The first thing John did was build a house using his unique Modeling null magic rune. The trees surrounding him provided plenty of material, and he carefully selected the best wood for construction.
After gathering enough resources, John activated the rune and began shaping the house. Wooden walls rose from the ground like they were alive, beams interlocked perfectly, and tiles lined the roof in neat rows. The result was a sturdy yet cozy-looking house that blended well with the forest surroundings.
Once the structure was complete, John added an enhancement on the house called ( compression) — and after that programmed it with programming rune — that allowed the house to transform between two modes: House Mode and Capsule Mode.
---
"Program Start,"
"Activation: Owner states (House Mode)(Capsule Mode)"
"Action content: Using (Modeling)and ( Compression), the house can turn into a capsule and reverse as well."
"Program End."
---
The rune glowed brightly, and in the blink of an eye, the large wooden house materialized before everyone. Its wooden walls gleamed under the moonlight, and the roof tiles shimmered faintly, giving the structure a warm, welcoming feel.
Yumina and Alsie, who had been observing from a distance, stared wide-eyed.
"Incredible!" Yumina gasped. "You made this with magic?"
John grinned. "If you want, I can teach you both."
"Don't make fun of us; we know our limits," Alsie said, shaking her head.
John simply smiled mysteriously without saying anything.
Curious, Alsie stepped closer, running her fingers along the wooden frame. "It's better than some inns I've stayed at," she remarked with approval.
"Alright," John said, gesturing toward the door. "Let's get some rest. Tomorrow's going to be a long day."
---
The warm interior welcomed them as they settled in. The living room had plush chairs and a table near the fireplace. While Alsie prepared a simple meal, Yumina explored the rooms with childlike curiosity, marveling at how well-crafted the house was.
Later that night, John stood by the window, gazing at the starlit sky.
"The Crystal Demon core is first on the list... Second, I'll have to look for the black dragon as well. But finding it won't be easy..." John muttered to himself. "For now, the floating island will be my next destination."
---
The Next Morning
After breakfast, John and the girls walked outside. John turned to face the house and raised his hand.
"Capsule Mode," he commanded.
The house shimmered, its structure bending and shrinking until it condensed into a small, marble-sized capsule. John picked it up and tucked it into his pouch.
"Convenient," Alsie muttered. She was starting to get used to John's unusual magic.
"Magic sure is amazing," Yumina added with a smile. "I wish I could do the same."
"If you want, I can teach you magic," John offered again with the same calm smile.
This time, the girls exchanged uncertain glances.
"John… are you serious?" Alsie asked cautiously. "You're not joking, right?"
"I don't joke around with serious matters," John said firmly. His smile didn't waver, but there was a certain weight behind his words that made both girls believe him.
"Let's talk about it later," John added. "For now, we have something important to do."
---
John led the group deeper into the forest, his eyes glowing faintly as he activated his Search null magic rune. This magic allowed him to sense hidden objects, passages, and traces of magical energy.
For nearly two hours, John scanned the area. The ruins of what seemed to be an old royal capital lay scattered around them — broken stone walls, moss-covered pillars, and cracked statues.
"This place used to be part of the old kingdom," John explained. "Long before the current capital existed, this was once the heart of the kingdom's power."
"I heard about this place," Yumina said thoughtfully. "My father once mentioned that the royal family abandoned it after the Great War."
"Yeah," John nodded. "And somewhere beneath all this rubble… is what we're looking for."
Finally, his rune reacted. A faint pulse of energy guided him to a collapsed stone archway, buried beneath layers of debris and vines.
"This is it," John muttered.
---
With a wave of his hand, John activated his earth-elemental energy. The ground trembled slightly, and the rubble shifted aside, revealing a narrow staircase descending into darkness.
"Stay close," John warned as they stepped inside.
The underground passage was damp and cold. The stone walls were lined with faded carvings depicting battles and ancient warriors. The air smelled stale, as if it had been sealed for centuries.
Finally, they reached a massive stone door at the end of the passage.
"This is it…" John muttered. He stepped forward, his eyes fixed on a brown crystal embedded in the wall beside the door.
He knew what to do.
John placed his palm on the crystal and channeled his earth-elemental energy into it. The crystal glowed faintly, and moments later, the massive stone door rumbled open, revealing a dark chamber within.
---
The chamber's interior was eerily silent. In the center stood a massive crystalline figure — a demon encased in layers of solid crystal. Its sharp, jagged body looked like frozen glass, and its empty eyes stared blankly forward.
"There it is…" John muttered.
Before anyone could approach, a faint crimson glow appeared within the demon's chest — the core.
"It's absorbing energy from the atmosphere!" John realized. "It's trying to reawaken!"
"Can we stop it?" Alsie asked, her voice tense.
"Yes," John said firmly.
Without hesitation, he activated his Aport null magic rune. A ripple of magic surged through the air, and the demon's glowing core vanished from its chest, appearing instantly in John's hand.
The crimson glow flickered weakly before fading altogether.
"It's over," John muttered, clenching the core tightly.
"That was… fast," Yumina said, her eyes wide in disbelief.
"That's John for you," Alsie muttered, shaking her head with a small smile.
John tucked the core safely into his pouch. "Let's head back," he said. "We've still got a lot of work ahead of us."
With that, the group retraced their steps, leaving the silent chamber behind .