Chapter 616 Look Up, Unattainably High (4k)
Professor Shylph fell silent for a moment, tacitly agreeing with Professor Jones.
Magical beasts lack self-awareness and individuality; it is nearly impossible to make them shed tears naturally.
Kazel and the others were unaware that magical beasts could develop consciousness until now, and they likely used some very extreme methods.
She thought about it and decided to let this matter go unmentioned.
But after a slight hesitation, Professor Kazel took the initiative to say, “From what we can tell, magical beasts also gradually awaken their sense of self. They do not instantly become complete beings but rather refine themselves as memories flow in.”
“We didn’t see any clear signs of self-awareness from that ‘Golden Mermaid’ nor could we confirm if it had awakened. So, you might not get the answers you seek.”
Professor Shylph frowned in contemplation and realized it was indeed true.
Professor Kazel continued, “However, we can infer from another angle.”
“The memory of the ‘Shadow Demon Rat’ originates from the ‘Plague Lord’ Os Brook. Regardless of its initial disposition, after the memory flowed in, it gradually refined itself to be almost identical to the ‘Plague Lord.'”
“As for the little bear, who is a ‘Parasitic Spirit,’ it awakened its self while still being the ‘Snow Maiden’ Sherry Augustine. Its memories come from Sherry Augustine, and even after reincarnating as a ‘Parasitic Spirit,’ it retains her personality.”
“Both are tier bosses, and tier bosses in dungeons are often manifestations of historical figures.”
“The ‘Shadow Demon Rat,’ the ‘Snow Maiden,’ and the ‘Golden Mermaid’ are all like that.”
“In other words, if we identify historical figures who left significant marks, we can deduce the specific identity of that ‘Golden Mermaid’ and analyze its personality in reverse.”
“Unlike the ‘Shadow Demon Rat,’ the ‘Golden Mermaid’ is rare and revered as descendants of ocean gods by sea creatures, rarely venturing above the sea floor.”
“Therefore, there shouldn’t be many ‘Golden Mermaids’ who have left significant marks in history.”
“In my memory, there are only two ‘Golden Mermaids’ fitting those criteria.”
“One is a high priest of the sea who summoned a whirlwind hurricane to crush all the demon navy invading the sea creatures.”
“The other is a mermaid princess known for a tragic love story, said to possess tears that can rejuvenate and maintain eternal youth.”
“But neither of these matches the appearance and demeanor of the ‘Golden Mermaid’ boss I encountered.”
“Any other clues?”
…
The professors pondered over Professor Kazel’s words.
After a while, Professor Shylph asked, “Have you heard of the ‘Sea Witch’?”
Claire casually replied, “The witch often seen during storms guiding ships, right?”
Professor Shylph nodded, “I grew up near the coast and heard tales of the ‘Sea Witch.’ Sailors often wore shells with her name to pray for safe return. Later, I investigated whether she truly existed. Though I didn’t delve deeply, it seems she was likely a mermaid. But I wonder if it was a ‘Golden Mermaid’?”
“When you mentioned this, I suddenly remembered something,” Professor Jones said. “In the southern seas, there are also tales of mermaids. It’s called the ‘Dawn Light,’ said to bring fish, pearls, and love to coastal residents.”
…
The professors shared their views, and Dark occasionally chimed in.
They gradually realized how numerous the tales of mermaids were.
Unfortunately, they couldn’t determine if these mermaids were ‘Golden Mermaids’ or not.
Finally, Professor Shylph summarized, “Most tales about mermaids are positive since they are symbols of beauty and nobility among sea creatures, and pose no threat to humans on land. They start off with a relatively positive image.”
“However, as Kazel said earlier, tales are just tales. It’s unreliable to conclude the nature of a ‘Golden Mermaid’ based on them.”
Claire smiled, “Then we’ll understand when we find one.”
Professor Shylph nodded, “It’s time. Let’s prepare to depart.”
Everyone then rose and made final preparations.
Professor Shylph warned Dark, “We’re heading up to the 102nd level, then crossing through the entire tier to reach the reception hall on the 102nd level. Moving backwards from the reception hall will likely take us deep into the tier, where danger is extremely high. Especially since it’s below the hundredth level. So, you must stick close to Lily!”
Dark took a deep breath and responded, “Yes, Professor Shylph.”
Then Professor Shylph turned to Lily.
Lily promptly grabbed Dark’s arm, emphasizing, “Of course, I will. Right?”
Professor Shylph shook her head and sternly said, “Summon the mana spirit. I don’t want any accidents.”
Lily: (＜ゝω・) Eh-heh
…
Out of caution, the professors began summoning mana spirits immediately.
Some used special summoning methods, others resorted to sacrificial summoning. Except for Professor Nina, each professor summoned a fourth-tier mana spirit.
In everyday life, one rarely sees fourth-tier mana spirits outside of top-tier mana duels.
Dark was very curious about the professors’ mana spirits and watched intently.
Professor Shylph was the quickest, summoning the first fourth-tier mana spirit.
When the fourth-tier mana spirit appeared in the wind, Dark couldn’t help but show a surprised expression.
He had imagined what type of mana spirit Professor Shylph would summon, but he never expected her to summon a golden-haired elf that looked exactly like her!
This elemental race mana spirit had bare white feet, with a gentle breeze swirling around it, emitting a blue-green light.
It wore traditional elemental clothing, with a chest slightly smaller than Professor Shylph’s, yet still prominently shaped.
Its long hair matched hers, a pale gold that danced in the wind.
Its elongated ears, longer and closer to pure-blood elves, protruded from the golden hair.
A blue wind rune shone on its forehead, while its facial features were identical to Professor Shylph’s.
Its demeanor was undoubtedly gentler, exuding a soft and delicate charm.
It seemed like a pure-blood, gentle version of Professor Shylph.
Dark was momentarily stunned.
Suddenly, Professor Lily blew air into his ear and giggled, “Want to know what Sarah’s mana spirit is?”
Dark instinctively replied, “Yes.”
Lily tugged on his arm and whispered, “It’s the ‘Wind Spirit King Shylph’!”
“Shylph?” Dark couldn’t help but be surprised.
The Wind Spirit King, naturally, was the ruler of wind spirits, possessing the authority to command them.
As a mana spirit card, the ‘Wind Spirit King’ was merely a clone-like imitation, with limited powers.
But what mattered was its name!
The name of this mana spirit card was identical to Professor Shylph’s surname!
…
Seeing his astonishment, Lily gloated, “Isn’t it amazing that the ‘Wind Spirit King Shylph’ looks exactly like Sarah? Actually, it’s not that the ‘Wind Spirit King Shylph’ looks like Sarah, but the other way around. Sarah looks like the ‘Wind Spirit King Shylph’! Of course, I mean the real Wind Spirit Shylph!”
“Lily!” Professor Shylph suddenly glared at her.
Lily stuck out her tongue and hurriedly summoned her own mana spirit.
Dark sank into thought.
He knew Professor Shylph’s father was a pure-blood elf, currently running a tavern in Traveler’s Street.
But beyond that, he knew little else.
Since Professor Shylph was half-elf, her other half couldn’t be from pure-blood elves. What then?
By inertia, Dark assumed she was a mix of pure-blood elves and humans, but that wasn’t the case.
How could a half-breed look exactly like the Wind Spirit King?
He realized he had jumped to conclusions.
“Miaow—”
Suddenly, a giant tongue dangled down from above, licking his face.
He quickly stepped back two paces and saw Professor Lily’s summoned mana spirit—a bizarre-looking long-necked dragon!
It was bizarre because it had a cat’s head, dragonfly wings, turtle limbs, dolphin tail, and two dragon horns on its head.
Dark had never seen such a strange creature, not even the mythical “four不像.”
Yet, this mana spirit seemed to like him, meowing and licking him.
“Stop it.”
Lily smacked the mana spirit’s head, stopping it.
Dark couldn’t help asking, “What kind of mana spirit is this?”
Lily flew down, proudly saying, “Never seen before? This is a unique mana spirit only I have—the ‘Illusion Faerie Dragon’!”
“Illusion Faerie Dragon?” Dark tentatively reached out, and the “Illusion Faerie Dragon” lowered its round cat head, letting him pet it.
This “Illusion Faerie Dragon” lacked the aura of a fourth-tier dragon.
But was it strong… it was still a fourth-tier.
Dark couldn’t gauge it and instead glanced at the other professors’ mana spirits.
Claire aside, Professor Pavar Jones summoned a fourth-tier mana spirit—a massive bear.
When first summoned, the bear was over fifteen meters tall, like a building, with its body covered in layers of rocky armor, supporting its majestic form with its hind legs.
Dark had read about this mana spirit in books.
It was a “Stoneclad Great Bear,” an avian-beast kin, ground/rock type, capable of drawing power from the earth to heal rapidly.
The “Stoneclad Great Bear” was straightforwardly powerful.
Its strength was terrifying, able to tear apart the earth with a single claw.
But as soon as Dark blinked, he noticed Professor Jones activated another mana card, and the “Stoneclad Great Bear” visibly shrunk to three meters high…
“Spell card—’Miniaturize’!”
Opposite to another spell card—”Magnify”—’Miniaturize’ reduced the mana spirit’s size while lowering its attack coefficient and increasing its defense coefficient.
After shrinking, the “Stoneclad Great Bear” nearly doubled its defense, coupled with its rapid healing ability, making it virtually invincible.
…
After Professor Jones, Claire finally summoned her own mana spirit.
Dark initially thought she might summon the majestic white tiger, but she chose a remarkably lazy fat lion instead!
Whether it was a lion or a tiger, both were ordinary pets in Claire’s bedroom.
If he hadn’t seen her summon it after three sacrifices, he would never have guessed this frequently kicked fat lion was actually a fourth-tier mana spirit!
“Phew…”
The summoned fat lion lazily lay down next to Claire’s feet, “Time to work.”
Claire nudged the fat lion’s belly, and it finally moved, changing positions and lying down again…
Dark couldn’t fathom what this ordinary fat lion could be, so he asked Lily beside him.
Lily, looking knowledgeable, said, “Have you heard of the ‘Dust Lion’?”
Dark’s mind stirred, remembering a bit.
“Dust Lions” are magical animals in nature.
Born from dust, they share a similar species with “dust sprites” akin to coal balls.
But “Dust Lions” and “dust sprites” are entirely different levels, much like dragons and ants.
Their only similarity might be their ability to attract dust, cleaning rooms.
…
“What about Professor Kazel’s mana spirit?”
Dark turned to the fourth-tier mana spirit summoned by Professor Kazel and asked quietly.
Before him stood a mana spirit as tall as a person emerging from thick liquid.
This mana spirit had comma-like limbs, a head and body forming a flat board, resembling a jelly-like block with fluid inside.
Dark had to admit, he had never seen such a mana spirit before.
—
Note: The translation preserves the context and meaning of the original text while adapting it to a more natural English flow.
