Chapter 39: Ashen Night, about to descend!

Ta Ke's six hundred plus magic gold.

All were consumed on the ring staff, as well as another life-saving treasure.

However, the originally planned 120 magic gold second-tier shadow ring staff.

Became a powerful rune·shadow ring staff.

And that life-saving treasure, Ta Ke also just obtained it.

The treasure is stronger than Ta Ke imagined.

The undead raven that flew over carrying the treasure.

After setting down the treasure, its feathers, bones, and soul fire quickly withered and decayed, then vanished.

Just to transport and carry it, that single 9th-level raven gave up its entire life.

This shows how formidable the treasure is.

Perhaps Lord Ao Bu Li wanted to tell Ta Ke this way about the danger of such a treasure.

Of course!

Ta Ke also knows that the treasure's nature is also one of the reasons Lord Ao Bu Li does not perform a two-person linkage of the treasure's properties.

Underground, inside the skeleton passage.

Ta Ke sat cross-legged on the bones, gradually gathering his mind, while recovering source energy.

After a few hours of magical experiments before and after.

Ta Ke has already fully mastered the characteristics and fine usage of the rune·shadow ring staff.

"In terms of casting, the shadow ring staff can mobilize source energy more covertly."

"Previously using the crimson flame bracelet to covertly mobilize source energy, I barely kept up with the shadow ring staff's natural mobilization level."

"Once combined with my concealment of the source energy flow, and the shadow ring staff's own concealment."

"When it comes to sneak attacks… cough cough… striking first, I have an absolute advantage!"

"Furthermore, under the enhancement of the shadow property, source energy is stimulated to a greater extent."

"The effects and power of magic have also seen considerable improvement."

"Then… this is the inherent characteristic of the rune·shadow ring staff itself."

Ta Ke's previous crimson flame ring staff could naturally condense flame, absorb heat, and help Ta Ke resist the cold in the ashen night.

As a basic ring staff, the crimson flame ring staff is very suitable for the ashen lands.

But the shadow ring staff is formidable.

The shadow ring staff itself possesses three very practical functions.

They are respectively 【Shadow State】, 【Shadow Veil Robe】, 【Shadow Passage】.

【Shadow State】

The holder of the shadow ring staff can enter a certain shadow state, having the characteristic of rapid movement, can exempt a certain amount of damage, but will suffer more light-type damage.

【Shadow Veil Robe】

The combination of shadow power and the mage's robe can form an effective defensive force.

【Shadow Passage】

Shadow state can unleash the shadow passage ability.

The essence of shadow's nature is the reason Ta Ke wants to master the shadow ring staff.

After Ta Ke's attempts.

These three abilities, in Ta Ke's hands, let Ta Ke possess flexibility comparable to that of the Blood Clan sequence.

Ta Ke's baptismal transformation this time has greatly increased his own strength.

And obtaining this top-tier equipment.

It's literally like adding wings to a tiger.

At this moment, Ta Ke's right wrist bears the shadow ring staff, while his left wrist bears the crimson flame bracelet (crimson flame ring staff).

One wrist cannot wear two magical ring staffs.

If the source energy resonates, the two ring staffs will clash.

Lightly, it would unlock the "One-armed Wizard" achievement on the spot.

Severely, it would explode on the spot and ascend to heaven!

One each on both hands, no conflict, then there's no problem.

Ta Ke sat quietly in meditation, waiting.

Soon, footsteps echoed from deep within the skeleton cavern.

"A Man Ti", wearing a white-blue checkered court dress, stepped on the bones and quickly approached with nimble steps.

As superbeings increase in level, their soul, perception, physique, agility, balance, etc., continually increase.

His gaze swept over A Man Ti's white-blue checkered court dress.

"We're going to kill people, not attend a ball."

Ta Ke frowned slightly, but after thinking it over, he felt relieved.

Anyway, in this ashen night round, Ta Ke will definitely have to kill many people.

If so, the court dress steeped in blood from the slaughter, blooming perhaps… could intimidate some people.

Form doesn't matter; what matters is the essence!

"Are you ready?" Ta Ke's voice was low and hoarse.

It was completely different from his previous voice.

A Man Ti stared in surprise.

Ah! Does the voice also need to change?

Ta Ke paused for a second on the somewhat ornate court long dress.

No need, just speak less!

Go!

Silently, Ta Ke activated the Shadow Ring Staff.

Hum...

Darkness and shadows gathered.

It seeped into Ta Ke's wizard's robe, gathering upon his body.

When Ta Ke put on the wizard's hood,

His whole body slightly levitated.

Like an indifferent grim reaper harvesting lives.

【Shadow State】 is a natural levitation state, although it continuously consumes a small amount of source energy.

But this levitation state allows Ta Ke to effectively traverse various muddy grounds, water surfaces, and some complex terrains.

Taking out the glass horse lamp, Ta Ke threw a fire oil bomb into it.

Source energy transformation, plus Ta Ke raised the level of his fire oil technique to 19.

The fire oil bomb now has extremely high density; with good combustion efficiency, it can burn for a long time.

The only drawback is that it is rather wasteful of the horse lamp.

After all, there's a necromancer behind; Ta Ke can't go ahead clearing the way with holy light.

Aman Ti, following behind Ta Ke, enshrouded herself in necromantic gray mist, using its diffusive property to follow silently.

At the same time, she kept Ta Ke's operations in mind.

"Witchcraft methods, when combined with daily life, if they can be used, should be used."

The two went one ahead, one behind.

In the depths of the passage, they swiftly pursued the lamp forward.

Underground street, obsidian materials store.

Numerous horse lamps lit the interior and exterior brightly.

Leaning on the backrest chair, Lao Ke Mu glanced at Ta Ke and then at the necromancer behind Ta Ke.

Danger!

That is the feeling the necromancer gave Lao Ke Mu.

However, after thinking about what Ta Ke might have done earlier.

Lao Ke Mu felt that Ta Ke hiring a second-rank necromancer as a bodyguard was obviously a wise choice.

"This is your wizard's robe."

Lao Ke Mu handed over the wizard's robe modified from the black-gray alchemist's robe.

"Not showing up for so long, I thought you'd never come again!"

Ta Ke sensed the hidden meaning in the words.

"Just tell me any news directly!"

"She, it's fine!"

He glanced at the second-rank necromancer shrouded in necromantic gray mist.

Lao Ke Mu gave a low chuckle twice, then said: "A few days ago, someone attacked the Hunter Association's headquarters, which is also the core area aiding the Dark Sun Church in hunting witches."

"That mysterious person is strong, silently taking out the Hunter Association's bloodthirsty alchemist."

"When the corpse was found, it had been gnawed by rats down to just a sheep skeleton."

"Moreover, the leader of the Hunter Association also died beside the altar."

"Even... the Dark Sun Church's rituals were also destroyed."

"This made the members of the Evil God Organization extremely angry."

Saying this, Lao Ke Mu grinned, his gold tooth gleaming.

"This turmoil has made the Evil God Organization members much more restrained."

"But the Evil God Organization obviously has no intention of stopping."

"They are secretly investigating while also purchasing a lot of ritual materials in this gray date."

"I suspect they are likely to conduct some mysterious ritual again."

Lao Ke Mu's explanation was rich in information.

Combining the information Ta Ke had grasped, a rough outline gradually emerged in his mind.

That feeling was like a giant beast, about to be or already having been nurtured, lurking in the dark around Lamor High Tower City-state.

Previously, Ta Ke still thought time could be pushed back a bit.

But now it seems.

Time probably isn't on his side.

"We need to act quickly!"

Lamor High Tower City-state is where Ta Ke develops steadily.

Ta Ke does not allow anyone to destroy it.

Moreover, before Ta Ke's wizard ecology is sufficiently stable.

Once the ecology of Lamor High Tower City-state, which he relies on for survival, is destroyed, Ta Ke will also suffer heavily.

「Do you need to sell something, or buy something? 」

Ta Ke was thinking when he suddenly heard Old Kem politely and subtly greet Amanti.

「Oh no! 」

Ta Ke just wanted to stop it.

「Ah! No need, thank you! 」

A composed and elegant clear voice rang out.

Upon hearing the voice, Old Kem laughed.

High-ranking, young woman, dressed appropriately, speaking politely.

As soon as Amanti spoke, she revealed that she likely came from the tower.

「I think you must be the apprentice of the great necromancer Master Aubri! 」 Old Kem said flatteringly.

「Yes, Instructor Aubri is a learned and respected figure. 」 Amanti felt no issue with such praise, even though it revealed her true identity.

Just as Old Kem was still trying to use this flattery to gather more information,

but saw Ta Ke's cold gaze directed at him.

「Hehe... 」 Old Kem gave a dry chuckle twice.

「If every young person were as kind as this beautiful maiden... 」

Old Kem's lament was interrupted by Ta Ke.

「Not even a bone will be left for you old jackals to eat. 」

At this moment, Amanti realized she had likely slipped up, feeling regret while Ta Ke's earlier reminder—"speak less!"—surfaced in her mind.

Ta Ke stood up and, right in front of Old Kem, shamelessly took two lanterns.

Two people, naturally, are two lanterns.

「Where are we going? 」 Amanti asked as they went out.

The outline in his mind gradually became clear.

Ta Ke took out the ashen clock and looked at it.

The sunset was already near.

「Bunker zone! 」

Ta Ke put the ashen clock away, surveyed the darkness ahead, and spoke softly.

(End of chapter)