Rex fell flat on his butt as the young guy ended the brawl. He desperately needed to catch a breather. As he lay on the floor taking in large bouts of air. The Overlord brandings rapidly receded; it had spread up to his hands and feet while he was in battle, but after receding it only ran across his trunk.
Luna walked up to him, her eyes were not as lively as it was before the battle had begun. She sat beside his tired self. "I won't be able to use my Arma art to heal you now" she spoke guiltily.
"What happened". Rex brought himself back into sitting with lots of effort as he asked her with concern. "Arma spells are fueled by Aether the manifestation of life's desire. As an awakened the amount of aether my body holds is limited. I have Ccurrently overexerted myself, but once I rest a bit and recover a bit of aether, I will heal your exhaustion." She spoke enthusiastically, not minding the fact that what she said was common knowledge; she was just happy to say something to the adorable Prime.
Rex laid down back after her explanation, with his eyes still strained at her, her hair looked like something out of a fairy tale, with how the evening sun bounced off of it. What she said was not something that should go uncommented, with the act he was playing. 'But to hell with it'. He was not interested in breaking the fantastical feeling that currently loomed over this moment.
At the moment, he was considering, if pulling her into his embrace for something as simple as a hug and maybe a peck on that beautiful face, would affect his trials progression or directly interfere with the quest. But it was not his nature not to respect others, 'Beside that would be an uncivilized way to act'. If he appreciated her, he would properly create a relationship with her.
'But that's an NPC, you blue-balled fellow'. He reprimanded himself as he pulled his gaze away from her. The two men were currently hovering over the fallen bear and discussing.
"We should ask the prime to help us turn it over on its face, it would be much easier that way."[Younger Guy]
"Nope, we are not doing that. It's not proper, besides I can handle it this way too" [Older guy]
"Well, I need to rest too, the prime was not the only one who strained themself in battle" [Younger guy]
"In the name of the WarGods, I will skewer you too, if you don't augment your Arma and come this way, let's wrap this up quickly" [Older Guy]
Rex, having heard his feel, closed his eyes to focus on recuperating. 'After the Chaos bear fell, I did not level up, either the exp I gained was not enough to increase my level, or I need to perform the kill myself if I am to level up from it,' he analyzed. His mind inclined to the latter of the options.
"Where do you come from Prime, Luna's voice broke his train of thought. "Somewhere very very far away from here" Rex answered her with a mischievous grin he expertly hid away from her.
"How far is it".
"So far, No one will ever make it from here to where I am from ".
"Not even with an Awakened mount?"
"Not even with an Awakened mount", Rex echoed back her words to her in affirmation.
"What about with a Prime Beast as Mount?" Luna's eyes slightly bulged in amazement as she asked again.
"Not even with a prime beast as mount" Rex echoed again, for some reason he felt utterly satisfied with his replies. That must sound really unbelievable to Luna.
"What about with an Ascended Beast?" Luna asked once more. Rex's brows raised in curiosity. "Ascended," he repeated after her, 'Creatures stronger than prime' he analyzed. He had been certain that prime was not the peak of strength; Cosmic Ascendance was widely discussed as portraying advancement as infinite. The idea he had gotten about prime, did not impress him as being such level of infinite strength.
"I don't know about that." Luna finally got her reply after forever. A radiant smile blossomed on her face as her cheeks turned rosy, she felt triumphant. She had won the current exchange. Whatever the exchange was.
"What's Alde. . . .Ehhh."
"Alderom" Luna completed the statement. "Yhh Alderom, what's it like". Luna felt really pleased about the question. She began to describe the only town she knew to Rex. How beautiful its river Alder was, how much delicacy there was to have at Alderom, how loving her people were, how well visitors are treated in Alderom, the "Kraj Jari" festival that was going to commence by night. . .
Listening to her explain, Rex did not know when he fell asleep.
A cool touch on his shoulder woke him up, he was once again covered in Luna's green cloak.
"They say sleep is good for recovery and growth eeeh." The older guy spoke with a wide grin. Luna's hand was still on his shoulder, she had been the one who woke him up. Rex took a glance at the prior terrifying Chaos Bear, a humongous network of bones was all that was left of its existence.
Noticing his surprise, the old man spoke proudly. "We did a good job right, very few can salvage a beast as well as I can". "Rex nodded in affirmation. "He was surprised by how well, he was handling the brutal graphics of the men's handwork.
Beside the carcass, the young guy had made a mat from the bear's hide, on which lay several expertly arranged items that seemed to have been once part of the Bear's functioning hardware.
His attention was caught by a single item, an orb almost as large as a football, with a metallic colour and seemed to hold a silent storm. An assumption borne from the rapidly swirling mass contained within.
"Prime, this kill was only possible through your help, you should take the spoils."
Rex studied the several items that lay on the hide, "You guys were the ones hunting, I have no need for these items". Rex spoke in a smug tone, stealing a glance at Luna to see if she was in any way impressed. He really did not see the need of collecting any of the item, if there was a reward, he believed the game system will reward him.
But he wanted to admire the orb better, it's existence felt very fantastical. Rex walked to the impromptu display and picked up the orb, but something unexpected happened at that moment.
The orb phased out of existence.
'What the heck!!!.' Rex screamed in his head. He had not expected the development at all after spouting such big words earlier. He took a glance backward, the men were observing him with unreadable expressions. Luna was barely holding back a laugh.
It was like he had opened a gate with the orb. Several items continued to disappear from the pile. As the female announcer continued to validate each steal.
'Grade F Monster Core absorbed- Level Increased'
'F-Grade Monster Essence (3 Liters)-Added to Inventory'
'F-Grade Monter Fur (5 Yards)- Added to Inventory'
'F-Grade Bear Meat (10 kilo)- Added to Inventory'
. . .
In moments, the pile of Chaos bear hardware was no more. The ground was left bare once again. Rex felt like burying his head in dirt, whatever mechanics that controlled the system had drenched him in shame.