Endless Extraction in a Game-Like World-Chapter 57: The Blueprint for Mythical Runes! Entering the First Multi-Expanse Raid
"What is the Middle Expanse? That is something you have to find out yourself," Allstar said with a sly smile. "And to do that, you need to get there first."
"And how exactly are we supposed to do that?" Caelus asked.
"That, you will know once you reach the Raid Zone," Allstar chuckled softly. "There is an easy way in. If you can find it, you can reach the Middle Expanse. But remember, once you cross over, you will get disconnected from reality for a while. Meaning, you cannot log out until you find a way back to your own plane of existence. Of course, you can also choose to become a permanent resident there. But it’s going to be a lengthy task and a bunch of paper works and you also need an approval."
"How do we improve the version of our own Domain then?" Caelus inquired. "You mentioned something about version, right?"
From what he understood, this Middle Expanse had to be another world or dimension similar to their own. Just far more updated and dangerous.
"Good question, but you know where to find the answers. The Middle Expanse." Allstar chuckled.
"Alright, before I leave, do you want anything else from me? I cannot give you Mods. Those items are strictly dropped in normal Raids or Multi-Expanse Raids like the one you are about to enter."
"Haa... fine. Do you have blueprints for the Manapunk Era? Things like automation for cabins and town infrastructure?"
"Yes. Basic Cabin Skill Runes and a Mana Core Connector Rune that can be utilized to absorb ambient mana from the Domain to power the town and also recharge the runes."
Halfway through his explanation, Allstar suddenly stopped and glared at Caelus in sheer annoyance. "No. What the hell are you thinking about? You want a gaming console? You are just about to enter the Manapunk Era! You think you can get advanced electronics? Dream on!"
"I knew it. You can read my mind," Caelus said in horror. "This was a test and you failed!"
"Are you sure that those weren’t your honest thoughts...?" Allstar’s lips twitched.
"What?!" Sylvia appeared shocked. She suddenly pounced on Caelus and hugged him tightly. "Save me, Caelus. He is a creepy guy reading my thoughts too. I want my thoughts to be read!"
[I love him! I love him! Love! Love! Love! Love!]
Allstar stared blankly at the massive, glowing thought bubble floating directly above Sylvia’s head and coughed awkwardly.
"I cannot do anything about it. I was born with this disability," Allstar said, spreading his hands in a helpless gesture.
"In return for violating our privacy, you have to give me the items I requested for free," Caelus bargained instantly. How could he let this chance go?
"Fine," Allstar sighed. He tossed two circular stones toward Caelus.
These stones contained Domain Runes. As a Blacksmith, Caelus could apply them to objects to make them function through magic. Just like equipment, Runes had Common, Rare, Epic, Legendary, and Mythic rarities. The higher the rarity, the higher the mana capacity it possessed.
The Basic Cabin Function Rune had the option to hold up to six skill slots. This meant a player could cast their skill directly into the rune to charge it up. A single cast of a water manipulation skill could provide a cabin with continuously flowing, smooth water without impurities. He could use it to drink, bathe, or even shower with Sylvi... ahem... shower alone.
He could also equip the rune with a fire skill to light up the house, heat the bathwater, and cook meals effortlessly.
The higher the rarity of the rune, the less often it needed to be recharged. The magical battery life lasted much longer. This was the true essence of the Manapunk Era. He had read articles back in reality about noble heirs driving around in mana-powered, steam-engine-looking vehicles.
This world was truly surreal.
He could eventually craft his own runes as well. He could store his active skills inside them like a safety deposit box. He could pack his Plasma Nuke magic into a stone and throw it at his enemies like a grenade. But to pull that off, he would naturally need to forge a Mythical tier rune to safely contain a Mythical level skill.
He would naturally need to level up his Blacksmith profession to pull that off.
"Well then, before I leave, I will give you both a parting gift," Allstar smiled cryptically. "It will definitely come in handy once you reach the Middle Expanse."
"Hm?" Both Sylvia and Caelus tilted their heads. They were still clinging to each other like a newlywed couple.
Soon, a glowing system window popped into their vision.
[System: You have received the Aura Manifestation Technique.]
[Item: Aura Manifestation Art (Mythical)]
[Description: An artifact from the ancient days of the Domain. Legends state this supreme power was once used to seal away a terrifying entity at the bottom of the Abyss.]
[Effect: Massively improves base stamina and allows the user to naturally awaken the following skills: Aura, Fighting Spirit, Aura Armament, Battlewill and more.]
"Oh?" Caelus’s eyes lit up with excitement when he read the details.
It turned out to be a technique similar to the academy’s basic Mana Training Arts, just vastly superior!
Just as he opened his mouth to ask how it worked, Allstar completely vanished into thin air.
This time, just like their first encounter, he left a small note fluttering to the ground.
’I am going on a field trip. Do not come looking for me until you manage to download the latest version of the Domain into the Lower Expanse.
Oh, and if you need anything else like those runes or advanced technology blueprints for the town, just shout the phrase ’The celestial master’s tree’. Someone else will come find you. It’s better than buying it from your reality’s global trading hub at least.’
"This guy comes and goes like the wind. But one thing’s for sure. He’s no ordinary figure." Caelus said with a helpless sigh. "Now. My lady Sylvia, can you get off me?"
Sylvia was still tightly clinging to his torso. She giggled playfully and finally let go of him.
"Well, with this done, should we deal with the other rival towns?"
"Yeah. Let us do that. I want to personally deal with someone," Sylvia agreed. Her eyes turned completely emotionless for a split second as a specific face surfaced in her mind.
However, just then, their Raid Tokens began to rapidly blink in their inventories.
[System: A Multi-Expanse Raid is about to begin.]
[Theme: FPS]
[Please be prepared. The Raid Arena will open in one hour.]
Caelus and Sylvia exchanged bewildered glances. A First-Person Shooter theme in a magical LitRPG world?
....
For the next fifty or so minutes, they went on a relentless warpath.
[System: Server 517 has been assimilated.]
[System: Server 501 has been assimilated.]
[System: Server 502 has been assimilated.]
[System: Server 505 has been assimilated.]
....[System: Server 509 has been assimilated.]
Notifications continued ringing out in Caelus’s head. He, Prime, and Sylvia stood proudly atop the captured walls of Server 509, their clothes fluttering in the harsh wind. With a whole hour remaining before the raid opened, they decided to utilize the time to aggressively eliminate the remaining rival servers.
[Town Population: 2,875 -> 5,578]
"Two targets remaining," Sylvia said, glancing at Caelus. "Servers 512 and 516."
Caelus nodded. These two towns were located far across the merged map. It just so happened that Roland, Lena, and Kevin were all scattered across those exact servers.
Speaking of acquaintances, Albert was noticeably missing. Caelus had done a quick ID search using their past arena match history, but his friend was showing as offline. Did something happen to him? Caelus remembered seeing a missed message from him during their dungeon runs, but he had been too busy fighting to view it. He would have to check on Albert’s status after returning to reality.
Just then, a final chime rang out across their interfaces.
[System: The wait time is over.]
[System: The Raid Arena has been opened!]
[System: Would you like to enter?]
Sylvia and Caelus looked at each other and shared a serious nod. This Multi-Expanse Raid was going to be anything but ordinary. It was guaranteed to drop game-changing loot like Mods and other core rewards that they simply could not afford to miss.
Conquering this raid would increase their strength by a tremendous margin. It would grant them access to all sorts of bizarre powers they had not even thought of yet.
