[Phantom Mausoleum (90%/100%)]
"Now, all that's left is killing a Rare-rank phantom, and both tasks will be completed," Rei murmured after looking at the progression of his Aspect.
Taint and Aspect, two birds with one stone.
But he was only left with 89 phantom energy, so he had to find a Rare-rank phantom quickly.
"Tom, can you find a Rare-rank phantom like you? We have to kill one."
Tom the tiger growled and nodded before walking.
Rei received its thoughts clearly as Tom said they had to go further since there were only common and uncommon rank phantoms in this forest area.
'I shouldn't have attempted to tame a second phantom,' Rei woefully thought while walking. He wasted 100 phantom energy and couldn't even tame it, as his Dark Port's current limit was only one phantom.
Fortunately, he could inspect the condition to upgrade this Quirk, and it didn't sound too hard.
He just needed a phantom core of an Uncommon-rank phantom.
All phantoms had phantom cores, but the problem was that one must remove the core while they were alive. If a Phantom died, its core would vanish along with the phantom.
Fortunately, Rei could spot the phantom core in any phantom with his characteristic, [Phantom Eyes].
While following Tom, Rei soon saw a sparkling thing amidst the trees.
Tom continued in that direction, and soon, they arrived at a pond.
*growl~*
Tom looked at Rei before looking at the pond as it sent its thoughts to Rei.
"Oh? So, the Rare-rank phantom is inside that pond?"
Rei frowned. Battling in the pond would certainly spell their doom against an aquatic phantom.
*Shrrrr!!*
The pond water suddenly became chaotic before something came out of it.
Rei looked up, his brows raised in surprise as a giant three meters tall frog leaped out of the pond and landed outside.
*Roar!!*
Tom roared with a ferocious expression, showing its sharp fangs.
"Let's get that toad," Rei said with a grin as he jumped atop a tree before breaking a branch.
'Shatter Enchant.'
[-10 phantom energy]
The branch briefly shined as a faint dark silver coating appeared over it.
*Crock!*
The toad loudly croaked before it opened its mouth and shot out its tongue.
*Swoosh!*
Tom couldn't dodge it in time as that tongue's speed was too fast!
But Rei also aimed the branch at the toad and threw it with full power.
*Ziiim!*
The branch cut through the air before hitting the toad and piercing it! A fountain of blood sprayed out from its wound since a small area where the branch hit was shattered along with the branch.
*Growl!!*
Tom stood up, and its dark red horn shone as it used the skill [Bleeding Recovery].
The blood that sprayed out of the toad's wound vanished while Tom started healing its shallow wounds caused by the impact of Toad's tongue. Since they were bound, Tom could use the skill even if Rei wounded a target.
On the other hand, Toad's focus went to Rei as it shot out its tongue again. But this time, its tongue was shining with a dark green aura!
Rei had kept his focus since he knew that the toad would target him and calmly but barely dodged the tongue.
"Shred it apart!" Rei said while he also dashed forward.
Tom was faster. It was already closing in and jumped right on top of the toad.
*Croak!*
"Shit."
Rei cursed as he saw the toad jump high after Tom landed on it. 'Kill it fast, buddy!'
Tom's claws shone with Shatter Enchant as it dug them into the toad's head, but both fell into the pond immediately after that.
Rei quickly arrived at the pond and decisively jumped inside.
Since the toad was injured twice, it was better that he also went inside to kill it with Tom as soon as possible.
The toad struggled as it couldn't do anything about Tom biting its head and digging its claw.
Rei didn't have to do anything as the toad died, vanishing along with its phantom core.
[Phantom Mausoleum activated.]
*Swoosh.*
Rei suddenly saw the scenery changing as he and Tom disappeared from the pond and arrived in front of a big mysterious black door with dark gold and grey runic patterns.
"This…"
Rei looked around, but there was nothing. It was all foggy with dark grey space except for the door before him.
*Growl…*
Tom was also confused and circled at the spot, wondering how they stood atop this cloudy grey surface.
'Interesting.'
Rei touched the big door before exerting some strength to push it forward.
The door slowly opened, revealing a regal hall illuminated by the shining yellow-goldish crystals at the corners and on the ceiling.
At the center were a statue that belonged to a harpy-like creature with a pair of long feathered wings in place of arms, a hideous face with two fangs coming out of its mouth, a pair of horns on its head, and long bird legs with sharp talons.
The hall had nothing except this one statue and another door that stood five meters behind the statue.
Rei moved inside the hall, and Tom also followed him.
He walked around the statue and moved towards the second door before trying to open it.
But no matter how hard he pushed, the door didn't budge.
Returning to the front of the statue, Rei stood with a thoughtful expression.
After a moment, he stretched his hand forward and touched the statue.
Nothing happened.
'Let's try to infuse a bit of phantom energy.'
The moment Rei infused phantom energy into the statue, it started cracking!
*Crack…crack…crack…*
Cracks appeared all over the statue.
'Is it going to break?'
*Growl…*
Tom moved back from the statue at its sudden activity.
However, the statue didn't break into pieces as Rei expected!
"Shit!"
*Screeeeee!*
The creature came to life!
Rei turned around and ran while putting Tom into the [Dark Port].
*Saash!*
Rei only heard a sharp air-cutting sound before his consciousness saw whiteness, and he vanished.
In his room on the spaceship, Rei opened his eyes while feeling an intense headache.
A cry involuntarily left his mouth as he rolled on the floor in pain.
No one heard his scream due to the room being soundproof.
But if someone saw Rei, they would see that a crown had manifested on his head. It was a faint crown, not materialized physically, but it was there.
This terrible assault of mind pain lasted five minutes, but Rei felt like it went on for hours. He wasn't aware of the crown as it vanished along with pain.
"What the fuck was that?" Rei muttered as he stood up. His eyes were red, and sweat covered his whole body.
He opened his Exceed Rune after removing his clothes and entering the bathroom for a shower.
[Phantom Mausoleum]: Tombs of five Keys that will unlock the Lord's Throne. Defeating each guardian will grant you a skill; after defeating all five of them, this Aspect will transform into Lord's Chaotic Palace. (All guardians have a weakness, but tread carefully as dying to a Guardian will bring misfortune.)
"Well, damn. I guess I can try to fight that harpy again."
But when Rei checked his Phantom energy, he could only sigh.
It was an egg. Zero.
'A good farming spot is gone. But there should be other planets with ferocious beasts. Terrana and Leo should be able to find one in our current route.'