Adam stared at the multitude of Leons, utterly lost for words. "Is there any way to merge Leon back?" he asked Lyra, his voice tinged with desperation. Lyra, however, had no immediate solution. The artifact of the past hero, now fused with Leon, presented a complex problem that would require time to unravel.
Adam, ever practical, tasked Arthur with making use of the countless Leons. "Work with my father," Adam instructed, "he has business strategies that might be outside of what you've learned from books. This will give Albert more free time for his potion research." Arthur, enthusiastic about the potential for multiple revenue streams, set off with a legion of Leons to make money doing odd jobs. Albert took some Leons for his work, others escorted the twins to school, and Helena even enlisted a few for farming.
Unraveling Leon's Origins
Adam, Lyra, and Leon then retreated to investigate the issue of Leon's un-mergeable duplicates. Leon began to share fascinating details about his abilities. Due to the artifact, Leon wasn't supposed to be free from the dungeon; thus, the rules that applied within the dungeon didn't apply outside. The current Leon was a fusion of the original artifact's purpose and its use.
The original hero was proficient in duplication, using it to gain experience and skills without leaving the safety of his home. These duplicates weren't immortal and often died during adventures. The artifact wasn't designed for the duplicates to merge back, as each developed its own identity, learning different experiences and fighting styles, but remained connected to the main hero for instructions.
The hero lived a life of luxury, earning money through adventuring, even fighting off the demon continent's invasion using millions of his duplicates. He eventually retired and succumbed to death, his remains erupting into a dungeon.
Adam and Lyra, after hearing the full story, asked Leon how he knew about events that transpired centuries ago. Leon explained that the hero's memories were ingrained in him, but he wasn't the same person. The dungeon boss was originally meant to possess those memories to protect the dungeon's artifact.
It wasn't meant for the dungeon boss to walk freely in this world, which is why a dungeon break was so deadly if the dungeon boss left the dungeon. Leon clarified that he was a fusion of the hero, the dungeon boss, and Adam's merged intellect with Lyra. Though he possessed intelligence, he couldn't process information as quickly as Lyra. He could, however, control other Leons like a hive mind, akin to experiencing multiple versions of himself. Adam and Lyra understood that Leon's unique circumstance was a direct result of their actions.
Leon further explained that the dungeon itself was actually the hero's mana and a stored item box. It had created a dimension within his body and memories, turning it into a dungeon. Absorbing the mana signature meant returning it to the hero's body, which was why Adam could absorb the dungeon. The problem now lay with the artifact. The artifact belonged to the hero, given to him when he reincarnated.
Adam and Lyra suddenly realized something crucial: the artifact was the key to solving the issue. Leon added that the artifact was "slotted into the system," providing the hero with specific skills. Its powers slowly unlocked as the hero gained levels. Adam thought back to his own system, wondering if he was supposed to receive a specific artifact. Due to his system glitch, he hadn't been able to unlock this feature.
Lyra quickly analyzed the information. Both Adam and Lyra exchanged knowing smiles. They understood what needed to be done.
Adam and Lyra seem to have found a solution for Leon's predicament, tied to the artifact and Adam's own system.