Chapter 106: The Joy of Being a Guide

A few minutes before teleporting away. Adrian looked at the description of the Lyf Crystal.

Item: Lyf Crystal

Tier: Legendary

Type: Consumable, Gemstone

Effect: Consume to increase racial affinities or individual powers for five seconds by 500%.

Description: Crystals that have hardened life energy that could be either be used as a way to boost the powers of an individual in a certain time frame or be used as a gem to produce healing staffs for priests. It is the most sought out gemstone for making priest equipment. It is not known how these gems form or how it is even cultivated. It is said to be found only once a century.

Adrian was astounded on the effects of the Lyf Crystal. Sadly, he only has two of them. If any player were to know of what Adrian was thinking there they would have thrown him into a canyon already and if he survived he would be left there to die.

Adrian activated the crystal and envisioned the most likely place that Asterion's family would be waiting for him. He then felt the same feeling he had when Lauma empowered him. He immediately activated his origin magic to "take him there" and with that Adrian and Asterion's soul disappeared from Alfheim.

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[You have arrived at Asterion's Labyrinth.]

Adrian read the system notification and looked around. He was sure that he was not in the main realm, Nebulon, as it was night and at the sky there were eight moons. At Nebulon, there was only one moon so Adrian was sure that he had not returned back to the main realm.

He looked at Asterion and saw that the boy had a nostalgic smile plastered on his face. They arrived the entrance of the labyrinth so Asterion signaled Adrian to enter by hanging on his clothes and pointing at the entrance. Adrian then entered the labyrinth and was surprised that it was actually a dungeon.

It had tall walls about twenty meters in height and were a meter thick. Adrian tried flying upwards but he was met with an invisible barrier. The barrier only worked on him or rather strong entities as normal birds and insects were able to pass through without resistance. It took approximately forty minutes for Adrian to reach the center as the labyrinth was confusing.

It was unlike the Distorted Labyrinth where he had a guide so he did not bother using his brain. Asterion's labyrinth was also smaller compared to the Distorted Labyrinth. Some of the magic written on the walls have also deteriorated which means some walls have crumbled thereby creating a new passage. Adrian was able to see this magic patterns thanks to his Evil Eye.

When they were near the middle entrance, Asterion went right ahead of Adrian as if he was really excited. Adrian then ran right after him only to see a down trodden Asterion. Asterion had a visible sad expression on his face because he might have expected at least one family member's soul in his garden.

Adrian wanted to comfort him but he was alarmed by a sudden notification.

[Your title 'Shepherd of Lost Souls' is resonating in the area.]

[The tired and dreary souls that are weakened have been rejuvenated and would come to you for help.]

Every two or three second, a spirit would materialize and would do an action of stretching their arms out as if they were waking up in the morning. The first two spirits to materialize was that of a man and a woman that had features the same as that of Asterion. The two then noticed each other and saw the little kid besides Adrian and started to walk towards him.

Asterion however hid behind Adrian as if he was scared or shy for some reason. A few more seconds passed and more and more spirits appeared. The spirits now numbered six if you count Asterion then there would be seven.

Asterion still a bit shy then looked towards a giant oak tree as it started too shine with bright light. A spirit of a young man started to materialize in front of it. Asterion then walked towards that spirit and hugged him. The spirit of the young man seemed shocked at first but then realized who Asterion was and hugged him back.

The first two souls who appeared, the man and woman, seemed to want to also get a hug from Asterion but Asterion was wary of them for some reason. Adrian guessed that that man and woman must have been his parents. Asterion must be wary of them because of his feelings when he was sent to this labyrinth but Adrian noticed that the two immediately noticed Asterion when their sight landed on him.

The young man spirit that Asterion was hugging then tapped the latter on the back as if signaling to it is fine to stop hugging him now. Asterion then released his embrace and hid behind the young man's back since the man and woman spirit along with four others came closer to them.

The young man's spirit seemed to say something to Asterion and he then shyly looked at the spirit of the man and woman. The spirit of the man and woman opened their arms wide and were waiting for Asterion to come towards them.

Asterion then slowly walked towards them step by step until he was at arms-length towards them. The spirit of the man and woman then embraced Asterion so endearingly that the latter started to cry. The man and woman spirit also started to cry. The other spirits then came towards them and also hugged them.

Adrian who saw that scene could not help but feel his heart ache and shout for joy at the same time. He was not aware that he had released a tear or two. He wiped his tears away when he noticed Asterion's spirit coming close to him with something in hand.

Asterion then gave Adrian the object he was holding and waved goodbye to the latter. Adrian did not bother to look at the object in his left hand as he waved goodbye with his right hand. Asterion then went back towards his family with a full smile before they walked in towards a door made of light.

[You have cleared the quest 'An Innocent Soul's Wish'.]

[Asterion has already handed over your reward.]

Adrian was happy not because of the reward he received but because of the joy in his heart for reuniting a family. He then checked out the item that was given to him by Asterion but his only reaction was his mouth opening wide open.

Item: Bull Demi-human Hero Soul Fragment

Tier: Legendary

Type: Race Change Item

Effect: Activate to change your character's race to bull demi-human after assimilation. The character's stats would be recalibrated to fit your new race. Obtain the title 'Reigor Tecton's Descendant' after completion of the race change mission that would be given. (Limited to Warriors)

Description: A part of the soul of one of the heroes of the Selvaggians who participated in the war against the Dark Gods. He was a terramorph with immense strength and stamina. It is said he could slice a mountain with just a strike of his axe. His soul was shattered because of an enemy Dark God and resulted in some parts of his soul dissipating. This fragment contains his legacy in which an individual could inherit his skills and fighting prowess.

Adrian could see why Cristobal wanted Asterion to be his labyrinth guardian. If he actually successfully brought out Asterion's strength then Adrian could only dream to free Lauma from her prison. Adrian wanted to speculate further but he has more pressing concerns as an ominous system message appeared before him when they escaped from the Distorted Labyrinth.

[Your face has been etched in Cristobal Graedig's mind and he labeled you as a must kill individual. Be careful of Cristobal's allies since they would hunt you down if they ever see you.]

Adrian could only shout in his mind the word, "Seriously". He did not expect Cristobal to actually put him on a hit list. It seems that Lauma was far more important for his plans than what Adrian initially suspected. Nevertheless, Adrian was not the least bit perturbed because of a certain skill he has. That skill would be the 'Glamour' skill.

"Hehehe! I rarely use my demon form anyway when I am outside with a lot of people. Good luck finding me senile old man." Adrian said as he laughed in a way that could be seen as an evil laugh if other people saw him.

Adrian tore up the scroll that was given to him by Ascalor as he no longer needed to do anything on this dungeon as it no longer had a boss or spawned other mobs. Adrian vanished into particles of light and returned to the Paradox Planes. Little did he know that if stayed a little bit later then he would have encountered Cristobal as he set up a detection magical formation in Asterion's Labyrinth. Cristobal was late to arrive as teleporting from other dimensions took more time and effort. It is not like he was born to use spatial magic.