Ginya proposed a different idea, thinking more about unknown dangers in the ruins.

Might they put master in harm's way?

Even the slightest possibility had to be shut down.

Carlos shook his head slightly.

"Time's running out.

The warriors keeping watch on the outer perimeter

have already spotted some scouts.

Gotta finish exploring fast."

The ruckus from the ruins' emergence inevitably spread outward. Creatures with sharp spiritual senses had already picked up on this insane death energy.

...

Without wasting time,

with both retainers flanking protectively, Carlos's Crimson-gold wing bones fluttered behind him. Three streaks of light once again rushed into the ruins' portal.

Outside, Skeleton Shield Guards gripped greatswords, spiritual senses on high alert, watching the perimeter...

...

Above the ruins,

three figures hung high.

The Gray Spirit Monsters lurking in the gray mist sensed unfamiliar vibes and woke up one by one from their nap.

Howling, countless transparent shadows swarmed and attacked.

Their forms were unclear,

but the trails stirring the gray mist created gusts of nasty wind.

Bone-deep cold penetrated to the core, as if it could scatter souls.

"Boom!"

Dawn Flame erupted from Carlos's body, towering crimson flames instantly painting the sky red.

The companion flame from the Sun Emperor's Sword naturally packed eternal characteristics, able to unleash terrifying power even in hostile environments.

Facing this sudden terrifying blaze,

countless transparent monster shadows made shrill panicked sounds.

Moments later, they melted like snow, leaving only clumps of ashes that materialized from nowhere and fell toward the ground...

"Roar!"

Purple Vortex was ready.

The instant ashes appeared,

the Dark Purple Force Field beneath its feet rapidly expanded, forming a massive canopy that caught all falling ashes—dozens of portions.

In the flame's center,

Carlos saw everything.

"These Gray Spirit Monsters seem to have rocks for brains,

only showing fear when actually touching Dawn Flame."

What Carlos didn't know was

that the Gray Spirit Monsters in the ruins, over such long years,

had their already pea-sized intelligence numbed by the monotonous ruin environment, making them dumb as bricks.

Even encountering flames that were their worst nightmare, they could barely react immediately.

Roaring flames continuously poured out,

massive numbers of Gray Spirit Monsters melted in waves.

Purple Vortex collected more and more wraith ashes, the haul far exceeding Carlos's expectations.

"Psionic energy consumption is burning through too fast."

Carlos's eyes were pumped, but his lips were slightly pale—a sign of heavy psionic energy consumption.

He quickly chugged a psionic energy recovery alchemical potion.

His nearly tapped out internal psionic energy rapidly recovered,

supporting Dawn Flame to complete the final harvest...

...

After who knows how long, the red-tinted sky returned to its gray, murky state.

But the lingering heat in the air would take time to fade, recording everything that had just gone down.

...

"Thousands of portions of wraith ashes..."

Before the Necromantic Tower, Carlos roughly counted the haul.

The most pain-in-the-ass of the three major materials needed to craft Ghostly Dark Steeds was so easily snagged.

He was feeling pretty damn good.

Thanks to that necromantic master

who not only left precious manuscripts for posterity, but also left massive quantities of "materials."

If not knowing this necromantic master had no time to prep,

such thoughtful arrangements could easily make you think this necromantic master did it on purpose.

"The remaining two materials—

Bones—various skeletal monsters in the Necromantic Tower are everywhere.

As for Umbral Iron..."

Both retainers led the way, entering the Necromantic Tower again.

"Purple Vortex take the middle corridor,

Ginya take the left corridor.

Mop up monsters along the way, target: hunt for Umbral Iron!"

Considerable time had passed.

Working both angles could seriously improve search efficiency.

"Roar!"

"Got it!"

Both retainers immediately split up, each responsible for one corridor. Soon sounds of battle echoed...

Before the Necromantic Tower entrance,

Carlos didn't go in with them.

On one hand, his psionic energy was seriously drained. Even after recovery potions, his mind couldn't hide its exhaustion.

On the other hand, he served as the ace in the hole for this mission.

"Get ready in advance."

Carlos's expression went dead serious.

Before him quietly materialized a golden greatsword radiating unbelievably terrifying sharpness!

The blade was entirely crimson-gold, dense patterns flickering with solar radiance, like a sun lighting up the earth!

Dispersing the gray, murky sky, Gray Spirit Monsters that had lucked out and survived instantly melted under this ultimate radiance.

"Maybe this time you'll get to strut your stuff."

Carlos gripped the Sun Emperor's Sword. Dawn Flame immediately got fired up, wrapping around the Sun Emperor's Sword, freely breathing flames.

Mental exhaustion quickly recovered, strong confidence filling Carlos's chest.

In his emerald eyes, flames danced...

...

"Pathetic! Pathetic! Too damn pathetic!"

Without master nearby, without master's 'eye' (Purple Vortex) watching,

Ginya could finally cut loose with her vigorous power without holding back.

Her left hand casually swung the withered yellow greatsword, taking out waves of skeletal monsters. The tulip patterns on the blade grew more vivid.

Her right hand held the edge of a crimson giant shield, sharp withered leaves spinning like crazy.

A casual wave sliced a skeletal monster in half.

After exploring the left corridor briefly, Ginya's feet were already buried in broken bones.

Her nearly six-foot tall body wore withered leaf armor radiating thick withering aura, freely devouring surrounding vitality.

Each time vitality got sucked from a monster, the tulip patterns on the armor's withered leaves brightened slightly!

Every withered leaf forming the armor bloomed tulip flowers with leaf veins as stems.

Vitality and withering intertwined—weird yet harmoniously balanced.

The rush of violent slaughter and enjoyment of devouring vitality constantly stimulated Ginya's soul.

But even while going wild, Ginya didn't forget master's orders, continuously advancing toward the corridor's depths...

Suddenly,

Ginya stopped.

"Huh? What kind of beast is this?"

In the corridor's deepest part, bones were scattered everywhere, intentionally arranged like a nest.

The "nest" was huge, with a black shadow crouched within. Its exposed skin was like dark iron—smooth and hard.

Ginya's arrival didn't wake it. Muffled rumbling sounds continued, like bones striking thick cowhide—powerful and heavy.

...

Carlos received Ginya's soul wave.

"Dark iron body, heavy, powerful snoring..."

Most importantly, this sleeping monster set off Ginya's inner alarm bells.

This feeling was only one level below the Twilight Cult's heavy hitter—the Controller-level monster they'd recently hunted.

Many monsters fit these characteristics. Based on word-of-mouth description alone, Carlos couldn't make a call.

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