"Wow, Alex, you just got a whooping 20,000 XP!"

A sudden voice came resounded in Alex's mind, he startled and widened his eyes, it's the system, it returned, but also something about its voice that Alex thought somewhat familiar, and also not the kind of voice that robotic-like.

"System, are you alright? You have gone for quite a while..."

"Yes, Alex, the red shard was a quite complex item, but I managed to uncover its identity."

The system's voice back to its usual state, that strange familiarity, was it just his misconception?

"Well, that's good, thank you for the hard work."

"It's in the nature of my creation to assist you in any kind of problem, there is no need to express gratitude."

"No, no, I should have, no matter you are an AI or living creature, anyway, what's the red shard?"

While communicating with the system in his mind, Alex and the others made their way toward the Old Woodland's entrance, the animal around was no longer attacking them, some ran away the first chance they got, some just minding their own business.

It's almost unbelievable just a few moments ago, they were fighting for the dear life with them.

"The red shard is a part of Philosopher Stone, a legendary item rumored that could grant immortality to its bearer, it was created through high-level alchemy with the following ingredient; Basilisk's saliva, Dragon's heart, Phoenix's feather, Kilin's essence, and 1,000,000 souls of multiple races; 200,000 human, 200,000 elves, 200,000 demon, 200,000 dryad, and 200,000 murmoid."

Alex immediately froze upon hearing the information from the system...

1,000,000 souls?

In order to create this item, someone must sacrifice that many and also from different races? Just for the sake of immortality?

The enticement to live forever indeed couldn't just easily be dissuaded, even back on Earth, how many would willing to pay to increase their longevity or looked young even in only outer appearance?

But to sacrifice that many souls...

Alex's heart couldn't help but feel intermittent cold, to withstand against such monstrosity, how ruthless a heart could be?

*Thud!*

"Ouch!"

Alex's body slightly stumbled forward, feeling a pain emitted from the back of his head, he rubbed it and looked over his shoulder, he saw Dick rubbed his forehead.

"Sorry, I was spacing out before, you alright Dick?"

"Yes, Mr. Star, no problem."

Alex's voice filled with concern, after apologizing once more to Dick, he turned his face to his front and noticed Shizuka looked at him with wrinkled eyebrows. Alex waved his hand to indicate the kunoichi that everything's fine.

They continued the journey, Alex could feel the warm light that sneaked through the gap of the lushes tree above, and the soothing ambient from the wilderness around, but his heart remained gloomy, filled with dread and terror.

"Alex, do you wish for me to continue?"

The system was the only one to know his current state, maybe because it was integrated with him, so it could detect if something odd happened with his body.

It knew he must have been experiencing a sense of discomfort and emotional distress, kind enough to give some room for him to recollect.

"Yes, please..."

Alex held his mouth and nose then he wiped his face before exhaling a mouthful of breath.

"The ritual to create the Philosopher Stone must be under the period of a solar eclipse, supported by the outline of the land which in the form of a pentagon, each corner would represent the five elements and their corresponding souls; human and earth; demon and fire; elf and wind; murmoid and water; dryad and tree, and at the center of the pentagon, one must build an exceedingly high tower for not only act as the focus where all the soul will gather, it also represents one has challenged the authority of the Creator, absorbing the element of thunder from the sky and completed the ritual."

"Did this land create by nature or man's hands?"

"Man's hands, the line which connected each corner of the pentagon could be in the form of a simple line, a furrow, or a wall, as long they connected to each other."

Alex frowned, knitting his forehead and deeply thought; if someone required such necessity to create the Philosopher Stone, they must have been prepared a lot of resources and cost a lot of times, and it's impossible for this kind of motion went unnoticed, both by the kingdoms and people.

"So what's wrong with this red shard? Did the Philosopher Stone break or something?"

"The stone is the ultimate creation of alchemy, strengthen by high-level energy which makes any conventional method to break or split it apart pointless, but not necessarily impossible, as long one holds the same level of energy if not greater than the stone, he or she will succeed."

"Ok, so someone very powerful."

"Yes, but any high-level energy attribute is usually very hard to control, takes years of training to master, and as for the reason to split the stone, presumably, the stone consists of five attributes that which represent the immortality; growth, enchantment, regeneration, immunity, and replenishment."

"So this shard was part of those fives?"

"Yes and no, the stone split into five spheres, which represent the attributes I have mentioned before, but these five spheres could be separated further into a couple of shards, each shard hold a different ability, for example, Alex, the one in your possession now, is a shard of rapid growth, anyone who can utilize the power of the shard shall possess the power to rapidly grow something like someone's age or a plant."

Alex couldn't help but astonished despite he already knew the red shard had something to do with those goblins population.

"Was this the only one?"

"No, Alex, there were 5 more rapid growth red shards, and here was the exact number; 6 rapid growth and 3 slowed growth; 5 strengthen and 4 weaken; 8 reconstructions and 1 deconstruction; 5 resistance and 4 debilitations; 4 absorptions and 5 discharge."

That many?

Alex noticed that each category consisted of 9 pieces, meaning there were 45 pieces less one in total out there...

But Alex was astounded more with the system's ability...

"You know all of this merely less in one day?"

"When I inspect something, it's not just checking its structure and property, but also its origin, but of course; if the item was produced in the much distant past, let's say, 100 years ago, it will take a longer time..."

"Wait, how long the Philosopher Stone had been created?"

"2 years ago..."

An inspiration came into Alex's mind...

The ritual to make the Philosopher Stone would require 1,000,000 souls of different races and its huge preparations, the strange phenomenon that occurred during the creation itself, such a thing was definitely impossible to be completely hidden.

And finally, these 44 pieces of Philosopher Stone themselves, they were certainly not severed by random boredom, for example; the rapid growth red shard he found in Goblin Nest, clearly, they were prepared to make an army.

But who needed such? The dragon clans? Or...

"System, do you know who's the person created the Philosopher Stone?"

"I apologize, Alex, I may know the origin of the item, but I don't know who the person who responsible for it, nor I know who carried all the rest of 44 pieces..."

Alex didn't look disappointed, the system had done a good job already, he couldn't ask a yard after an inch.

"Can I locate the other shards through the one in my possession?"

"I apologize, Alex, each shard had become a single item of their own, it's not possible to one of them to discover the other as they possessed no connection any longer."

Oh... Alex slightly sighed, but honestly, he already had a clue to where he must seek these shards, it only would make it easier if he could detect them.

"Now tell me, Alex, how can you suddenly got these many experiences? And judging by the initial amount which was 20 XP, this was a hellhound's, but they only appear after the sunset, meanwhile, the time now only past 10 am, how can you encounter them? And..."

At this moment, the system abruptly stopped talking, Alex wrinkled his eyebrows, both from the system sudden strange behavior and the fact he also didn't know where he got all the experiences.

Did abolishing that black thing means he killed all the hellhounds? But it Alexis who did it, right? There was no connection between him and her, how possible her kill contributed to his level?

"Alex... you... did you just die?"

"Hm?"

Oh, Alex got it now, the system must have discovered the missing token in his storage, no wonder it became speechless.

Alex also noticed another familiar tone came from the system, it's like it slipped the robotic accent due to the shocking revelation.

But where he had heard this voice... it felt so close yet hard to grasp...

"Alex, tell me everything."

"Can you just look at my memory?"

If the system had been integrated with him, it shouldn't be hard...

"I apologize Alex, but that's your privacy, I have restricted myself to perform such a function."

"You can do that?"

While it was strange but truly a pleasant demeanor, even for the like of system.

Alex began to tell his experience with the system, starting from the moment it went absent, the system didn't comment anything no matter how thrilling and shocking Alex's story was.

By the time he almost finished, the gang had arrived at the entrance of the Old Woodland, saw Momo, Alexis, and Elliot on the distance.

Alex stopped and looked at the fragment of the Lionel Sidonis on the ground, couldn't help but slightly sighed in bitterness, such precious item lost to get them out of the trouble, although in sense, it's an equivalent trade for what he had lost.

"So you use the [ Resurrection ] token to revive Alexis?"

"...Yeah."

"Alex, I know it's too late, but that's one of the exclusive items you won't be able to buy anywhere, even in my store, my creator is kind enough to give you the second chance to live, and you gave it to someone else?"

"...Yeah."

Alex understood if the system would be disappointed to him, anybody would, such a precious item, why used it on others? Any item or ability with the power to avoid death it's very precious and rare, only a fool would waste it to someone he barely knew.

Even Shizuka and Momo revealed their protest and discontent at first, but after Alex told them that they possibly unable to get out, and Alexis might have the way, they finally agreed, it's a risky bet, but eventually yielded a satisfying result.

"As expected of my owner, you certainly knew how to gain the favor of a beautiful woman."

"Excuse me?"

"After this, you must not let Alexis go, no matter what, even if must keep her in a chain, you must keep her at your side."

"Why? Does it had something to do with the [ Ressurection ] token?"

"... Yes... if you let her too far from you, she would drop dead again."

"..."

That didn't make any sense, he didn't feel anything when he placed the token in Alexis' hand and crushed it, of course, it wasn't really a certain fact, but he had a way to make sure whether the system was telling the truth.

"System, what happened if I have a familiar?"

"A familiar? Something like a monster from Zero No Tsukaima or servants from Fate franchise?"

"Yes, can I gain experiences through their killing?"

"Of course, Alex, just like any character you had summoned."

"And why is that?"

"Because they connected... to you."

Yes, that's his way to test whether the system told the truth regarding Alexis' situation, under its previous statement that if Alexis was very far from him, she would die, that means, she's connected to him, what she killed should benefit him.

Of course, it also could explain the sudden reap a lot of exp from the hellhounds, but he didn't see the process itself.

"System, I can trust you, right?"

"Of course."

"Really?"

"..."

While having an awkward conversation in his mind, Alex approached the pair of brother and sister, he bowed his head.

"Thank you, Ms. Alexis, and Mr. Elliot, if not for your assistance, we might never get out of our predicament."

Shizuka followed his gesture, Momo also did a second later, the soldiers bowed after exchanged glances.

Alexis appeared flustered, she strode forward and supported Alex's body to stand up, apple-like a scent lingered in his nostrils, he saw a gentle smile, like a blossom of the morning.

"Sir. Star, I apologize for my impudence, but I don't deserve your respect, my intention of saving you is to pay your benevolent, but I only received some more instead, I am ashamed of my inadequacy, I should be the one who kneels in front of you and ask for your forgiveness."

"It's true, Sir. Star, my sister even hesitate at first; if only without my insistence, she would have refused to go..."

Alex sighed, it's truly hard helping people like them; if they were a little bit shameless, then they would have just exchanged pleasantries and moved on.

On the other hand, he found this kind of behavior actually lovable, at least you know they wouldn't betray you.

"Are you really want to pay for my benevolent?"

Alexis and Elliot startled a bit, then both of them nodded.

"Then how about be my bodyguard?"

"Eh?"

Alexis looked surprised then revealed hesitation, and Elliot appeared embarrassed, Alex knew for what reason.

"Mr. Elliot, I know you're incapable of combat, but without you around, I believe your sister won't comply..."

Sometimes, one needed to become shameless to gain the result they desired.

"So, how about this..."

Alex glanced at Shizuka, the kunoichi tilted her head as she was unable to understand Alex's behavior.

"Bind him."

"!"

The other startled, Shizuka widened her eyes for a bit then nodded, she lifted her hand and pushed out two fingers, deeply staring at Elliot's eyes.

"Binding Technique."

"What?!"

Elliot immediately terrified as he stiffened, he could still move his eyes and mouth, but unable to move a single muscle.

"Elliot!"

Alexis screamed, she dashed toward him and wandered her hands around the young man's body to inspect his condition.

"Ms. Kunoichi, what have you done to him?! Sir. Star, what's the meaning of this?!"

The she-knight snapped her face and glared at him, her expression told him if he answered it wrong, she would charge at him without hesitation.

Alex took a deep breath and grinned a bit, assumed a careless attitude

"That's one paid off benevolent for rescuing him from the pit, and I remind you, Ms. Alexis, Shizuka is the only person who can release him at the moment, I suggest no insolent performance."

"..."

Alexis grit her teeth, meanwhile, Elliot stared at Alex, his eyes seemed tried to uncover the man's true intention.

"Now that we have your brother under our confinement, Ms. Alexis, I force you to work under my servitude for about a month; if you have done your job properly, I will release your brother and let you both go."

"Of course, you can just take him with you in that condition and leave; if you don't mind he is unable to walk free again, maybe not forever, but at least for a long time..."

The soldiers confusedly stared at each other eyes, they saw Alex being ruthless only at that one time, while Momo never saw the man behaved like this, but she somehow had the idea of the reason for his action.

Alexis went silent, but her hand clenched tightly.

"Sister..."

She turned face to the side and caught Elliot's smiling face.

"Don't worry, I'll be fine, we have no choice but to follow his demand, remember, we have no choice..."

The she-knight stunned slightly, there was a brief moment of delayed expression on her face before she nodded, looked toward Alex while letting out a snort.

"Fine, I'll do it, as long you promise you wouldn't hurt Elliot."

Alex let out a taunting smile, he brought up his hand and crossed his heart.

"I promise."

His voice was gentle, the previous hoodlum-like appearance had disappeared at the instant, Alexis took a deep breath and shook her head in helplessness.

"Jason, you tie Elliot to your back later, we take a rest for about an hour, make the best of it folks."

Afterward, Alex laid on his back tiredly, the softness of the grass below his body was relaxing, the breeze wind coiled in the area was enough to reduce the heat from the mighty sun above, he heard the soft footsteps approaching, then a small thud on the spot beside him.

"That's very bad of you."

Momo sat in side-saddle position, she looked up toward the sky then slowly closed her eyes, enjoying the wind that swayed her hair.

"Otherwise, they will just keep saying gratitude over and over again till it never ends, such life is uncomfortable..."

"You want to help them, don't you? Curing their mother?"

"..."

Alex let out a small sigh, he really did wish to help the pair brother and sister, but he somehow couldn't promise anything...

At least this way, even if he failed, he would have no remorse...

"By the way, Momo, tell me the whole process of how Alexis did it."

"Oh... alright."

Alex could hear a small hesitation in the devilukian's tone, but he wanted to know the reason behind his huge experience gain.

When Momo mentioned about Alexis' family name was Lionheart, Alex only showed a small fit of surprise, he already had the suspicion.

For example from Elliot and Alexis' mannerism, Alexis' knowledge between the grudge of Knightwalker and Lionheart, her armor that had a small insignia of a lion, and her sword 'Lionel Sidonis', although he didn't know what Lionel mean in this world, on Earth, it meant a small lion.

That's why he was eager to help the brother and sister; if he needed the best support for his task, it was no doubt from the people of royalty.

If Alexis tried to help him not because pure of out of kindness, and he also didn't help her just because of sincerity.

Afterward, Momo told him that she helped Alexis destroying the black wall, this finally answered his doubt, it wasn't due to Alexis he gained that many experiences, but from Momo's help.

That means the slightest participation of him and his summons could benefit him, he never really knew since he hadn't met other people that fight for him aside from his summon.