"Lucas… I have sothing I want to talk to you about..." Haley approached Lucas and whispered.
"Sothing related to your sister?"
"Yes…" Haley replied in a concerned voice, not even surprised that Lucas already knew about the situation.
"She's gone outside the shelter again, Lucas… and she sits out there with her eyes closed, ditating or sothing. I keep telling her it's dangerous, but she insists it's fine… Can you please talk to her?" Haley asked, her eyes reflecting her vulnerability. The love and concern between the sisters made Lucas feel a small sense of happiness.
"I'll go talk to her. anwhile, take a break. We have plenty of gold coins now."
"It's not about the gold coins anymore, Lucas," Haley said, her eyes filled with pride and hope. "It's about how, in a place like this, people can still enjoy cooked food that resembles Earth's. I can't stop doing that."
"Such a sweet person," Lucas said, patting her head like a little sister, causing Haley to blush.
After bidding her farewell, Lucas stepped out of the shelter, heading toward the location Haley ntioned.
Behind the shelter, after a five-minute walk, Lucas found Sandra sitting under a thick-barked, dark brown tree. Its branches were draped with vines, a tree Lucas hadn't noticed before but imdiately recognized as a valuable resource.
"You finally ca to see , huh," Sandra said without opening her eyes. Lucas moved closer and instinctively activated his perceptive eyes. The world around him darkened, leaving only bright lights visible.
Lucas observed Sandra, noting a dark energy flowing around her body.
'This isn't chaos… it's sothing else,' Lucas thought.
Sandra opened her eyes and noticed the green glow in Lucas's eyes. A faint smile crossed her face. "It's not polite to look inside a lady like that."
"You left no choice," Lucas replied. "What is that energy coursing through your body?" he asked directly.
Sandra glanced at the sky, her smile deepening. "I acquired it last month, while you were gone. It's… interesting, to say the least."
She raised her hand, as if caressing the air where nothing seed to be, but Lucas could sense an overwhelming emotion of affection, akin to being with loved ones.
"The dead around you… are they affecting you, Sandra?" Lucas asked. His 15 years in the quest world had taught him much, but nothing about a skill or class that allowed soone to sense the dead so vividly.
"The dead do nothing but wander around their remains. They have no deep emotions after losing their bodies. They can't affect —though I might be trying to affect them," Sandra explained, her eyes eting Lucas's. Silence followed as Lucas analyzed her, searching for any ill intent but finding none.
"I co here because seeing all the dead I buried roaming inside the shelter around my sister and everyone else was… unsettling. So, I shifted them here."
"It's thoughtful of you to think of others, but it's dangerous outside the shelter; anything could attack you," Lucas warned.
Sandra's face softened into another smile. "I have my own thods, and don't worry. I'm here to hone my skills and make them stronger. Only by doing so will I achieve my goals and help everyone with my powers."
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"Oh? What goals?" Lucas asked, intrigued.
"Not much… just bringing my brother back."
Silence.
The air grew still. Nothing moved. Lucas stared at her, his eyes wide.
"Don't look so shocked," Sandra said, breaking the quiet. "Rember when we were in the dungeon, and I acquired this skill? I took it with this sole goal in mind—to bring him back. Along the way, I've gained a few perks, like this." She moved her hand to the hem of her shirt and began lifting it slowly, revealing her slender, pale waist.
Lucas wanted to avert his eyes, assuming she was making so unnecessary advance. However, he froze when he noticed the tattoo on her waist—a roaring boar with its forelegs raised.
It looked intricate and powerful, but Lucas could sense there was more to it. Activating his perceptive eyes again, he realized the energy flowing through her body was connected to the tattoo.
"What is this?" Lucas asked, his tone serious.
"Fifteen days ago, I perford a ritual and gained a level-up. With it ca the knowledge to infuse a dead monster's skill into my body," Sandra explained. She stood, observing her arm for a mont before walking toward a smaller tree.
Lucas watched cautiously, unsure of her intentions.
Sandra clenched her fist and began punching the tree trunk repeatedly.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
The punches chipped away at the bark. Though her strikes weren't overwhelmingly strong, Lucas marveled at her endurance. Even after a minute of constant punching, the tree stood, battered but unyielding.
Sandra finally stopped, inspecting her knuckles. She turned to Lucas, extending her hands for him to see.
"What?" Lucas exclaid, carefully examining her hands. Her knuckles were unscathed—no cuts, no calluses. He looked at Sandra with a mix of awe and suspicion.
"So days ago, I encountered a boar's ethereal body. By then, I'd already attempted this ritual on other powerful monsters, but my understanding and level weren't sufficient. The boar, however, was compatible with . I completed the ritual, and its ethereal essence settled in this tattoo," Sandra said, her tone matter-of-fact.
Lucas was astonished. "Sandra, your progress is incredible. But… doesn't this boar affect you? It's like a ghost inhabiting your body."
Sandra chuckled lightly. "That's possible. But you need to understand: ethereal beings like these remain half-asleep. As long as their intelligence is below mine, they can't overpower ."
Lucas nodded, though his concern lingered. "I'll consult the overseer about this. She might have insights after we clear a few dungeon floors."
"You can do that?" Sandra's eyes sparkled—a rare expression Lucas hadn't seen in a long ti.
"Yes. She has the knowledge we need, provided we assist her in progressing through the dungeon."
"Can I co with you next ti? With the boar's passive skill, Tough Skin, I'm incredibly durable. Plus, I have a healing skill too."
Lucas nodded. "You're welco to join. I'll head back in a few days, once my work here is done."
"What work are you talking about?"
"Before I tell you that... you need to tell why you're trying to bring your brother back..."
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