"

Lucien exhaled through his nose, unamused. "You are indeed pretty," he said evenly, "only if you keep your mouth shut."

The first half made her beam. The second half made her snarl. "You—!"

But she stopped herself with a sigh, deflating.

"Ugh, whatever. I’m growing restless here, Luc. My strength hasn’t budged an inch since we arrived. I need... something. An impetus."

Lucien regarded her quietly. Beneath her playful exterior, frustration brewed. She wasn’t just restless... she was dissatisfied with her own limits.

"Then let’s go to the market," he said finally. "Maybe we’ll find something that helps."

Her ears perked and her tail flicked. "Now you’re speaking my language."

Before they left, Lucien stopped by the front desk. He handed the Luminous Rest’s innkeeper a small pouch of mid-grade spirit crystals.

"I’ll extend our stay for another week," he said, "and rent another room for me."

Marie raised an eyebrow. "Another room? You planning to throw money around now?"

Lucien gave a faint shrug. "I need privacy too..."

"And you call yourself a man?" She rolled her eyes.