Requiem Of A Failed Hero

Raith sat still with the orb in his hands. He first tried to feel the soul essence that was inside the monster core. Then he started to absorb it.

Absorbing it was not hard. It was like in him was a mighty magnet, all that the essence needed was a little guidance and it started pouring into him. Since, he was unable to level up due to the sin of greed influence, maybe this was the only way to gain straight.

Although whatever would happen from absorbing a monster's core is supposed to come as a shock to him because he had never done it before.

A few seconds passed, he could vividly feel the essence flowing into him. But then…

[Greed has absorbed high grade monster essence]

[Greed has absorbed high grade monster essence]

[Greed has absorbed high grade monster essence]

…

The message continued like that until the orb in Raith's hand lost its violet color and shattered to dust.

Raith lowered his head. He fisted his hand and clenched tremblingly.

'Damn greed damn damn damn damn!'

He released his tight grip and slowly exhaled.

Then he summoned the letters that displayed his player profile.

Player Name: Raven Raith

Health Points: 13,090/12,109

Player True Name: B…'..l

Player Class: Son Of Failure (reverie-tier)

Player Level: 1

GREED lv.1: 10/100

[Cosmic energy], [Dark energy], [Source energy], [Aura]

Raith glowered. 'A purple monster essence should be equal to a level ten dungeon in Therut right? That should be around the highest level gate on earth and all it gained from it is just ten points?! Sage explained to me the part that said it will take the experience points gotten from killing monsters!!"

[Because of the peculiarity of your class, you can't gain experience point from killing monsters]

'Oh well, great just great. The abyss did this and now you are doing it too. It is well, you all just wound me, kill me however you like.'

Raith frowned and looked down the rest of the profile.

The energies he could wield… [source energy] did not used to be there. Indeed, dispersing the soul sea must have caused this. Also, there were no numerical representations on the energies which used to be there. That part bothered him so he asked Sage.

[Your body has merged with the energies. It is safe to say that you are at that point where you are becoming one with these energies. Giving them a numerical representation is useless]

'You sure go ahead and term things however you like.'

Raith lingered for a while, studying the energies section. Something about it awed him at the same time there was unease within him.

'So let me get this straight. You are saying I can perfectly wield all of this energy without the need for them to replenish?'

[I said 'becoming one with…' not 'one with' This is still an incomplete stage you should choose to use one of the energies. There's no telling what can happen from constantly switching between all four]

'I see. Then that provides me with the answer I need.'

[What answers?]

'Don't worry.'

Raith studied further, lowering his eyes to the other sections.

> Conditions

Heat resistance lv.max, Cold resistance lv.max, Poison resistance lv.max, Failure Forged lv.1

> Skills

[Source] lv.0, [Sage_M8de] lv.1, [Copy] lv.1, [God's eyes] lv.1, [Retry] lv.1, [Blaze] lv.1

Everything seemed more aligned and neat than it used to be.

'I suppose even you have been busy?'

[I have been constantly analyzing ways to become a better assistant]

'I'm proud of you…'

Raith smiled delightfully. So far so good, except GREED, he was pretty content with what he was seeing.

Suddenly he remembered.

"Stats! I didn't see my stats" He voiced out.

[Your stats are currently sealed]

"What do you mean?"

[Because of the weight artifacts you are wearing, it is impossible to assess the physical stats you have gained so far.]

Raith lifted his hands and inspected his wrist. 'Hm? So these are artifacts too?' Shifting his eyes to the front, he asked internally, 'Sage, do you know about artifacts?'

[Yes. Do you want an explanation]

Raith hesitated for a few seconds then he responded.

"Sure."

[Artifacts are ancient objects that encapsulates the power of their first time]

Raith narrowed his eyes.

"That makes no sense. If that was the case then every single object in this world that has been used by powerful beings would become an artifact. Even Bal would be an artifact."

[...]

Raith's eyes widened a second later, realization dawning on him.

"Bal was an artifact?"

[What births the will of an artifact is how strong the resentment or will of their first master was. Of course, such master has to be enormously strong]

[No matter how strong the will or resentment of the weak is, it can only remain will ot resentment. It can never give birth to something extraordinary.] [What birthes the extraordinary is power]

"Nice speech Sage…" Raith maintained a frown. The more he thought about it the more he felt wistful about it.

He had an artifact in his hands all these while?

"What are so great about these things though?" He queried, his frown deepening with lines of frustration.

[There are three grade of artifacts: LEGEND, AVANT and REVERIE]

'Sounds like my class rated… something?'

[An AVANT grade is capable of destroying an entire city from a single use. Although method and prerequisites for use is dependent on the artifact itself. LEGEND grade artifacts are those one such as the sword that is now merged with your [source heart] powerful and unpredictable in a lot of ways]

Sage's monotonous voice went low, paused, then picked up.

[However, REVERIE grade artifacts cannot be made sense of. The red crystal which has now formed a source in your heart is an example of such]

Raith's eyes popped forward. He jerked to his feet, feeling his chills crawl on his skin.

"The red crystal is a REVERIE grade artifact?"

[Yes]

"Wooooh…." He went dazed for the next few seconds. Then he asked again after regaining himself.

"Does this mean there are other REVERIE grade artifacts?"

[Yes]

[As a matter of fact, I strongly suspect that the broken throne is a REVERIE grade artifact]