Chapter 38: Seal

"Lin Dui.."

"You're not dead.."

Lin An helplessly glanced at Zhang Tie, unwilling to speak.

Just a trace of warmth flowed through his heart.

He also saw the scene of Zhang Tie rushing in to save him without regard for any cost.

Considering they had known each other for less than two days, even with the lifesaving favor, Zhang Tie's action counts as having emotion and righteousness.

Moreover, the system also sent a notification just now.

"Ding, member Zhang Tie, loyalty increased to 90. (He will almost never betray you, no matter life or death.)"

By sheer accident, this ended up causing Zhang Tie's loyalty toward him to rise in a straight line.

It seems that the Zhang Tie he casually rescued might actually become his partner in the future.

Lin An simply didn't say much more; his mind was entirely focused on the 【Soul-devouring Hand】.

"Charge out, carry me back."

Upon hearing Lin An's words, Zhang Tie hurriedly hoisted him onto his shoulder.

Passing the earlier bandaged girl and the bundle of medicine, he simply put the "shoulder pole" across his chest, holding the corpse snake's spine as he charged outward frantically.

Under the enhancement of the bear transformation and the still-unfinished potion, his speed was extremely fast.

All the way, silence.

Only the zombies' howls could be heard in his ears.

The corpse snake's spine crackled loudly, precisely blasting apart a blocking zombie like a whip.

Along the way, the two remained silent, each lost in their own thoughts.

Although he saw with his own eyes that Lin An wasn't dead, he was overjoyed in his heart.

But his heart just couldn't relax.

Lin Dui... although he wasn't dead.

But it's highly likely he was infected.

When he led the squad to break out of the zombie siege, he also saw what happens to many people after being infected by zombies.

After the apocalypse broke out, the zombie virus mutated at an extremely rapid speed.

The further the Doomsday Game progresses into the late stage, the stronger the zombie virus's power becomes.

At present.

Ordinary people, as long as their skin is lightly cut, will turn into zombies within just ten minutes.

If a critically injured, dying person, they will instantly become man-eating monsters.

Although Lin An appeared normal, Zhang Tie also regarded him as an Awakened One, whose physical fitness allowed him to endure longer.

What to do?

Should we bring Lin Dui back?

Inside the inn, there are still many ordinary people, and even his own younger sister.

If Lin Dui turned into a zombie, with his current physique, even if he didn't become a mutant, he'd be far stronger than an ordinary zombie.

Bringing Lin An back is equivalent to carrying a time bomb.

Zhang Tie was tormented inside, not knowing what to do for a moment, so he could only charge out headfirst.

However, he had never thought of abandoning Lin An.

He had already made up his mind.

Even if Lin An became a zombie, he would fight to the death to protect Lin An until the very last moment!

Unlike Zhang Tie's random thoughts.

Lin An merely kept checking the 【Soul-devouring Hand】 on his hand, his heart filled with bitterness.

"Orange Equipment (Epic): 【Soul-devouring Gloves】 shattered seal state"

"Equipment Attribute: Strength +5 (equipment shattered, other attributes recover after charging)"

"Equipment Skill: Soul Shriek (not yet charged)."

"In the glove's damaged state, it cannot automatically draw spiritual energy from the outside; only the wearer's own mental energy can actively supply it."

"Note: The power contained in this equipment has been completely devoured. Perhaps you can try to find another obsidian shard to restore its original power."

"On the glove covered in bloody patterns, the embedded obsidian shard has been shattered, devoid of any luster."

"Having to look for another obsidian piece to complete the equipment is really a pitfall."

Lin An also couldn't be bothered to complain about this back-and-forth messing with people's minds.

After all, he not only obtained equipment stronger than the 【Skullcrusher's Hand】, but also harvested an S-rank Shen Yuan Black Dragon!

Just re-completing the equipment, it's no big deal.

Just a headache over where to find another obsidian shard.

Also don't know where this glove actually comes from.

For some reason, Lin An always felt that the glove hid some secret behind it; when he becomes stronger later, it would be worth investigating.

As for why the equipment was sealed,

Looking at the black dragon carved into stone on his wrist, he roughly knew what was going on.

Without a doubt, the power inside the glove was completely devoured by that guy, and the spiritual energy he earlier inexplicably absorbed was probably the excess that the black dragon couldn't consume, spilling out!

"My huge epic equipment!"

Lin An wanted to cry but had no tears.

Although the 【Soul-devouring Hand】 was lost and then regained, the equipment's attribute is only slightly stronger than the blue equipment's 【Skullcrusher's Hand】.

Strictly speaking, it's even not as good as the effect of two pieces of blue scattered equipment.

All attributes are sealed, leaving only a +5 strength.

The heaven-defying effect of attacks carrying a mental shock is sealed, and the skill's automatic charging cannot be used either.

Even the Soul Devouring, whose function is unknown, has fallen into the seal.

Heartbroken and anguished.

Lin An could only constantly comfort himself along the way; fortunately, the most crucial skill is still there.

First equip it, relying on the extra strength bonus, it just barely makes up for the combat power lost from serious injury.

As for charging the Soul Shriek...

Lin An didn't even think about it before giving up on that.

Now it's too dangerous; uncertain how much mental power is needed for charging, he dare not rashly try.

Even if just activating the Soul Shriek would allow himself and others to return safely.

But, compared to the unknown possibility, he would rather be safe.

After noticing Zhang Tie's stamina worsening, Lin An no longer hesitates, preparing to act.

The +5 strength is enough to support himself fighting back to the inn.

However, at the moment he equipped the glove...

"Hum!"

A strong suction came from the glove, like a whale swallowing, drawing out his internal mental power.

On the black glove, bloody-red patterns suddenly lit up, bursting with waves as the mental power rushed in.

?!

What a joke, why does the glove automatically absorb power!

The instructions clearly said it requires my voluntary consent!

Astonishment and anger intertwined; the suddenly erupting suction was like a bone‑eating worm.

The degree of suction far exceeded Lin An's expectation; he didn't even have time to actively cut off his mental power.

Damn it!

In an instant, Lin An felt as if his strength had been drained, his vision went black and he completely passed out.

Just before losing consciousness, he faintly heard a cold system prompt:

"Warning, due to unknown error, triggering automatic mental power replenishment."

"This time, the coma duration caused by mental power exhaustion is estimated at 100 hours.. this time will be shortened by external replenishment."