Chapter 904: Rune Vortex & Bodies

Finding a strong source of energy wasn't particularly difficult. The Sacred Desert's Energy Vein released strong currents of energy - excess energy that spread far into the Sacred Desert to transform the Beginner Region into an Intermediate Region.

The transformation process was slow and arduous, but it was highly advantageous that the Energy Vein had excess energy to accelerate it. Michael would tap into the excess energy and absorb as much as possible over the next few months.

He disappeared in the Sacred Desert after telling everyone what they had to do and how they were supposed to react in specific situations. His subjects were supposed to focus on expanding his territory and only report to him if a powerful Lord or High Beast Hordes too strong for the Untamed Army and Awakened to handle invaded their lands. Fortunately, none of that happened in the next two months. Two full moons elapsed quickly as Michael focused on his study of Rune Vortex. The technique wasn't difficult to execute, but mastering Rune Vortex was far from simple. Michael spent the last two moons practicing and studying the technique, barely getting a wink of sleep, but he only managed to attain Basic Mastery. However, even that was enough to push him to the verge of advancing to the Late rank of Tier-4 in barely two months. Spending a few years in the Energy Vein would push him to Tier-6. Unfortunately, Michael had already noticed how much energy he was draining to refine his War Rune. Only two months had passed, but the excess energy of the Energy Vein had already been used up. Most of it, at least.

Michael was forced to stop practicing Rune Vortex with the Energy Vein's energy. After all, He hoped to transform the Sacred Desert into an Intermediate Region.

It was good that Michael had other means to acquire energy as well. He acquired more Energy Stones from the Cosmic Shop and Thorn Merchandise since his Common Energy Stones were used by his Awakened Combatants for construction, to maintain various devices, and much more. Michael couldn't afford to merely consume all Common Energy Stones to refine his War Rune by a percentile or two.

The Thorn Merchandise discount was exactly what Michael needed. He was especially happy when he found certain perks of the Daemon Shop, such as the bulk-purchase discount. Michael could gain an additional discount on his purchase if he purchased certain goods in vast quantities—tens of thousands or more. This sometimes added to a discount of 40% to 50%.

Of course, the money he had to pay was nothing to scoff at. It was a massive fortune. Fortunately, Michael had more than enough goods to sell. Sylth Thorx and her family were interested in his Soultrait Symbols and the power to upgrade Soultraits. The Thorx household was the wealthiest family of the Greater Demons, but they weren't the strongest. Their wealth was the sole reason they'd managed to reach the top of the Greater Demon houses. That wasn't enough for them anymore. They wanted more and were willing to spend a fortune on it.

Michael took advantage of that and advanced to the Late Rank of Tier-4 three months following acquiring Rune Vortex.

The price was steep, and he wondered at times if he was doing the right thing by providing the Thorx household with enough Soultrait Symbols and Soultrait Upgrades to change everyone in their household into a powerhouse. Maybe he formed another evil like the Supreme Human Alliance by allowing one of the wealthiest merchant households all over the cosmos to acquire power. But even if that was the case, Michael could fix his flaws once he abused his connection with the Thorx household.

He was in dire need of their resources.

Now that he was at the Late rank of Tier-4, Michael could slowly accumulate enough resources to push his War Rune to Tier-5 without throwing a pile of Soultrait Symbols at the Thorx household. He chose to leave the Origin Expanse after a long time when Selena and Eren called him to meet up.

Michael left the Tritan Alliance a while ago. Once he finished his business in the Tritan Alliance, Michael returned to the Nest, where he had been training with Selena and the Tier-5 Curse User Lig. Her King Curse, the Behemoth, had been a powerful enemy, transforming Lig into a great sparring partner.

Maybe Eren would have been a better sparring partner, but Eren Long was still weakened. Even though years had passed, Michael and other Curse Users with healing Soultraits had to get to him to accelerate his healing process. But it wasn't that easy. Eren's limbs were all intact at this point, but it took a while for his regenerated limbs and cracked Energy Pillar to recuperate. It was only a matter of time, but it was highly likely that Eren Long would have to focus on recuperating for a few more years. That frustrated him to no end, but Evee made sure to remind him that his stupidity had led to his body's state. Michael learned how fierce Evee could be at times and swore never to bother her—not if he could avoid it, at least.

Michael returned to the Nest and emerged in his room. He left his room and moved straight to the vast office where Selena, Eren, and a few Curse Users, both Divine Lifeforms and Higher Lifeforms, had gathered.

Selena retrieved a few corpses from her War Rune when she saw Michael.

"Do you remember them?" She asked, but Michael shook his head.

The corpses were humans - most Higher Lifeforms before they died - and died not too long ago. "What are you trying to tell me? These are young humans."

"From the Tritan Alliance. Two of them are your classmates, if I'm not mistaken," Selena added while pointing at two corpses. "They are?" Michael asked, unsure how Selena could tell that the two corpses were humans from the Saphirelake Military Academy.

But now that she mentioned it, Michael could tell something else.

"I don't remember them, but I can sense their origin. Everyone is from the Tritan Alliance...but there is also something else."

True Vision showed him something interesting, yet Michael had difficulty distinguishing the notes.

"Either way. We found them far away from the Tritan Alliance. They're currently trained as the youngest elite of the Supreme Human Alliance. Or were. Dead people cannot be trained anymore."

The lifeless bodies belonged to some of the Descendants who'd been kidnapped two years ago! Michael's ears perked up in interest.

"Oh?"

"I called you to inform you about our find and ask if you could use Extraction on them. Maybe you can acquire some memories?" Selena asked.

Michael didn't have high hopes of acquiring Memory Orbs from the dead. Not if he or his people weren't the ones to kill them. But it was worth a try. Extraction was 8-Star, and he'd garnered enough Extraction Essence and curse power to try it.

That was exactly what he did.

He unleashed his Curse Seals and added Greater Enhancement to every Seal before doing the same on True Extraction. His curse power and vigor were quickly consumed, but Michael only needed a second to finish his job.

He derived everything.