Reborn as an Extra Chapter 602: Let’s Go Home. Part-2.
Previously on Reborn as an Extra...
Rio received a warm reception at the elderly dwarf's abode.
They not only served him some freshly brewed homemade tea, but also offered a comfortable seat to unwind inside their dwelling for a bit!
'Sigh... It's been months since I last sank into a plush sofa or a mattress... I somewhat long for that comfy bed in Lia’s chamber at the Silver Mansion...'
The previous occasion when Rio enjoyed a true rest was right here in this house, before he set off for the Spirit Realm the following day.
Within the Spirit Realm, Rio limited himself to brief ten-minute meditation sessions at the very most; otherwise, he skipped all sleep and relaxation entirely!
As an formidable S-ranker capable of harnessing miasma for energy and restoring his mental and spiritual fatigue by extracting a monster’s soul essence and infusing it into his own body, Rio truly required neither sustenance nor slumber.
Because of this ability, he endured six full months without a single breath, nap, or meal!
He sustained himself solely on miasma and mana throughout, nearly erasing from his memory the sensation of a solid eight-hour rest!
The Spirit Realm brimmed with beasts and perils around every corner, and Rio couldn't afford to lower his defenses for even an instant, especially with that menace Raika wandering unchecked.
Even after confining Raika, Rio remained vigilant, his attention fixed on somehow rescuing Ellie.
And upon successfully liberating Ellie via his innovative 'Soul Merge' technique, the 'world's' 'laws' propelled him into the subsequent realm.
This breakthrough instantly purged every trace of weariness and strain from his physique and psyche amid the advancement!
In mere moments, Rio reverted to optimal state and thus experienced no urge to doze off.
'Sigh... Existence has turned so chaotic of late... I haven't managed a genuine extended break in quite some time...'
Initially, Rio suffered severe wounds during the Spire of Ascension event, followed by months of labor tracking fugitives and aiding the awakening of Ashtel and Jin.
After that, he plunged into an actual inferno to extract Liam and Ellie, with the ordeal dragging on for half a year!
Events piled upon one another relentlessly, leaving Rio no chance for even a quick pause!
'Ugh... How can I possibly lead a serene, joyful existence like this?...'
With these thoughts swirling, Rio let out a sigh while tasting the tea prepared by Kehrid, then levitated a petite dragon-scale box onto the table using his telekinesis.
"Appreciate the kind hospitality... here, I've fetched those uncommon ores you requested... straight from the Spirit Realm..."
"However, keep in mind that nearly everything in the Spirit Realm carries heavy miasmic taint, so handle these with utmost caution..."
Kehrid's eyes widened in astonishment and alarm as he detected the potent corruptive energy emanating from the tiny vessel.
"Hold on... this feel... did you craft this holder from shadow dragon hide!? Incredible! You truly crossed paths with an authentic shadow dragon and even retrieved a fragment of its scale!
"That material outshines any ore harvested from the Spirit Realm, you realize!"
Kehrid beamed with delight over Rio's gift of such a treasure, yet he refrained from grabbing the case hastily or unlocking it sans safeguards.
Given the intense miasmic emanations it released, Kehrid recognized it held something extraordinarily potent.
"W-what lies within... the miasmic energy it's emitting feels overwhelmingly thick..."
To that inquiry, Rio rubbed the nape of his neck and answered sheepishly,
"Truth be told, I searched for ores, but as you're aware, miasma taints even soil and stone; no worthwhile items remained to retrieve..."
"Thus... the only haul I managed were several 'Miasmic Crystals'..."
Kehrid nearly toppled from his seat and passed out from the overwhelming surprise at Rio's revelation!
"You retrieved what!??!"
"Miasmic crystals!?"
Kehrid sprang into motion, swiftly inscribing countless seals upon the compact container; he also fetched numerous space anchors and space-time locking relics to bind the box with layers of protections!
Once finished with these measures, Kehrid at last mopped the chill sweat from his brow and uttered in a drained voice.
"Young one, you're an absolute oddity... not just keeping the 'Sword of Absolute Destruction' close by, but mastering an untamable relic like the cube of possibilities..."
"Now you've hauled out 'miasmic crystals' too!? Your courage is unmatched!"
"Such gems possess the power to unleash devastation and could eradicate multiple cities from existence in seconds, mind you!"
"And you carried them around casually! Such audacity!"
Rio managed only a sheepish grin in response to the barrage of admiration.
"Uh... yeah, I needed to repay you for loaning the cube somehow... So? Does the compensation suit you?"
In reply to Rio's query, Kehrid bobbed his head vigorously; a broad grin spread across his features.
"Absolutely it does! Discovering miasmic crystals is akin to striking a massive jackpot! They're among the priciest and scarcest substances across the globe!"
"I'm glad I loaned you the cube earlier!"
Rio found it unexpected that mere miasmic crystals thrilled Kehrid this much.
'Indeed, they tend to detonate unpredictably, so they rarely persist in the material plane under normal circumstances... hence their rarity and high value...'
'On second thought... I could produce them freely now... perhaps I ought to market them for gain?... That could make me wealthy in no time?'
As these notions raced through Rio's mind, he employed his telekinesis to set the cube down on the table next to the miasmic crystal holder.
"Regarding the cube, here you go... take it back; much obliged for the loan..."
The cube of possibilities stood as an undeniably mighty relic, yet it wasn't Rio's to keep, merely borrowed from Kehrid for a limited duration.
And since Rio preferred not to irk a top-tier SS-ranker over a simple artifact, he handed it over immediately.