'I see.'
John felt like Chuthulos was connected to the Rune of New Beginning, but also had to tread carefully to prevent the gods of this world from detecting him.
'Anyway, time to check out the shop.'
John opened the shop by focusing on its tab.
[Xhalthuun's Shop]
-Shop level: 1
-Xhal Drops: 0
< This week's Items > ( Refresh Cost: 100 Xhal Drops )
1. Cursed Cane Lochirya - 80,000 Xhal Drops.
2. Monster Geno Art Selection Box (Low-Tier) - 1000 Xhal Drop.
3. Netherblight Fluguire Wisp - 113,400 Xhal Drops.
4. Ring of Amurita - 2660 Xhal Drops.
[Yo, John. This is Xhalthuun's Shop. Xhalthuun is a new generation Eldritch God like me and is working together with me. I can't say much for now but know that creating this shop and making it accessible to you has put him in trouble. Half of his source is within the Rune of New Beginning, as this Shop, and the other half is dying and getting absorbed by the Primostria Cosmos, because of making the shop.]
John blinked. 'I see, s-'
[And this is not a live conversation, but just a recording I made ten years ago when Xhalthuun and I finished this shop. Anyway, Xhalthuun's other half is absorbed by this cosmos, but his source essence will resurface in some form of medium. If any of his medium is within 100 kilometers of you, Xhalthuun will tell you.]
[Now, the last part. To buy things from this shop, you need Xhal Drops. You can get them by sacrificing things with qualitative spirit energy. Higher quality of the sacrifices will give you more Xhal Drops.]
[When you touch something, you will know how many Xhal Drops you will get and can choose to sacrifice them if you want to.]
[That's all. Good luck and have fun, but don't die. If you die, Xhalthuun will completely die, and then my cosmos will follow up with me. It will be a sad, eternal death for you and my family, so let's prevent it and aim for a happy ever after.]
John digested the information and wryly smiled.
'Xhalthuun, eh? Nice to meet you.'
John felt a slight jolt in response, making him startled.
'It looks like he can't talk, but is kind of alive.'
John felt a bit of pity. Poor guy turned into a shop for him and half of his source was dead, absorbed, and then shat out in different forms in this cosmos.
'Let's get you your first sacrifice.'
John left the shack. He wanted to get 1000 Xhal Drops as soon as possible to buy that Monster Geno Art selection chest.
Yuna had already left with her Sun Fox to hunt for ingredients and for some training.
Pymon was flying around and catching fish to feed his wife, Starry, who had been sitting over the eggs, nursing them.
"Watch over the camp, I'll be back shortly."
Pymon whistled in response while nodding his head before flying atop the nest house and sitting there.
After John left the camping area, he soon encountered a Razor Gust Python - Bronze - Prime.
John activated Soul Synergy, gaining Alfred's stats as surplus over his, and then used Umbral Drift to quickly close in above its head before returning to human form and kicking its head.
With his stats boosted, his physical kick was too much for this Bronze-rank Python, as it became dizzy.
"Keep it down, Alfred."
John deactivated Soul Synergy while Alfred arrived and kept the Python's head and another part under its front and hind paws.
"Let's see…" John bent down and touched Python's head. "Xhal, how much Xhal Drops can you get me from this?"
Shortly, John saw a pop-up.
[Can be sacrificed to get 4 Xhal Drops. Proceed?]
'Crap…' John was dumbfounded. 'I knew it wouldn't be much, but it's lower than I expected.'
John looked at Python and saw its eyes filled with fear.
"You want to escape?"
Python hissed, unable to move its head even a bit under Alfred's paw.
John looked around before looking up.
'Yeah, no. I can't send this Python into Monster Paradise. If someone is watching, especially those Emperor-rank Tamers, and sees that I made this monster disappear, my life could get into unwanted trouble.'
'If I sacrifice it, it will disappear too, so I can't do that openly as well.'
John felt frustrated.
'Xhal, could you like to sacrifice its power or soul core instead of sacrificing it as a whole to give me Xhal Drop?'
No response.
However, a new pop-up appeared.
[You can sacrifice its soul core to get 3 Xhal Drops.]
'Nice!' John grinned and opened his palm, hovering it above the Python's head.
Since he became a Silver-rank Tamer, he could extract the soul core of Bronze-rank monsters without killing them.
It would weaken the monsters and cripple them, but they would be able to regain their power and form a new core as long as they survived.
After extracting its core and some Geno Points which were lower compared to what he got when killing them, John sacrificed the soul core and got 3 Xhal Drops.
Python became severely weakened and smaller as it scurried away quickly after Alfred let it go.
Meanwhile, John strutted around extracting soul cores of Bronze-rank Monsters.
"Bastards!"
John suddenly heard a familiar voice and blinked.
Jumping on Alfred's large back, John said, "Let's go, fast."
As Alfred sped through by jumping and dashing using trees, they soon arrived at the source of the shout.
Yuna was facing two boys, and her Sun Fox was quite injured.
But even alone, her Sun Fox was quite a nimble fighter with the deadly precision of her fireballs.
"Hehe, just give up. The fewer people survive, the better for us."
"Yeah, we don't want to injure you too much since you're such a beauty, hahaha."
Yuna clenched her fists. Although many participants didn't fight or gang up on others, there were still some who liked to eliminate others.
"It looks like you won't give up without getting hurt yourself. Butterbee, attack with Itchy Pollen," the black-haired boy said with a perverted smile.
The dark blond-haired boy beside him also showed a perverted smile upon hearing that. "Hehe, let's get some eye treat like yesterday."
Yuna's face paled. 'His Gloom Spark Butterfly has Itchy Pollen skill?'
It wasn't a lethal skill, but if that pollen struck her or she inhaled it, she would get uncontrollable itch all over her body! Enough to tear apart her clothes and she didn't have anymore clothes in her storage after her first outfit was destroyed.
But before Gloom Spark Butterfly could make a move, a dark red beam with sparkling blue flame stream mixed within shot from a diagonal angle above, instantly killing it as it turned into a soul wisp and entered its tamer's soul space.
"Awooo!"
"John!" Yuna was overjoyed, while Rayray also cried out in relief.
"You nasty little perverts. Don't even think about leaving without getting hurt a bit."
John and Alfred landed in the middle, facing the two boys.
While they were stunned, John activated Soul Synergy before both he and Alfred used Umbral Drift to circle around the duo.
The lump of crimson darkness unleashed two Frostfire Scythes from both sides, eliminating the two Monsters the other kid had while also cutting off one arm of both kids as they screeched in pain while rolling on the ground.
Their wristband's danger sensor activated as both of them disappeared in the next second.
"Thank you, John." Yuna sighed in relief. "Yeah, I am not leaving without Starry next time."
If she had Starry, she could easily escape by mounting on the eagle.
"Good."
John and Alfred arrived before the duo. Taking out a leaf from his storage space, John gave it to Rayray. "Eat this."
"That leaf..." Yuna was surprised.
John smiled and said, "That's my soul talent. I can create healing and stamina recovery plants."