Souta was sure that he could go toe to toe to the White Jade Spider while using everything that he had. [Possession] and [Soul Blood Mode] could boost his power to match that of a monster that used the [Monster Orb Release].
The added stats of the [Soul Blood Earring] wasn't that great if he compared it to the [Vajra Sword Saya]. The thing that made this a universal grade was the skill to harvest the souls. In the long run, he would surpass the added stats of the vajra sword as long as he gathered souls.
Plus, the stats increased through souls was permanent compared to the vajra sword the once he unequipped it the added stats will disappear.
If he had the [Soul Blood Mode] from the beginning then he could utterly destroy Gregory without using his ten years of his lifespan.
He accomplished his goal in coming into this forest full of powerful monsters. Nothing much interested him in this dungeon now that he had a complete universal grade.
"Next is to gather enough souls to fill the right piece of earring," Souta muttered as he walked out of the room.
Yuko looked at him with a concerned look. She wanted to go inside the room when she heard his scream but she recalled how Souta said to guard the door.
He smiled and ruffled her head before saying, "It's okay, everything's all right. You have your own ace and I just gained my own."
He needed to go back to Ladros city and establish the Dark Oculus Legion. They will become the third legion in the Ladros city. He was looking forward to it.
'Just what did you do while I'm sleeping? You've grown stronger also your pet is many times stronger compared to the last time I saw her.' Saya asked Souta after watching him and Yuko defeating a group of second evolution monsters easily.
"I did everything in the last month! Do you even know that I've fought someone from Deadly Sins? Those damn six-circle officers are getting cocky! I've got to destroy them someday!" Souta said to her with a hint of anger in his tone.
'Explain everything to me. We have a lot of time.' Saya said to him in a calm tone.
Souta slowly told her what happened to him. He even included the things about Raeshka. He told her everything that he knew and didn't hide anything.
He began to trust after she saved him from the Dark Vine Stinger in the Fersch Dukedom. Also, he would go insane if she didn't help him when he was feeling the souls inside the [Soul Blood Earring].
'Eh... What?! You!! Yuko gained a blessing of a monster lord!!'
Even Saya was shocked when he told her the details of his adventures. She was flabbergasted and dumbfounded by what she heard. Souta's journey while she was sleeping was extraordinary.
Fighting people from the famous criminal organization and drinking two monster potions to hold back those people.
Going to the home of a monster lord and gaining her approval.
Convincing the monster lord to say that he was the most powerful monster at his level.
Letting the monster lord give blessing to his companion.
Taking down a third evolution monster with a party C-rank adventurers.
Lastly, completing the universal grade artifacts.
All of these feats were remarkable for the people at his current level. She never knew someone at his current power level did the same thing in her entire life. Even the last owner couldn't do it when he was as strong as Souta.
'You really are the...'
"What?!" Souta stopped walking as he asked Saya.
'Nothing. Did you feel that you're slowly changing? I know that you're a selfish and brutal person but now... Can you tell me, why did you fight the criminal organization? I want to know your reason. You didn't get anything from that battle. You were coma for two weeks and a lot of people are eyeing you right now.
'I know a little bit of you. So I want to know your reason. From my understanding of your personality, you wouldn't do anything that wouldn't benefit you.'
Saya asked him intensely.
"Tsk! That question again. I'm tired of hearing the same question again and again." Souta clicked his tongue in annoyance. Raeshka asked him the same question before but he vaguely answered her. In truth, he didn't know how to answer that question. All he felt was rage at that time when those six-circle officers cornered him and his friends.
He walked beside Yuko and noticed the notification in the system. The souls in his earring kept increasing every seconds. After a while, he reached the limit of the right piece so he unhesitatingly used it on his intelligence attribute.
The souls only stopped coming after he increased his intelligence attribute by three times.
"This is good. The range expanded greatly. I could now gather souls easily with this." Souta muttered while looking at his stats in the system.
'Of course, it would increase.'
"Hey, Saya. Do you know True Ancestor?" Souta asked Saya after reading the details of the [Soul Blood Earring]. Just by getting the other piece of earring a lot of changes happened to it.
"[Soul Eye], huh?" He lifted his head and muttered. He saw the souls around flying towards him at high speed. The souls of the monsters were screaming as the earring sucked them.
"Soul. Soul. Soul. Soul." Souta rubbed his chin as he recalled some lore that he read in the game. In the other continent, there was a tribe that didn't use mana. Instead, they were utilizing the power of their souls. Is that tribe connected to the true ancestor?
'Where did you hear that words?' Saya's tone turned serious. It seems that true ancestor was a big shot in the past.
"Hmm...? What do you mean?" Souta asked Saya. He was in his own thoughts so he forgot that he was talking to her.
'I said where did you hear that words?' Saya asked seriously.
"From Raeshka..." Souta replied without a second thought. He did it so that he could bluff Saya by saying that he heard it from the monster lord.
'Ufufu... That child knows something... It's getting interesting.' Saya laughed and her tone turned back to her usual one.
Listening to her, it seems that he wouldn't receive an answer to his question. He didn't have any expectations so he continued to walk forward with Yuko but then... He heard Saya said something to him.
'Ancestors are noble vampires that reached the realm of gods but True Ancestor is a title given to the noble vampire that has the strength to protect and destroy the whole vampire race. True Ancestor is the lord of all vampires, the one above the vampire gods.'
Souta stopped walking when he heard her words. He asked once again but Saya didn't reply to him. She just stays silent all the way to the entrance of the dungeon.
True Ancestor? He heard these words in the past but he didn't even know if who's the current true ancestor of the vampires. No, even the ancestor vampires that he fought in the game didn't mention their true leader. It was as if the true ancestor didn't exist anymore.
Just how strong was that being? The being who ruled the ancestor vampires. Is it as strong as a commandment? Or a deadly sin? Maybe a king of gods like Zeus or Odin?
'So the [Soul Blood Earring] are made of true ancestor's body... Maybe, the ingredients to create universal grade equipment are not material things but the body of powerful god-level creatures.' Souta thought as he exited the dungeons with Yuko.
The Lanny group and Dark Oculus were already at the entrance waiting for him.
"C-Captain is here!" Lynn exclaimed as she felt Souta and Yuko's energy. She was still not accustomed to calling him 'Captain'.
"Captain, you're here! We're getting bored while waiting for you!" Ginvi complained when he saw Souta exited the dungeon.
"Yeah, yeah," Bryan nodded with a bored look.
"Then, let's return to the empire. Our spoils that we got here are good enough." Souta said with a sigh while waving his hand. This was enough for him. He didn't need to clear this dungeon anymore. He could acquire tier 3 spell books, orange grade weapons, and some high-grade resources but that doesn't matter to him anymore. He just wanted to rest and go back to the empire to prepare for the founding of his legion.
"We already prepared everything so we're ready to leave anytime," Lumilia said to him. Their spoils were neatly arranged to the corner with the corpse of the White Jade Spider.
"Good." Souta nodded with a satisfied expression.
The group departed and they arrived in the empire before dawn. Their group became the center of attention as soon as they entered the gate of the empire. After all, they brought back a corpse of a powerful third evolution monster.