Chapter 1618: Chapter 1618

After everything Maria and her family endured on Floor 47, they pressed forward, determined not to linger. As they stepped through the white portal into the unknown, they passed through numerous membranes of radiant light, arriving at a dimly lit hall, an intermediate floor between Floor 47 and Floor 46. No Players were present, but it served as a tranquil space for rest between worlds.

"Whew, that was quite an adventure, was it not?" Maria mused, rubbing her chin. "Now what? Should we move on immediately?"

"I suppose we should," Lucifer nodded. "But, Maria, I need to discuss something with you."

"Yes, I also have something to say," Jonathan added.

"I, too, wish to speak with you, dear," Emeraldine said.

"I have a concern as well," Nia chimed in.

"Huh?" Maria asked, her expression puzzled. "W-What?"

Maria grew increasingly confused and nervous under their intense, judgmental gazes. It seemed her risky gambit with the Hive Queen had not gone unnoticed, and they were displeased that she had endangered herself so recklessly.

"Is it about the Hive Queen, right?" she ventured.

"Yes! Why did you even do that?! It was incredibly dangerous!" Lucifer roared angrily.

"I understand you wanted a challenge to test your abilities, but that went too far," Jonathan said.

"Allowing your enemy to grow stronger before you is… far too overconfident, Maria," Emeraldine said. "You taught us not to act that way. You should have defeated her immediately instead of toying with her."

"I'm sorry…" Maria sighed, unwilling to argue. "But there was another reason beyond just fighting. I have grown so powerful that the only way to continue advancing is by battling and absorbing the strength of formidable beings. I thought that if she reached her strongest form, I would gain more from defeating her than by eliminating her in her weaker state… and I was right! I have acquired many new powers."

"We understand, but even so, that was excessive," Nia said, crossing her arms. "Just… be more cautious next time, alright?"

"We worry about you," Emeraldine said. "And… when you transformed, there was something unusual within you."

"Unusual?" Maria asked. "Ah… well, yes… becoming what I became came with a few quirks, but do not worry. It's nothing I cannot control."

"Are you certain?" Lucifer asked. "For a moment, I was truly worried! You seemed… almost consumed by your own greed and hunger."

Maria fell silent for a moment, gazing at the palm of her pale hand.

For an instant, she glimpsed long black tentacles and crimson eyes staring back at her.

Yet she felt no fear, knowing this was now a part of her.

"I was once human, but I am no longer… I became this way for all of you, for our home, for our future," Maria sighed. "I'm sorry for alarming you, Lucifer. I thought that as a dragon, you were braver."

"I-I wasn't scared, just concerned!" Lucifer retorted, slightly flustered.

"Maria…" Jonathan sighed. "This is all my fault. If I had stopped them from executing you that day… your current state, everything… if only I could return to the past and prevent it."

"Do not blame yourself, Jonathan," Maria said. "I've already forgiven you. And… despite everything, I still love you. I know you couldn't act because they held your family hostage. Saving me would have meant their deaths, correct?"

"Yes… and now… I don't even know how they are faring. But I hope they believe I died or became your Undead," Jonathan said. "If they think I'm dead, it might not be so bad."

"Let us hope," Maria nodded. "We'll return once our business there is concluded. I'm sorry for dragging you all into my personal matters… perhaps I should have come alone."

"Nonsense! I'm glad to be here, Maria," Emeraldine said. "Please don't worry too much, alright?"

"I still cannot forgive myself for my actions…" Jonathan said. "Perhaps it would be better if you took my life and made me your Undead, Maria…"

"Stop it! Don't say strange things like that, Jonathan," Maria rolled her eyes. "I want you alive, alright? I don't want you as a groaning zombie. There's nothing appealing about that."

"A-Aha… haha…" Jonathan laughed softly. Maria's words always managed to make him smile despite everything. "Thanks… I guess?"

"Yes, yes, whatever!" Partner said. "Honestly, I like when Master acts all strong and mighty and shows our enemies who's boss! When she let the Hive Queen evolve, it was to prove that no matter what she did, she couldn't win, right?"

"Sure, you can think that was the reason," Maria nodded, patting Partner's head. "Anyway, I received this egg. Want to take a look?"

"Egg?" Nyx wondered. "Can we eat it?"

"I don't think we should eat it, Nyx," Maria said, retrieving a metallic egg from her inventory.

Her many spirits manifested, surrounding the egg and examining it with keen curiosity. Even Tyr appeared in his ghostly, spectral form, studying the egg.

"Hey, Tyr, were you sleeping?" Maria asked.

"I'm usually not interested in the affairs of other worlds," Tyr said. "However, this egg is peculiar."

"It possesses immense spiritual power," Tyr said. "Despite being entirely metallic, the entity inside may be a Spirit."

"Huh," Maria mused, rubbing her chin. "Alright, how do I hatch it?"

"It's likely not that simple," Tyr said. "It probably requires a series of intricate and delicate steps. This is a unique spirit from the world you just visited, a being akin to its inhabitants but— Hey!"

Tyr shouted at Maria to stop, but it was too late. She had already imbued her Mana into the egg, causing it to glow with radiant runes and circuits of blue, purple, and finally gold.

The egg began to open as if it were a machine… or rather, it started to transform, its plates swiftly reconfiguring, merging, and taking on a small, distinct shape.

The "Spirit" within served as the "Soul," while the metallic egg-like exterior transformed into the "Body" of this mysterious being.

From this small egg emerged something truly wondrous, shaped as… a mechanical chimera.

It had the body of a horse, adorned with metallic dragon scales and a long dragon's tail. Its front legs were muscular and tiger-like, while its hind legs were robust like those of an ox.

Its mechanical head resembled a wolf fused with draconic features, complete with two pointed rabbit-like ears and a sharp horn.

If it were a creature of flesh, it might have appeared grotesque, but as a machine, it looked remarkably majestic. Thɪs chapter is updated by N0velFire.ɴet

"Woah, what is that?!" Nyx exclaimed. "Mama, it looks so cool!"

"A machine?" Arthur mused, approaching it. "Is it the same species as the robots from the previous floor?"

The little machine emitted a cute noise as it began floating, its gray body shimmering with iridescent colors.

Maria's other contracted Spirits shied away from its playful demeanor, observing from a distance.

"It's… uh, System?" Maria asked.

[Congratulations! You have successfully hatched the [Mechanical Zodiac Beast Spirit Egg (SS Grade)]!]

[A [Mechanical Chimera Zodiac Beast Spirit] has hatched successfully, possessing a small fragment of the power of every Zodiac Beast of Floor 47.]

[This powerful Spirit requests to become your Familiar! Do you wish to name it?]

"A name, huh?" Maria mused. "Wait a moment, you're made from fragments of every Zodiac Beast?! How does that even work? Was this not just a system gift? Did… did someone create this for me?"

[It was a gift from the World of Zodiacron Prime… This likely means the Gods known as the Zodiac Beast Spirits of this world crafted this egg for you.]

[They may have wanted you to carry a piece of their world with you, so you would never forget them.]

"Aw, that's so sweet!" Maria said with a smile. "Well, I'm certain it will be strong. It just needs to eat a lot. Alright… Wo Long will be your name!"

[You have named your [Mechanical Chimera Zodiac Beast Spirit] [Wo Long]!]

[Its Power has risen significantly, and a profound connection between you and your Familiar has been established.]

[The Spiritual and Divine Power of [Wo Long] flows through your body, enhancing not only your Stats but also the strength of any Compatible Skill and even Divine Embers.]

Maria felt a tremendous surge of new power, particularly within one of her Divinities. The power of Yin and Yang resonated most strongly with this creature, which seemed to absorb it.

For a moment, her Aura and Wo Long's merged, resembling several Zodiac Beasts of vibrant colors encircling a spinning Yin and Yang Symbol.