Everyone fell silent when a beautiful golden-haired woman—dressed like a warrior from ancient times—emerged from within the jade stone.
Even though her form looked like a spirit, her beauty was truly breathtaking.
Suddenly, the woman opened her eyes. Instantly, a powerful gust of wind and a blinding light swept across the entire chamber, forcing Lucas and the others to shield their eyes.
The light was so intense that nothing could be seen but pure white. A few seconds later, it vanished.
Lucas slowly opened his eyes and noticed one thing—the woman was gone.
He immediately stepped toward Garran, who was still standing, holding the jade.
"Where did she go?" he asked.
"I don't know. She appeared and disappeared just like that. I didn't even feel a trace of life force from her. I think... she returned to this jade," Garran replied seriously.
Lucas rubbed his chin, thinking quietly. Of course, he knew who the woman was. She was the force behind Leon's success—the powerful spirit that became his catalyst for growth. That was the reason Leon advanced so quickly in the original story.
"Here, Young Master," Garran said, handing over the jade. "I don't know where you got this, but this thing is clearly invaluable."
"I know," Lucas nodded subtly.
He stared at the jade for a moment. Its color was now darker, emitting a soft golden glow—elegant, calm, as if it had been 'filled.'
Lucas stored it back in his spatial ring.
"A bit chaotic… but I got what I came for," he said with satisfaction.
The statue that had once stood in the center of the cave had now vanished, replaced by a large pool of water—so wide it resembled a small lake.
Garran and Bennet stared at the pool.
Garran stepped forward and touched the water.
"Young Master… this isn't ordinary water. The energy is extremely dense. It feels like… an entire mountain of mana compressed into a single point," he said seriously.
Lucas grinned. He took a round artifact from his spatial ring—smaller than a palm, engraved with the image of a coiling dragon.
Garran recognized it immediately. "A mana storage?"
Lucas nodded. "While I'm diving, can you fill this, Uncle?"
Garran replied firmly, "Of course."
Lucas handed over the artifact, then removed his upper garments, revealing a well-trained, balanced body.
With a light leap, he jumped into the pool, diving toward its depths.
The pool wasn't very deep—less than twenty meters—and the water was crystal clear.
It didn't take long before he saw a large rock glowing with a bright blue light.
A smile spread across Lucas's face.
It wasn't just any rock—it was a fragment of an ancient meteor, one that had brought mana energy into this world. A true treasure, the reason why this pool was so rich in energy.
Without hesitation, he reached out and pulled the stone free, its base fused to the bedrock. Though it was large, Lucas managed to lift it with both hands.
He surfaced, carrying the stone with him.
Bennet, who was sitting at the back, and Garran, still filling the artifact, were both stunned at the sight.
"What the hell is that rock? Its mana energy… it far surpasses the pool itself," Bennet inquired.
"Something really good," Lucas replied with a smile.
Once the artifact was full, Garran handed it back to Lucas.
"Is there anything else that needs to be done, Young Master?" he asked.
"Yes. One last thing."
Lucas took out another stone from his storage ring—it radiated similar blue energy, but at a different intensity.
Something he had purchased from Ludrik.
He tossed the stone into the pool, and it fused with the bedrock below, once again emitting a soft glow, renewing the mana flow within the pool.
With that, the pool was 'recharged'—ready to welcome someone else in the future.
"We're done here," said Lucas.
He turned and patted Bennet on the shoulder. "Mr. Bennet, your help was greatly appreciated today. In the future, I'll pay a visit to Creed Mountain Order."
Bennet's face lit up. "Of course, Young Master Lucas! We'll welcome you with open arms!"
Lucas gave a faint smile. He knew exactly the kind of person Bennet was. Someone who thought he could benefit from associating with a Drakebane heir—but Lucas had bigger plans.
Well, people like that were exactly what he needed.
---
Night grew deeper.
Lucas and Garran parted ways with Bennet, who had to return to his duties as an elder of the Creed Mountain Order.
Meanwhile, in the backyard of a modest house…
Thump!
Thump!
Thump!
The sound of repeated strikes echoed through the night.
A black haired young man was training, furiously punching a wooden dummy. Sweat poured from his body. And if one looked closely—it was Leon Emery.
Ever since Lucas had beaten him last night, his determination had burned hotter than ever. This wasn't just about pride anymore—it was about saving Sofia, the girl he cared about, who was now in Lucas's hands.
Earlier this afternoon, he had gone to House Valemont, telling Gustav and the other family members that Lucas had kidnapped Alex and Sofia. He spoke the truth—but the moment he finished, he was met with a harsh slap across the face when he learned that Lucas was actually the one who had rescued Alex.
No one—not a single soul—knew that Lucas was the true mastermind behind it all.
The image of Lucas with Sofia haunted him. He could only hope Lucas hadn't done anything vile.
The more he thought about it, the angrier he became.
Bang!
His final punch shattered the wooden dummy.
"Haah... haah..." Leon panted heavily.
His eyes sharpened as they stared into the night.
"Lucas... I will get my revenge!" he vowed.
Tonight, he would go treasure hunting—sooner than he had originally planned. He didn't have time to wait anymore.
A few days ago, he had bought a treasure map from a flea market for fifty dollars. The amount was considerable for a student like him, but it was a worthwhile investment since the map was legitimate. He had been fortunate enough to purchase it from a seller unaware of its true value.
And his destination: the Blackbell Forest.