Chapter 72: Spirits Acquired
Ramiris led them deeper into the Labyrinth without looking back, her small wings fluttering rapidly as she floated ahead. The corridors gradually changed the further they went. The rough stone walls became smoother, and soft light began to filter in from glowing crystals embedded in the ceiling. The heavy, oppressive feeling from earlier eased, replaced by a dense but calmer spiritual energy.
"Don't fall behind," Ramiris called out. "If you get separated in here, I'm not coming back to look for you."
"You're the one who keeps flying ahead," Rimuri muttered under her breath.
Varion walked near the middle of the group, quietly watching their surroundings. The kids stayed close, still a little tense after the fight with the golem. Chloe in particular kept glancing at Varion and holding on to him, though she didn't say anything.
After several more minutes, the corridor opened into a wide, circular chamber.
The air here felt different, thicker and filled with a quiet pressure that made the skin tingle. In the center of the room stood a raised stone platform with a simple altar. Soft lights drifted through the air like floating embers, and the walls were lined with ancient carvings that pulsed faintly with residual energy.
Ramiris stopped in the middle of the chamber and spun around to face them, hands on her hips.
"This is it," she said. "The heart of the Dwelling. This is where the greater elementals gather."
Kenya looked around with wide eyes. "It's… quiet."
"That's because most of them are watching," Ramiris replied casually. "They don't show themselves unless they feel like it."
Rimuri stepped forward. "So how does this work?"
Ramiris floated up a little higher and pointed at the altar.
"Simple. The kids just need to stand there and call out. They can ask for help, ask to form a contract, or even just ask to play, elementals are weird like that. If one responds, it'll show itself. From there, it's up to the elemental whether it wants to form a contract or not."
She glanced at the children.
"Fair warning, though. Greater elementals aren't like the little ones floating around outside. They're picky. And strong. If they don't like you, they won't even bother showing up."
Gale swallowed. "And if they do show up?"
"Then you try to form a contract," Ramiris said. "If it works, the elemental will fuse with you and help stabilize your magicules. That's the best way to stop your bodies from breaking down."
Rimuri nodded and turned to the kids.
"We'll go one at a time. Gale, You first."
Gale hesitated for only a second before stepping forward. He climbed the short steps to the altar and stood in the center, hands clenched at his sides. The chamber grew quieter.
For a few seconds, nothing happened.
Then the air in front of him shimmered.
Several small earth elementals appeared, drifting around him cautiously. They circled once, then twice, before settling closer.
Rimuri's eyes glowed faintly as Great Sage analyzed them.
"…Lesser elementals," she murmured. "Not strong enough on their own."
She raised her hand.
"I'll handle the rest."
Black and gold light flickered around her as she activated Gluttony, drawing the lesser elementals in. A moment later, Degenerate activated, fusing and reconstructing them. The light intensified, then condensed into a single, much stronger presence, a greater elemental of earth.
The newly formed elemental hovered in front of Gale for a moment, then slowly sank into his chest.
Gale's body tensed. For a second it looked like he might collapse… then the unstable magicule flow around him settled. The constant strain that they had felt was gone.
He let out a shaky breath, then a disbelieving laugh as tears gathered in his eyes.
"…It stopped," he whispered. "It actually stopped."
The other kids immediately broke into cheers. Alice ran up and grabbed his arm, while Kenya slapped him on the back hard enough to make him stumble.
Rimuri smiled, clearly relieved.
"One down."
She looked at the others.
"Alice. You're next."
Alice stepped up to the altar with a mix of nervousness and determination. The process repeated with lesser elementals answered her call, Rimuri used Gluttony and Degenerate to form a greater elemental of , and it fused with her cleanly.
When it was done, Alice turned and, without warning, hopped up to give Rimuri a quick peck on the cheek.
"Thank you!"
Rimuri blinked, then laughed. "You're welcome."
Kenya went third.
The moment he stepped onto the altar, the air changed.
A bright light flared in front of him before he could even speak. A greater elemental of light appeared on its own, its presence far clearer and more defined than the previous ones. It hovered in front of Kenya, studying him.
Ramiris' eyes widened.
"Hey—! You can't just show up without being called like that!"
The light elemental ignored her completely. Its attention was fixed on Kenya… and then, briefly, it turned toward Varion.
It lingered on him for a second longer than necessary, as if sensing something familiar, before looking back at Kenya.
A calm, resonant voice echoed in the chamber.
"This one has the potential to become a Chosen Hero. I will remain with him until he is capable of controlling his own power."
Kenya stared up at it, stunned.
The light elemental settled into Kenya without resistance.
When it was done, Kenya looked down at his hands, flexing his fingers.
"…It feels warm," he said quietly.
Ramiris floated nearby with a complicated expression, muttering under her breath about elementals doing whatever they wanted and ignoring her.
Ryota went next. His summoning was quieter as a bunch of lesser elemental carrying both wind and water attributes answered, and rimuri fused them into him without any issues.
Finally, only Chloe remained.
Chloe stepped up to the altar, her small hands clasped in front of her. She looked nervous but determined, glancing back once at Rimuri and Varion before facing forward. She closed her eyes and called out softly, just like the others had.
For a few seconds, nothing happened.
Then the air in the chamber changed.
A heavy, overwhelming pressure suddenly filled the room, far stronger than anything the previous elementals had produced. The lights along the walls flickered violently. Even Ramiris tensed, her wings flaring as she floated backward in alarm.
"What… is this?" she muttered.
A figure began to take shape in front of Chloe.
It wasn't a lesser elemental. It wasn't even a greater one.
A woman in a flowing white dress materialized, her presence radiating an immense power. She had long hair and an aura that made the very air feel heavy. For a brief moment, even Veldora's dormant consciousness stirred uneasily inside Rimuri, sensing danger.
Ramiris's eyes widened in shock. "That's not an elemental! What the hell is that thing?!"
The woman ignored everyone else. She turned first to Rimuri, she appeared in front of her and gently pulled her into a hug. She pressed a soft kiss to Rimuri's cheek, the gesture tender, as if familiar.
Then the woman turned to Varion.
She moved closer and wrapped her arms around him as well, but this hug lasted longer. It wasn't rushed. It felt deliberate, almost as if she were trying to memorize the feeling of his presence or something. Her cheek rested against his chest for a second longer than necessary.
Varion's body reacted before his mind could catch up.
Something deep in his instincts screamed.
'Family. Protect.'
His arms moved on their own, returning the hug for a split second, warm, instinctive, protective, before the woman pulled away. She gave him a small, sad smile that he would swear was filled with…regret? maybe. Then it turned and flowed straight into Chloe's body.
All this lasted less than 5 seconds before it was over.
The overwhelming pressure vanished instantly.
Chloe swayed on her feet. For a moment her eyes glowed with an unnatural light, then she steadied herself. The unstable magicules that had been eating away at her settled completely, just like with the other kids. She blinked a few times, looking around in confusion.
"…It's gone," she whispered.
Ramiris was still staring, mouth open. "That wasn't a spirit! That wasn't even close to an elemental! What the hell just happened?!.
Rimuri let out a slow breath, one hand resting on Chloe's shoulder to steady her. "Whatever it was… it worked. She's stable now."
Chloe looked up at them both, eyes shining with relief. But internally a feeling appeared when she looked at varion, something she didn't quite understand yet and it made her sad.
Varion stood frozen for a moment longer, staring at the spot where the woman had been. His arms were still slightly raised, as if the ghost of the hug hadn't fully left him. Those instinctive feelings lingered confusing him even more. He had no idea why he'd reacted that way, It felt… familiar. Important somehow. But the feeling, slipped away before he could grasp it.
He lowered his arms slowly, frowning faintly.
Rimuri noticed and gave him a questioning look, but he just shook his head slightly. Signaling not now.
Ramiris was still ranting. "Do you have any idea how dangerous that was?! That thing could have destroyed my entire Labyrinth! You people are insane!"
Rimuri sighed. "It worked, didn't it? All five of them are stable now."
"…Yeah, yeah," Ramiris grumbled, crossing her arms. "Fine. They're fine. But you still owe me a new Colossus! A really good one!"
Chloe stepped down from the altar and walked over to Rimuri and Varion.
"Thank you," she said softly.
The other kids immediately crowded around her, cheering and hugging her in relief. They were finally free of the crushing weight that had been pressing down on them. The heavy atmosphere in the chamber finally began to lift.
As they stood there varion glanced at Chloe laughing with the other kids and felt it stir again.
'Strange' he thought to him self