Reborn as an Extra Chapter 555: There are infinite possibilities! Part-5.

With the revelation of that 'plateau's' existence now clear to him, Rio no longer needed to fret over any potential malfunctions in the cube of possibilities.

From the boundless array of possibilities and the tangled threads of fate, Rio had discovered the exact outcome he sought.

The cube could now simply scan the destiny threads of nearby creatures to pinpoint the plateau's location directly.

This method remained unaffected by Rio's personal interference and avoided any risk of breaking down.

'That greedy orc ended up aiding me greatly this time... yet his background remains shrouded in mystery...'

'Was he slain by that shadow dragon or perhaps something similar?... and then transformed into a malevolent spirit twisted by miasmic corruption?'

As he advanced in stealth, Rio pondered deeply on strategies to confront the SS-rank shadow dragon.

'A direct clash would overpower me right now, but retreating without gains isn't an option...'

'Even a small fragment of his soul and memories would suffice... maybe I should request it outright?... wait, no, that sounds unwise...'

Raji, who had been acquainted with Rio for years, still felt a chill after he explained his ability to delve into her soul and extract memories given the slightest opportunity.

'It's not like I'd actually harm anyone, but the invaluable memories and techniques of SS-rankers hold immense allure...'

The recollections and abilities of an SS-ranker were treasures coveted by all; merely observing their core frameworks could propel one's own expertise forward dramatically.

'Diving into Principal Raji's memories would elevate my frost elemental techniques to devastating heights, with damage levels skyrocketing!'

'Uh... ahem! Cough! Cut it out, you fool... Focus on serene ideas... right! Joyful ones...'

Lia's adorable visage surfaced in Rio's thoughts, yet rather than lifting his spirits, it plunged him into melancholy once more.

'Argh... how soon until I see her again!! Sigh~ Oh Liam, once I get my hands on you, Liam! I'll thrash you senseless for forcing me into all this labor on your behalf...'

Despite his grumbles about the assignment, Rio felt thankful for the opportunity to venture here.

'Miasmic crystals, huh... these are valuable indeed...'

Rio examined the solid miasmic crystal clutched in his palm, repeatedly probing it with his sword intent and miasma manipulation.

Rio had encountered mana crystals in the past.

Such crystals form when dense miasma condenses under the influence of potent mana currents and spatial distortions in the vicinity.

Typically, superior mana crystals appear only within dungeons, though contemporary advancements allow their production in laboratories and manufacturing facilities as well.

In today's era, mana crystals power the majority of vehicles and armaments, serving as a pristine energy source free from any polluting byproducts.

Furthermore, since mana constitutes pure energy, converting the power stored in mana crystals to other types requires no additional effort.

In the nuclear facilities of Rio's former world, operators boiled water via reactors to drive turbines for electricity, a process riddled with inefficiency.

However, mana crystals offer stability, lack of radioactivity, eco-friendliness, widespread accessibility, and plentiful supply, allowing mana to substitute directly for electricity as a power supply!

Conversion proves entirely unnecessary!

'Fascinating... Even in crystallized form, miasma acts in direct opposition to mana...'

Contrary to mana crystals, the crystallized miasma displayed utter instability, intense radioactivity, lethal toxicity, rampant destructiveness, and profoundly eerie qualities.

While mana crystals lock their energy into a stable, dormant state through extreme compression and binding, miasma crystals teetered on the edge of chaos!

The packed miasma within clung together precariously, held in its volatile configuration by sheer force.

'It's no surprise that debates rage over whether miasma possesses partial or greater awareness of its own being...'

Nothing else explained why this volatile miasma crystal hadn't detonated; it lay in wait, seeking victims.

Indeed, miasma crystals maintained their fragile equilibrium solely because the embedded miasmic corruption craved deploying its power to ravage and annihilate living beings to the fullest extent!

No alternative justified how this self-loathing, hostile substance endured its own stability!

'It's akin to bitter foes allying against a common foe before resuming their mutual hostilities...'

'Miasma excels at devising ever more insidious ways to inflict maximum devastation upon the world...'

The crystal in Rio's grasp hadn't erupted thanks to the restraining influence of his sword intent and miasma control.

Without that restraint, it would have detonated instantly, unleashing energy potent enough to fracture the fabric of space-time briefly.

'This item poses extreme peril... Carrying it around feels like strolling with a nuclear device in your pocket...'

Its mere presence radiated potent corruption and radiation across dozens of kilometers; direct contact could trigger immediate demonification, even for top-tier S-rankers!

Rio's immunity spared him any concern.

'On another note... what if I consumed this crystal?... After all, corruption holds no sway over me... I could treat it as 'emergency provisions' since each one packs millions of calories...'

'The energy within could sculpt a robust physique in seconds from just a nibble... though only I could benefit without peril...'

Rio stowed the miasmic crystals away, then clasped his hands and began channeling miasma.

Seizing command of the surrounding miasma, he compressed it with brutal force through his masterful control.

Infusing the gathered miasma with the directive to crystallize via his sword intent and manipulation, he compelled the formation of a miasma crystal right there.

He even harnessed space and time elementals to accelerate the process, enhancing the crystal's stability and potency!

A single error caused the coerced miasmic corruption to burst forth with cataclysmic power, igniting a colossal blast that hurled tons of rubble outward!

In a mere millisecond, a city-sized crater scarred the ground, its shockwaves pulverizing boulders to dust across dozens of kilometers.

'Whoa... did I just... devise a novel nuclear weapon single-handedly?...'

Positioned at the crater's heart, Rio rubbed the nape of his neck sheepishly, stunned by the overwhelming devastation this technique wrought.

'Excellent, henceforth, this becomes my fresh A.O.E. technique... though the drawback lies in its unsuitability near urban areas or during group battles...'

'Truthfully, a mana variant could substitute for miasma... yet it would still deliver widespread A.O.E. harm, endangering allies...'

Rio's repertoire of A.O.E.-inflicting abilities vastly outstripped his other talents; these days, he shone brightest operating solo over team efforts.

'Sigh... I long for the times when unleashing full power spared my comrades from harm... Clearly, I've progressed far along my 'path' to power...'

'This 'path'... It grows far more isolating than in the past...'

Rio shook off the thought and resumed his advance, diving back into further trials.

Yet another slip-up sparked an enormous detonation! Still, Rio pressed on relentlessly.

He aimed to forge a semi-stable miasma crystal portable without spontaneous rupture, demanding repeated experimentation and refinement.

When tackling such profoundly intricate endeavors, errors and setbacks were inevitable, yet that aligned perfectly with Rio's intentions.

He sought to push his miasma control to its utmost boundaries, elevating it to superior heights, and this approach proved highly efficient.

Should Rio succeed in artificially producing a miasmic crystal, his miasma-based prowess would soar to unprecedented levels, rendering him mightier than ever.

'I've truly morphed into a training fanatic and relentless worker... sigh... perhaps I ought to dub myself the modest, affable 'Scientist' Rio Flash moving forward...'

A considerable distance separated him from the plateau, so Rio resolved to exploit every idle moment for intensive self-improvement.

Fortuitously, the region brimmed with miasma, ensuring Rio never faced energy shortages.

Should need arise, a morsel from a miasmic crystal would flood him with surplus vitality!

'This trial brims with endless potential!'