Roy inspected the scraps that were getting together.
As a result, a detailed analysis of the tree monster's capabilities was presented to him.
The tree monster was a low-level aura monster with multiple spectacular abilities.
It could create illusions, which was typically used to confuse innocent passerby before killing them by fooling them into a trap.
If that doesn't work, it does the dirty work itself.
Its second ability granted it control over nearby timbers and vines, and its third ability allowed it to morph them into any shape it liked. It would usually twist and bend them into a sharp shape like that of a weapon before using them to impale whoever was unlucky enough to cross its path.
All the above-mentioned abilities paled in comparison to what really made it special.
It could resurrect! As long as its entire body wasn't burned to ashes, it couldn't be said to be dead! As long as there was a little bit of it remaining, it could return to its prime! It will take time, but it will regain its cultivation and become an aura monster!
Worst yet, this ability was innate. Every member of its race had it.
Leaving such an enemy alive that couldn't be easily killed and had the ability to live for thousands of years wouldn't do anyone good.
Roy felt surprised when he found out about it. Even his sharp sword-like eyebrows did a jump.
Roy scratched his chin. "What a cheat-like innate ability. While others take drastic measures to prolong their life, going as far as to discard their humanity and worship a devil, this tree monster was born semi-immortal! It really makes one burn with jealousy." There was a smile on his face.
In this world, he wasn't the only cheat-like existence. Maybe in the future, he would come across a worthy opponent.
Delilah's heart pounded. She could feel it. She could feel the tree monster coming back to life. The tree monster was an entire stage above her. Its level of existence was simply something she couldn't content against. The difference between an aura monster and a weapon master was like Heaven and Earth. Its mere presence was enough to stiffen her out of fear. She didn't want to face it again. For a moment, she seemed to forget how easily Roy had taken it down.
In her panic, she grabbed his arm with both her hands and said, "Do something. It's about to revive."
It didn't take a genius to tell what would happen once all the pieces of its body got together.
Roy gave her a gentle tap on the head and said reassuring words, "It can struggle as much as it likes, but it won't live to see another day. It could have escaped disaster if it was facing someone else, but I have a lot of ways to deal with it."
When half of its body got together, an orb of wood was formed. It released a suction force in order to consume the remaining parts of its body and the world's energy. As it was nourished, limbs started to grow out of the orb of wood. In some seconds, the tree monster would be reborn. Although it won't be as strong as before, it wouldn't be too weak either. Last time, Roy caught it by surprise. This time, it won't wait to be slaughtered and might escape.
"I can't allow it to get away. What if it reports to its master and makes things difficult for me?" he snickered at its pathetic attempt to survive.
He stared at the black dragons sternly.
"Do your job properly," he said in a commanding tone.
The black dragons didn't have a consciousness of their own as they were made from the fusion of his abilities and skills. They lacked a soul, but they couldn't be said to be too lacking. Their diverse properties and immense power of devastation made up for their lack of soul.
Not to mention, they were affected by his will!
Since he willed, they spewed out a breath of ink, black lightning on the orb of wood.
Touched by the destructive breath, the orb of wood, the limbs growing out of it, and the consciousness forming inside of it was reduced to ashes in seconds.
The remaining pieces of the tree monster's body must be dealt with!
Roy's gaze was resolute as he snapped his fingers. The wooden bits were set aflame. The magic fire wipes them off the face of the world ruthlessly, mirroring the attitude of the conjurer.
『Ding! Congratulations on slaying a Ten-year-old aura monster and looking cool in front of your subordinate』
『You have gained 1000 experience points』
『The appearance of a rank-5 runic stone has been discovered』
『Please collect it』
The system's monotone voice rang in his ears. Only after it was mentioned did Roy notice the existence of a runic stone. The energy fluctuation that should belong to a runic stone was present in the surrounding.
Where is it?
Roy tried to locate it by using his sixth sense and sixth eye. He was close to locating it when he heard, "Wow! This thing is too shiny. It looks better than most of the jewelry I have seen. It must be precious."
The voice was like that of an excited child but sweet like honey and soft like silk. It was said by the assassin. He was taken aback to see this side of her. He didn't think she could be childlike.
What a sight!
"It is," Roy said, "It's a rank-5 runic stone."
He extended his hand towards her. Delilah was reluctant, but she handed it over to him.
『Ding! You've obtained the Moon Shadow runic stone』
It was as good as its name, Roy noted.
"What does it do?" she asked.
"Once activated, an illusion pictured by the user would be created. It's exactly what the tree monster uses to fool you." Roy was too petty to admit that, at first, he was also fooled. After he became suspicious and used his abilities to the limit, he freed himself from its illusion.
"I was caught off guard. I had never seen a monster like this." Delilah said in her defense.
"It would be a surprise if you had seen it. It's a ghastly treant. It's a type of monster that's only found in the swarm." Roy explained.
One might wonder what it is doing here.
Well, it probably escaped from the swamps and took refuge in the summer land.
The lord of the swarm was forcefully enlisting the inhabitants of its land into its army. There were many bad rumors about it spreading around. Those who cherished their life more than their wealth and home escaped the swarm and went all over the place.
So finding one in the summer land wasn't too odd.
The odd thing was that this thing had a monster.
It was a ten-year-old aura monster!
So its master must also be an aura monster, but one who is older than twenty years!
Roy saw her looking at him and asked, "You need anything?"
"It's rare to see you act so kind. What can you give me?" she licked her lips and asked.
"Take this." Roy handed her a defensive runic stone. He said, "Use it when you are in danger, and your life will be saved."
"I understand." she gripped it and lowered her hand. The texture of its surface was like marble.
"Let's go."
Saying so, Roy entered the right entrance.
The left entrance led to a barren land connected to a cliff.
That cliff might very well be the one from where the Armored Knight was forced to jump.
'If my hypothesis is right, the right path leads to the area where the armored knight found the Seven stars and Three Blessings.' Roy thought.
His heart was beating fanatically!
"The emotion I was feeling earlier had intensified," Delilah said after a while of walking south.
Roy had the same thing to say.
As they were roaming through the forest thick with trees, they suddenly saw a cave. It was the first cave they came across in this wilderness, and it was eye-catching as rays of pristine light were shining out of it.
"I think we have found it," Delilah uttered as her mouth watered. She was salivating because whatever was the source of the light was something her body was greedy for.
"I think so too."
