[Sol: What are you doing?] Sol questioned Aries's actions.
After defeating the four Scavengers, Aries decided to make use of their carcasses. With the remaining star points, he bought a small knife from the Star Store. Aware that a monster's body becomes weaker and easier to dissect once it's dead, Aries saw an opportunity to salvage valuable parts from the carcasses.
"This tier-2 Scavenger monster carcass is worth a lot in the market. Every part of it has value, so I can't afford to waste anything. Since I'm still a Starter, I can't absorb a tier-2 mana core yet, but I'll save it for later."
Aries skillfully began to butcher the monster carcass, separating the skin, feathers, meat, and bones, discarding the useless parts and carefully preserving the valuable ones. He placed the mana core, which was about the size of an adult's fist, along with the assorted parts, into his spatial inventory, and continued with the remaining corpses.
[Sol: How are you so adept at dissecting monsters with such precision?]
"My previous job was as a Porter for other awakeners. I had to carry heavy loads, including weapons, armors, and monster corpses. Whenever a monster was killed, it was my responsibility to butcher it and gather valuable materials, while the mana core would be given to the party I was contracted with. To earn additional bonuses, I also cooked the monster meat, as it provided various benefits depending on the type of monster. I even polished their weapons and armors, essentially being an all-in-one Porter."
[Sol: And what did you gain from all that?]
"Sometimes, the party would generously give me monster cores from other creatures they had defeated or share a portion of their rewards if they appreciated my work. But most of the time, they stuck to the terms of the contract without much consideration. Regardless, I always strived to please my employers."
[Sol: Damn, you're such a pushover.]
Aries simply rolled his eyes at Sol's remark and continued dissecting the corpses. He couldn't deny the truth in Sol's words. Aries had developed a tendency to go above and beyond to please others, hoping to be recognized and valued. With nobody else to care for him, he had grown up without friends and was forced into the adult world at a young age, escaping from an abusive orphanage when he was just five years old. The constant struggle and ceaseless work had caused him to forget that he was still a child, living a life meant for adults.
As Aries reflected on his troubled past, he resolved not to waste the opportunities he now had. As he continued to dissect the monster carcass, his knife unexpectedly struck something solid inside one of the Scavenger's body.
"That's strange..."
Curiosity piqued, Aries reached into the carcass and retrieved a white marble emitting a swirling cyclone of air around it.
"It's an Elemental Stone!"
[Sol: I've never seen anything like that before. What is an Elemental Stone?]
"Really? The multiverse doesn't have Elemental Stones?"
[Sol: We have Elemental Gems, which are artificially made and primarily used to imbue weapons with elemental properties. For example, Vishnu's Vanguard has an Ice Elemental Gem embedded in it. But Elemental Stones? No, never heard of them. What are they used for?]
Aries proceeded to explain the purpose of Elemental Stones. Elemental Stones were naturally formed when an organic mana crystal was exposed to an environment abundant in a specific element. For instance, if a mana crystal soaked in a high-temperature area, it could transform into a Fire Elemental Stone. Likewise, under cold temperatures, it would become an Ice Elemental Stone. Elemental Stones occurred naturally and possessed distinct properties. They encompassed the primary elements such as Fire, Water, Wind, and Earth, as well as sub-elements that branched from the main elements, such as Lightning from Fire, Ice from Water, Sound from Air, and Nature from Earth. While there were numerous sub-elements, they all originated from the main elements.
The applications of Elemental Stones were similar to those of mana crystals since they were essentially the conversion of mana crystals within the same environment. They could be used to enhance weapons, armor, machinery, and could be absorbed like mana crystals, allowing individuals to summon and manipulate the specific element they had absorbed. However, the crucial aspect of element absorption lay in the alignment between the element and the individual's nature. For instance, a hotheaded and aggressive person would be more suited for the Fire Element, while someone calm and composed might align with the Water Element. Similarly, a laid-back individual could find affinity with the Wind Element, and a diligent and strong person might resonate with the Earth Element. The effectiveness of an element would vary based on the individual's strong affinity towards it. For example, Captain Morgan, who possessed the Lightning sub-element, was always furious and angry due to his strong affinity for the Fire Element. It was important to note that having an affinity for a particular element didn't preclude the use of other elements. Since elements were ultimately byproducts of mana crystals and contained the essence of mana, even someone with an affinity for the Fire Element could still summon other elements, although not as effectively or to their full potential compared to their favored element.
As Aries delved into the topic of Elemental Stones, he explained that these stones could be absorbed regardless of a person's rank, with a chance of evolving into a sub-element based on the type of mana crystals absorbed or changes in one's nature. The evolution of an element was influenced by various variables and occurred only with a slim chance during each reawakening. However, there was a downside to consuming an element: once you absorbed one Elemental Stone, you became unable to absorb any other elemental stone. Attempting to do so could lead to an Elemental override, a dangerous situation where two elements in your system would run wild, resulting in a gruesome death.
[Sol: Has there ever been a case of a life form absorbing two Elemental Stones?]
"Yeah, as I mentioned earlier, there is a chance of being able to control two elements, but it's rare. Some incredibly powerful beings and geniuses have achieved this feat, effectively gaining the efficiency of two elements in their arsenal. The Righteous One, for example, possesses the Wind Element and has evolved it into the Sonic Element. He's undeniably impressive."
[Sol: Hm, I'm more curious about the Elements themselves. Why don't you absorb the Wind Element, considering your admiration for the Righteous One?]
Aries contemplated the idea but realized that his life experiences had never allowed him to lead a laid-back existence. He had never experienced a moment where he could relax and go with the flow; he was always on edge, working hard to secure his next meal. He didn't believe he was suited for the Wind Element.
"As much as I admire the guy, I don't think the Wind Element suits me. I resonate more with the Earth Element."
[Sol: If it's the Earth Element, the Terradon's powers likely derive from earthen abilities, given that its name contains 'Terra.' There's a good chance this massive creature possesses the Earth Element."
"Yeah, but how am I supposed to kill it in the first place? Its shell is as tough as Reinforced Graphene."
[Sol: You might have a chance. Judging by the shell pattern, this Terradon is over 290,000 years old. Their lifespan typically limits to 280,000 years, and since it's reached such an advanced age, it's likely on death's door."
"No wonder it moves so slowly. Do you think I stand a chance?"
[Sol: Based on appearances, it seems you have zero chance of killing it directly. However, if it encounters a competitor or any monster of its level while scavenging for food, there's a high chance it will perish."
"Whoa, should I wait then?"
[Sol: Waiting is boring. Here, I've donated 500 Star Points. Use them to buy a Bait Ball, which should cost around that amount."
"Wow, thanks for the donation!"
Grateful for Sol's donation, Aries immediately purchased the Bait Ball mentioned. With a tingling sound, he received the item.
[Bait Ball
Grade: F
Type: Consumable
Effect: Attracts monsters of Grade 6 and below from a wide range. Lasts for 24 hours.]
"How do I use it?"
[Sol: Simply place it on the Terradon's shell."
Aries followed Sol's instructions and positioned the basketball-sized Bait Ball on the ground. Suddenly, a pungent smell permeated the area, and the world seemed to shake violently. The Terradon halted its steps, scanning its surroundings. Aries, on high alert, felt every hair on his body stand on end.
Krrraaack!!
Thudududud!
Aaaghhh!!
The previously calm and tranquil area was now engulfed in chaos as hordes of monsters materialized out of nowhere. They swarmed towards the Terradon with ravenous eyes, driven into a frenzy.
"What the hell!! Why did thousands of monsters suddenly appear?!"
[Sol: I have no idea! I didn't expect an E-grade Bait Ball to be this effective!]
Aries deeply regretted using the Bait Ball, as even Sol had underestimated its power. They had anticipated a few monsters responding to the bait, but the sudden arrival of countless creatures was beyond their wildest imagination.
"This is ridiculous!"