Chad held the Soul-Capturing Bell in his hand, pondering its peculiar texture. Despite resembling the horn material from the head of a Leaky Spirit, the bell was surprisingly smooth and not made of metal. As he gently shook it, a strange sound wave emanated from within. His eyes lit up with excitement.
"It's definitely a unique artifact." he exclaimed.
In his world, unique artifacts were among the essential means used by human Awakeners to combat eerie beings. In addition to spiritual energy, unique artifacts were special items obtained through various means. Typically, when defeating an eerie being, a red Spirit Crystal would drop. However, in rare instances, particularly unique Eerie Beings would transform a part of their body into a special item upon defeat. These special items were known as unique artifacts, coveted for their various functions and considered the most cherished treasures, albeit with a low probability of being obtained.
Having vanquished dozens of Eerie Beings, Chad was thrilled that this was his first unique artifact. He recalled hearing that the level of the eerie being and the bizarre nature of its abilities influenced the potency of the unique artifacts it dropped. Examining the bell in his hand, he discovered it was indeed a fourth-stage unique artifact.
"Unique artifacts and spirit weapons may look similar, but there's a significant difference between them," he thought. While spirit weapons were crafted by human bigwigs, their abilities required specific empowerment through skills, limiting their potential. For instance, the dark gold dagger he had received when he joined the Spiritual Energy Association was a spirit weapon empowered by a B-grade high-star Awakener, known for its minimal armor-piercing effect.
The upper limit depended on the forger, which posed significant constraints.
In the end, spirit weapons were still weaker than unique artifacts.
"This is my first unique artifact." Chad decided to give the bell a fitting name. After some thought, he called it the "Soul-Capturing Bell", because the sound it emitted could captivate people's souls, causing opponents to lose focus.
Just then, Chad heard someone say, "Hey, bro, thank you for your help. You not only saved our lives but also dealt with that eerie being," Benjamin said, limping towards him alongside Samuel and two other three-star Awakeners.
Chad noticed the awkwardness in their expressions. They had doubted him earlier, but now they were faced with the undeniable truth of his power.
Such an impressive achievement inevitably made them feel a bit awkward, leaving them somewhat uneasy in front of Chad.
Chad collected the spoils and turned to face Benjamin and the others.
"Helping each other is only natural," Chad replied casually. He then shifted the conversation to their injuries, advising, "You need to treat your wounds promptly. Although Awakeners have abilities surpassing ordinary people, delaying treatment can lead to complications."
Benjamin and the others exchanged reluctant glances but understood the truth of Chad's words. They were close to the center of the mist, but their injuries were severe enough that they needed immediate attention.
Burns are not just simple external injuries.
Dehydration within the body is the real deadly factor!
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Chad did not linger. He continued deeper into the mist, leaving Benjamin and his companions behind, who watched him with a mix of amazement and admiration.
"Looks like we have a formidable character in our second zone." they thought.
Moving deeper into the mist, Chad took out his compass and adjusted his route. He felt relaxed, satisfied with the recent battle, and noted the remarkable effect of the Soul Chain ability. He was certain that with it, he would be invincible in the upcoming third zone, where illusory Eerie Beings lurked.
Upon reaching the third zone, the invisible eerie beings that seemed incredibly challenging to others posed no problem for him at all! With the soul chains unleashed, all the invisible eerie beings had to kneel and submit!
"However... I need to think about my promotion to four stars," Chad mused as he walked.
His overall strength had already reached the level of a five-star awakener. Once he reached four stars, he could enter the third zone and access more abundant resources, allowing for a quicker breakthrough!
With his current strength, once he advanced to a four-star awakener, he would navigate the entirety of the second zone without any obstacles.
He would essentially be able to walk through it with ease.
"Time is pressing, and every moment counts." Chad reminded himself as he walked. "Sis, I haven't forgotten our promise to enter the Sacred Spirit Academy together."
Under the night sky, following the moonlight, Chad's figure gradually melded into the depths of the mist.
After a few minutes, Chad reached the center of the mist. According to his compass, the final boss was located within 0.6-mile radius. Caution took hold as he entered the mist's core for the first time. Suddenly, his frown deepened as he approached a grim sight.
Bodies lay scattered everywhere—more than a dozen in total. Severed limbs and dried, blackened bloodstains littered the ground. The strong smell of blood assaulted his senses, making him feel nauseous.
"Their deaths are too gruesome…" Chad muttered, examining the horrific scene.
At that moment, several more Awakeners arrived, all displaying three-star insignias. They formed a tight-knit group, suggesting they were a team. However, their expressions were not welcoming; rather, they were wary and exclusive. Chad quickly understood they were also interested in the black box rumored to be nearby.
Chad understood their thoughts clearly but didn't show it much. After all, when the time came, everyone would display their own skills and rely on their abilities; whoever killed the eerie being would claim the black box.
Everyone had their own thoughts, each calculating their own plans.
One of the newcomers seemed to recognize Chad and pointed him out to their leader. "Captain, isn't that Chad, who offended William? He has been marked for death," the person said, voicing their intent to ambush Chad while he was alone.
Chad's sharp senses caught their hushed conversation. He realized they were discussing how to harm him later. Cold anger filled him, and he was about to take action when suddenly, a mutation occurred.
The bodies at his feet began to twitch, coming back to life. Twisting their necks and limbs at unnatural angles, they crawled toward Chad and the others.
Chad felt a chill run down his spine. "Are these zombies?" he thought, horrified.
The expressions of the other three-star Awakeners turned to terror as they tensed, becoming vigilant against the horrific sight unfolding before them.
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