Rei and his companions had finally reached the lowest floor of the dungeon and arrived at their destination: the Altar of Inheritance. There, Elena explained the ritual that was to take place—a process that involved absorbing a magic stone directly into one's own body. It was a method that caught even Rei completely off guard.
"……Absorb the magic stone?"
Upon hearing those words, Rei quickly delved into the vast reservoir of Zephyle’s knowledge. At the very least, he had never heard of such a ritual existing. However…
(It’s not in Zephyle’s knowledge, then. I suppose I should view it as a technique devised during the thousands of years since Zephyle disappeared. The concept of turning a magic stone into one’s own power feels somewhat similar to Beast Magic, though.)
"Umu. Monsters possess physical capabilities, magic power, and specialized traits that are overwhelmingly superior to those of us humans. The attempt to incorporate a magic stone—the very source of a monster’s essence—into oneself has been trialed for a long time. However, in our kingdom, the technology is still in its research phase. The success rate is abysmally low; in roughly ninety percent of cases, the subject died, unable to withstand the rejection or the sheer magnitude of the power. Even in the rarest cases of success, their bodies would often transform, taking on the appearance of the monster."
"What!?"
Rei was momentarily speechless at Elena’s explanation. Snapping back to his senses, he reached out and grabbed Elena’s shoulders—shoulders that felt far more delicate than her presence suggested.
"You came all this way just to perform a ritual that dangerous!?"
Seeing his desperate expression, Elena offered a faint smile that could have been interpreted as either a wry grin or a gentle reassurance.
"Rest easy. What I just described are merely the cases that occur when mages and researchers attempt the ritual on their own. Besides, as I said, our kingdom’s technology is still underdeveloped; it hasn’t reached a level where it can be reliably performed on a person. There is only one place that has reached that standard."
"……Which is?"
"The Altar of Inheritance. Places known by that name among researchers and mages occasionally appear within dungeons… just like this one. The ritual performed at an Altar of Inheritance is on an entirely different level compared to what researchers do. Or rather, it would be more accurate to say that researchers analyzed the ritual here and produced a flawed, incomplete imitation."
Elena glanced toward the altar standing in the center of the magic circle.
"As I said, the Ritual of Inheritance performed using this altar is almost an entirely different beast from the version used by researchers. To use an analogy, it is the difference between a common roadside pebble and a meteorite, a pilot light and hellfire, a drop of water and the vast ocean, or a gentle breeze and a tornado."
"……Skip the analogies and give me the specifics. What actually happens if you use this Altar of Inheritance?"
"For starters, there is no risk of one's form changing due to the magic stone’s influence. One theory suggests that the transformation is a result of a flaw in the spell formula used to force the subject to absorb the power, but such a thing cannot happen at the original Altar of Inheritance. Furthermore, it allows the subject to purely absorb the magic stone’s power. ……I suppose it would be easiest to understand if I said that those who undergo the ritual here become a being one step above humanity."
Elena continued her explanation while keeping an eye on Kyuste and Vel, who were inspecting the altar to prepare for the ceremony.
"If it’s such an incredible ritual, why hasn't it spread to the public?"
"Oh, it has spread—within the specific countries that have mastered the technology. In the Kingdom of Mireana, we are still researching it, so the mortality rate is far too high. At most, it’s used for human experimentation on death row inmates under the promise of a pardon and entry into the army if they survive. But with this Altar of Inheritance, the story changes. The altar collapses after a single use, meaning only one person can ever undergo the ritual here, but the success rate—as far as has been recorded—is one hundred percent."
"Even so, why must you be the one to undergo it? You’re the symbol of the Noble's Faction, aren't you? If you were just a figurehead, that would be one thing, but you are the successor to Duke Kerebel."
"……That is exactly why."
"What?"
"We are grouped together as the 'Noble's Faction,' but in reality, we are just a collection of various nobles. If anything were to happen, there are those who would likely defect to the King's Faction, and others who are suspected of colluding with foreign powers. ……We are fortunate that the number of such traitors is small. Even so, as long as the threat of betrayal exists, we cannot grant such immense personal power to an unreliable individual. That is why I, the symbol of the faction, led a small, elite group to challenge this dungeon."
"And Duke Kerebel himself actually agreed to let his own daughter become something other than human?"
"He did. And I have no intention of objecting. I don't know what your personal opinion is, Rei, but I entered this dungeon having fully accepted the consequences. Besides, if the ritual succeeds, I will biologically transcend humanity. And I am the symbol of the Noble's Faction. When considering the potential benefits versus the risks, it was impossible for my father to hesitate… and if he had, I would have despised him for it."
The determination in Elena’s eyes was unmistakable. Then, her gaze suddenly softened, and a smile played across her lips.
Rei reflexively turned away as his face flushed. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Vel handing a canteen to Kyuste.
"Don't worry. There have been several people who performed the Ritual of Inheritance in the past. ……Though, the magic stones they inherited were only from B-Rank monsters."
"……What kind of magic stone are you planning to inherit, Elena?"
"Do you want to see? ……It’s this."
Her smile shifted from soft to mischievous as she pulled a single magic stone from the pouch at her waist.
It was a golden magic stone, roughly the size of a human face. Even from a distance, the sheer magnitude of its magic power was palpable.
Elena’s pouch was a magic item with its internal capacity expanded by space magic. While it wasn't infinite like the Misty Ring—holding roughly the volume of a very small room, or about two tatami mats in Rei’s estimation—it was still an incredibly expensive item that most nobles would struggle to acquire.
"This is…… a golden magic stone? And it's huge."
"It is a treasure passed down through my family: an Ancient Dragon Magic Stone."
"What!?"
Rei was left speechless. Most sapient dragon species were S-Rank, and among them, only those that had survived for over a millennium were called Ancient Dragons. Its rank would likely be equal to or even greater than that of the Lich Lord Grimm, whom Rei had met on B5F.
"Several dozen generations ago, a Duke Kerebel led a knight order to slay an Ancient Dragon. This stone was taken from its body and has been our family heirloom ever since. I will be taking this power into myself through the Ritual of Inheritance."
"……Is it really going to be okay?"
"Hmph. You’re quite the worrier, Rei. Didn't I tell you there have been no recorded failures when using the Altar of Inheritance?"
"But those were for B-Rank monsters, right?"
"……There may indeed be some risk. However, considering the war with the Bestia Empire that is likely coming soon, we absolutely require overwhelming power. Furthermore, as you know, I am the symbol of the Noble's Faction. If I were to be defeated by the enemy… you can imagine the consequences."
The Princess General, a woman whose military fame resonated throughout the neighboring lands. Currently, Elena was likely the most famous figure in the entire Kingdom of Mireana. Rei could easily guess that if she were to fall on the battlefield, the morale of the Kingdom of Mireana Army would suffer a blow from which it might never recover.
"And more than anything… the simplified Ritual of Inheritance I mentioned earlier. The Bestia Empire is the one that holds that technology. It seems their soldiers aren't quite as powerful since it's only the simplified type… but they have enough of them to field entire units. Mireana is already trailing Bestia in terms of national power. If we lose the advantage in military force as well, we have no hope of victory. According to my father’s intelligence, these enhanced units will see their first actual combat in the next war. Since our magic technology is inferior and we cannot perform the simplified ritual, we cannot match them in numbers. Our only hope to counter them is a warrior or knight of supreme quality—someone who has inherited an Ancient Dragon Magic Stone via this altar. In other words… me."
Met by her unflinching gaze, Rei started to speak but stopped himself.
He understood instinctively that nothing he said would change Elena’s mind.
"Elena-sama, it is time to begin the ritual."
Elena nodded at Kyuste’s call. Holding the Ancient Dragon Magic Stone, she placed it gently onto the altar at the center of the magic circle.
"Rei, Set. While this ritual is underway, I will be unable to move. If any monsters wander in or any other trouble arises, I’m leaving it to you. Ara, Vel, and Kyuste must also remain stationary to participate in the ritual’s maintenance."
"I've got it. No matter what comes—monsters or anything else—I will protect you. You focus on the ritual."
"Guruuuu."
Rei nodded, and Set let out a cry brimming with resolve.
"……My thanks. I entrust our lives to you."
With those final words, Elena stood in the center of the magic circle and closed her eyes. Ara, Vel, and Kyuste each nodded and sat down in the three supporting circles that surrounded the central altar.
"Rei, sorry, but could you move back toward the entrance? We can't risk anything disrupting the magic circles. As you heard, we only get one shot at this. Regardless of whether the ritual succeeds or fails, this Altar of Inheritance is almost certain to crumble afterward."
"Understood. I’ll keep watch by the door for any monsters."
"Guruuu."
Rei acknowledged Vel’s words and moved toward the room’s entrance with Set.
As he leaned against the heavy door and gripped Death Scythe, keeping his senses tuned to the hallway, an intense light flared behind him, signaling the start of the ceremony.
(It’s started. Now, all I can do is make sure nothing gets into this room.)
Just as the thought crossed his mind, Rei felt a surge of overwhelming power radiating from behind him. Unable to help himself, he looked back. The three supporting circles were glowing with a brilliant green light, funneling magic power toward the center where Elena stood. The intensity of the magic grew every few seconds until it rivaled the golden radiance of the Ancient Dragon Magic Stone itself. Suddenly, the green light was sucked into the stone as if it were being inhaled.
The scene unfolding before him was nothing short of fantastical. Though Rei was supposed to be guarding the door, his eyes were glued to the Altar of Inheritance.
"Guruuu."
Set was equally captivated, watching in silence as the golden stone drank in the green light.
After several minutes, the absorption ended. The surrounding light faded, leaving only the Ancient Dragon Magic Stone glowing with an oppressive, golden presence.
Elena, bathed in that light, remained standing with her eyes closed, appearing almost as if she had lost consciousness.
The golden light grew even more blinding… and the stone itself began to slowly crumble into dust, as if it were being weathered by the passage of centuries in an instant.
And then…
"……What?"
Rei noticed the movement only because he was watching the ritual so closely. One of the figures in the supporting circles—someone who should not have moved until the ritual was complete—casually stood up and took a step toward the center. It was Vel. He drew a dagger from his breast pocket as he approached Elena.
"What are you doing, Vel!?"
At first, Rei wondered if this was part of the ritual, but then he saw the look of pure horror on Ara’s face. She was still seated in her circle, and her expression made it clear that this was a catastrophe. Rei roared in anger.
Ara had seen Vel move, but she couldn't leave her position without collapsing the ritual entirely—which could have killed Elena. In a desperate move, she grabbed her only available weapon, her Power Axe, and hurled it at Vel.
"Did you really think I wouldn't be able to dodge that?"
Vel casually stepped aside, letting the axe sail past, and continued his approach toward the Altar of Inheritance.
"Normally I'd just kill Elena here, but she's already absorbed a good portion of the stone’s power. It'll be more efficient to destroy the source."
He muttered, raising his dagger and aiming the tip directly at the golden stone…
"Like hell I'll let you!"
Rei blurred into motion, using his inhuman speed to close the gap between him and Vel.
"Do it."
Vel’s cold command echoed through the chamber. Just as Rei prepared to swing Death Scythe, a magic spear plunged into his side from behind.