I Refused To Be Reincarnated

Squinting in focus, he read the ancient symbols, learning about the most likely extinct civilisation who lived here.

"Silvermoon elves," he muttered, noticing their depiction.

Unlike regular elves, their hair mirrored the moon's glow, cascading in silver hue down their pale skins. Their culture diverged entirely, too. As moon worshippers, they established temples where a specific type of mana ran down the ground.

Moving further, he saw how their society worked. Every century, they elected a young maiden attuned to the moon as their leader.

She held absolute authority inside their temple, selecting or dismissing individuals in core positions depending on their merit.

Of course, her authority didn't stem from her followers' blind faith. She held power. Immense power even. By using the earth's ley lines to purify and enhance the moon's mana, each of these maidens had the potential and means to become archmages.

'How did they perish?'

He tucked his fingers around his chin as he moved along the wall to resolve the mystery.

During their long existence, the Silvermoon elves were trusted and commissioned by the other races for many things. The most glaring one was their jobs as prison guards. Not for regular living beings but for otherworldly creatures. According to the engravings, they once held a demon captive in this very temple.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

They were also the guardians of a long-lost order's knowledge about souls, making them experts in negative energy control and ghost purification thanks to their moon affinity.

As he read in interest, the next passage sent a shiver jolt through his body like an electric current.

'I should have guessed it...'

In this depiction, he saw an individual surrounded by billowing energy flying above the temple. Every elf bent before him in allegiance and powerlessness.

Of course, he recognised the figure he had seen in Prometheus' memories: the magus.

With an annoyed click of his tongue, he read the text.

In exchange for their unconditional submission, he offered them a managem they later named the Moonlight Gem.

With only two properties, the items didn't seem exceptional at first glance. However, his eyes enlarged as he read them.

The first one encased an area in eternal night, letting the moon shine continuously. But the second one was the most terrifying. It passively increased the temple members' affinities and strength!

With it, they grew stronger with each passing day, developing new spells and living beings. Their most noteworthy achievement depicted on the mural was a tree bearing a silvery fruit.

According to the description, after nourishing itself with the ley line's dense mana for centuries, the fruit enhanced the consumer's mana capacity as much as a tier seven potion.

Amidst their rapid development, however, dark clouds loomed on the horizon.

Out of nowhere, an army of ghosts suddenly declared war on them. Forests burned, mountains collapsed, and islands sunk to the ocean's bottom as they relentlessly attacked each and every temple like merciless predators.

Despite their deep knowledge about evil ghosts and energies, the Silvermoon elves found themselves in a pickle... because they were sane.

Stumped by the realisation and on the brink of extinction, they retreated into this temple, making it the bastion for their ultimate battle against the powerful spectral army.

However, an elf researching souls passed by. In exchange for knowledge, he lent them an army of mysterious creatures. The striking thing about them was their affinity for darkness, blood and their hate for the sun.

"..."

The next part was where the Moonsilver Striker sent him! Eyes trembling in regret and hate, he turned to glare at the creature's carcass.

Then he opened his chat box and messaged:

[Find me a battle monster talisman! I'll buy it twice the price. Just give it to one of the twelve kids with me in the dream place.]

'Hope you'll suffer as a card for destroying historical records,' he thought, lips twisted into a grimace before closing his eyes to calm down. After a moment, his brows knitted into a pensive frown.

The elves eventually lost the battle, that he could infer. But who was the mysterious elf, and what creatures were worth enough to trade knowledge for?

Somehow, he found the questions thrilling, as if they had awakened his adventurous spirit. After thinking a bit more, a realisation jolted him awake.

"The gem is still here!"

His excited voice cut through the silence, making the working kids jump in surprise.

Yet, he didn't even notice their questioning gazes. Instead, he peered through the long crack, letting the moon glow filter inside the room. The proof was right here, hanging in the silent sky.

Determination and excitement flashed in his eyes. He next struck the ground, cracking and destroying a portion as mana drew a map of the surroundings in his mind.

As it did, an inconsistency barely noticeable made him frown.

'It is as if nothing exists below this room.' Enjoy exclusive adventures from empire

Without thinking too much since he would figure it out in the next few minutes, he dropped a gout of condensed magma mana. Steam rose as the rocks sizzled and melted for a few meters before the energy's orange glow vanished into nothingness.

"Bingo."

A mutter escapes his curling lips. They must have hidden the gem underground with some isolation spell or mechanism. Therefore, despite knowing where it was, no one retrieved it.

Excited to get a valuable item, he tore the ground like a savage before a dark dome replaced the rocks. The light itself couldn't seep through, making an ominous shiver run down his spine.

'I'd better not touch it.'

Despite his caution, there was no way he would leave without his spoil. Determined, he tried elements one by one on the dome to see their effects.

For a minute, the air cracked, and mana hummed with power as a colorful display filled the room. Unfortunately, nothing could pierce the dome.

"Alright. You win!" He exclaimed, summoning his dark Blade of Adaptation.

Then, a thin layer of transparent energy covered its sharp edges as space groaned under the pressure. Finally, a smirk stretched his lips as his roar resounded.

"Let's see if you can resist that as well!"

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