Slowly, Xavier stepped closer to the altar.
The temple-like structure stood in absolute silence within the endless void, untouched by wind or time. There were no walls surrounding it, only vast darkness stretching endlessly in every direction above the black ocean beneath his feet. The gentle ripples spreading beneath each step were the only indication that he was moving at all.
At the center of the open sanctuary stood a single altar.
Resting atop it was a book.
Its cover appeared ancient, bound in weathered dark leather adorned with intricate silver engravings that seemed to shift ever so slightly whenever Xavier looked away. Strange symbols lined its edges, pulsing faintly like dormant stars hidden beneath layers of dust.
Xavier stopped before it.
"So this is what Raiden was talking about..." he muttered under his breath.
He hesitated for a moment before slowly stretching out his hand toward the book.
The instant his fingers neared it, the book reacted.
It snapped open violently.
A blinding emerald light exploded from its pages.
The beam shot upward into the endless darkness above like a pillar connecting heaven and earth, forcing Xavier to shield his eyes.
"W-What the—?!"
The light persisted for several seconds before Xavier noticed something strange.
There was weight in his hands.
He lowered his gaze.
Ten coins rested in his palm.
Each coin possessed an otherworldly appearance, its metallic surfaces glowing with a faint green radiance. Intricate symbols were carved onto them—symbols Xavier couldn't understand, yet somehow felt familiar.
He blinked.
"Coins?"
Then Raiden's earlier explanation resurfaced in his mind.
Points.
His eyes widened slightly.
"So these must be the points Raiden was talking about."
He stared at the ten coins thoughtfully.
"But what exactly am I supposed to do with them?"
Thanks to his knowledge from his original world, an idea formed almost instinctively.
If this altar functioned as some sort of medium...
Perhaps these points were offerings.
Xavier clenched the coins tightly in his fist before slowly extending his hand above the open book.
"...Guess there's only one way to find out."
He loosened his grip.
The coins fell.
However, instead of striking the pages, they phased through the book entirely.
The book absorbed them.
The emerald light erupted with even greater intensity.
The entire domain trembled.
Then—
Silence.
The light vanished.
The book slowly closed.
Xavier blinked against the darkness.
"...That's it?"
Then something caught his attention.
Far above the temple.
Suspended within the endless void.
A small bright golden star floated overhead; it revolved slowly around the altar like a celestial body orbiting its sun.
The soft green glow illuminated the darkness surrounding it.
Xavier stared upward in confusion.
"What exactly are you supposed to be?"
*****
Outside.
Raiden and Elra sat quietly beside Xavier's unconscious body.
Occasionally, Xavier twitched.
Small movements ran through his fingers and shoulders.
Sweat had begun to gather across his forehead.
Elra frowned.
Carefully tearing a strip from her already worn clothing, The black mutation and fungi seen growing further on her skin covering her neck now. She slowly crawled toward him before gently wiping away the beads of sweat forming along his face.
Raiden watched silently.
Then, unexpectedly, he chuckled.
Elra paused.
"What's so funny?" she asked.
Raiden quickly looked away.
"Nothing."
His expression betrayed him completely.
Elra narrowed her eyes.
"You definitely thought of something."
Raiden coughed into his fist.
"N-Nope. Nothing at all."
He looked suspiciously pleased with himself.
Elra gave him an unimpressed look before returning her attention toward Xavier.
After a brief silence, Raiden spoke again.
"Elra."
She turned toward him.
"Yes?"
Raiden lowered his gaze.
"I think... I owe you an apology."
Elra blinked.
"For earlier."
The usually composed knight struggled slightly with his words.
"When I suggested leaving you behind, I'm sorry it wasn't right... I wasn't right."
His expression darkened.
"As a knight, I should have protected you. Instead, I weighed your life against self survival."
He let out a quiet breath.
"I failed to live up to what I believe a knight should be."
Elra stared at him for a moment before offering a small smile.
"It's okay."
Raiden looked surprised.
"You don't have to blame yourself."
She glanced down at herself before smiling softly.
"I'm still alive, aren't I?"
Her eyes lifted back toward him.
"So... I forgive you."
Raiden remained silent before finally nodding.
"...Thank you."
Suddenly—
A brilliant green glow erupted from Xavier's body.
Elra jumped backward.
"Raiden!"
The knight's eyes widened.
Xavier's entire body had begun radiating emerald light.
He had never seen anything like it before.
Then Xavier's arms moved on their own.
His hands clasped together.
Between his palms, something began to form.
Metal.
Bluish-black bone metal.
It twisted and molded itself into existence.
Raiden's expression slowly shifted from confusion...
To disbelief.
"No way..."
The object took shape.
A gauntlet.
Forged from dark bluish-black steel, intricate patterns lined its surface, giving it an ancient yet overwhelming presence.
Before either of them could react—
The gauntlet shot forward.
It wrapped around Xavier's arm.
Then fused into it.
The metal disappeared beneath his skin as if it had become part of him.
Elra stared in horror.
"R-Raiden... what's happening to him?"
Raiden couldn't answer immediately.
He was completely stunned.
His eyes remained fixed on Xavier.
"A... Soul bone..."
"What?" Elra asked.
Before Raiden could explain—
Xavier's eyes snapped open.
A flash of golden light burst from them.
The cave was illuminated for a split second before the glow vanished entirely.
Xavier blinked.
"...I'm back."
He looked around.
"How did I do?"
He noticed Raiden and Elra standing several steps away from him.
Both wore expressions of complete disbelief.
"Uh..."
Xavier awkwardly scratched his head.
"Did something happen?"
Elra pointed toward him with trembling fingers.
"X-Xavier... you..."
Raiden stepped forward.
Unlike before, his expression had become deadly serious.
"You have a Soul bone."
Xavier blinked.
"A what?"
Raiden pointed toward his arm.
"Look at your arm."
Confused, Xavier glanced down.
"...There's nothing there."
"Concentrate," Raiden ordered. "Focus."
Xavier frowned before directing his attention toward his left arm.
At first—
Nothing.
Then.
Slowly.
Bluish-black metal began emerging from beneath his skin.
It spread across his forearm like living armor.
Within moments, the gauntlet had fully materialized.
Xavier froze.
"W-WHAT THE—"
Before he could scream further, Raiden immediately swooped in and covered his mouth.
"Shhh!"
Raiden glanced nervously toward the others sleeping deeper inside the cave.
"Do you want the forest hearing you?!"
Xavier's eyes widened in panic.
He pointed frantically at the gauntlet.
"What is this?!"
Raiden removed his hand slowly.
"This isn't one of the physical enhancements from points."
Xavier swallowed.
"Then what is it?"
Raiden's lips slowly curled upward.
Excitement flooded his expression.
"This..."
He clenched his fists.
"...is something far more valuable."
"You possess a Soul bone."
For the first time since meeting Xavier, Raiden looked genuinely thrilled.
His entire body trembled with excitement.
"Yes..."
A grin spread across his face.
"YES!"
"I knew it!"
"I knew investing my time in you would pay off!"
Raiden laughed loudly before grabbing Xavier by the shoulders.
"Xavier!"
"You have no idea what this means!" While Raiden was practically celebrating to himself, Xavier couldn't take his eyes off the gauntlet wrapped around his arm.
He slowly flexed his fingers.
The dark bluish-black metal moved effortlessly alongside him, almost like a second skin. It didn't feel foreign. If anything, it felt disturbingly natural.
Like it had always been part of him.
He rubbed against the surface with his other hand, only to realize there was no obvious seam connecting it to his body.
It wasn't attached.
It was integrated.
"...What exactly is this Soul bone thing you keep talking about?" Xavier finally asked.
Raiden paused mid-celebration.
His expression shifted as he realized he had skipped over the explanation entirely.
"Right. sorry , Got excited."
He crossed his arms before continuing.
"A Soul bone is completely different from the physical enhancements granted by points. It's also far more valuable."
"A Soul Bone?" Xavier repeated.
Raiden nodded enthusiastically.
" Soul bones are bones which are left after the death of a spellworld monster, but the chances of a monster dropping a soulbone are extremely rare, For a monster to even drop a soul bone they would have to be really powerful, or old in age, the older and powerful they are the chances of getting a soul bone, but even with that, chances are still very slim."
His eyes drifted toward Xavier's gauntlet.
"A Soul bone."
Xavier stared down at his arm again.
"So... this happened because I killed the Demon Centaur?"
"Not just any Demon Centaur," Raiden corrected immediately. "You killed one that was in the process of evolving into a high-ranking creature. You stopped it before it completed its evolution."
Raiden let out a breath of disbelief.
"Honestly, your luck is absurd."
"Receiving a Soul Bone from a kill is incredibly rare. Most people go their entire lives without ever encountering one."
A smile slowly spread across his face.
"This is amazing."
He suddenly grabbed Xavier by the shoulders.
"Do you understand how valuable you are now? You absolutely need to become a knight!"
Xavier blinked.
"Ok, so what does mine do?"
Raiden slowly sat back down.
"That's the problem."
His excitement dimmed slightly.
"I don't know."
Xavier frowned.
"What do you mean you don't know?"
Raiden scratched the back of his head.
"Soul Bones vary tremendously from person to person. They inherit traits related to whatever creature they originated from, but no two are exactly alike."
He glanced at the gauntlet.
"Since the only creature you've killed is the Demon Centaur, it's reasonable to assume your Soul Bone inherited one of its characteristics."
"Such as?"
Raiden shrugged, "Regeneration?. Increased strength. Enhanced mobility. Some kind of special ability." He sighed. "Honestly, your guess is as good as mine."
Xavier lowered his gaze toward the gauntlet.
"So... how do we figure out what it does?"
Raiden's expression brightened slightly.
"I have a theory."
He pointed toward Xavier.
"Stretch your arm out."
Xavier obeyed.
"Now what?"
"Focus on it."
Raiden's voice became serious.
"The same way you entered your Inner Domain. Reach inward and command the Soul Bone."
Xavier nodded.
He closed his eyes.
However—
"WAIT!"
Xavier opened one eye.
"What?"
Raiden suddenly rushed over toward Elra.
Without warning, he carefully lifted her into his arms before carrying her several steps away.
Elra blinked in confusion.
"Raiden?"
"Safety precautions," he answered immediately.
After putting her down, he looked back toward Xavier.
"Okay. Try it now."
Xavier sighed.
"You're making this sound very reassuring."
"Just do it."
Closing his eyes once more, Xavier focused inward.
He recalled the sensation of reaching into his Inner Domain.
The feeling of touching something hidden deep within himself.
He concentrated on the gauntlet.
Move.
Show me what you can do.
For a brief moment—
Nothing happened.
Then suddenly—
Hiss!
Thick blue fog erupted from the gauntlet.
The dense fog poured endlessly from the dark metal, rapidly spreading throughout the cave.
Xavier's eyes widened.
"What the hell?!"
The fog continued flooding outward.
Elra coughed, "Xavier! I can't see!"
Raiden narrowed his eyes.
"Do you feel anything?"
Xavier blinked.
"What?"
"Dizziness? Nausea? Fatigue?"
Xavier shook his head.
"No. I feel completely fine."
The smoke continued pouring out.
"So..." Xavier hesitated. "How do I stop it?"
Raiden crossed his arms.
"I don't know."
"What do you mean you don't know?!"
Raiden shrugged.
"You activated it. Figure it out."
Xavier stared at him in disbelief before focusing again.
Stop.
Gradually, the smoke lessened.
Eventually, the gauntlet fell silent.
The cave slowly cleared.
Raiden approached carefully before kneeling beside Xavier.
"Huh."
He rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
"So your Soul Bone lets you release an extremely dense blue smoke."
Xavier looked uncertain.
"...Is that good?"
Raiden immediately nodded.
"Absolutely."
"It isn't flashy, but Soul Bone abilities aren't measured by appearance. Their value comes from versatility."
He gestured toward the lingering traces of smoke.
"Something like this could disrupt enemy vision, create escape opportunities, conceal allies, or provide advantages during combat."
A smile formed on his face.
"You got yourself a pretty useful Soul bone."
Xavier couldn't help but smile slightly.
Maybe this world hadn't completely abandoned him after all.
However, the smile disappeared almost instantly.
Raiden's expression had changed.
The excitement from earlier vanished completely.
"Xavier."
His tone had become deadly serious. "Listen to me very carefully."
The seriousness in his voice immediately caught Xavier's attention.
"No one can know about this."
Xavier blinked.
"What?"
"No one."
Raiden stared directly into his eyes.
"Not here."
"Not outside the Spell World."
"Not anyone."
"The fact that you possess a Soul Bone must remain a secret."
Xavier frowned.
"...Why?"
Raiden remained silent for several moments before finally speaking.
"Because Soul Bones can be stolen, ripped out of you."
The atmosphere instantly grew cold.
Xavier's expression froze.
"What do you mean stolen?"
Raiden hesitated.
Then he answered honestly.
"If someone discovers you possess a Soul Bone..." his voice lowered, ...they can take it from you."
Xavier felt his stomach tighten.
"How?"
Raiden looked away.
"The exact process isn't common knowledge."
"But one thing is certain."
His gaze returned toward Xavier.
"People kill for Soul Bones."
The cave fell silent.
"Soul Bones are among the rarest treasures in existence. Unlike spells, they aren't bound by flaws or restrictions. They function independently under their own laws, making them incredibly valuable."
Raiden's expression darkened.
"Kings would pay fortunes for them."
"Noble families would sacrifice generations of wealth for them."
"Mercenaries and Assassins would hunt you in the state that you're in ."
"Some people would kill you simply for the chance of obtaining it."
Raiden's face tightened.
"...Just don't let it happen."
He exhaled deeply.
"The fewer people who know, the safer you'll be."
His gaze shifted toward the sleeping figures deeper inside the cave.
"This stays between us."
"You."
"Me."
"And Elra."
Elra nodded immediately.
"I won't tell anyone."
Raiden continued. "Xylo seems trustworthy, but trust and desperation are two different things."
His expression hardened slightly.
"And Miriam..."
He frowned.
"Something about her bothers me."
Elra nodded slowly.
"I've noticed it too."
"She doesn't talk much."
"She mostly just watches everyone."
Xavier glanced toward Miriam's sleeping figure before looking back at Raiden.
"So..."
He stared down at the gauntlet covering his arm.
"I keep this hidden."
Raiden nodded.
"Exactly."
"Never reveal it unless necessary."
"And if you do use it..."
His expression became stern.
"Make sure there aren't any witnesses."
Xavier looked down at his arm once more.
The dark metal reflected the dim light of the cave.
What had seemed like a blessing moments ago suddenly felt much heavier.
"...Understood."
Raiden finally relaxed.
"Good."
Then he pointed at Xavier.
"Because I really don't feel like fighting off half the continent because you decided to show off."
Xavier sighed.
"Why does everything in this world want to kill me?"
Raiden thought about it for a moment.
"...Honestly? , You're doing a fantastic job making yourself a target."
He immediately got up, wiping the dirt off his rugs. "Tomorrow," he said, "we leave this cave and head further, deeper through the woods to the tower, so let's get some sleep."