100% DROP RATE : Why is My Inventory Always so Full? - Chapter 171

Chapter 171: Chapter 171 – Baptism
Three days later.

The world had gone quiet.

After the storm of battle came the stillness of remembrance.

At the heart of the continent where the four nations’ borders met, people gathered beneath the open sky.

Flags of every kingdom fluttered in the wind with their colors muted in mourning. Soldiers, priests, mages and citizens stood side by side. No words could fill the air… only the soft murmur of prayers and the distant call of wind through the mountains.

It was time to lay the heroes to rest.

Lucien stepped forward. With a faint motion of his hand, light rippled from within his divine energy core. One by one, the fallen heroes appeared before the crowd.

He had crafted special coffins for each of them himself using his CRAFT feature. They were reinforced with enchantments that would protect their slumber for eternity. The runes etched across them glowed faintly, resonating with the world’s energy.

No grave robber, no curse, no corruption would ever reach them.

Then as the priests began their chants, Lucien quietly closed his eyes.

He activated the effect of his newly gained title, Transcendent One.

The world shifted.

In an instant, his vision changed. His sight no longer confined to mere form and color. He could see everything.

Threads of energy pulsed through the air. They flowed like luminous rivers across the land. The veins of the earth stretched beneath his feet. They looked like arteries of mana that carried life through the world’s body. The wind wasn’t just air anymore. It was the breath of the world, whispering the rhythm of creation and decay.

He could see the balance that governed all things. The cycle of birth, death and rebirth.

And he understood.

This place… This mountain at the continent’s heart wasn’t just neutral ground. It was where the world’s ley lines converged. To bury the fallen heroes here meant more than honor. It meant returning their essence to the world’s lifeblood itself.

“This is the right place,” Lucien murmured softly. “The world will remember them here.”

He turned back and focused to the ceremony.

The Priesthood and the Spiritual Division under Clara’s guidance, began the Blessing of Passage.

Clara stood at the forefront beside Pope Augustus.

The two had reconciled at last. Clara realized she had misread the color she once perceived from Augustus through her Divine Sense.

With a brief exchange, she came to understand the truth of his nature and the burden he had long carried for their faith.

But even then, Clara never intended to return to the Holy Nation. She had already found the one she wished to serve…

At her command, the Blessing began.

Prayers rose like soft waves, filling the air with warmth. Soon, a low humming followed. It was gentle at first… then harmonizing into a sound that seemed to touch the very soul.

It carried through the crowd, invigorating their hearts and calming their grief.

One by one, the sovereigns of the four nations delivered their eulogies. They spoke not as rulers but as witnesses to courage.

Finally, the crowd turned to Lucien.

But… Lucien wasn’t prepared for a speech. Well, he didn’t need to.

He looked at the countless faces and said simply,

“They fought to protect the world… and they succeeded. Their story won’t end here… Because as long as we remember, the light they left behind will keep the darkness from rising again.”

A hush followed. Even the wind seemed to pause to listen.

Then… Lucien moved toward a certain location. All eyes were on him.

He reached into his INVENTORY and grabbed out an object.

The Fragment of the World Seed. A legendary drop from the Corrupted Monsters.

The seed pulsed faintly as though it recognized the soil it was about to touch.

Lucien knelt and pressed it into the ground.

For a heartbeat, nothing happened.

Everyone was confused.

Just then…

The world trembled.

A faint glow spread from beneath his hand. The soil cracked open. Not in destruction but in birth.

Roots of light unfurled, weaving into the ley lines he’d seen earlier. The energy from the world gathered like a tide, drawn to the fragment. The people gasped as the ground began to bloom.

Before their eyes, a tree emerged. Its trunk was crystal-like and luminous. Its leaves shimmered in shades of gold and silver. It grew higher and higher, reaching for the heavens… until its branches touched the clouds.

Every pair of eyes widened and gasps rippled through the crowd.

It won’t be long before this tree would be known throughout the lands as…

The Tree of New Beginnings.

Lucien watched it rise with a small smile forming on his lips. He had chosen well. The ley lines here embraced the seed, feeding it endlessly.

He turned to the people and spoke.

“This tree will stand as proof of their courage,” Lucien declared. “Its roots will anchor the barriers of our world. As long as it stands, the land will heal… and no invasion will breach us again.”

The murmurs fell silent. Awe and disbelief filled their face.

In truth…

According to the description, the Fragment of the World Seed’s purpose was to create life and heal dying lands.

But by planting it here at the heart of the ley lines, he had amplified its potential beyond its limits.

And soon… he would understand that his decision was right.

Lucien turned toward the distant horizon. Toward the place where the Black Mass had once writhed.

He could feel it.

The subtle pulse beneath the earth and the murmur of shifting laws. Nature itself was realigning. The air there had grown lighter and the decay that once clung to the soil was fading.

The world was healing.

•••

The ceremony had ended.

Lucien lingered for a while, exchanging a few final words with the sovereigns.

He promised King Midas and Pope Augustus that they would speak again soon. Both men had that unmistakable look of weighty intent in their eyes. He already guessed what they wanted to discuss.

He also clasped forearms with Leo whose grin could still split mountains. They had fought side by side. There was no need for long goodbyes.

He had also promised cooperation with the Federation. Their technology fascinated him. And deep within, Lucien wondered if Ashreth still kept some secrets hidden, waiting to be unearthed.

Finally, after all matters were settled and the four nations began their return home, Lucien stepped back.

•••

Lucien entered his Divine Energy Core once more.

“Skittles,” he called softly.

He raised his hand slightly and with a thought, one of his pet appeared before him.

Skittles bounced eagerly toward him. Through their mental link, Lucien could feel its curiosity and excitement.

He smiled faintly. “You’re perfect for this.”

He had been pondering about the Baptism for days. He wanted his subjects to be able to wield divine energy too. It was the greatest weapon against miasma.

And if there was any being fit to test it on, it was the slimes. They were simple in form but resilient by nature.

They had no mana vessels that could shatter under strain and no flesh that could burn or scar. If something went wrong, he would sense it instantly through their mental link.

Lucien took a steadying breath. “Let’s begin.”

He extended his hand toward the void. Reality rippled in response and the Fragment of the Origin Core appeared in his hand.

Lucien closed his eyes, feeling the pulse of power within him. His body became a conduit. A bridge between the fragment and Skittles.

Slowly and carefully, he began to channel the energy.

A low hum filled the air. A mist of energy came out of Lucien.

Then… light.

It began as a thin thread of gold that arced from his hand and touched Skittles’ body. The slime trembled, vibrating intensely as the energy seeped in. Its surface rippled like molten glass struck by sunlight.

Golden light surged inside it. It weaved into delicate veins that branched and pulsed throughout its gelatinous form. Each pulse was like a heartbeat.

Then… Skittles’ core reacted.

It flared suddenly, blazing brighter than Lucien had ever seen. A burst of light erupted from within, spilling out in radiant waves. For a moment, the entire inner world was bathed in gold.

Lucien was shocked. The flow was immense. It was too much, even for him. He gritted his teeth, forcing the channel closed before it consumed him. His breath came heavy as his body begun trembling.

He didn’t expect the process to be this draining.

When the light finally dimmed, Lucien looked up.

Skittles hovered before him… transformed. It looked more vibrant than ever. Inside, its core had changed. It no longer looked plain but had transformed into a small, radiant sphere adorned with delicate golden vein-like patterns.

Lucien exhaled. “You did it, Skittles…”

He fell back slightly. “Or maybe we did.”

The slime wobbled cheerfully.

Lucien smiled tiredly.

“Congratulations, Skittles. You’re the second being after me in this world to touch divine energy… or maybe the third? I just remembered. The Will of the World… where could it have gone?”