The Treasure Serpent is a creature on the same level as Milorakles, with high attack and low defense, and is highly poisonous. For new players with almost zero poison resistance, one bite is fatal—truly a deadly encounter. Its earth-toned skin design is as malicious as something from a Miyazaki film.
Under the command, it delivered the treasure and then burrowed into the ground.
The box opened to reveal four items.
"Elf's Hair Ribbon (Accessory)":
All attributes +1, Sun Elf faction reputation -1
"A strand of white hair ribbon, still shimmering."
This -1 reputation is quite interesting because the default reputation with Sun Elves for all players is 0. Just a reduction of 1 turns it to indifferent. Indifference means that the animals in the Sunlit Forest will occasionally attack you proactively. If you're not careful and fight back, your reputation will plummet, making it a trap full of malice.
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"Philorin Sapling (Short Wand)"
Intelligence +2, Casting Speed +0.12
"A sapling from the Philorin Tree, pure arcane energy flows through it."
As a weapon, there's not much to say. This small wand can be used effectively until about level 10.
The only issue is that the Philorin Tree is a symbiotic tree of the Sun Elves. Someone with indifferent reputation carrying it in the Sunlit Forest might be mistaken for a bandit.
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"Bloodstained Severed Finger (Accessory)":
Strength +1, Constitution +1, Charisma -1
"From a deceased person, would anyone really wear this?"
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In Illusory Realm, accessories are a broad concept, similar to brooches, hair ornaments, headbands, and even tattoos.
Besides wearing them, they have another important use: gifting to increase favorability.
There's nothing more suitable than giving accessories; they may seem trivial, but their significance is profound.
Moreover, the "hidden attributes" of each accessory are not as elusive as equipment, they are quite straightforward.
For example, you might painstakingly find a piece of pure white heavy armor imbued with holy power and give it to the most formidable Paladin Lorenth of the United Holy Nation, intending to gain favor. But upon seeing the armor, Lorenth might send you back to the graveyard with a "Wrath of Light" because the armor is made from the sacred bones of his seventh uncle, stolen by grave robbers years ago...
Accessories are simple; everything is clearly stated, and the traps are written right on them.
For instance, the "Elf's Hair Ribbon" can be used to gain favor, best given to someone who will never visit the Sunlit Forest in their lifetime.
Xia Ya took out the hair ribbon and personally tied it on Sennia.
The charming woman glanced at him coquettishly but did not evade.
He let the other two choose from the remaining items and picked up the fourth item himself.
"Milorakles's Heart"
A warm heart, soft to the touch, still contracting and expanding.
Apulu Pie asked, "What is this?"
"A witch's heart, crush it to release her."
"Eh, eh, eh, is this the handiwork of that Dark Elf named Yveline?"
—Yes, Yveline not only preserved her heart but also had the Soul Leech torture Milorakles to death.
Xia Ya shrugged, "Maybe, I don't know."
"You finally don't know something!"
Apulu Pie patted her small chest, as if relieved.
Xia Ya couldn't help but laugh, patting her forehead, "Step aside, I'm going to physically release her."
Sennia stepped forward, "Let me do it."
Xia Ya shook his head, declining her offer.
In the NPCs' view, such a vile object contains a strong curse, and destroying it usually has side effects, which she didn't want Xia Ya to suffer.
Indeed, the heart was cursed. If the witch herself destroyed it—whether by her own hand or by manipulating others—she would forever lose the chance of release. But if someone else destroyed it, that person would bear the curse's pain for Milorakles.
It's a constant health-draining debuff, and Yveline would hunt you down.
The one who cast the curse was Yveline, an extremely sadistic Dark Elf. Unfortunately, her Soul Leech went berserk, and she is currently trapped by monsters in her hometown.
In Illusory Realm, all monsters, demonic transformations, and arcane energy summons—any creatures related to negative energy—all originate from Synlos.
The Destroyer of Worlds follows the will of The Abyss, spreading despair. When he deems a world beyond salvation, he destroys it.
The appearance of the Corrupted Forest and the demonic transformation of beasts on this land were caused by the arcane energy leaking from Synlos's Nest.
The Soul Leech, an indescribable arcane energy summon, was a gift from Synlos in response to the prayers of those who had lost hope in this world.
Yveline was one such hopeless person.
When she prayed, Synlos responded from another realm, granting her the Soul Leech, a weapon particularly effective against Casters.
But when he personally arrived in this world and established his nest, the arcane energy surged, elevating the monsters by five levels, and Yveline could no longer control the Soul Leech.
Then she suffered greatly.
That's why Xia Ya dared to destroy this thing himself, not worried at all about the Dark Elf tracking him through the curse.
Xia Ya took Sennia's greatsword; with 6 points of strength, he could handle it—at least he wouldn't miss his target.
With one slash, the heart and the Philorin Tree behind it were split apart.
Behind him was the witch's piercing scream, and the entire Corrupted Forest rustled, converging into a low lament.
The sound slowly faded, and everything settled.
It was just at sunset, and for the first time in decades, golden sunlight pierced into the forest.
The phosphorescent ferns clinging to the tree trunks fell like dry mud, and the Philorin Tree, which lived and died with the Dark Elf, slowly withered and dissipated under the sunlight...
[You have killed Milorakles (Soul Form), gaining 2500 experience.]
This was the full experience of Milorakles, truly "solo-killed" by Xia Ya.
At the same time, a wisp of black gas emerged from the heart.
[You have been afflicted with Yveline's Toxic Kiss, losing 10% of your maximum health every hour.]
From the outside, he was wrapped in a wisp of black gas.
"Xia Ya!"
Sennia immediately approached, looking at him with concern.
"It's okay, don't worry."
Xia Ya touched her cheek.
"There's definitely something going on between them," Apulu Pie whispered.
Air Conditioner: "This is an all-ages game, how much could really be going on?"
"Hmph, I can't put my finger on it, but there's definitely something! It's a woman's intuition!"
Air Conditioner chuckled helplessly.
After the Philorin Tree completely dissipated, a large hole was revealed on the ground. Xia Ya led the way in, with the others following closely.
The underground passage was dark and long, with faint sounds coming from ahead.
It sounded like a woman's cries of pain, incredibly suppressed, as if she were about to breathe her last.
But more than screams, it sounded like something all four of them understood.
The atmosphere was very strange.
As they reached the end of the passage, the sound grew louder, but was blocked by a stone door.
"Prepare yourselves mentally."
Xia Ya turned back to give a quiet reminder, his expression peculiar.
Then, he slowly turned the mechanism on the stone door.
Counterclockwise three-quarters of a turn, push one ring inward, then clockwise a quarter turn, push two rings inward, finally press the mechanism, and pull hard!
Whoosh—
The stone door opened, and the woman's high-pitched scream became clear. Except for Sennia, the other three experienced brief dizziness.
A quick look at tinyurl.com/2p9emv8w will leave you more fulfilled.
Along with the sound came dark, slimy tentacles! They were everywhere!
Sennia hurriedly swung her broad sword to block, but the passage was too narrow to maneuver well, and she was afraid of hurting others, so her movements were limited. Moreover, the tentacles' strength was beyond her resistance, and she was caught off guard and grabbed by the ankle, dragged into the stone door.
Air Conditioner struggled the most, almost instantly drained dry, triggering a protective logout mechanism, sending the character back to the graveyard and forcing the player offline.
Xia Ya, having dealt with Soul Leeches often, completely gave up resisting, acting like a dead man. The Soul Leech only drained 10% of his health before losing interest.
As for Apulu Pie...
She was different.
The female Rogue was not afraid, but rather delighted!
"I [bleep], could she be a masochist?"
Xia Ya was shocked, just in time to meet Apulu Pie's eyes...
"[Bleep] it, she really is..."
In a few seconds, Apulu Pie was drained of HP and sent back to the graveyard.
Seeing this, Xia Ya didn't hesitate any longer, stepping forward and rushing into the stone door, closely following Sennia.
.
!
Vol.1 - Chapter 14 – Soul Leech
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