Thousand Beasts Emerald Green Forest.
Inside the stone courtyard.
"Should I add some leaves as well?" Ricky mused, his gaze fixed on the gigantic wooden bowl filled with a vibrant green liquid. The concoction bubbled gently, emitting a faint, earthy aroma that filled the air.
Splash!
Suddenly, the liquid churned violently, and a rat attempted to leap out of the bubbling green soup.
It's small beady eyes filled with terror.
"Tch! No, Mr. ....You are not going anywhere..." Ricky muttered, swiftly grabbing the rat and tossing it back into the bowl.
Hmmmph! Thinking about escaping right after you tried to attack me.
Dream on!
Ricky picked up a sturdy stick from the side and began to stir the soup with vigor, as if he were cooking a delicate dish. Under the relentless stirring, the rat's struggles grew weaker, its body slowly liquefying under the acidic nature of soup.
It had been some time since Ricky achieved full recovery. He realized that Dark Shadow had used all of her spiritual fruits to aid in his swift recuperation. The debt of gratitude weighed heavily on his mind, and he pondered how to repay her kindness.
Just as he was lost in thought, he overheard Dark Shadow muttering about how the spiritual fruits were taking too long to grow. This was a significant problem for her, as the fruits were essential for her growth and strength. Now that she was a Stage Two being, her need for them had only increased.
"Increasing the growth rate... huh?" Ricky murmured, his mind drifting back to memories of his childhood. He recalled a woman with a mature grace and a loving smile, working meticulously in a garden. She gently kneaded the hard soil, her hands stained with the earth's richness.
So much time had passed that Ricky had almost forgotten the details of her face. This woman was none other than Ricky's mother; she was a passionate gardener, dedicated to nurturing life from the soil.
"She was preparing fertilizers that day..." Ricky reminisced, a soft smile playing on his lips. Inspired by the memory, he decided to create organic fertilizers for Dark Shadow's spiritual trees.
Just then, Ricky's antennae tingled with a familiar sensation. He saw a heat source glowing like a small, coffee cup-sized LED bulb in the corner of his vision. He recognized this heat signature instantly.
"Dark Shadow..." he whispered, his voice barely audible.
"Why is she here?" Ricky wondered, his curiosity piqued. Dark Shadow rarely ventured far from her spiritual trees, guarding them with unwavering devotion. Something significant must have occurred to draw her away.
Clink! Clink!
The wind stirred, and Dark Shadow materialized before him, her eight beautiful eyes filled with confusion. She immediately questioned, "What are you doing, thief, hiding in this courtyard all day..."
Ricky was taken aback by her query. Gathering his thoughts, he replied with excitement, "I am making medicine for your fruits..."
"Medicine for fruits..." Dark Shadow echoed, her eyes widening in astonishment. She had never heard of such a thing; not even her blood memories mentioned it. Although she trusted Ricky, doubts lingered in her heart.
Ricky could only shrug, understanding her skepticism. After all, explaining the concept of fertilizers to a spider was no easy task. He decided to let the results speak for themselves. Once the fertilizer was prepared, Dark Shadow would witness its miraculous effects firsthand.
Changing the subject, Ricky asked, "Why are you suddenly here?"
At his question, the air around Dark Shadow grew solemn. "He has been found..." she declared, her voice heavy with significance.
Ricky's body tensed at her words. Ever since they suspected that Jack might be dead, Ricky had been searching for the knight's body, to no avail. The possibility that Jack might still be alive had begun to gnaw at him. Now, the sudden discovery of the knight's corpse sent a jolt of excitement through his veins.
"Where is he?" Ricky asked urgently, his heart racing.
"Not far," Dark Shadow replied, flicking her finger to reveal a glowing blue thread. "Just follow this web..."
Ricky was unsurprised by the thread's appearance, having grown familiar with them in recent days. The entire area surrounding the stone courtyard was laced with these threads, serving as an intricate alarm system that alerted Dark Shadow to any intrusions.
"See you later, Dark Shadow..." Ricky called out, wasting no time as he rushed out, following the glowing thread that guided his path.
In mere minutes, he left the courtyard behind, his slightly larger form cutting through the air with swift precision. After an hour of continuous flight, the thread abruptly disappeared.
"It should be somewhere here!" Ricky muttered, his senses heightened as he scanned the greenery for any sign of a corpse.
Suddenly, a familiar scent assaulted his senses. "Found him!" he exclaimed, his speed increasing as he descended towards the figure in the distance.
Jack Velcrast sat upright in a meditative position, a peaceful expression on his face, as if deep in contemplation. Were it not for the intense coldness radiating from his form, Ricky would have approached without hesitation.
Ricky's heat vision confirmed that the knight was indeed lifeless. However, the absence of any obvious wounds left him puzzled. How had the man met his end?
Shaking off his questions, Ricky landed silently on the knight's exposed hand, his form bulging as he activated his skills—Blood Infusion and Robust Iron Frame. A silvery aura enveloped him, and the spike on his proboscis glowed like a sharp nail. With a forceful thrust, he penetrated the knight's skin.
Immediately, a savory taste of orchard fruits filled his senses. Notifications flickered in his vision.
[Ding! 10 Days of lifespan absorbed].
.
.
.
[6 days of lifespan absorbed].
In mere moments, Ricky's lifespan increased by over a year. As he reveled in the sudden influx of vitality, a new window caught his attention.
[Ding! Radiant Knight Thousand Refinement techniques detected!].
[Would you like to learn it?].
The notifications jolted Ricky from his reverie, his eyes widening in disbelief as he stared at the glowing window.
"...This?" he whispered, his mind racing with possibilities.