While totally ignorant of what was happening around Concordia, Lothur was finishing absorbing the remnants of the demons in that graveyard.
Those creatures had been mighty in life, but their remnants were only a fraction of their former greatness.
In front of young Ritter, with his ability to devour life and absorb attributes, they didn't have much to do but await their demise.
The level 18 toad saw this as Lothur burned the auras in that graveyard, be they of humans and beasts buried there, remnants of demons and spectres.
Everything there burned along with Lothur's targets as he finished purifying this area where no more beings of darkness would be around from now on.
Amid this transformation nearing completion, as the beasts in the surrounding area looked at Lothur with fear, he saw the system messages signaling his success.
[Host's affinity for the ice element increased by 30%...]
[Host's affinity for the element of darkness increased by 39%...]
...
[Host's affinity for poisons increased by 51%...]
He saw each of his affinities with elements increasing. Next, the progress bars of his resistances are at new heights!
[Resistance to Gold-grade poisons.]
[Progress: 1%]
...
[Silver-grade flame resistance.]
[Progress: 48%.]
...
[Silver-grade ice resistance.]
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt[Progress: 55%]
...
[Silver-grade wood resistance.]
[Progress: 21%]
...
[Silver-grade resistance to the element of darkness.]
[Progress: 40%]
...
[General Demon Skull Soul Bone] [Rank: Gold]
[Progress: 40%]
...
[Monarch Demon Fibula Soul Bone] [Rank: Silver]
[Progress: 71%]
...
[General Demon Rib Soul Bone] [Rank: Silver]
[Progress: 92%]
...
[Mortal Aura] [Rank: Silver]
[Progress: 59%]
...
[PER: 539.8 -> 550.1]
Seeing that last message from the system, he smiled as the red flames in that area diminished, with the silhouette behind him slowly disappearing.
He looked at the surroundings of that graveyard using his visual ability and noticed that no remnants of those creatures remained.
With that, he sighed, finally ending his business with these demon remnants from the Secret Realm and his deal with that beast.
Lothur knew that two demon remnants were still trapped in the statues scattered around the Secret Realm. Unfortunately he had only a few hours to stay in that place before he was sent back to Peters City.
His bloodline ability needed at least 24 hours to recover, so he couldn't do anything against these remnants in the time he had.
He turned and looked toward where that toad was and made a sign of farewell, indicating that his work was done and he would leave.
Lothur did not want to waste his time with this beast. He now wanted to join his women to help them as best he could in the three hours or so that remained until the event in the Secret Realm was over for them.
He then ran toward where he was feeling the auras of those two, smiling as he immediately realized that Viktoria had advanced in her soul cultivation!
'She has become a Transcendent... Larissa has achieved that too.'
While Lothur was thinking about this, the giant toad finally got up the courage to enter the area of the old cemetery, where there was now only an area covered by ashes.
'I don't feel anything...' This creature thought, noticing that its eyes and senses had not fooled it moments ago.
'What a terrifying being! He annihilated the remnants of those demons without any difficulty!'
Gulp!
'Good thing I made a deal with him! If he had used that ability on me, I would have died in the labyrinth!'
...
Less than 20 minutes later, Lothur arrived near where Viktoria, Elke, and Larissa were standing.
When he arrived, he surprised all three, not because of his sudden arrival but because of the aura they now felt coming from him.
Because of this, Viktoria and Elke were highly shocked, for they knew better than anyone that Lothur could not emit spiritual soul fluctuations!
Lothur emitting this meant only one thing!
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm"Lothur, can you cultivate your soul now?" Elke was the first to ask, smiling from ear to ear as she approached him next to Viktoria.
Viktoria asked. "Lothur, what happened?"
Lothur smiled at the two as he saw Larissa watching him from further away, only with much more respect than before in her manner. He said. "I found something that solved my problems. Now I can cultivate my soul."
"You can cultivate your soul? But you're already doing that." Larissa said. "You are already a Soul Core Transcendent!"
"Hmmm." He nodded at her.
"So what is your level of body cultivation, Lothur?" Elke asked in curiosity.
"Nascent Soul Transcendent."
All three opened their mouths, for he could already be considered a Leopoldine expert at that level.
He was still not among the strongest, especially considering those behind the shadows, which few knew of existence. But he could already be considered relevant for his strength alone, even if one were to disregard his accomplishments with the Ritter Motor Company.
Lothur saw the expressions on their faces and said. "But you have also made important advances. Viktoria and Larissa, congratulations on reaching the 3rd stage."
He then looked at Elke's status, seeing something new that he had never noticed.
[Name: Elke Becker]
[Soul Cultivation: level 15]
[Body Cultivation: level 13]
[STR: 108.9] [CON: 347.5] [DEX: 107] AGI:109.3]
[INT: 47.7] [PER: 43.5] [WIL: 102.2] [SOU: 258.9]
'Uh?' He saw not only Elke's Soul attribute but also her mental attributes, for the first time noticing all the attributes of a cultivator!
'What was missing for me was soul cultivation. Through the sensation I feel with my soul probing, I can also get the information for the mental attributes?' He realized what was behind it, surprised but also pleased.
With this information, he could better work on his women's talents and weaknesses!
'That's great!' He smiled before saying. "Elke, you're still quite a ways short of advancing to the 3rd stage, but I want to use the remaining hours to get you closer to that stage.
So I want you three to follow me. I'll find some valuable resources quickly!"
After these words from Lothur, the three women came out of their states of astonishment to follow him, searching for resources not only for Elke to become stronger but also for them.
And so they would spend their time in the last hours of the Secret Realm!