Turtle Gui (5)
Whoosh!
The light surging from Gui's body soon enveloped Jehyun and Gui, forming a massive pillar of light. The onlookers' eyes widened in shock at the sight.
"W-What's that?!"
As those watching exclaimed in astonishment, Jehyun's consciousness was sucked into the light, pulled somewhere else.
'Where... is this?'
When his vision cleared, pitch-black darkness surrounded Jehyun.
Gaaah.
Then, a low cry echoed in Jehyun's ears. It sounded familiar.
'Gui!'
Jehyun realized it matched the cry of the Gui he'd just fought.
The moment he recognized it, Jehyun became aware he was deep in the ocean's abyss. In the corner, he spotted Gui huddled up.
'...!'
Jehyun blinked at the sight.
'A newborn hatchling...?'
The Gui before him was tiny, barely reaching Jehyun's height.
Gaaah.
Gaaah.
More cries echoed from the surroundings. The little Gui trembled at the sound.
Whoosh.
Waves churned as new Guis appeared, much larger—three or four times the size of the small one.
'No way...'
Jehyun finally understood. This was the memory from the Gui whose Soul Collect he'd activated.
Gaaah.
Aaah.
The bigger Guis circled the small one, crying out relentlessly. Strangely, Jehyun could grasp their meaning.
'It's being bullied.'
The little Gui was being shunned by its larger kin. It shrank further at their cries, a pitiful scene that tugged at the heart.
Moved by sympathy, Jehyun reached out and stroked its head.
ZZing.
Their eyes met, and Gui's memories flooded into Jehyun's mind.
This Gui had hatched from the same clutch as the others but grew slower from birth.
'So it was ostracized.'
Survival of the fittest ruled the monster world, even for top-tier beasts like Gui. It had been culled by its own siblings.
Soon, Gui had to flee the ocean depths as deep-sea predators targeted the weak youngling.
Wandering the seas, it encountered something.
'Purple energy!'
A massive pearl-like purple glow appeared before Gui, tempting it with promises of power if swallowed.
Unable to resist, Gui devoured it.
Gaaaaah!
As tempted, Gui's stalled growth exploded—but it was plagued by endless destructive urges.
Drawn to land, it fought the purple energy with its last shreds of reason, entering hibernation. That's when the Nature Clan and Jehyun attacked.
'Damn...'
Jehyun sighed softly, full of pity. He'd never imagined Gui's tragic backstory.
'Come with me.'
He extended his hand to the Gui-sized hatchling floating before him.
Gui stared blankly, eyes filled with resignation and exhaustion.
'With me, you won't be alone anymore. And you can grow stronger.'
Jehyun offered his hand again. It wasn't empty words. Soul Collect strengthened souls.
Sensing his sincerity, Gui gazed a moment longer, then rubbed its head against his palm.
Flash!
Brilliant light erupted, and Jehyun felt a bond form with Gui.
Congratulations. You have successfully collected the soul of Gui.
His vision normalized amid the fading light. Jehyun opened his eyes and looked at Gui.
The massive body before him crumbled to dust, starting from the tail, scattering into the air like sand.
Shaaa.
―How did it go?
Alkasha floated to Jehyun's side, brimming with curiosity.
"What do you think?"
―N-No way...!
Jehyun grinned, and Alkasha read the result in his smile.
―You really succeeded?
"Yeah. Turns out it had a rough life. It agreed to come with me."
―Hah... Your luck is utterly ridiculous.
Alkasha sounded baffled. Success odds were under 10%. It had prepared consoling words for failure, but they were needless.
―Now I get it.
Alkasha suddenly addressed Jehyun.
"Get what?"
―That worrying about your luck is the most pointless thing ever...
Jehyun chuckled at that.
He turned to see Shin Yerim and Han Bongjun riding Unda toward him.
"Jehyun-nim!"
Back on land, Jehyun was greeted by the Nature Clan's roaring cheers.
"It was like watching a grand mage!"
"Whoa... Light Hammer? Isn't that the Tower Master's signature?"
"Did he learn it directly from the Tower Master?"
"That was a light spirit, right? Did he really contract one?"
They swarmed him with sparkling eyes. How could they not? He'd soloed an island-sized Gui, summoned an impossible light spirit, and capped it with a Tower Master-evoking Light Hammer.
'This guy's gonna be the Magic Tower's star someday.'
Han Bongjun realized as he watched. Striking looks, awe-inspiring skill, spirit mastery—even the rare light spirit. He had every element the masses adored.
'Not famous yet, but once he is... it'll be a sensation.'
His eye for talent was sharp. Jehyun was stardom-bound.
"Nah, just got lucky."
Jehyun smiled and answered each one. At a request to see the light spirit, he summoned Wisp.
'That's the light spirit!'
Han Bongjun shoved through the crowd for a glimpse, hoping some light affinity would rub off.
"Nothing beats a bed."
Back at the Magic Tower, Jehyun flopped onto his dorm bed.
The Nature Clan had showered him with affection until parting. Shin Yerim especially thanked him profusely, vowing to repay her life debt and begging for his contact later.
―That girl seems smitten with you.
'Who knows...'
Jehyun sensed Shin Yerim's gaze had softened. It was more than fondness now—gratitude for saving her life? Or...
'Not important right now.'
He shook his head and sat up. She was a stunning beauty; denying attraction would be a lie. But romance could wait—he had too much ahead.
"First, bestow Gui's soul on a golem core."
Needing space, he headed to the training room instead of his room.
There, he checked Gui's info.
"Alkasha, does 'Awakening' mean maxing it promotes to the next grade?"
―Correct. Full awakening evolves it. Gui's Legendary, so it could reach Mythic.
"Oh ho..."
Jehyun's eyes gleamed. Mythic grade—unimaginable power.
'Probably not stronger than me, though.'
He chuckled inwardly. Stronger souls were good anyway. Low skill level limited it to collect/bestow, but later he'd wield their power directly. Endless potential.
"Let's bestow it now."
Jehyun activated Soul Collect on the golem core in his hand.
Flash!
White light poured from it.
Gui's soul is bestowed upon the 3rd Generation Golem Core.
Blinding light surged again.
Congratulations. Gui's soul has been successfully bestowed.
"Oh. It worked."
Jehyun admired the core, exhaling in admiration. True success.
―Didn't believe me, huh? Told you it was possible.
"Not that—I was just amazed."
He turned it over, replying.
―Kekeke. Remember, this body never speaks falsely. Anyway, what's the starting grade? Check it.
Bestowal yields varied starting grades. Gui was level 65, S-grade originally, but assimilation lowered it.
―Mid-S, so brace for C at worst.
Jehyun nodded and activated Dragon Eye.
"Whoa! S-grade!"
Jehyun cheered. He'd hoped for B, but it was near-perfect preservation.
―My god! Even this is luck?
Alkasha muttered in disbelief. Time to suspect past-life Luck Goddess priest.
―Heh, utterly unpredictable.
Alkasha's hollow voice echoed wonder.
"Thanks, Alkasha."
―...Why thank me suddenly?
"Notice how luck explodes opposite your worries? Keep it up. Haha."
―......
Alkasha froze midair, speechless. Jehyun laughed again.
"Now, summon for real."
With that, Jehyun summoned Golem—Gui.