Riveria turned to Leon beside her and said, "I've already contacted the others. Let's go."
"Yeah." Leon gave a slight nod, and together, they began making their way back toward the vast cavern where the cocoon awaited.
During the long five-hour search, Leon hadn't been idle. When they paused to rest, he shrouded himself in dark magic and updated his falna.
With the update, his stats climbed astronomically. Though he hadn't hit the limit just yet, Leon could feel himself nearing the threshold.
Leon Morningstar
Level 6
Strength: H109 → SSS1568
Durability: H130 → SSS1589
Dexterity: H119 → SSS1580
Agility: H120 → SSS1602
Magic: B739 → SSS1999
[Level-Up Available]
Optional Development Abilities: Divine Power, Godslayer, Divine Healing
Development Abilities: Mage B, Luck D, Spirit Healing G, Berserker F
[Magic]
Thought Projection
Son of Light
Son of Darkness
[Skills]
Tenseigan
Divine Protection of the War God
Sky Flame
His magic stat had already reached its peak, unsurprising, considering how long he had used Gate of Heaven during this expedition.
This time, his development abilities saw three distinct improvements.
Mage and Berserker both rose by one rank. That much was expected. Mage's rank increased due to his repeated use of the Gate of Heaven, and Berserker likely improved from the brutal clash against the black dragon and the colossal tree monster on the 59th floor.
However, it was the enhancement of Luck that baffled Leon. Not just a single rank, it had increased twice in one go.
Leon couldn't quite make sense of it, at least, not at first. But deep down, he had a theory.
His Luck really had begun to manifest in strange ways.
Coincidences? No, the timing was too precise. The best possible outcomes seemed to keep appearing before him.
The most obvious proof?
He had encountered multiple Level 8 monsters during this expedition, something that should be statistically impossible. And yet, it happened.
There was that incident on the 59th floor, where two different Level 8 monsters had suddenly appeared during the anomaly. It was absurd and unheard of.
At the time, Leon had merely been surprised. But now, after seeing the improvement in his Luck, rising two ranks at once, he couldn't help but feel suspicious of the correlation.
During this expedition, he hadn't experienced anything that traditionally improved Luck. He hadn't played games of chance, or relied on probability. So what caused the increase?
The answer was likely the encounter itself.
To others, a Level 8 monster was a death sentence.
To Leon? They were walking treasure troves. Perfect prey.
More importantly, they were exactly the kind of high-tier nourishment needed for his growth.
When he needed powerful foes, they came to him. If that wasn't luck, what was?
Originally, Leon had no intention of pushing his stats too far during this expedition. His plan was simple: conquer floor after floor, reach the deeper floors, and face large swarms of Level 7 monsters to polish his stats steadily.
But now?
After taking down two Level 8 monsters, his stats had soared to unprecedented heights. He no longer needed to rely on standard progression.
And this monster sealed inside the light cocoon, he would take it for himself. He had gifted the previous Behemoth to Finn and the others. This time, he would reap the reward personally.
After facing off against this mysterious creature, Leon was certain that he'd reach the limit of Level 6 and be ready to rank up.
Roughly half an hour later, everyone had returned to the massive cavern where the giant light cocoon continued to pulse ominously.
Shockwaves radiated from it at regular intervals, and Leon's team was immediately hit by another upon their arrival.
Finn turned toward him with a calm yet focused gaze. "Leon, this monster, do you want to take it?"
Everyone's eyes shifted to Leon.
"Yeah, I'll handle it."
"My stats still need polishing. I believe this battle will push me to the threshold." Leon nodded, his expression resolute.
Finn turned to the others and asked, "In that case, this monster is Leon's. Any objections?"
"None from me."
"If Leon-san wants it, then it's his."
"Absolutely."
"Let him go wild."
The group responded in unison. After all, Leon had handed the previous Behemoth over to them. It was only right that he took the lead this time.
"In that case, I'll unlock the sealing array now." Riveria said, stepping forward.
Her expression was serious as her eyes locked onto Leon. "Once it's unsealed, the monster is yours."
"Understood." Leon gave a firm nod.
He pulled out the Vongola Gloves, slipping them onto his hands. Then, with a surge of energy, he entered Hyper Dying Will Mode, an intense glow burning in his orange-red irises.
He looked stunning and radiant. Even Riveria, for just a brief moment, found herself captivated by his figure. But there was no time to dawdle.
She quickly turned her attention back to the magic circle. She crouched down beside it, one hand pressing lightly against its surface, and began chanting in an ancient tongue passed down through elven royalty.
As her voice echoed softly, the dormant array responded. A bright surge of light burst from the seal, flooding the chamber in a radiant glow.
Seconds later, the seal shattered like glass, turning into glittering particles of light that scattered into the air.
Buzz!
The moment the seal broke, the giant light cocoon reacted. It radiated with violent energy, almost as if sensing its impending birth. But no one paid attention to the cocoon just yet because something else had appeared, right in front of Riveria.
A ghostly figure.
A woman with long emerald hair and pointed ears, her resemblance to Riveria so uncanny that it silenced the entire chamber. Everyone instinctively knew who it was.
"...Mother." Riveria's voice trembled slightly as she stared at the familiar figure shimmering before her.
The ethereal projection smiled gently. "Only Riveria could have dispelled this seal. My child… so you've come."
"This sealing array was crafted by us, forged at the cost of our lives. It will hold this monster for fifty years."
"To remove it, you must have reached Level 7."
"If you're not alone, if there are other Level 7s with you, then perhaps… just perhaps… you may be able to defeat it."
"But if not, Riveria, run. Don't die here."
The message ended abruptly. The glowing image began to disintegrate into motes of green light.
"Wait—!" Riveria reached out, but her hand passed through nothing.
The figure dispersed before she could even touch it, vanishing into the air. Her fingers hovered in the void, frozen mid-motion.
Silence.
No one said a word. They all knew how painful that moment must have been for Riveria. Yet before they could offer any comfort—
Crack!
A sharp, splintering sound rang out from the light cocoon. Everyone's heads snapped toward it.
A jagged fracture had formed, and from within, a thick frost began to leak out, curling like mist across the chamber floor. The monster was awakening.
"Leon." Riveria exhaled slowly, drawing strength back into her voice. "I'm counting on you."
"Leave it to me." Leon replied with a confident smile.
The cocoon continued to shake violently.
Then—
BOOM!
The entire shell exploded. Fragments of radiant material flew in all directions, crashing into the walls and scattering across the floor. And from the wreckage emerged a titanic beast. Its body glistened like crystalline ice.
Finn's eyes widened, his voice caught between awe and disbelief.
"...Leviathan!?"
The others echoed him in stunned unison.
Everyone: ???
***
[New Book]
JJK: Favorability System
Transmigrating to the world of Jujutsu Kaisen, Yahiko awakened the Favorability System.
By interacting with female characters in the story and increasing their Favorability level, he can obtain rewards.
On top of that, the system also issues missions every now and then through which he can acquire rewards.
Killing cursed spirits? That's just a side job.
Dating is the real business.
[Ding! Successfully captured Zenin Maki, Reward: Heavenly Restriction!]