Chapter 238 - 3407X Returns

Elias continued holding Natasha close, keeping one arm wrapped around her as she whimpered against his chest. He activated Angel of Comfort, allowing its gentle influence to spread through her body and settle over her troubled heart.

Her trembling gradually eased, and the tension that had kept her shoulders rigid began to loosen. The exhaustion she had been suppressing finally caught up with her, weighing down her eyelids until she drifted into sleep.

He remained still, letting her rest against him.

Young Stella eventually wandered over and sat beside him, swinging her legs back and forth as she looked around the settlement. Her childlike curiosity seemed out of place amid the ruined city.

Several citizens had noticed her approaching, and their expressions tightened with fear. Those who knew her notorious reputation as the Killer Flower instinctively moved away, even though Elias had already assured them that she would not harm anyone.

His words had done little to calm them.

The people had already endured more than they could understand. The city had transformed into a dreadful ruin, monsters roamed the streets, and the familiar world they had relied on was gone. Many had been separated from their families and friends, while others had already lost someone they loved.

In the distance, those who had witnessed their loved ones die before their very eyes were still grieving.

Some cried as they remembered the sweet and bitter moments they had shared, then cursed themselves for every argument, every careless word, and every time they had caused their loved ones trouble. Others cursed the world for its cruelty, demanding to know why such a fate had been forced upon them. A few simply stared into the distance with vacant eyes, too broken to cry or even make a sound.

Elias watched them quietly.

"This place is not nice," Young Stella said, swinging her legs.

He looked at her, and a bitter smile appeared on his face. "At least we are together."

"Hehe," she giggled. "I still feel that it is better than before because there is much more to do."

Elias nodded. "Right..."

Young Stella turned toward him and stared with a curious expression, but she did not say anything. She simply continued swinging her legs while he looked down at Natasha, whose breathing had become calm and steady.

After a while, Elias sighed and asked, "Are you not scared?"

She shook her head. "Not at all."

"Really?"

Young Stella nodded. "Husband told me not to worry."

His brows furrowed. "When?"

She frowned, trying to remember. "When that woman in black was fighting that wolf."

’Wait...’ A thoughtful look appeared on his face. ’Did I send my thoughts to all three connections instead of only Natasha?’

Elias closed his eyes and focused on the connection he shared with Monica. Although it was no longer as weak as before, it still lacked the strength he needed to communicate with her reliably.

[Monica?]

He sent the thought through their link and waited.

Three seconds passed in silence.

"Huh..." He exhaled quietly, his brows knitting together.

He tried again, carefully directing his thoughts toward her.

[Monica? Can you hear me?]

There was no response.

Elias opened his eyes and looked at Young Stella. "Can you look after Natasha?"

"Sure!" she answered brightly.

He shifted Natasha out of his embrace as gently as possible, supporting her head while moving her beside Young Stella. Young Stella wrapped one arm around her sleeping sister and gave him a thumbs-up with the other, grinning widely.

Elias smiled faintly and patted her head.

Young Stella’s grin faltered, and she muttered with an embarrassed expression, "S-Stop it!"

He withdrew his hand and rose to his feet. As he began walking away from the settlement, Other Stella floated beside him, her gaze following the young version of herself.

"Did you notice it?" she asked.

Elias nodded. "I did."

He glanced back at Young Stella, who had already settled Natasha more comfortably against her shoulder. "It is like she is a teenager now... almost as if her mental state is adapting to everything that is happening around her."

Other Stella nodded slowly. "I do not remember us doing that."

’Is it because of the connection?’ Elias wondered.

He continued moving away from the settlement, heading in the direction where he could sense Monica. He did not intend to rush directly to her location yet. Natasha and Stella were still vulnerable, and he refused to leave them without enough protection.

He was waiting for Greta to return with Olide, his guards, Benjamin, Sermus, and the servants. Once they were gathered and the settlement was secure, he could leave to search for Monica without worrying about the others being left defenseless.

Besides, he was certain that the rift guardian was somewhere in the direction of Monica’s location.

The thought made him quicken his pace, though he remained cautious as he moved through the ruined streets. The connection gradually strengthened, but it was still distant and faint, as if something were obstructing it.

When he felt it become a little clearer, he stopped and focused.

[Monica? Can you hear me? Try sending your thoughts through the link that you feel with me...]

He waited, listening for even the faintest response.

[Monica?]

Nothing came back.

Each passing moment made him more anxious. He knew Monica’s affliction could keep many monsters away, but that did not mean she was safe. The dungeon had separated everyone, and he had no idea what she might have encountered while alone.

He tried to reach her again, pushing his thoughts through the connection.

Then, suddenly, a familiar voice resounded inside his head.

[Ding!]

[Evaluating the host’s actions.]

Elias rubbed his face and exclaimed, "Fuck!"

The timing was terrible. He was trying to contact his missing wife, and the system had chosen this moment to interrupt him.

[Goodwill and care demonstrated toward the targets have been calculated.]

[Forming connections with all three wives, thus making them feel more united with the host.]

[Leaving the manor for the safety of all three wives.]

[Creating a sword art with the philosophy to protect all three wives.]

[Learning the truth about Monica Ragnar’s affliction.]

[Advancing to the Lord-rank with the same philosophy.]

[Reuniting and comforting all three wives after the trial.]

[Choosing to leave the Crimson Ducal Clan for all three wives.]

[Comforting Natasha about her fear of destiny.]

[The host’s current Affection Rate has reached 34.07.]

[3407X Returns have been applied.]

Elias stared at the notifications, momentarily forgetting his frustration.

’Maybe I can get something that will help me with the current situation?’

The system had evaluated his actions, and the Affection Rate had risen considerably. Given the circumstances, he could only hope that the rewards would provide something useful for finding Monica or dealing with whatever awaited him in the dungeon.

[Ding!]

[Rewards have been issued.]

[Reward 1: Skill acquired — Crimson Lord’s Aegis (SSS)]

[Reward 2: Sword Art acquired — Oathkeeper’s Harmonic Sword Style (SSS)]

[Reward 3: Skill acquired — Mystical Eyes of True Revelation (SSS)]

[Reward 4: Item acquired — Spider’s Fateshifting Pendant (SSS)]

Elias stared at the screen for a few moments, then mumbled, "Does not sound like it..."

He shook his head and focused on them.

[Crimson Lord’s Aegis]

[Grade: SSS]

[Allows the host to manifest Aura Shields around himself and others.]

[The host may extend his Aura through existing connections to protect designated targets.]

[The Aegis grows stronger as the number of protected targets increases.]

’This can be extremely useful,’ he remarked inwardly and checked the others.

[Oathkeeper’s Harmonic Sword Art]

[Grade: SSS]

[A Sword Art created by the inheritor of the Three-Star Harmonic Dragon Physique.]

[Allows the host to shape Aura into powerful sword attacks and combine it with other energies.]

He frowned, furrowing his brows. ’Strange... I should check the others.’

[Mystical Eyes of True Revelation]

[Grade: SSS]

[Allows the host to perceive hidden truths concealed within symbols, inscriptions, and mystical constructs.]

[The deeper the truth, the greater the revelation required.]

He read the explanation and dismissed the screen, as he couldn’t think of a use for it at the moment.

A new screen appeared before him as he opened the inventory, and his gaze shifted to the last filled slot.

It was a small, ornate pendant crafted from dark silver metal, its surface adorned with intricate curling patterns resembling spiderwebs and twisting threads of fate.

At its center rested a polished black eyeball, its golden iris glowing with mysterious light as its pupil shifted subtly. Curved metal tendrils enclosed the eye like a protective cage, while delicate spirals and hooks extended along the edges.

A dark, weathered silver loop connected the pendant to a thin, sturdy dark chain.

[Image]

As he focused on it, another tab appeared beside the inventory.

[Spider’s Fateshifting Pendant]

[Grade: SSS]

[An ancient pendant that holds the lost eye of the Spider of Old Woods.]

[Allows the user to force or stop a fate by consuming stored charges.]

[The cost depends on the fate being altered.]

[Charges: 1]

Elias’s eyes widened, but just as he finished reading it, his screens dismissed themselves, and another appeared.

[A possessed has been detected in the host’s proximity!]

He turned his head to the left, toward a stone house, and the sound of footsteps came from inside.

"Who is there?" Elias asked.

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