The flower looked like a water lily, but it was bigger than the ones Ackster had seen before, not to mention how it glowed, had a presence, and grew below not-water, not on top of regular water. However, it had the same layered, triangular leaves and central structure as water lilies.
Ackster stepped closer, close enough to touch. But he didn't reach out with his hand just yet.
When Ackster got that close, he could feel the dense spatial energy in the flower. It was so pure and concentrated that Ackster was reluctant to get in touch with it.
But he was simultaneously drawn to it.
Ackster gulped.
He could tell that the spatial energy in the flower was purer than the one in the nectar. That could only mean that if Ackster baptized his body with it, the size of his inventory would grow larger than if he just used the nectar.
His inventory should already be large as shit, considering he reached the bottom of the Habitat. But why settle?
Ackster didn't have anything to lose by trying, so he reached out with a hand toward the flower. He hesitated right before touching.
It was likely that the flower was the source of the Habitat and the nectar. If he took it, the Habitat would most likely die.
Ackster tilted his head from side to side as he pondered on what to do. The Habitat he was at the bottom of wasn't the only Habitat, but it wasn't like there were more than five of them per continent. Losing even one would be a big loss even for an organization like the Guild since many of their employees and adventurers would have to look elsewhere for an inventory.
'But that doesn't have anything to do with me, does it?'
The Hero hadn't gone to this Habitat. And while a Habitat disappearing was a rare occurrence, unless someone could figure out it was because Ackster took the flower at the bottom, it wouldn't be noteworthy enough to reach The Hero's ears. Even if it did somehow, there wouldn't be a reason for The Hero to investigate it, especially when he should be busy with other things on the continent.
The Hero should be stronger than Ackster at the moment, so it wasn't entirely impossible that he would be roped into dealing with the Crimson Edge and their current adventure. But even The Hero wouldn't have an easy time dealing with them at his current strength.
Ackster realized he might have inadvertently given himself a small window where The Hero wouldn't have the leisure to focus on things other than the disaster wracking Lill.
Of course, it wasn't all good since The Hero would grow stronger proportionately to the enemies he defeated. The stronger the enemies, the stronger he would get. And as far as Ackster remembered, The Hero only dealt with multiple S-rank threat levels a couple of years into the story.
Ackster didn't want to assume anything about The Hero's strength, and it was entirely possible that he wouldn't be involved in the subjugation of the Blood Moon's Avatars. But The Hero hadn't been involved in any battles of such high level in the original story because he had been caught up in politics, laws, and matters closer to human relations than combat.
It began with the corruption in the merchant city he went to after Degrest. The Hero, thanks to his instincts and habit of not leaving a single stone unturned, found a trail of corruption snaking around the continent.
He still had to fight powerful enemies, but it was more his intellect and ruthless efficiency on display during that part of the original story.
However, now that someone had twisted the original story, The Hero almost wouldn't have a choice. Even if he didn't lead the operation, he would at least have to be involved and show the people that he is The Hero.
Ackster didn't rule out any other possibilities, but he found it the most reasonable that The Hero would be busy with the Blood Moon Avatars at the moment. It didn't only mean that he would be too busy to hear about a destroyed Habitat. It also meant that his upcoming mission in the southern seas to deal with a kraken would be postponed or given to someone else.
The Hero might have even outgrown that level of mission after defeating the group formerly known as Crimson Edge.
Ackster furrowed his brow.
The Hero getting put on a track diverging from his own was a good thing. But The Hero becoming stronger quicker wasn't necessarily the same.
If The Hero was too strong, Ackster would be unable to defeat him, even with The Calamity tiring him out.
The closer The Hero's win over The Calamity, the easier it would be for Ackster.
Ackster put his hand on one of the leaves of the flower as he thought about it.
He would have to consider interfering with The Hero's actions and opponents in the future to control The Hero's growth slightly.
But at the same time, The Hero was blessed with the fate of always encountering opponents and situations that force him to grow as much as necessary to defeat The Calamity.
Maybe Ackster involving himself with Karandiel had gotten fate to prepare another foe for The Hero. Ackster shook his head. That was too farfetched. It was due to him fucking around with the Crimson Edge that The Hero had gotten a new item on his to-defeat list. There was no need to overthink it.
Ackster focused on the flower again.
After putting his hand on it, he could feel an overwhelming energy lurking below the surface. But it didn't find its way out of the flower and into Ackster merely through his touch.
"Let's fix that, shall we?"
Ackster still wasn't sure what the Guild would think about him taking an entire Habitat for himself. But if his inventory grew as large as he expected it to, the Guild wouldn't let go of or get rid of him, even if they wanted to. He alone would have the capability to supply an army with resources if necessary. At the same time, if he got a little stronger or stealthier, he alone could take down a country from within by placing explosives.
There was too much that an oversized inventory could be used for. Ackster would become one hell of an asset to the Guild's special forces with his inventory, even if his growth stalled, which it most likely wouldn't.
Ackster decided to be hopeful as he licked his lips.
If the Space Jellies had been the appetizer, it was now time for the main course.