Even if the Divine Artifact 'Heart of the Sea' had acknowledged me as its master, a delicate problem remained. I still had to consider whether the 'Naga Clans' would be willing to part with their most sacred treasure or if I would be forced to resort to physical means to keep it. In an ideal world, I wanted to avoid using violence against those who had already suffered so much.
Thorvek stood nearby, his expression deeply skeptical. Every drop of his royal blood and every instinct of his being was screaming at him to protect the 'Artifact' at all costs, yet he was watching a human hold it without any signs of rejection. He could clearly see the 'Divine Artifact' was enjoyingly drinking my 'Chaos' energy, vibrating with a contented, ethereal hum.
"[Notice: You have obtained the Item, 'Nymera's Crown'!]"
I stepped through the debris and picked up a beautifully designed crown adorned with rare gemstones, salvaged from the decayed remains near the throne. I pressed the 'Nymera's Crown' into Thorvek's hands and told him to head back to the 'Dokryong Palace' with it as a visible sign that the war was over. He didn't hesitate, recognizing the weight of the gesture, and departed immediately.
Now that I was left alone in the silent, ruined palace surrounded by the fallen, it was time to systematically increase my strength.
"[Activating The Exclusive Skill, 'Sanctuary of the Shadow: Shadow Extraction' Lvl 1!]"
I extended my arm toward the battlefield and commanded, "[Arise]".
With that single word, the shadows of the deceased began to wriggle and tear themselves free from the silt. The 'Shadow Soldiers' I had raised earlier outside the palace walls merged with the new ranks, forming a dark, flickering legion in the water.
"[Notice: Currently you are able to preserve up to 20 Shadow Soldiers regardless of their Ranks.]"
It seemed the Passive Skill [Shadow Preservation] allowed for a fixed limit of twenty soldiers at my current level. This was a crucial distinction; I could prioritize high-ranking entities to fill those slots rather than wasting space on lower-rank mobs.
"[Notice: You have stored fifteen C-Rank Naga Warriors and five B-Rank Sea Beasts.]"
I briefly considered preserving the shadow of the 'Sea Beast Octipal' due to its impressive rank, but I realized it would be incredibly awkward and uncomfortable to summon the 'King's' former bond while trying to maintain a positive relationship with the 'Dokryong Clan'. Instead, I sent those shadows, along with the others, into the 'Void'.
"[Notice: The 'Shadows' that were sent to the 'Void' can no longer be summoned.]"
It was a fair trade-off for the utility of the 'Void'. I offered a moment of heartfelt gratitude and a silent apology to the shadows before they vanished. I couldn't bring myself to simply discard them like trash without acknowledging their service.
I returned to the 'Dokryong Palace' shortly after. Thorvek had already relayed the news of our victory, and it seemed Giaya had finished the initial mourning for her people and her father, the late King. She sat clutching the 'Nymera's Crown' tightly, her eyes red but clear.
I didn't return empty-handed. From behind me, dozens of 'Nymera' children and infants emerged into the light. I had found them safely hidden away in a sealed room deep within the palace, likely a final act of protection by the 'Nymera King'. They showed no signs of 'Corruption' or demonic possession. Giaya let out a broken sob and ran toward them. The children initially flinched, remembering the 'Evil' version of her they had seen, but they quickly sensed the warmth of the true Giaya and fell into her arms. It was a heart-wrenching yet beautiful sight.
On the other side of the hall, Leo, Wilong, and Thorvek were deep in discussion when King Grienfield Dokryong approached me.
"Grrr... Ahem.. I would like to express my utmost gratitude for ending this war for us, Savior," Grienfield began, his massive form looming over me. "...But I heard from my son about a strange yet calming 'Artifact'. Could you please show it to me? Ahhh... I do not mean to distrust you, of course."
I had expected this. I pulled the Divine Artifact 'Heart of the Sea' from my [Inventory]. In other scenarios, one could argued that simply finding an Item would count as a 'Clear Condition', but this Floor was specific. The Item had to be 'given' or taken directly from the 'Sea Kings'. I had merely found it, thus, I hadn't fulfilled the requirement yet.
As the 'Heart of the Sea' began to shine with an intense, rhythmic light, the King immediately bowed his head in profound respect. Following his lead, every 'Dokryong Naga' in the room took a knee, including Giaya and the rescued children.
"O Savior from the Land," the King spoke, his voice echoing with ancient gravity. "The Divine Artifact 'Heart of the Sea' is a traditional treasure passed down through generations. Alongside its physical form, a prophecy was also entrusted to us."
He looked up, his eyes locked onto the glowing crystal in my hand. "It is said that when the 'Divine Artifact' recognizes its true master, we, the 'Naga Clans', are to serve him as our own. O human, our Master and Savior, we offer our loyalty to the one who ended this war and the one whom the 'Divine Artifact' has chosen. Your wishes shall henceforth be ours to follow."
I was genuinely surprised. Back in the VR days, I hadn't interacted with the 'Naga' much, as they didn't play a major role in the Higher Floors, so I had never seen this specific development. Then again, I never possessed 'Chaos' energy in the game, so the 'Divine Artifact' had never acknowledged me as its master back then. I had used it as a tool, but I never knew it possessed an ego of its own.
"[Notice: The King of the Dokryong Clan, Grienfield Dokryong and The Representative of the Nymera Clan, Giaya Nymera, have sworn their loyalty to you!]"
"[Congratulations! You have successfully cleared the 4th Floor, 'Flooded Catacombs'!]"
"[Notice: The 4th Floor has been successfully cleared by the S-Rank Arthur Tempest and his companions.]"
"[Notice: The S-Rank Arthur Tempest is not affiliated with any Guilds or an official Party yet; as such, the Rewards are given to him.]"
"[Rewards obtained: +40,000 Coins, 'Contract with the Higher Beings', and the Right to own the 'Divine Artifact' obtained!]"
"[Notice: You have earned the title 'Master of the Sea']
"[Notice: You have obtained a massive amount of EXP!]"
"[You have Leveled Up!]"
"[You have Leveled Up!]"
"[Notice: Your SS-Rank Skill 'Eyes of Gluttony' has leveled up by +1!]"
"[Notice: Your Constitution 'Transcendent' is on the verge of a breakthrough!]"