'How much time had passed?'

The moment I regained my consciousness, I hurriedly looked around but what I can only see is darkness. Unlike from the white room from before, It seemed like I was confined by something I don't know.

I immediately focused my mind towards my surrounding. Just like before, I can clearly see where I am. It was as if I was floating above and looking from a third party's point of view. What surprised me was I was actually inside this cocoon-like thingy made from tendrils of grass.

'Just what the hell is going on here?' I thought.

Below me was Flora who was looking worriedly at the cocoon thingy.

Feeling perplexed, I tried to think for a reason but then...I saw it!

The slender green grass of tendrils was slowly coming undone. One by one rolling outward, gradually revealing my body within. I really looked like a banana being peeled.

I couldn't help but become dumbfounded as well as embarrassed, when my body was fully revealed.

As a fifteen years old kid, my height should be under 1.8 meter but right now from what I estimated, it seems that It increased into a more than 1.9 meter tall; although It might be more than that. The muscles from my body shrank somewhat seeming more proportional but what's most distinctive change is my appearance as well as my hair which should be originally short black hair was now became long with the lower portion of it was turned into silvery green.

Truthfully, although I always called myself handsome, my looks can only be called above average but at this very moment my appearance; which is surrounded by a green light was incomparably handsome like a perfect statue carved by the gods themselves. With my skin becoming fairer, my appearance was now resembling that of a girl, with body slightly floating midair.

"This...this, heavens! It is really the [ Spirit Merging ]"

With my body fully revealed, I immediately flew back.

----------------------------

As I open my eyes, what greeted me was countless purple screen windows blocking my eyes but after reading this windows I felt as if I was floating in the sky.

Congratulations! You have successfully refine and absorb the [ Princess Rosa's Essence ] +5 to all basic stats. Because the monster's original level is higher compared to you by 45 levels, Additional +18 basic stats and acquired two skills:

Skill acquired: [ Healing Touch ]

Description: The Dryad's gentle caress restores life to dead flesh, healing themselves as well as healing their comrades. Current Level 1: Heals 10% of your health. Mana Cost: 50

Skill Acquired: [ Lesser Treant Minions ]

Description: Plants, Flowers and trees. Nature itself is the main power of dryads. When they were threatened they will summon treant monsters to protect themselves. Can summon up to 5 lesser treants. Mana Cost: 50 each summon.

For having meet the requirements, Skill [ Hyper Sense ] evolved to [ Divine Sense ]

Description: Allows you to sense everything in his surroundings clearly. Be it another presence or killing intent, nothing shall be overlook. Absorbed the skills: [ Precognition ] [ Menace ] as well as [Trajectory Lane ] skills.

Bonus Skill: [ Spirit Separation ]

From the Spirit Attribute Magic, it has the ability to separate one's soul to the host.

Current Level 1: Can separate your spirit from the body to survey the surrounding clearly.

Mana Cost: 50/ 10 sec.

For having meet the requirements, skill [ All-Appraisal ] evolved to [ Divine Vision ]

Description: You possessed the all-seeing eyes that can show the truth about all the things in the world. You are like a death god that can see through all the living things' soul and their weakness. Illusions, deceit and all sort of fake debuffs are considered useless in front of you. Absorb the skill: [ Night Vision ] and [ Monster Appraisal ]

Can be activated in a long duration. Mana Cost: 10/seconds ( Semi-Passive )

Skill: You have learned [ Essence Refinement ]

Description: You can now refine and absorb all types of monster essence. Absorbing monster essence can enhance your basic stats by 5. Every 5 levels higher than you can give you additional 2 points every basic stats. Effects stacked.

Caution: Lower level monsters than you cannot enhance your strength.

Skill: You have learned [ Skill Absorption ]

Description: After refining and absorbing monster essence you have 20% chance to absorb one skill from the monster. Every 5 levels higher than you can give you additional 5% chance. Effects Stacked.

Skill: You have learned [ Meditating ]

Description: By meditating, you can replenish man more quickly than usual and every level up of this skill can increased your mana capacity by 20%

Skill: You have learned [ Spirit Merging ]

Description: You can merge with the monster you absorb giving you power equivalent with their former selves. Duration: level 1: 2 hours. Cool Down: 10 hours.

Every five levels can give you one [ Spirit Slot ] Current slot: 2

Slot 1: Driad Princess, Rosa

Slot 2:

What the hell!? Am I treading the path of a broken character?

I became astounded when I read the skill notification window in front of me. For a moment It made me intoxicated as

I firmly pinched myself. All of a sudden I felt my pulse quickened maybe around 300 bpm as I was getting very excited.

"Uum....H-hein?..."

Because of the excitement I accidentally forget about Flora. Closing the windows I turned my head and faced the dumbfounded Flora.

"Ah right...thank you for everything milady!"

I said while I took a deep bow towards her. Truly this time, If it's not for her; for this oh so lovable and adorable queen, I wouldn't gotten this amazing and broken skills I've got.

When she saw me bowing my head, her stunned expression eased and then her face twitched as her mouth opened and closed silently as if she was a goldfish gasping for oxygen. She was really in distressed as to how to respond towards me.

Queen Driad Flora ( A-BOSS ) Level 125

Oh my God! So this very beautiful lady is really very strong!? If I had fought her before then I wouldn't even last a second! I would be killed instantly! Shivers!

Now that I think about it. I can't see her level before but now I can clearly see everything! Is it because of my skill [ Divine Vision ]?

"...P-please y-you're exaggerating..."

"No...It is truly because of your help that I think I've gotten a step forward towards my goal...That's why Thank you, thank you very much! I will never forget this kindness until I die!"

Flora nodded lightly with a slight blush on her charming and beautiful face. Seeing it, I felt my heart had been strike by a million arrows. With a serene and soft breeze as a background coupled her blushing cheeks, this beautiful queen looks like a beautiful goddess that can cause a nation's downfall. This appearance....Isn't this a little bit foul play!

I can feel heart-shaped radiances released from my eyes as if my heart had been forcibly taken. This uncontrollable sensation is very new to me as I've never been this attractive to the opposite sex before.

Noticing my stare, she lowered her head but I can still see the tip of her ears becoming dyed with red.

"Cough!...Uum...I-it seems this essence I absorb is your niece; princess Rosa"

Due to the awkward atmosphere, I tried to change the topic but it seems it was an epic fail. The atmosphere became heavy compared to before.

"I see...It seems I'm right, you really met her huh" her voice carried a hint of sadness within.

"Y-yeah" 'Damn! Why do I suck in changing topics? Didn't I make it worse!...for some different reason!'

"Rosa...my beloved niece, she was killed during the [ War of Hope ] because of my stubbornness at that time, I didn't accept the summon of various rulers in the world because of my hate towards the Gods and humans; especially the heroes. But representative is necessary so she volunteer to go and then... Died. For my atonement, I used all of my power to summon her soul and tried to revive her but naturally I failed. I can only put her soul in her monster essence and wait for the time for someone to absorb her..."

She said while trembling. Her face which was very charming a while ago was in an instant covered with sadness.

Damn! I'm an idiot! Just why did I put salt on her wound?!

"T-then why did you gave it to me? You can just absorb it...no?"

"Yeah...but if I'm the one who will do it then her soul will vanish as I am much stronger than her, she will likely be fully absorb by me...I give it to you because I know you're a good man and you will never abuse nor hurt her..."

"I-I see....T-thanks..."

Damn! What should I do! The school I went, all don't have a subject to cheer someone up! Who the hell came up with the subject [ Humanities ] [ Social Studies ] or [ Social Interactions ] teach us how to do something like this you idiot!

As I was contemplating on what I should do to cheer her up, in the deepest part of my mind a very beautiful and sweet voice resounded.

'Please help her, my ki - I mean Hein! Please tell her I love her and I have never regretted what I did or blame her! please tell her for me!'

Ah! right! Rosa is inside of me because of [ Spirit Merging ]

Seeing the trembling in her body, my heart was torn into a million pieces. I walked towards her and embraced her tightly.

"M-milady...please don't blame yourself and cheer up. Rosa, that beautiful girl never blamed you. She ask me to say that she loved you and she never regret what she did. She also never blamed you. So please don't cry"

Her body jolted because of my sudden actions. Truthfully, I wouldn't completely understand how she felt right now.

Losing your loved ones, I still haven't experienced that at all especially because I'm an orphan I don't have anything I called blood relatives. Except for the orphanage, I don't have anything at all, that is until I was trapped into this place. Now I have people; although some of them aren't real, I want to protect. Mom, Dad, Marie, Teach, Flora and others.

But even so, I can still sympathize with her. The loneliness and sadness of being unable to do anything to save the things you want to protect, I seem to remember something.....a very distant memory buried in the deepest part of my mind but I seem can't recall it at all.

Feeling the trembling body of this beautiful queen, I softly said in an affectionate and tender voice I can.

"If you want to cry then you can go ahead. It's ok~ Although I don't know or understand what terrible things you experience in your lifetime, just this time please let it out. Cry to your hearts' content"

This beautiful queen had too much burden in this small and soft body. A burden unbefitting for her beautiful appearance and gentle attitude. I want to at least take some of it but I don't know how to do it. Just what should I do!? I seek power... isn't that for something like this! Is my power still not enough?

God! If you hear me then tell me! Just why do you want to torment this woman! If this is some sort of punishment? then isn't this a bit too much! I don't know why she hated you so much and I also don't want to open another doom door by asking her about it....but know this, if I learned the truth and judge you at fault, no matter who you are or where you are! I will find you and destroy you! God or what not, I will hunt you down!

Voicing my resolve, I clenched my fist and gritted my teeth. The image of the small 'Lolita' came into my mind but I dismissed it because it seems unlikely.

When Flora heard my words, countless tears started unceasingly flowed along her beautiful soft cheeks. After a while she started sobbing loudly. Trembling and shaking, she even couldn't barely breath from all the tears that endlessly fell from her eyes.

Seeing this, I smiled wryly. Girls are such creatures. They always act tough as if they don't have any problem at all.

They always smile and laugh like there's no tomorrow. They act playfully and mischievously but under their false facade and playful mask, they were hiding such loneliness and sadness. They grieve and break down easily than men.

Enough pressure would make them cry even though they tried to hide it.

Under their beautiful and earth shattering appearances lies a very weak and fragile heart. Such is the definition of a real woman. Strong and powerful yet very fragile, this queen in my embrace is not different from any woman I know.

"...It's ok, wipe your tears on me. I don't have anything right now but always remember this I will be always right here for you."

Flora raised her beautiful face that was filled with tears and looked at me in the eyes. She pushed her face into my chest while sobbing in my arms.

Large tears fell one after another, the sadness that she has been suppressing all this time, sadness for losing one's loved one and the guilt arising from her heart, surfaced one another,

I don't want to see such a lonely and sorrow face. The surge to protect this kind of girl, Isn't that the reason I wanted to become stronger! If I can't even help her then my existence would become meaningless!

It took several minutes before I finally managed to calm her down.

Even though the burden she carried didn't lessen and the sadness within her didn't vanish, the light in her eyes has seemed already returned.

".....Have you calmed down yet?" I asked.

Hearing my question, she slowly shook her head and once again buried her face in my shoulders.

"Let's just leave it like this for the time being...please..."

Can't help it~

"...Aren't you going to ask? Erm, about my past?"

I was startled by her sudden question. Although I really, really want to know but this time I need to compromised. So

I shook my head.

"If you feel like you want to tell me, then I will listen"

She shook her head.

"Hmm...not now, when I finally finished all the things I left undone then that will be the time I can finally tell you about it..."

I smiled wryly, hugged her back tightly and softly stroke her head and said with a smile.

"Hmm I will be waiting"

Flora took a deep breath, closed her eyes and relaxed her body as if she was entrusting all of her weight towards me.

Seeing her cute and beautiful face gradually returning to normal, Flora feels more comfortable to hug than usual and

I subconsciously started to caress her head.