Absorb, absorb... how exactly do I do that?

Is it similar to last time, where I only need to will what I want, and it becomes real? While I highly doubt things work so simply, there is a precedent, that being the power of nihility itself, so it's rather unclear.

Without much to consider, I stretch out my hand and touch the coconut-sized rock in front of me. It's technically not just a piece of rock, but a 'golem' infused with Sikare's power. The point is, this thing is still a registered system entity, and if I can successfully squeeze its energy, I will be able to with the ones outside as well.

And the process... is easier than I expected.

In line with how one controls their flows of mana, the moment I try to suck the golem's essence through the contact of my palm, it easily pours back into me. That's... it. 

''Hm...''

No, maybe it isn't supposed to be hard in the first place. Until now, everybody has been relying on the system for this process already, so it's only natural that no one talks about it. I'd imagine the difficulty spiking up if there's some resistance, though, mainly when the target is still alive.

In any case, as I remove my hand, the rock immediately crumbles into dust.

Well, there's that.

''Boo! So cruel!''

Sikare seems to have been infected by the Luxia virus at some point, seeing that she's starting to act like this. But ignoring her antics, I briefly tell the three rulers my plan,

''I can get us up that rift right away, but it's going to take a while to get to the outside ground.''

Geographically speaking, since the system—the dome's heart—is built in Zircon, it means that where we are standing right now is the very center of the continent. It is estimated that we will need to travel thousands of kilometers...

I can only teleport to places I've been to before. Thinking back, I should have told Aurora to take me there... wait.

Can't I truly not teleport to places I've never been before? Those were the system's limitations, but what if I can change them now? Regardless of whether my skills are borrowed from my subordinates, I can already feel them deforming as I detach from the system.

Maybe I can really be more creative.

''...Let me test something.''

Wrapping a precautionary layer of mana around my body, I close my eyes and envision the destination—the barren land right outside the dome. This time, imagining that I'm truly standing there in person. Grasp the 'thread' which connects our locations...

''...''

I'm here.

Immediately, I come to the realization that my surroundings have changed. The thick, sharp atmosphere pricks at my body, and breathing air feels unnecessarily painful. The lingering mist obscures distant terrain, and even the visible parts are hardly lit, seeing that a massive void has replaced the sun.

Still, I can sense those creatures lurking around—no, they're blending in with the environment. Is it because they are so large that I have a hard time observing them as living beings? Are they 'living' beings in the first place?

Either way, I can't be discovered like this—

''...!''

Right as I am about to take cover, a primal sort of dread creeps up my back, forcing my instincts to take over. I instantly blink away, mana swelling. Turning around, I find countless crimson eyes, ones sharply and vertically shaped, staring down on me.

Only when it is this close do I see it—a collage of animal heads-like shapes fused to one another by pulsing crimson veins. With a skin as rusty and dark as charcoal, thin legs, and radiating madness... it's unmistakably one of our targets.

Feeling its intense power boiling the air, I quickly form an escape plan.

Five seconds have elapsed since I arrived.

I need to stall for another twenty-five seconds for teleportation's cooldown to end. It's not like I can just bypass that and use the skill again...

''...Huh?''

Yet, contrary to the logic in my brain, the scenery around me changes again.

''Huh? You're back, boss.''

''Sikare...''

''Yes? Where did you just go?''

''...''

It seems I'll have to stop using the old system skills as a point of reference from now on.

Nonetheless, after recounting my prior experience, I leave it to the three to decide if we are prepared enough for the fight. Unsurprisingly, all of them seem enthusiastic, still.

''Alright. We'll try to hunt one today.''

''Just one?'' Kyomu raises his eyebrow slightly. ''Didn't you say they weren't absurdly strong?''

''Ah, about that...''

Indeed, I don't think we can really lose to those things. After all, they are the closest to the dome, where Neveah's aura is the most potent. It makes sense that they aren't as powerful.

But in my eyes, the true danger is not those, but within the air itself. It's corrosive. I need them to get used to fighting in such conditions first, which shouldn't be too hard.

That said, I still don't know how those things attack, not a clue on their skills. It may be a gamble, after all.

In any case, just as the first stripes of aurora borealis crawl across the sky, we depart from the continent. Holding their hands—in Nova's case, her fin—I teleport us to the previous location.

''Quickly take cover.''

Befitting rulers of Zircon, the three instantly recognize what kind of environment we are in. We rush behind a nearby rock, observing the creature from before, who is now idling around the area.

''It's true... I can't inspect it.'' Sikare exclaims, but still takes out her flasks one by one. ''I wonder if I can take its corpse...''

Aside from her, Kyomu's blade is already out, flickering with that aura of nihility. Nova's icy essence fuels her snowstorm, which regulates right under her jewel skin.

I, too, pull out my sword.

''Let's go.''

Once I confirm that nobody has trouble holding themselves, I give the signal for the hunt's start. 

Simultaneously, we rush toward the bizarre creature, who immediately returns with a round of thick hostility. As we brace for impact, its swelling madness seems to burn even more intensely than now, eventually resulting in an omnidirectional blast that nearly shatters my mana shield.

''...See? It's not so easy.''

Undeterred, we approach it again, this time, with speed in mind. In just half a second, strong wind splits through the air, and snow begins to gently fall. I bring my sword, now soaked in dense ice mana, down decisively, blasting the deepest and coldest magic onto the giant creature. With crisp sounds, almost half of it is now frozen.

There is no sound. Maybe a struggle, but everything about it seems alien.

Taking advantage of this, Kyomu lightly jumps in with his sword. Although tiny compared to the creature, the untouchable sword master effortlessly slashes through the ice block at various angles, essentially slicing it into dozens of pieces.

And then, when those pieces slide down, revealing the true monster within, Sikare shoves her concoctions into them.

''Fire...?''

A strange blue fire arises, burning with the ice. Is it frostfire?

But despite everything, the alien looks almost fine. Its regeneration is no joke... not to mention, I have a feeling it has many more moves.

It's time to get a bit more serious, I suppose.