Chapter 198: Time to go
Rith gave him a look. "I’m not done with Wailshear! You should be really careful when using it. That weapon is going to consume all of your energy in one go if you are not careful. And even if you are, it’s still going to take that much to activate it."
"Seriously, I will advise you to only start using it when you reach the third stage. But who knows what will happen in that Great Dungeon?"
Vacuse nodded seriously because that was the truth. Who knew what was going to go down in the Dungeon? It was better to go with all his weapons, even the one that would consume all his void energy just to activate.
He took the Wailshear and put it in his ring and then focused on the key with the bell attached. It was what he was most curious about. That power that created and isolated a blurry box seemed so powerful and mysterious.
Rith placed his foreleg on it. "This is called The Toll of Severance and as you know, it can create an isolated space in the shape of a box that can’t be destroyed from the outside."
"Really? It won’t be destroyed from the outside?"
Rith gave him a flat look. "It can. It’s a fourth stage artifact as well and will withstand anything below that without a scratch. For stage four though, it all depends on the strength of the one attacking."
"Oh," Vacuse said. He had thought he could use it as a shield anytime things got tricky.
"Well, its main strength lies in the fact that it can cut away any outside influence, no matter how strong. No one can sense what’s in the box and it’s so flexible that you can form different shapes with it."
Although it wasn’t exactly what Vacuse wanted, he was already thinking of interesting ways to use it. But he raised his brows at Rith. "Where’s the but?"
Rith gave him a dirty look. "But the drawback is just the same as the other one. And now, this one is unlike the sword, so maybe you’ll have two or three uses before the enchantments stop working."
"That can happen?"
"Of course. You think all artifacts can be used forever? Since you are in the second stage though, you should be able to get more uses from it."
Vacuse studied The Toll of Severance some more and then put it into his ring with a sigh. "Rich kids really have it easy."
He was thinking about the scepter that Eloryna brought out during their fight. Thinking about it now, he was really fortunate that he acted quickly and did not let her use it. Who knew what would have happened if she had used it?
Vacuse sighed again and muttered. "Rich kids."
Rith gave him another look and stretched, then he said in a casual tone, "You really must be careful in that Great Dungeon. You have to think fast on your feet."
Vacuse gave him a curious look. "Why are you speaking as if you won’t be there?"
Rith looked at him for a long time and then looked away. "Great Dungeons are unpredictable."
Vacuse felt a chill when he heard that.
He was suddenly gripped with a ridiculous feeling of abandonment so strong that he froze. It was then he understood just how much he had been depending on Rith.
Not just as someone to talk to or to teach him, but just his presence.
Sure, Kagerou and Harkon were there and while Vacuse had accepted them somewhat, he also had it in mind that they might betray him at any time.
He had seen too much betrayal for him to trust so easily again.
But Rith was different. He was simply one person that could not betray Vacuse.
In a way, in most ways, he was the closest to Vacuse.
The Dragon heir narrowed his eyes and his voice came out unnaturally harsh. "What do you mean? The Great Dungeon can’t seal our powers, right?"
Rith smiled.
Of course, a Dragon couldn’t smile, but that was what it looked like. "No. But hasn’t that Iron guy told you? You should be more afraid of what and who is in the Great Dungeon than the Dungeon itself. In most cases anyway."
Vacuse stared at Rith silently for a time, then he shrugged. A casual smile returned to his lips, every other emotion locked away. "I suppose you are right. Anyway, I should get some sleep. This is my first time in a Great Dungeon after all."
Rith gave no reply. He was already staring blankly again.
☆☆▪︎▪︎☆☆
When it was morning, Vacuse packed his clothes into his ring and then he checked the artifacts that remained in his ring.
The first and what should have been the strongest was the Unifier Sword, but sadly, Vacuse couldn’t use it, so it was just staying there, wrapped in the Ashen Wrap to conceal it. Not like everyone did not know it was in his possession.
The next was the Dragon construct. Sadly, Vacuse could only bring the construct’s power to match his own second stage power, but it was indeed very strong.
Then there was the Meatheart, a red ball of flesh with an eye on it that could shoot a beam of light that would weaken something.
Now the new two he had just gotten, The Toll of Severance and Wailshear.
After he checked that all of them were intact, he went over to the rows of healing potions, restoration potions, and all other potions in his ring.
Then he closed his eyes and briefly checked his void creature. A long time had passed, enough for it to be used in battle. The void creature was ready.
"I really should give it a name."
Then he walked toward the door. "Rith?"
The Void Dragon did not answer, but it did send an irritated wave of feeling down their bond link.
Vacuse was now as ready as he could be.
He walked out of the room, down the hallway, and then down the stairs.
The mission to clear and explore the Great Dungeon was starting!