章 70: Salt Mine & Salt Snakes- XV

Saad carefully considered his choices among the treasure within the salt mine. He had already selected an armor set, and now it was time to decide on his second reward. His eyes fell upon a particular item, radiating with a crimson glow—an incomplete Crimson Sovereign. Once Saad started to read through the qualities of the liquid, he couldn't help but drool over the item as someone who was struggling with defense. If only he could take this item out in the main game.

[Incomplete Crimson Sovereign]

Item Type: Unique Defense Shield

Rarity: Rare (Growth)

Description: The Crimson Sovereign is not your typical elixir; it is a living shield with a mind of its own. This enigmatic liquid takes the form of a shield, pulsating with an otherworldly crimson glow. Crafted through ancient alchemical rituals and infused with the essence of resilience, the Crimson Sovereign is said to possess a powerful ego, yearning for battle and seeking to protect its wielder at any cost. Legends spoke of the Crimson Sovereign as a sentient shield, possessing an ego and a hunger for battle. Its unique properties, including damage negation, adaptive absorption, and counteractive release, made it an invaluable asset for any warrior seeking ultimate defense and devastating counterattacks.

Effects:

Adaptive Absorption: The Crimson Sovereign's strength depends on the amount of damage it absorbs. As attacks strike the shield, it absorbs the energy, fueling its power. The more significant the damage, the longer it takes for the Crimson Sovereign to absorb it fully. This unique mechanic adds a strategic element to its use, as the shield's effectiveness grows with the intensity of the enemy's assault.

Counteractive Release: Once the Crimson Sovereign has absorbed a substantial amount of damage, it releases the stored energy in a powerful counterattack. The unleashed energy surges forth from the shield, repelling enemies and striking them with formidable force. The strength of this counteractive release is directly proportional to the absorbed damage, making it a devastating offensive tool.

Resilience Enhancement: The Crimson Sovereign's ego is fueled by the absorbed blood of the enemies, empowering its protective capabilities. As it absorbs blood, the shield's resilience increases, reinforcing the protection it provides to the wielder. This enhancement effect persists even after the shield has reached its absorption limit, making the wielder increasingly impervious to harm.

Effect Description:

Damage Negation: The Crimson Sovereign shield can nullify and counter damage from up to three points of impact. Adaptive Absorption: The time taken for the Crimson Sovereign to fully absorb damage depends on its intensity, ranging from 1 second for minor damage to 5 seconds for heavy damage. Counteractive Release: The counterattack unleashed by the Crimson Sovereign deals damage equal to 50% of the absorbed damage. Resilience Enhancement: Each absorbed damage point increases the shield's resilience by 10%, up to a maximum of 50%.

Binding requirement: Blood of sovereign

Unlocking requirement: Essence of higher demon

Despite being incomplete, Saad believed it would serve him well, especially against the formidable salt snakes. The item needed to be activated but Saad had no time to do that since the time to choose the reward was

With his second choice made, Saad glanced at the countdown timer for the hidden path, mindful of the time remaining. He knew he needed to make his final selection swiftly. The path might close before he had a chance to return.

Saad's attention was drawn to a skill named [Whip of Binding]. It was a rare skill that promised to grant him greater control over his whip, allowing him to immobilize his enemies, a skill that could prove invaluable in his battles within the salt mines.

Skill [Whip of Binding]

Rank: Rare

Skill Type: Active Skill

Description: Whip of Binding is a rare and versatile skill that allows the user to wield a mystical whip imbued with the power of restraint and control. When unleashed, the whip crackles with energy, capable of binding and immobilizing enemies, giving the user a tactical advantage in combat. With precise timing and skillful execution, the Whip of Binding can ensnare foes, restricting their movements and rendering them vulnerable to further attacks.

Effects:

Binding Effect: The Whip of Binding has a chance to bind and immobilize enemies upon successful impact. When struck by the whip, enemies have a chance to become ensnared, preventing them from moving or taking actions for a brief period. This effect offers a strategic advantage by restricting enemy mobility and rendering them susceptible to attacks.

Duration of Binding: 3-5 seconds

Chance of Binding: 20% - 30%

Skill Upgrade Cost: 5 skill points

Cooldown: 20 seconds

Mana Cost: 30 Mana

Stamina Cost: 12

Saad didn't hesitate. He chose the skill [Whip of Binding] as his third reward. The moment his decision was made, the items and the treasure chamber began to fade away, leaving him standing once more in the narrow tunnel that led back to the salt mines.

Dread settled in his chest as he made his way through the tunnel. His heart pounded, and his breath quickened. And then, as if from the shadows themselves, a pair of white, malevolent eyes met his gaze—the unmistakable eyes of a salt snake.

---

Saad's heart raced as he found himself standing in the narrow tunnel, the ominous eyes of the salt snake staring right into his soul. Every detail of the moment seemed etched into his memory—the way the snake's white pupils glowed malevolently against its black scales, the eerie silence that hung in the air, and the feeling of dread that coiled within him.

But Saad didn't have the luxury to dwell on fear. He knew he needed to act quickly, for he was trapped in the tunnel with no way out. He unsealed the intricate vial, revealing the ominous black bottle within. It was a sinister-looking object, like a relic from some dark, eldritch ritual. Saad's fingers trembled as he tried to activate it, but his excitement was short-lived as a message window appeared, demanding the "blood of sovereign."

[Please provide blood of sovereign.]

Frustration gnawed at him as he grumbled, "Blood of sovereign? What in the world is that?" Saad felt like he was playing a twisted riddle game with this cryptic item.

With a sigh, he decided to venture back into the cave, where the snake's massive form blocked the exit of the tunnel. Saad looked around, desperate to find any solution. He attempted to force the bottle open, but it remained obstinately sealed. Then, without warning, he felt a painless prickling sensation in his fingertip.

Saad watched in both astonishment and frustration as a single drop of 'blood' formed on his fingertip and was instantly absorbed by the ominous black bottle. "Really? Blood of sovereign? How is that even possible?" he muttered incredulously.

A message window popped up, stating, [The blood of sovereign is being activated.] But to Saad's dismay, it was followed by another message that read, [the essence of higher demon is missing] and [the Crimson Sovereign is contemplating submission.]

Saad's eyes narrowed, his frustration mounting. This was turning into a nightmare. It seemed the Crimson Sovereign had some sort of hidden condition, and he had no idea how to fulfill it. Regret coursed through him for choosing this complicated shield in the first place. He remembered that item had an ego so in the end, since he hadn't provided the item with essence of higher demon, it wasn't in its full form.

In a moment of realization, he knew what had to be done. There was no other choice. He had to defeat the salt snake before it could destroy the tunnel and breach his refuge.

Summoning his determination, Saad unholstered his dual whips, their forms crackling with energy. He knew the battle ahead would be fierce, but there was no turning back now. With a defiant spirit, he lunged forward, ready to face the formidable foe and protect himself in this run.