"Okay, let's go over all the important stuff while Joe finishes crafting the items. I'm also done with the potions, by the way. The batch turned out good," Reyana said as she sat down in a chair beside Jin, a wide table spreading out in front of them.
"And Jin, here." She tossed another ring to him. "We put all the loot from others in here."
Jin caught the ring and had the Narrator run an appraisal on it. "Nice, there must be a lot of stuff in here?"
? Starting deep appraisal. Estimated time: 10 minutes. ?
"Not quite. Most of the cultists were poor and loaded with corrupted gear. Only the Overmortals had decent stockpiles." Reyana shrugged. "Still better than nothing."
"So, anything good in the Underlord's ring I can use?" Reyana asked.
Jin paused. "Yup, the appraisal's done. You want me to tell you?"
"Sure. Here!" Reyana passed him a sheet of paper and a pen, which prompted Jin to sigh. "Man, I want something that gives out this info directly instead of me having to write it down like some medieval scribe."
"Well, good luck with finding that in Vienna." Reyana shrugged.
Jin rolled his eyes and had the Narrator pull up the weapon’s list first.
【 WEAPONS 】
The first item materialized from the ring onto the table with a metallic thunk. A glaive. The blade, catching the overhead light, gleamed dark red, reminiscent of dried blood.
Jin hefted it, giving a few experimental swings that turned out awkward and clumsy. The weight distribution felt wrong in his hands.
Reyana chuckled. "You look like you're trying to dance with a lamppost."
"Shut up. I'm a gun guy, not a polearm master."
x_______________________x
? 【 BLOODMOON GLAIVE 】?
? RARITY: 4-STAR EPIC
? TYPE: Weapon - Polearm, Glaive-Class
? STATE: Recovered - Corruption Traces Partially Sealed
? MANUFACTURER: Unknown - Cult Forge Designation: 'Scarlet Circle'
? [ATTRIBUTES] ?
? Essence Conduction - TIER V
└─ Channels wielder's essence and affinity through the blade edge, amplifying cutting force and allowing extreme elemental infusion.
? Blood Resonance - TIER IV
└─ Weapon grows stronger temporarily with each kill. Absorbs trace amounts of life force from fallen enemies.
? Durability - TIER IV
└─ Reinforced polearm structure. Resistant to fracturing under extreme impact.
? Corrupted Residue - ACTIVE
└─ Traces of blood-aspected rituals remain embedded in the weapon's core. May influence wielder's aggression if exposed for prolonged periods.
? [ABILITIES] ?
? Crimson Harvest
└─ Successful kills restore 8% of the wielder's vitality and 5% essence. Effect triggers once per target.
? Moonlight Cleave
└─ Under moonlight or low-light conditions, attacks gain +25% reach and leave bleeding wounds that resist healing.
? Blood Rage
└─ When the wielder drops below 30% health, the weapon grants +40% attack speed and +20% damage for 15 seconds. Cooldown: 120 seconds.
? [TECHNICAL DETAILS] ?
? Weight: 4.8 kg
? Length: 210 cm (full length), 85 cm (blade)
? Material: Bloodsteel alloy, moonsilver edge inlay, corrupted essence channels, bone-wrapped grip
? Detected Residue: Multiple blood signatures - purification recommended before extended use
? [VALUE ESTIMATION] ?
? Market Value: 1,820,000 - 5,200,000 Zens
? Effective Use: ORDER III-IV combatants
? Recommended Handling: Cleanse corruption weekly. Avoid use during full moons without mental fortitude preparation. Excellent for sustained combat specialists.
The glaive thirsts. Feed it battle, and it will sing. Starve it, and it will whisper.
x_______________________x
Jin set the glaive down and started writing notes. "I guess either Salvatore or Rudy would like this? It's not my type."
"Yeah, not my type either. I'm more into longswords or knives." Reyana leaned back in her chair. "It’s way too big."
"Cool. I’ll move to the next one."
The next item appeared. Twin daggers, sleek and dark as midnight.
Reyana grabbed them before Jin could even reach. She flipped one in her hand, testing the balance with practiced ease. "Oh. These are nice."
x_______________________x
? 【 VOID DAGGER PAIR (TWIN SET) 】?
? RARITY: 3-STAR RARE
? TYPE: Weapon - Dual Daggers, Assassin-Class
? STATE: Excellent - Synchronized Essence Resonance Active
? MANUFACTURER: Unknown - Suspected Shadowforge Origin
? [ATTRIBUTES] ?
? Essence Conduction - TIER IV
└─ Channels wielder's essence efficiently through both blades. Twin resonance creates an amplification effect.
? Void Affinity - TIER III
└─ Blades carry an inherent connection to void/spatial essence.
? Durability - TIER III
└─ Stable construction. Resistant to essence overload when used as a pair.
? Spatial Edge - TIER III
└─ Cutting-edge exists in overlapping dimensional layers. Ignores 20% of physical armor.
? [ABILITIES] ?
? Twin Strike Resonance
└─ When both daggers strike within 1.5 seconds of each other, the second strike deals +50% damage and creates minor spatial distortion.
? Void Step
└─ Once per minute, the wielder can briefly phase through physical matter for 1 second during a strike. Costs 30 essence.
? Shadow Meld
└─ Daggers can be recalled from up to 15 meters away, returning through shadow pathways. Passive stealth enhancement when sheathed.
? [TECHNICAL DETAILS] ?
? Weight: 0.7 kg each
? Length: 35 cm (blade: 22 cm)
? Material: Void-touched steel, shadow essence core, leather-wrapped grips with spatial anchoring runes
? Detected Residue: Clean - no corruption traces
? [VALUE ESTIMATION] ?
? Market Value: 520,000 - 1,240,000 Zens (pair)
? Effective Use: ORDER II-III assassins, rogues, dual-weapon specialists
? Recommended Handling: Must be wielded as a pair for full effect. Keep within 3 meters of each other to maintain the resonance bond. Excellent for stealth operations.
Two blades, one shadow. What the left hand takes, the right hand keeps.
x_______________________x
"I lay my claim on these," Reyana said, not looking up from the daggers.
"Sure," Jin handed her the description sheet. "They suit you."
"Damn right they do."
Next item. Another knife, but this one made Jin's skin crawl the moment it materialized.
Reyana made a face and waved her hand away from it like it might bite. "Nope. Not touching that."
Amused, Jin turned to the description.
x_______________________x
? 【 SACRIFICIAL ATHAME 】 ?
? RARITY: 3-STAR RARE
? TYPE: Weapon - Ritual Dagger
? STATE: Used - Heavy Corruption Detected (SEALED)
? MANUFACTURER: Cult Forge - Blood Mother's Circle
? [ATTRIBUTES] ?
? Ritual Amplification - TIER V
└─ Massively enhances the effectiveness of blood rituals, sacrificial ceremonies, and soul-binding spells when used as a focus.
? Soul Severance - TIER IV
└─ Blade can cut spiritual connections as easily as flesh. Effective against possession, soul bonds, and tethers.
? Durability - TIER II
└─ Fragile construction. Not meant for combat - designed purely for ceremonial use.
? Corrupted Core - SEVERE
└─ Weapon is saturated with sacrificial energies. SEALED via external enchantment. Breaking the seal will release accumulated malevolence.
? [ABILITIES] ?
? Blood Price
└─ Rituals performed with this athame require 50% fewer material components but exact twice the personal cost from the caster.
? Soul Harvest
└─ Killing with this blade traps a fragment of the victim's soul within the weapon. Fragments can be expended to power rituals. Current fragments stored: 0 (purged during sealing).
? Binding Cut
└─ Wounds inflicted by this blade resist magical healing and create spiritual anchors that can be exploited in ritual magic.
? [TECHNICAL DETAILS] ?
? Weight: 0.4 kg
? Length: 28 cm (blade: 15 cm)
? Material: Blackened ritual steel, soul-reactive crystal pommel, blood-stained bone handle, corruption containment runes (added post-recovery)
? Detected Residue: EXTREME - Multiple soul signatures, blood essence, divine corruption (sealed)
? [VALUE ESTIMATION] ?
? Market Value: 340,000 - 580,000 Zens (if purified); 120,000 Zens (in current sealed state)
? Effective Use: ORDER III+ ritual casters, necromancers (NOT RECOMMENDED)
? Recommended Handling: DO NOT BREAK SEAL without ORDER IV+ supervision. Destroy or deliver to Church authorities for proper disposal. If retaining for research: Store in an essence-sealed container. Check containment runes weekly.
This blade has drunk deep. The souls remember. The blood remembers. Do you dare join them?
x_______________________x
"You're not touching it because of corruption?" Jin asked.
"Yes. Well, sort of. This one's a cursed item. The others were too, but this one has a strong lingering curse." Reyana crossed her arms. "Just look at the description. This thing's been used for some seriously not-good purposes."
"I mean, the soul steal part is good for crafting, no?"
"You wanna steal human souls?"
"No! I meant like monsters and shit."
Reyana chuckled. "I know. Just pulling your leg." Her expression turned serious again. "I think this one should go into the burning or recycling pile."
Jin hesitated. "Let's keep it for now. Listen." He made sure Reyana was paying attention because she looked ready to object. Jin pointed at one of the attributes. "I just need this Ritual Amplification for when we eventually have our final battle."
Reyana bit her lip and nodded with a sigh. "Alright. But no using it on people!"
"Yes, ma'am."
"And what's with the last line in your appraisal? You're messing with me, or are you secretly a writer?"
"Result of my skill. Truly."
"Yeah, sure."
“Ahem,” Jin cleared his throat and spoke. "Next up on the list is a bow, Corrupted Longbow of Whispers."
"That's a cool name!" Jin mumbled to himself. "Pity it's not a gun."
Reyana quirked an eyebrow. "What's up with you boys? It's either a sword or a gun!"
"It's love!"
"Ugh…"
"It's true."
"Just get me the description. You're also insufferable."
x_______________________x
? 【 CORRUPTED LONGBOW OF WHISPERS 】?
...
? RARITY: 3-STAR RARE
? TYPE: Weapon - Longbow, Ranged-Class
? STATE: Compromised - Active Corruption (Contained)
? MANUFACTURER: Unknown - Darkened One Blessing Detected
? [ATTRIBUTES] ?
? Essence Conduction - TIER IV
└─ Channels wielder's essence into arrows, creating essence-infused projectiles without requiring pre-enchanted ammunition.
? Whisper Generation - TIER III
└─ Bow constantly murmurs in a language that erodes mental defenses. Extended exposure causes paranoia and auditory hallucinations.
? Durability - TIER IV
└─ Reinforced composite structure. Highly resistant to breaking despite corruption.
? Corrupted Arrows - TIER IV
└─ Arrows fired from this bow carry a corruption payload. Wounds inflicted spread necrotic energy through the target's essence channels.
? [ABILITIES] ?
? Shadow Shot
└─ Arrows can be fired through shadows, emerging from another shadow within 50 meters. Requires line of sight to target the shadow. Costs 40 essence per shot.
? Whisper of Death
└─ Victims struck by arrows hear whispers of their own mortality. Inflicts fear effect on targets with less Will than the wielder (30-second duration). Cooldown: 15 seconds.
? Corruption Spread
└─ Arrows leave lingering corruption in wounds. Deals 5 damage per second for 10 seconds. Stacks up to 3 times. Targets killed by corruption have a 40% chance to rise as lesser undead.
? [TECHNICAL DETAILS] ?
? Weight: 2.1 kg
? Length: 180 cm
? Draw Strength: 55 kg pull weight
? Material: Corrupted darkwood, shadow-iron limbs, spectral bowstring (self-repairing), essence-etched grip
? Ammunition Type: Any arrow (standard or enchanted) - corruption applies regardless
? Effective Range: 200-280 meters
? Detected Residue: Active corruption from Darkened One blessing - contained but not cleansed.
? [VALUE ESTIMATION] ?
? Market Value: 440,000 - 680,000 Zens (if purified); 180,000 - 250,000 Zens (corrupted state)
? Effective Use: ORDER II-IV archers willing to risk mental degradation
? Recommended Handling: Limit exposure to 4 hours per day maximum. Store in an essence-sealed case when not in use. Weekly mental fortitude checks required. Purification is possible, but it may destroy unique abilities. Users must have a minimum 30 Will stat to resist whispers.
Listen closely, and you will hear them. The voices of those who fell to arrows from this string. They have much to teach about the art of the kill.
If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.
x_______________________x
"Okay, first of all, that's nuts. Second of all, why is this not on a gun!!!"
"Jin, this one's also a strong cursed item. Even your skill says to use it with caution."
"Well, I meet the minimum stat easily. I wonder if I can harvest out the corruption from this item."
"Hey, are you not listening!” Reyana sighed. “You should be able to, but that would destroy those abilities."
"Shit… I'd need to find a way to either resist the corruption or harvest it out without losing the powers."
"Yeah, Good luck managing that level of concentration and endurance."
"We'll see. I still prefer guns, but I'll take this. Who knows when I might need it?" Jin nodded thoughtfully.
And Reyana just shook her head.
"Okay, okay, I’ll listen to you.” Jin said, “Next on the list are the armors. Mine's still the best, so no chance I'm switching it."
The robes appeared on the table, their heavy fabric feeling cold to the touch and giving off a faint, earthy smell, unmistakably cultist in design. Dark crimson fabric with black sigils stitched onto every surface.
x_______________________x
? 【 VESTMENTS OF THE CRIMSON HAND (SET) 】?
...
? RARITY: 3-STAR EPIC
? TYPE: Armor - Ritual Robes, Full Set (Outer Robe, Inner Vestments, Hood, Sash)
? STATE: Recovered - Active Corruption Traces (SEALED)
? MANUFACTURER: Cult Forge - Circle of the Crimson Hand
? [ATTRIBUTES] ?
? Ritual Amplification - TIER V
└─ Massively enhances blood-aspected rituals and sacrificial ceremonies when worn by a designated cultist. Increases ritual potency by 85%.
? Blood Resonance - TIER IV
└─ Armor resonates with spilled blood within a 15m radius, converting ambient death essence into minor vitality restoration for the wearer.
? Essence Conduction - TIER III
└─ Channels wielder's essence efficiently through fabric weave, reducing casting cost by 20% for blood and shadow-aligned spells.
? Durability - TIER II
└─ Reinforced ritual cloth. Resistant to minor physical damage. Not designed for sustained combat.
? Corrupted Sigils - SEVERE
└─ Vestments are inscribed with cult hierarchy markers and corrupted divine symbols. SEALED via external enchantment. Breaking the seal will attract cult attention and potentially summon bound entities.
? [ABILITIES] ?
? Blood Veil
└─ Once per day, can activate emergency defense that absorbs one fatal blow by sacrificing stored blood essence. Requires at least 3 charges of blood essence (gained passively near death/violence). Current charges: 0 (depleted).
? Ritual Efficiency
└─ All blood-aspected rituals performed while wearing this set require 35% fewer material components. Personal cost to caster remains unchanged.
? Crimson Authority
└─ While wearing a full set, cultists of lower rank instinctively recognize the wearer as superior. +30% intimidation against cult members. May trigger a violent response from rival cult factions.
? [TECHNICAL DETAILS] ?
? Weight: 3.2 kg (full set)
? Material: Crimson-dyed ritual silk, blood-etched essence threads, bone clasps, corruption containment runes (added post-recovery)
? Detected Residue: EXTREME - Multiple blood signatures, death essence saturation, divine corruption fragments (sealed)
? Set Bonus: Wearing a complete set grants +15% to all blood magic effectiveness.
? [VALUE ESTIMATION] ?
? Market Value: 1,580,000 - 4,820,000 Zens (if purified); 1,150,000 Zens (in current sealed state)
? Effective Use: ORDER II-IV ritual casters, blood mages (NOT RECOMMENDED for non-cultists)
? Recommended Handling: DO NOT BREAK SEAL without ORDER IV+ supervision. DO NOT WEAR in public areas (cult insignia attracts hostile attention from both authorities and rival cults). Store in essence-sealed container. Check containment runes weekly. Consider destruction or delivery to Church authorities.
These vestments have drunk deep of sacrifice. The blood remembers its purpose. Will you continue its work, or end its hunger?
x_______________________x
Jin passed the description to Reyana. "What do you think?"
"It's solid if not for the absurd corruption. Regardless, wear this anywhere else and you'll be killed on sight."
"Sheesh. I'll still probably wear this for the final fight to get that ritual bonus, but yeah, not worth keeping otherwise."
The items kept coming. Jin and Reyana worked through them systematically.
x_______________________x
? 【 SHADOWSTEEL CHAINMAIL 】?
...
? RARITY: 2-STAR RARE
? TYPE: Armor - Medium Chainmail, Torso Coverage
? STATE: Used - Minor Wear, Functional
? MANUFACTURER: Unknown - Suspected Shadowforge or Black Market Origin
? [ATTRIBUTES] ?
? Essence Conduction - TIER III
└─ Channels wielder's essence through linked chains, allowing minor magical reinforcement. Reduces incoming magical damage by 15%.
? Shadow Affinity - TIER III
└─ Chainmail is forged with shadow-aspected alloy. Grants natural stealth enhancement in low-light conditions. Reduces detection chance by 20% in darkness.
? Durability - TIER III
└─ Reinforced shadowsteel construction. Resistant to slashing and piercing attacks. Moderate protection against blunt force trauma.
? Noise Dampening - TIER II
└─ Despite being chainmail, enchanted links move silently. Does not create a typical chain-rattling sound during movement.
? [ABILITIES] ?
? Shadow Meld (Passive)
└─ In areas of complete darkness, the wearer's silhouette blurs slightly, making precise targeting 25% more difficult for enemies relying on visual tracking.
? Essence Guard
└─ Can channel a moderate amount of essence to temporarily harden the chainmail against incoming attacks. Duration: 10 seconds. Cooldown: 60 seconds. While active, physical damage reduction increased to 40%.
? [TECHNICAL DETAILS] ?
? Weight: 9.8 kg
? Coverage: Torso, upper arms (partial)
? Material: Shadowsteel alloy (iron base + shadow essence infusion), darkened finish, enchanted linking pattern
? Detected Residue: Clean - minor essence traces from previous owner
? [VALUE ESTIMATION] ?
? Market Value: 280,000 - 1,420,000 Zens
? Effective Use: ORDER I-III rogues, shadow operatives, medium-armor specialists
? Recommended Handling: Safe for immediate use. Pairs well with stealth-focused builds. Requires standard maintenance (essence cleaning every 2 weeks, physical inspection monthly).
Steel that drinks shadow. Armor that walks in silence. A second skin for those who live between seen and unseen.
x_______________________x
"This one's okay," Reyana said. "But nothing too good. Recycle pile?"
Jin nodded.
x_______________________x
? 【 BOOTS OF BAKOS 】?
...
? RARITY: 3-STAR RARE
? TYPE: Armor - Enchanted Boots, Footwear
? STATE: Excellent - Well-Maintained
? MANUFACTURER: Unknown Craftsman - 'Bakos' Maker's Mark Detected
? [ATTRIBUTES] ?
? Mobility Enhancement - TIER IV
└─ Enchantments significantly enhance movement speed and agility. Base movement speed increased by 35%. Jump height increased by 50%.
? Terrain Adaptation - TIER IV
└─ Boots automatically adjust grip and weight distribution based on surface type. Can walk on water, ice, sand, and other difficult terrain with constant essence channeling.
? Durability - TIER IV
└─ Reinforced construction with self-repair enchantments. Extremely resistant to wear and environmental damage.
? Silent Step - TIER III
└─ Movement produces minimal sound. Footsteps reduced by 80% regardless of surface type or movement speed.
? [ABILITIES] ?
? Bakos' Sprint
└─ Once per hour, activate to gain a 100% movement speed increase for 15 seconds. During this time, it can run on vertical surfaces and across gaps up to 10 meters wide.
? Shadow Step
└─ Three times per day, can instantly dash up to 8 meters in any direction (including vertical). Leaves a faint shadow trail. No essence cost.
? Sure Footing
└─ Passive effect: Immune to being knocked down or tripped. Balance is maintained even on unstable surfaces. +20 to acrobatic maneuvers.
? [TECHNICAL DETAILS] ?
? Weight: 1.4 kg (pair)
? Material: Reinforced leather, essence-woven thread, shadow-iron toe caps, adaptive sole enchantment
? Size Adjustment: Automatically resizes to fit wearer (within reasonable human proportions)
? Detected Residue: Clean - no corruption traces
? [VALUE ESTIMATION] ?
? Market Value: 620,000 - 880,000 Zens
? Effective Use: ORDER I-IV scouts, assassins, mobility-focused combatants
? Recommended Handling: Safe for immediate use. Excellent choice for hit-and-run tactics, escape scenarios, or terrain-challenging environments. Pairs exceptionally well with agility-based fighting styles.
Bakos crafted for those who refuse to be caught. Where others stumble, you dance. Where they fall, you fly.
x_______________________x
"This is solid," Jin said.
"Yeah, that's solid." Reyana agreed.
x_______________________x
? 【 GAUNTLETS OF BLOOD DEMON 】?
...
? RARITY: 3-STAR RARE
? TYPE: Armor - Heavy Gauntlets, Hand Protection
? STATE: Recovered - Corruption Traces Partially Sealed
? MANUFACTURER: Cult Forge - Blood Demon's Circle
? [ATTRIBUTES] ?
? Striking Power - TIER V
└─ Gauntlets amplify unarmed strike damage by 150%. Each successful hit generates a minor shockwave effect.
? Blood Resonance - TIER IV
└─ Absorbs trace amounts of blood from struck enemies. Converts absorbed blood into temporary strength enhancement (+1 STR per 5 hits, max +5 STR. Duration: 30 minutes).
? Durability - TIER IV
└─ Extremely reinforced construction. Can block bladed weapons without damage. Resistant to essence-based attacks.
? Corrupted Enhancement - ACTIVE
└─ Gauntlets carry Blood Demon's blessing. May influence the wearer toward increased aggression during extended use. SEALED via external enchantment to reduce effect by 70%.
? [ABILITIES] ?
? Crushing Grasp
└─ Grip strength increased by 200%. Can crush stone, bend metal, and shatter lesser magical barriers with sustained pressure. Costs 10 essence per second of maximum grip.
? Blood Ignition
└─ Once absorbed, blood reaches 5 charges and can release all charges as an explosive attack. Next unarmed strike deals 300% damage and creates a 3m radius blood-fire explosion. Cooldown: Until 5 charges are accumulated again.
? Demon's Endurance
└─ While wearing both gauntlets, pain tolerance increased by 40%. Can fight through injuries that would normally incapacitate. Does not reduce actual damage taken—only perception of pain.
? [TECHNICAL DETAILS] ?
? Weight: 4.2 kg (pair)
? Coverage: Hands, wrists, partial forearms
? Material: Blood-forged steel, demon bone fragments (sealed), corrupted essence channels, reinforced finger joints
? Detected Residue: HIGH - Multiple blood signatures, demonic essence traces (70% sealed)
? Current Blood Charges: 0/5
? [VALUE ESTIMATION] ?
? Market Value: 1,680,000 - 1,950,000 Zens (if fully purified); 1,320,000 Zens (in current partially-sealed state)
? Effective Use: ORDER II-IV brawlers, berserkers, strength-focused melee combatants
? Recommended Handling: CAUTION ADVISED. The seal must be maintained through weekly essence purification. Prolonged use (3+ hours continuously) may trigger aggression surges. Excellent for burst damage builds. Not recommended for users with low mental fortitude (Will stat below 25).
The Blood Demon's gift: strength without limit, fury without end. But remember—the demon always collects its due.
x_______________________x
"I could use these if they don't mess with my guns," Jin said.
"They shouldn't. They're gauntlets, not full gloves. You'd still have finger mobility."
"Good. I'll try them then."
Then came the mask, and Jin gasped at the appraisal results.
x_______________________x
? 【 MASK OF BLOOD DEMON】 ?
...
? RARITY: 4-STAR EPIC
? TYPE: Armor - Mask, Face Protection
? STATE: Recovered - Heavy Corruption (SEALED)
? MANUFACTURER: Cult Forge - Blood Demon's Inner Circle
? [ATTRIBUTES] ?
? Essence Amplification - TIER VI
└─ Dramatically enhances the wearer's essence output and control. All blood-aspected abilities increased by 35%. All other abilities increased by 30%.
? Mental Fortitude - TIER V
└─ Mask grants powerful mental protection. Immunity to fear effects, charm, and mind control (ORDER IV and below). Reduces the effectiveness of higher-tier mental attacks by 60%.
? Sensory Enhancement - TIER V
└─ Vision enhanced 300% (can see clearly up to 500m). Hearing was enhanced by 200%. Thermal vision available on command. Can see essence flows and magical structures.
? Durability - TIER IV
└─ Nearly indestructible construction. Can withstand direct hits from ORDER IV attacks without cracking.
? Corrupted Divine Fragment - SEVERE
└─ Mask contains a genuine fragment of Blood Demon's divinity. Massive power boost comes with extreme corruption risk. SEALED via multiple overlapping enchantments. Breaking the seal will release demonic influence and potentially summon Blood Demon's attention.
? [ABILITIES] ?
? Blood Demon's Gaze
└─ Once per day, can activate demonic sight. For 60 seconds, see all living beings within 200m through walls and obstacles. Highlighted by blood essence signature. Can identify exact health status, injuries, and blood type. Costs a high essence expenditure.
? Terror Visage
└─ Three times per day, can project a demonic presence through a mask. All enemies within 20m with a Will stat higher than the user become frightened for 30 seconds. Frightened enemies have -50% to all combat capabilities. Does not affect ORDER V+ entities.
? Demon's Resilience
└─ While the mask is worn, vitality regeneration increases by 80%. Can regenerate from injuries that would normally be fatal (excluding complete destruction of vital organs). Limb reattachment is possible if treated within 10 minutes.
? Blood Price (Corruption Effect - Currently Sealed 85%)
└─ Mask slowly consumes the wearer's humanity. Each hour worn increases corruption by 1%. At 100% corruption, the wearer becomes thrall to Blood Demon. Current seal reduces accumulation rate by 85% (0.15% per hour). Corruption resets to 0% after 48 hours without wearing mask.
? [TECHNICAL DETAILS] ?
? Weight: 1.8 kg
? Coverage: Full face coverage, integrated breathing filters
? Material: Demon bone (primary structure), blood-forged obsidian, divine essence fragment (sealed), corrupted essence channels, reality-warping runes
? Detected Residue: EXTREME - Demonic divinity (85% sealed), Blood Demon's direct blessing, multiple soul signatures
? [VALUE ESTIMATION] ?
? Market Value: 3,400,000 - 6,200,000 Zens (if fully purified - though purification may destroy unique properties); 4,450,000 Zens (in current sealed state)
? Effective Use: ORDER III-VI combatants with high mental fortitude (Will stat 40+)
? Recommended Handling: EXTREME CAUTION. DO NOT BREAK SEAL under any circumstances without ORDER VI+ supervision. Limit use to 2 hours per day maximum. Store in a triple-sealed essence container when not in use. Check all three containment layers weekly. The user must undergo a mental fortitude assessment monthly. If corruption accumulation is detected, immediately cease use and seek a Church exorcist.
? Special Note: This item is classified as RESTRICTED by most authorities. Possession alone may result in investigation by Church Inquisitors or the Hunter's Guild. Consider very carefully whether power is worth potential consequences.
The Blood Demon's face becomes yours. Its sight becomes yours. Its hunger becomes yours. And when the mask comes off, will YOU still be there? Or will only the demon remain, wearing your skin?
x_______________________x
Jin stared at the description for a long moment. "This is... wow."
"That's one way to put it." Reyana leaned over to read. "Jin, this thing is insanely powerful, but it's also insanely dangerous. You saw the corruption rate, right?"
"Yeah. 0.15% per hour with the seal. Two hours max per day. I can handle that."
"Can you? With all the other items you are considering?" Reyana's tone was sharp. "Sure, this is an important tool, which I agree with, and I also agree with your judgment. When you want to wanna use them, just be careful."
"Thanks,” Jin was surprised by her high evaluation of him. He genuinely chuckled, sighed audibly, and stretched his arms. “Ugh, I’m exhausted."
"From what, writing stuff?"
"Yeah. Let’s get this over fast. Next up, we’ve the augments."
x_______________________x
? 【 RING OF ETERNAL HUNGER 】 ?
…
? RARITY: 2-STAR EPIC
? TYPE: Augment - Enchanted Ring, Accessory
? STATE: Recovered - Active Corruption (CONTAINED)
? MANUFACTURER: Unknown - Suspected Abyssal Origin
? [ATTRIBUTES] ?
? Vampiric Enhancement - TIER V
└─ Dramatically amplifies all life-draining, essence-stealing, and vampiric abilities. Increases drain effects by 75%.
? Hunger Manifestation - TIER IV
└─ Ring feeds on ambient life force within a 10m radius. Passively drains 1 HP per minute from all living beings nearby (including allies). Absorbed vitality stored as 'hunger charges'.
? Durability - TIER III
└─ Enchanted metal construction. Resists damage and attempts at removal once worn.
? Corrupted Binding - ACTIVE
└─ Ring attempts to bond with the wearer's essence over time. Extended use (10+ hours total) creates a permanent connection. CONTAINED via external suppression enchantment (reduces bonding rate by 80%).
? [ABILITIES] ?
? Feast of Gluttony
└─ Once hunger charges reach 100 (approximately 100 minutes of passive drain), you can release all charges to heal 50% of maximum HP and restore 40% of maximum essence. Cooldown: Until 100 charges are accumulated again. Current charges: 0/100.
? Eternal Appetite
└─ All healing effects are reduced by 30% on the wearer (the ring consumes a portion of healing). In exchange, maximum HP increased by 20%.
? Hungering Strike
└─ Weapons gain vampiric property. Drain 5% of damage dealt as HP restoration. Stacks with other vampiric effects multiplicatively.
? [TECHNICAL DETAILS] ?
? Weight: 8 grams
? Material: Abyssal black gold, hunger essence core, binding runes (suppressed)
? Size Adjustment: Automatically resizes to fit any finger
? Detected Residue: HIGH - Abyssal corruption, multiple life signatures consumed (contained)
? Removal Difficulty: Moderate - Can be removed with 15 seconds of concentrated effort. Permanent bonding (10+ hours) increases to 60 seconds of removal time.
? [VALUE ESTIMATION] ?
? Market Value: 1,780,000 - 3,620,000 Zens (if fully purified); 1,140,000 Zens (in current contained state)
? Effective Use: ORDER II-IV vampiric builds, life-drain specialists, necromancers
? Recommended Handling: CAUTION ADVISED. Limit continuous wear to 2 hours maximum. Remove for at least 1 hour between uses to prevent permanent bonding. Store in an essence-sealed pouch when not active. Nearby allies will experience mild fatigue (passive drain effect). Not recommended for prolonged dungeon delving in groups.
The ring hungers. It will feast on friend and foe alike. Feed it well, or it will feed on you.
x_______________________x
"Not my style," Jin said. "The passive drain on allies is a dealbreaker."
"Agreed. I don't want to slowly die just standing next to you."
x_______________________x
? 【 AMULET OF THE DARKENED ONE'S BLESSING 】 ?
…
? RARITY: 4-STAR EPIC
? TYPE: Augment - Divine Amulet, Accessory
? STATE: Recovered - Heavy Divine Corruption (SEALED)
? MANUFACTURER: Darkened One's Cathedral - High Ritualist Craft
? [ATTRIBUTES] ?
? Divine Amplification - TIER VI
└─ Contains a genuine fragment of Darkened One's divinity. All shadow, darkness, and death-aligned abilities increased by 120%. All light and holy abilities are reduced by 50%.
? Corrupted Divinity - TIER VI
└─ Grants access to corrupted divine power. Can channel Darkened One's authority to command lesser undead and shadow creatures (ORDER III and below). Darkened One clergy recognize the wearer as a blessed agent.
? Shadow Immunity - TIER V
└─ Complete immunity to shadow-based attacks relative to the user's power level. Darkness heals the wearer instead of harming (convert shadow damage to healing at a 1:0.8 ratio).
? Essence Reservoir - TIER IV
└─ Stores an additional 500 essence in a divine fragment. Can be drawn upon in emergencies.
? Divine Mark - SEVERE
└─ Wearer is marked by Darkened One. Divine entities, Church Inquisitors, and holy warriors can sense the blessing from 100m away. Attracts both allies and enemies. SEALED to reduce detection range by 90% (10m instead of 100m).
? [ABILITIES] ?
? Darkened One's Grace
└─ Once per day, call upon Darkened One's protection. For 30 seconds, become an incorporeal shadow form. Immune to all physical damage, can phase through walls, movement speed +200%. Cannot attack while in shadow form. Severe essence cost.
? Divine Command
└─ Three times per day, issue commands to shadow/undead creatures within 50m. ORDER III and below must obey. ORDER IV creatures get Will save. ORDER V+ unaffected. Commands last 10 minutes or until fulfilled.
? Blessing of Shadows
└─ Passive: In complete darkness, regenerate 2% HP and 3% essence per second. In bright light, regeneration rates were reduced by 50%.
? Mark of the Fallen (Corruption Effect - Currently Sealed 80%)
└─ Amulet slowly corrupts the wearer's alignment toward the Darkened One's doctrine. Each hour worn increases corruption by 2%. At 100% corruption, the wearer becomes thrall to the Darkened One. The current seal reduces accumulation to 0.4% per hour. Corruption resets to 0% after 72 hours without wearing the amulet.
? [TECHNICAL DETAILS] ?
? Weight: 120 grams
? Material: Darkened steel, divine corruption fragment (80% sealed), shadow essence crystal, obsidian chain
? Detected Residue: EXTREME - Divine corruption (80% sealed), Darkened One's direct blessing, multiple soul offerings
? [VALUE ESTIMATION] ?
? Market Value: 12,800,000 - 24,200,000 Zens (if fully purified - likely destroys divine properties); 7,780,000 Zens (in current sealed state)
? Effective Use: ORDER III-VI shadow mages, necromancers, death knights
? Recommended Handling: EXTREME CAUTION. DO NOT WEAR near Church territory or holy sites (will trigger a violent response from clergy). Limit use to 1 hour per day maximum. Store in a triple-sealed container. Check all seals weekly. Wearers must undergo a corruption assessment biweekly. Possession of this item is ILLEGAL in most places and will result in arrest/execution if discovered by authorities.
The Darkened One sees through this amulet. Your actions are witnessed. Your soul is marked. When death comes, will you rise in His shadow, or fall into His hunger?
x_______________________x
"This amulet is pretty damn awesome. Pity I don't have shadow powers, though."
"Good?" Reyana's voice went sharp. "All of the items are corrupted as fuck! You don't see the Corrupted Divinity part?"
"Well, I might have missed it…"
"How do you miss CORRUPTED DIVINITY?"
"Selective reading?"
Reyana groaned.
x_______________________x
? 【 EARRING OF BLOOD COMMUNION 】?
…
? RARITY: 4-STAR RARE
? TYPE: Augment - Blood Earring, Accessory
? STATE: Recovered - Moderate Corruption (SEALED)
? MANUFACTURER: Cult Forge - Blood Mother's Inner Circle
? [ATTRIBUTES] ?
? Blood Link - TIER V
└─ Creates a mystical connection between wearer and designated 'blood partner' (must perform bonding ritual). Can sense partner's location, emotional state, and health status within a 5km radius.
? Vitality Sharing - TIER IV
└─ Can transfer vitality to bonded partner or vice versa at will. Transfer rate: 10 HP per second. Maximum distance: 100 meters.
? Essence Conduction - TIER IV
└─ Enhances all blood magic by 65%. Reduces the cost of blood-aspected rituals by 40%.
? Corrupted Bond - MODERATE
└─ Bonding ritual requires blood sacrifice (both parties must shed blood). Bond becomes permanent after 7 days. SEALED to allow voluntary unbonding (requires a 24-hour ritual to break).
? [ABILITIES] ?
? Blood Communion
└─ Once bonded, can communicate telepathically with partner within 5km. Communication is emotion and imagery-based, not verbal. Always active (no cost).
? Life Link
└─ Twice per day, it can activate emergency life sharing. If either bonded individual would take fatal damage, the damage is split equally between both partners. Duration: 60 seconds. Cooldown: 12 hours.
? Shared Vitality
└─ While within 50m of bonded partner, both individuals gain +15% maximum HP and +10% HP regeneration. Effect stacks if both wear matching earrings.
? Blood Pact (Requires Activation)
└─ Perform a 10-minute blood ritual to bond with a willing participant. Both parties must shed at least 100ml of blood. Bond lasts until death or a voluntary unbonding ritual. Can only maintain 1 active bond at a time.
? [TECHNICAL DETAILS] ?
? Weight: 4 grams
? Material: Blood ruby, silver setting, communion enchantment threads, corruption suppression runes
? Detected Residue: MODERATE - Blood essence traces, bonding magic remnants (previous bond severed)
? Current Bond Status: UNBOUND - Requires a matching pair to unlock full abilities.
? [VALUE ESTIMATION] ?
? Market Value: 920,000 - 1,400,000 Zens (if purified); 480,000 Zens (in current sealed state)
? Effective Use: ORDER II-V paired combatants, bonded partners, support specialists
? Recommended Handling: Moderate caution. Choose a bonding partner carefully (a bond is a serious commitment). Excellent for duo operations or protecting a high-value ally. Life Link ability can save lives, but it puts both partners at risk simultaneously. Seal maintenance: Monthly essence purification recommended.
Blood calls to blood. Two hearts, one pulse. One life, shared destiny. Choose your bond wisely—it may be the last choice you make freely.
x_______________________x
"This could be useful for team coordination," Jin said. "But we'd need to find the matching earring."
"The cultist probably had a bonded partner. They're probably either dead or out for our blood."
Jin scoffed. "We have too many enemies, and we are at war with the cult, anyway."
“True”
x_______________________x
? 【 ESSENCE OVERFLOW REGULATOR 】?
…
? RARITY: 1-STAR RARE
? TYPE: Augment - Technical Device, Accessory
? STATE: Excellent - Factory New Condition
? MANUFACTURER: Standard Artificer Production - Mass Market Model
? [ATTRIBUTES] ?
? Essence Regulation - TIER II
└─ Prevents essence overload by automatically venting excess energy when reserves exceed 95% capacity. Eliminates essence sickness from over-channeling.
? Casting Stabilization - TIER II
└─ Smooths essence flow during spellcasting. Reduces spell failure rate by 15%. Helpful for novice casters or high-risk spells.
? Durability - TIER I
└─ Basic mechanical construction. Prone to damage if not maintained properly.
? [ABILITIES] ?
? Overflow Prevention
└─ Passive: Automatically vents excess essence when reserves reach 95% capacity. Prevents essence overload damage and essence sickness. Vented energy dissipates harmlessly into the environment.
? Stabilization Field
└─ Passive: Creates a minor stabilization field around the wearer. All spellcasting +5% success rate. Reduces essence fluctuation by 10%.
? Emergency Release
└─ Manual activation. Instantly vents 50% of current essence reserves to prevent catastrophic overload (if about to explode from essence backlash). One-time emergency use. Requires recalibration after activation.
? [TECHNICAL DETAILS] ?
? Weight: 85 grams
? Material: Brass casing, essence-conducting copper coils, pressure release valve, calibration crystals
? Maintenance: Requires recalibration every 3 months
? [VALUE ESTIMATION] ?
? Market Value: 145,000 - 275,000 Zens (new)
? Effective Use: ORDER I-II novice casters, high-risk spellcasters, anyone prone to essence overload
Not glamorous. Not powerful. But it might save your life when your spell goes wrong and your essence tries to explode out of your body. Sometimes boring reliability beats flashy power.
x_______________________x
"This is good," Jin said. "I'm taking this."
"Smart. Especially with how much you push your essence channels."
"Hey, I'm careful."
"Yeah, sure, you can fool Rudy, not others."
Jin grinned. "You calling Rudy dumb? That’s not a nice thing to say about your teammate."
Reyana flustered as she jabbed towards Jin, who barely moved out of the way. "He has blind faith in you, Jin. Don’t let him down."
Jin paused. Something flickered in his eyes. "Yeah, I know."
“Yeah. I know…”
~~~
They worked through the remaining items. Most were unremarkable, functional, but not worth detailed discussion. They cataloged them, and Reyana more than once scolded him about his handwriting.
“Finally, we are done!” Jin stretched, joints popping. "Now I'll get my skills done, and then I'm sleeping."
"Sounds good. I think I’ll head to sleep now." Reyana stood, gathering the description sheets.
"Night!"
"Hmm. Good luck with the skills."
Jin watched her go, then turned back to the skill core analysis waiting in his vision.
Alright. Time to build something dangerous.
~~~
[739/1000]
? ? ?
?^>?<^ ?
