NOVEL NEXT Chapter 19: Return to the Dimensional Palace
After Liam had obtained all his rewards, a massive door materialized out of thin air before him.
It was the same door that had led him to this place previously, so he wasn't surprised.
Nevertheless, he didn't leave immediately. He first scanned the vast hall with cold eyes before letting out a long sigh.
He remembered what had happened to him before entering the Dimensional Palace:
how he had been humiliated, enslaved, and hunted like a stray dog.
Involuntarily, he tightened his fist, feeling immense rage.
With a voice filled with hatred, he said to himself,
"Even though my strength has increased, I'm still too weak. I can't risk confronting that filthy Baron now.
Who knows what kind of tricks he's hiding."
"Not now. At the very least, I must reach C-Rank before taking any major steps, assuming that…
what's this?"
He suddenly fell silent and stared oddly at the Skeletal Giant's corpse beside him, for he had caught a glimpse of something shiny amidst the pile of bones.
He didn't hesitate, quickly moving toward the shiny object and retrieving it from among the bones.
It was a sky-blue gem, the size of a small child's fist, glowing faintly.
Although he had seen many strange things in his family's treasury before, he had never encountered anything similar, which puzzled him.
"What is this? It looks like a Mana stone, and at the same time, a magical monster core."
His questions didn't last long, as the System screen appeared before him, explaining the nature of the strange item.
[ Magic Shard: A special magic item that drops upon the death of certain unique monsters found in dungeons. ]
[ Magic Shards can be used to craft special potions, or to forge magic weapons. The Mana within can also be absorbed directly. ]
"This is the first time I've heard of such an item. This truly makes me more curious about this dungeon.
It's clearly not a natural place. Someone built it, but for what purpose?"
Despite his confusion, he didn't dwell on it much, realizing he wouldn't get any answers.
Instead, he focused entirely on the Magic Shard and examined it carefully.
He then stored it inside his clothes, or what remained of them.
Next, he began examining the Skeletal Giant's corpse, searching for any other valuable items he might have overlooked, but he found nothing.
Naturally, the giant's corpse was somewhat valuable and could be used to craft good weapons and armor, but it wasn't worth the effort.
"Hold on, I don't need to leave just yet. I can stay here a bit longer.
I need to tame more monsters, and those glowing stones in the tunnel ceilings seem valuable. I should take some with me."
Without hesitation, he ordered the Skeletal Spiders that were still alive to accompany him, and he exited the boss room.
Approximately two hours later, he returned with a satisfied smile on his face.
Behind him were several E-Rank Skeletons carrying many large, faintly glowing stones.
'Unfortunately, I didn't find many monsters, and only gained 100 XP, but that's fine.'
After inspecting the hall and ensuring everything was as it was, he moved toward the door.
From thin air, the finger-like Skeletal key appeared in his hand.
Apparently, keys were stored in a dedicated place, which was why it hadn't appeared in his equipment slot on his personal status.
With a serious look, he opened the door.
A faint glow, disturbing to his eyes, appeared, but he didn't avert his gaze and stepped inside without hesitation.
Mysteriously, he was transported from his spot and found himself inside a long corridor with a gleaming white floor and walls filled with various types of doors.
Some emitted strange sounds, while others released strong, fragrant aromas.
Liam stared at the familiar yet unfamiliar place with a complex expression.
He felt a sense of relief, yet at the same time, he didn't know what he should do.
But first, he ordered his Tamed monsters to enter, then he closed the door and stored the key.
Afterward, he asked seriously, "System, can I leave the palace and return whenever I want, or are there specific conditions?"
His question was valid, as he still didn't truly know the nature of the Dimensional Palace or the System itself.
[ As the current Inheritor, you possess the authority to enter and exit the Dimensional Palace at will. ]
[ Entry Method 1: You can summon the Palace's status window within the System and click the "enter" button. ]
[ Entry Method 2: You can obtain the Dimensional Key, which transforms any door you open with it into a direct portal leading to the Palace. ]
[ Note 1: The Dimensional Key cannot be stored with other keys. It is recommended to store it in a safe place or carry it at all times. ]
[ Note 2: You can obtain temporary or direction-specific copies of the Dimensional Key, but this requires greater control authority. ]
[ Do you wish to obtain the Dimensional Key: Yes / No ]
Liam carefully read the System notifications, ensuring he didn't miss anything.
When he confirmed he could enter and exit whenever he wanted, he felt immense relief, and all his worries vanished.
He had thought he would have to visit that dilapidated palace in the forest every time he wanted to enter the Dimensional Palace,
but it seemed he had underestimated the Palace's and the System's capabilities once again.
After a brief moment of thought, he replied,
"No, I don't want to obtain the Dimensional Key, at least not now."
He was planning to return to Baron Robert's castle, so it wasn't practical to take the key with him, especially since he wasn't sure of his ability to safeguard it.
Calmly, Liam followed the System's instructions and said,
"Show the Palace's status window."
[— DIMENSIONAL PALACE STATUS —]
– Inheritor: Liam Dravein
– Origin World: Dravaris
– Authority Level: Limited
– Available Keys: 3
[— SYSTEM PRIVILEGES —]
– Basic Control System: Access System Menu
– Smart Assistant: Appraisal, Voice Commands
– Talent Enhancement: Unlock Hidden Potential
– Energy Absorption: Convert Raw Energy into XP
– Energy Distribution: Allocate Distribution Points
– Quest Module: Earn Rewards, Face Penalties
– Emergency Protocols: Reset, Emergency Teleportation
[— LOG OUT —]
This was the first time Liam had seen the Palace and System's information, so he felt a little shocked.
Unfortunately, he didn't understand much of it, and instead of getting answers, his questions only multiplied.
He stared at the screen for a few more minutes before raising his head and looking at his Tamed monsters:
"Stay here until I return."
Then, he clicked the [LOG OUT] button, and instantly vanished from in front of the stupid monsters, who remained staring at the spot where he had been standing.