[You have slain Cryzhar, the lesser fiend of Crystals.]

[You've obtained 20,000 Experience Points.]

[Congratulations! You've leveled up to 32!]

[You've obtained 1,000 Swordcoins.]

[You've obtained 1,000 Actualizer Crystals.]

[You've obtained (1) Demon Essence.]

[You've obtained (1) Underworld Key (15m)]

[You've obtained (1) Lesser Demon Horn.]

[You've obtained (1) Blink Crystal.]

Daru's faint smile widened as he read the last three lines of the notifications that appeared after slaying Cryzhar.

He somewhat expected it, but actually obtaining a Demon Essence was another matter.

Finally, tiny as the progress was, his sword was on the path to its first awakening.

Daru now only needed 499 more.

This was still a huge number, but with the [Underworld Key] he just obtained, he at least had a chance to obtain more essences.

He'll start worrying about the number that would remain from there.

Tapping his belt bag, Daru opened the inventory window, immediately retrieving the Demon Essence by pulling it out of the slot it was in.

He thought it was just like a Swordheart Core.

However, the moment his hand left the inventory window, the essence squirmed violently, escaping from his hand and fleeing.

Daru was momentarily stupefied at the sight of a small red wisp bolting away.

He was only able to regather his wits and give chase a second later, dashing after it.

Fortunately, he was in a chamber, and there were only two paths the Demon Essence could take.

It clearly wasn't too smart, bouncing off a wall and directly back to Daru's hands.

He cut the demon essence with a quick-draw slash.

In the next moment, it turned into red streaks of energy that were absorbed by his sword, entering the blade as though it had pores where the essence could seep through.

Daru's brows rose as he immediately noticed the slight change in Onimaru Kunitsuna's weight.

His soulbound sword was heavier now.

Not by a lot, but noticeable if one used the weapon every day.

He was quite glad that this was the case, as, recently, his strength attribute had been consistently increasing.

His sword was becoming lighter and lighter to his touch as a result.

While there was nothing wrong with such a thing, as it would only mean he would be able to attack faster, offence is a combination of speed and power.

His attacks would lack the latter if the sword were too light.

Daru performed another quick-draw attack, nodding and smiling in satisfaction while sheathing his weapon.

He then shifted his attention back to the inventory window. The [Lesser Demon Horn], to be exact.

To his surprise, it was a crafting material, not a quest item.

It seemed that he wouldn't be getting any quests from the crystalline fiend…

Nonetheless, the crafting material was A-tier, which meant that whatever equipment he could craft with it was also of such a tier.

The next thing he checked was the [Blink Crystal].

===

Blink Crystal

Type: Consumable

Tier: C

Description: A crystal holding spatial secrets.

Innate Ability: [Blink] - allows the user to teleport to a random location within 500 meters.

Charges: 1

==

Daru nodded, easily determining the use of the consumable item.

He closed the window and glanced at his gear.

The triumphant novice set was a more-than-decent equipment set of the B-tier, but ultimately, it is for novices, and the level requirement is only fifteen.

It was still holding up well, even if the current level of the swordspawns he was fighting was more than double its level requirement.

But he may have to look for a replacement soon…

He now had a total of 42,080 Swordcoins and a few level thirty crafting materials lying around in his inventory.

While he didn't know how far that would take him, he was sure he could use it to secure a few good pieces of equipment for himself.

Daru was certain he couldn't take the silver-spoon approach of simply buying ready-made ones and having a courier deliver them to him, thus planning to understand equipment crafting.

He believed taking the time to do so would benefit him more in the long run.

With a shrug, Daru closed the inventory window, planning on making himself a bit stronger and solving his Neo-Earth problems first before visiting the underworld.

He was running low on money.

Unfortunately, the subsidies he had always received from the government had ended last month.

He had to, for the first time, take something out of the realm and sell it in Neo-Earth's Myriad Sword Realm Merchandise Shops.

He would have to give up nutrition, otherwise.

To Daru, who was extremely serious about improving both his skills and body to the absolute apex, skimping on food was not an option.

He turned to look at the crystal mural, hoping to leave soon.

But it was still not active…

Daru's heart slightly sank, his scalp feeling the creeping warmth. He was quite fed up with this place.

He had already defeated Cryzhar, who he thought was the guardian, so why was the exit still not activated?

It was then he noticed a gleam on the ground.

The blue light of the mushroom colonies was reflected by something, and Daru turned to look.

It was a small piece of crystal shaped like a key.

He quickly picked it up, observed it for a while, before instinctively pressing its tip against the deactivated mural.

His expression brightened the next moment as a portal suddenly opened from the mural.

This time, however, it didn't suck him in, giving him the justice and option of choosing.

Daru had never been so quick to leave a place.

"Sigh…finally out…"

The moment he stepped out, back to the area of the Crystal Hollows he had disappeared from, he froze.

And the others around him, who were just passing by, also did as they locked eyes with him.

Awkward silence ensued, but only for a few seconds, as, after another, one of the human bladeborns pointed at him with trembling fingers:

"O-O-Okuni!!" A tall and slim guy exclaimed.

Nutter and Taro, who were among the patrolling group of five, fell on their butts, paling as they confirmed:

"Y-Yes!! That's him! Quick, call for reinforcements! We might not be able to take him!!"

Daru's expression immediately turned cold, and he drew his tachi.

"You guys again…" he muttered in a slightly murderous manner.

Nutter, who had been killed by Daru in a single strike in the past, shuddered at his hostile tone.

There was no way their reinforcements would make it in time, and with only him and Taro plus three F-rankers, they might not be able to last long enough.

Nutter didn't want to be down to his last life in the span of a disastrous two weeks at such a young age!

While his future isn't exactly bright, he could at least earn well and make a living for himself as a courier and a scout for the rich in the future, but that's only if he doesn't lose another life.

Luckily, he was quite quick-witted.

"W-W-Wait!! We're not trying to kill you!"

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