OP Sister Chapter 529: Legacy

Listen While Reading Recommendation: :: Destiny Child - Original Animation ::

-----

The Purgatory Realm transformed once more, as a section became engulfed by searing temperatures, towering volcanoes, and pools and rivers of molten magma and lava flowing across the ground. Simultaneously, powerful Dragon Veins manifested underground, coursing with Draconic Mana and creating intense pressure.

Draconic Specters and Dragon Chimeras emerged from the lava and magma, roaming freely, no longer under Vulcanus’s control. I also sensed I couldn’t fully command them myself, much like the Martial Beasts wandering the area, but they were generally not hostile toward us, gazing with empty eyes before drifting away.

“This is incredible…! You absorbed this entire space, Anna?” Hilda asked. “I wish my Forge could do this, but I’ve tried, and it really can’t expand.”

“Yeah, it’s a peculiar skill,” I said with a smile, admiring the landscape. “I can tell this place will let us harvest dragon-type materials if we let it rest for a bit. More creatures and resources might emerge.”

“Wow, even the dynamite crystal forest is there?” Kevin asked, peering into the distance. “Ugh, those annoying explosive monsters are roaming nearby too.”

“Yep,” I said. “It’s not the safest place, but it could serve as our private training ground to further develop dragon powers. It should be ideal for everyone to acquire a Dragon Heart too.”

“Hm, it seems quite convenient,” my brother said with a nod. “I wish I had my own internal space.”

He does gain one later, starting as a fragment of Fenrir’s Divine Realm, which my brother gradually transforms into a world of chaos and shadows.

It steadily expands and grows as he absorbs dungeons and similar entities, granting him greater power and the ability to generate resources over time.

However, that happens much later, so he can’t use it to save people when Earth is devoured in the novel.

But now that I’m here, things will be different.

I stared at a small, sparkling seed in my hand, glowing with spiritual energy.

For a moment, I considered planting it within my own Realm to amplify its power and solidify it as a world.

But that was a fleeting thought, as it would mean abandoning Earth to create my own world in its place.

And that’s not my goal. I want to save Earth itself.

For that, I need this seed gifted by Gaia, the seed of a Spirit World Tree, a child of the Legendary Yggdrasil.

Some call it the Yggdrasil Seed, but for it to grow into such a tree, it requires immense power and resources.

Yet, when planted and nurtured properly, this seed can elevate a world’s spiritual level, enabling Earth to ascend dimensions.

This way, we can take it with us to the Greater Beyond without abandoning those unable to make the leap when the Third Awakening ends.

However, I must act swiftly.

Just before the Second Awakening begins, signs will appear worldwide. Spiritual Veins will awaken, and divinity will shine.

At that moment, I must identify the optimal location for this seed to grow, ensure its safety, and nurture it by channeling that power.

That’s my plan, starting after we visit that mysterious dungeon with my brother.

“This place is awfully hot, though,” Baihe sighed. “Should we head back to the city now? We did it, and I’m happy… but I’m also exhausted.”

“Yeah, I think we should head back,” Henrietta nodded. “Oh, right, you’re going to some dungeon with Anna?”

“We’ll go alone, don’t worry,” Jack said.

“It’s better that way,” I agreed. “Anyway, shall we head back?”

“Wait, Anna…” Hilda stopped me. “Can you help me find my village? Or any remains?”

“Right, your village,” I nodded. “Okay, come along. We’ll inspect the place from the skies.”

I grabbed Hilda and soared into the air using my white crane wings. We surveyed the volcanic landscape for several minutes.

However, no traces remained.

The village, mostly wooden houses, had burned to ashes during Vulcanus’s initial rampage and subsequent domain expansion.

“Nothing’s left… huh?” Hilda sighed. “Well, at least I could avenge them all… that’s fine.”

“Hm…” I remained silent, gazing from above until… “Wait.”

I sensed something underground, a faint presence… some sort of bunker.

“Hm?” Hilda looked at me, confused. “What is it?”

“Come with me.”

I led her to the spot, located beneath Vulcanus’s ruined manor. Inside, we found several ingredients and items he left behind.

“His Dragon Blood, some Mystical and Spirit Herbs… A lot of bones and souls in bottles,” I said, looking around. “Hm?!”

Amid the rubble, something sparkled.

I felt it…

“Cosmic power?”

I cleared the debris and uncovered the object.

A small, star-shaped white and blue crystal radiated a faint starry light.

I checked its name, and it was exactly what I needed.

[Astral Star Crystal]

“Oh yes!”

This was the item required to evolve my Immortal Physique.

The conditions lingered on my Status screen, ever-present.

[To Further Evolve your Immortal Physique, you must fulfill Special Conditions and Absorb Special Materials.]

[Special Conditions]:

[Gather the Essence of a True Star]: [0/1,000]

[Astral Dust Powder]: [0/3]

This Astral Star Crystal is used by Constellations and Cosmic-Level entities to restore Cosmic Energy. It’s also a form of currency, available in three grades, each increasing in size.

This was a Low-Grade Astral Star Crystal. If I grind it, I can likely meet the requirements for the Astral Dust Powder.

As for the Essence of a True Star, I’ll need a different approach, but it’s not impossible.

I just need to prepare.

And ensure my brother is distracted so he doesn’t fuss over what I plan to do.

“What’s that, Anna?” Hilda asked.

“Ahh… it’s…” I explained what it was, and she was quite surprised.

“I see! I wonder if I could use it for my forge… but keep it, it’s yours, of course,” Hilda said. “There aren’t any more like these around?”

“Unfortunately, Vulcanus was poorer than I thought. This was the only currency he left behind,” I laughed half-heartedly. “Alright, let’s check the bunker I sensed.”

“Bunker?”

Hilda and I dug underground, and soon a slightly melted metal bunker appeared.

She swiftly used her Giant Mole Claws, a weapon crafted from a giant mole monster’s claws, to dig through the earth rapidly.

Once she did, tears welled in her eyes as she saw a large bunker that had survived everything.

“This is grandpa’s basement bunker!” she gasped. “It survived!”

She knocked open the door without waiting and rushed inside.

I followed slowly, observing curiously.

The place was dusty, and a strong, foul smell wafted out when we opened it.

Inside, I saw animal hides and bones.

Hilda’s grandfather, the only surviving member of her family after the Awakening, was still alive but nearing his final days.

He enjoyed crafting clothes from animal parts, which explained the odor.

Ingots, tools, some money, clothes, and weapons were scattered about.

They might hold little value in our world, but to Hilda, they were priceless.

“Grandpa’s stuff…”

It was her grandfather’s legacy, after all.

With tears streaming down her face, she clutched her grandfather’s hammer, smiling broadly.

“My grandpa has been missing his original hammer since we had to escape! I’m sure he’ll be thrilled to see it again. Thank you for helping me so much, Anna…! Without you, I might never have found this place.”

“It’s nothing. I’m glad you found it. But can you carry it?”

“I don’t think so… I’ll store it in my Forge. Maybe these things don’t have much value in our world nowadays, but I’ll use everything grandpa left here and bring it back to him. He’s… not going to last long, you see. So I want to finish some of the items he left incomplete to make him even prouder of me.”

“I’m looking forward to your next creations, Hilda. And I hope we can keep working together.”

“Of course! I was thinking of joining your brother’s guild too. Can I?”

“You should ask him, but I’m sure he’ll accept.”

Back then, my brother’s guild had only one member, himself.

But now, more people are joining.

He’s no longer alone, and I’ll keep working hard to help him forge new bonds and connections.

He’s starting to understand the strength of building ties with others and that not everything is meaningless.

After all, the bonds we form with people give meaning to our lives.

Or at least, that’s what I believe.

And what I learned in Bestia.

FLASH!

“Hm?”

Then I saw it.

A faint sparkle of countless colors surged from Hilda, and a thread of light connected to my Cosmic Heart.

“What is this?”

It felt deeply tied to my Myriad Self Arts.

A bond… a connection with someone had formed.

Hm.

I see.

Could Myriad Self Arts be more than just expressing the facets of my mind and memories?

Perhaps there’s something I didn’t uncover in Bestia due to insufficient training.

It might also relate to its unique fusion with the Path of Boundless Love, now revealing new abilities through my Core Martial Arts.

“Huh? I feel kind of weird, like… stronger?” Hilda said, confused, her Aura fluctuating. “Anna, did you do something?”

“Me?” I wondered. “Is it bad? It’s one of my abilities. I think it forged some sort of bond.”

“A bond?” Hilda wondered, giggling. “But we already made a bond, right? We’re friends.”

“Yeah, that’s right…” I nodded.

I don’t fully understand it yet, but I’ll figure it out in due time.

For now, we returned to the surface after Hilda stored the bunker to bring to her grandfather.

We decided to rest inside the golden palace until the next morning.

We celebrated with a hearty dinner and then went to sleep, too exhausted to move.

Once the next morning arrived, I woke lazily, sensing a powerful Aura surge.

“This is…?”

I rushed out of my room to find golden flames of hope blazing from Henrietta’s room.

I saw the power concentrate within her chest and crystallize.

“She formed a Heart of Hope already?!”

I hadn’t even instructed her. She simply followed the Cultivation Manuals from the Heavenly Empress.

“She’s incredibly compatible with it!”

I returned to my room, delighted that such a talented person had mastered my adoptive mother’s techniques.

I’m certain Henrietta will benefit greatly from it.

“Now, let’s see how much I’ve grown…”

I checked the system notifications.

Ding!

[Level Up!]

[Level Up!]

[Level Up!]

[Level Up!]

[Level Up!]

[Level Up!]

[…]

[Your Level has increased from Level 41 to Level 112/300!]

[All of your Stats have increased.]

[You have earned 7,100 Stat Points.]

[You have earned 7,100 Skill Points.]

[Congratulations! Due to the incredible feat of slaying an Elder Dragon, you have acquired the Title: [Elder Dragon Slayer]!]

[You have taken the Trait: [Dragon Madness (Legendary Grade) (Partially Sealed)] from Vulcanus.]

Dragon Madness?!

No, I don’t want that, even if it’s partially sealed!

Unequip! Unequip!

----