novelraw Chapter 106-2: Lord of Cinders (2)
Chapter 106-2: Lord of Cinders (2)
[The duel will begin in 105 seconds…]
Fang Yifei waited silently, praying for a reward box blessed with god-tier luck.
[The duel has begun!]
[Your view has been switched to the side you supported!]
[Within a vast, pristine-white space…]
[You stand quietly, holding twin samurai blades that glint with cold light. You raise one blade, pointing the tip at your opponent.]
[A red-glowing Apostle stands opposite you, hefting an enormous Dragonfang Greatclub. With a thunderous boom, the weapon slams into the ground, carving a deep crater.]
“The hell was that, just posturing.”
Fang Yifei sneered, clearly referring to the newbie Apostle.
In Arena matches, the player’s view would shift to the Apostle they bet on, so technically a second-person POV, but immersive enough to feel like first-person.It was like stepping into the ring yourself, that was the unique charm of arena duels.
Many Apostles, having been brutalized repeatedly by this cursed game, became what the forums jokingly called ‘Hopeless Bros.’
They often raged at The Book of Salvation after testing every bizarre death imaginable: “Screw this world! I’m done saving it!”
To regain their shattered confidence, they bet on powerful Apostles in arena matches, watching the text unfold while fantasizing about what they might look like in the future.
Not for the reward. Just for the roleplay.
[You push off the ground hard with your toes, your body shooting forward like a meteor, streaking toward the enemy.]
[The twin blades in your hands arc through the air, flashing with chilling, deadly light!]
[The red-glowing Apostle charges at you in long strides, dragging a massive Dragonfang Greatclub that gouges a long trench in the ground.]
[You cross your samurai blades in a fierce slash aimed at the oncoming foe!]
Before the outcome was even decided, Fang Yifei opened his Inventory, waiting for his reward to pop up.
He even wondered if he should go buy a few lottery tickets. After all, opening reward boxes sometimes needed “luck priming.”
According to the Law of Balanced Luck, if you didn’t throw in a few losing lottery tickets, the quality of your blind box might suffer.
[The samurai blades shimmer with icy brilliance, aiming to cleave the enemy in half…]
[Everything goes dark before your eyes…]
[You died!]
???
Fang Yifei stared at the game text in disbelief and smacked his phone hard.
He suspected his perspective must’ve glitched, surely the Apostle with the Dragonfang Greatclub was the one he bet on?
[Perspective swap complete.]
[Unfortunately, the Apostle you supported, “Chug the Holy Water,” has lost the duel.]
[Your bet failed! You received no reward!]
—
[You raise your Dragonfang Greatclub. With a terrifying blast of wind pressure, you slam it down, crushing the opposing Apostle into the ground.]
[When you lift the club, a thin ‘meat pancake’ is left in the crater.]
[You have won the arena duel!]
[You have received the Arena Gold Belt!]
[Arena Gold Belt (Special Item): Awarded for winning a Public Duel with an extremely one-sided betting ratio. Using this item grants a random reward.]
Lin Xun had originally just wanted to test the crit rate of his Greatclub. He hadn’t expected to flatten the opponent into a literal smear in one blow.
So much for testing power, he ended up earning a gold belt instead.
The scene felt oddly familiar to him.
According to what he’d read on the Apostle Forum, there were two higher-tier belts above the gold one.
It was probably because the total bet pool was too small. While the betting ratio was extreme, it didn’t meet the threshold for the higher reward tiers.
No need to dwell on it, he clicked the Gold Belt.
[You have used the Arena Gold Belt!]
[Generating reward…]
[Congratulations! You have received 8,888 Spirit Essence!]
“Not bad, got nearly nine thousand Spirit Essence for just one Invasion Bookmark.”
He only had one Invasion Bookmark left in his Inventory.
Lin Xun ran over to the Librarian and spent 1,000 Spirit Essence to buy two more.
Unfortunately, the third restock would cost a jaw-dropping 10,000 Spirit Essence.
He tucked away the bookmarks. When Spirit Essence ran low again, he’d come back to the arena and ‘cash out.’
With his Dragonfang Greatclub now at +2 and carrying a crit effect, its melee power was overwhelming.
He also had a High-Grade Thunder Enchantment Stone, a drop from a very generous Ore Lizard.
Regarding this enchantment stone, Lin Xun had a different plan.
In the game, enchanted power wasn’t just for combat, it sometimes played a key role in chapter progression.
For instance, the White Moon enchantment had once opened the gate to Fox Castle in a previous chapter.
If he enchanted Thunder onto a melee weapon, it might limit his options in future stages.
So Lin Xun decided instead to enchant the Thunder Dragon Staff-Spear, a hybrid weapon for both melee and ranged combat. It didn’t have the same limitations.
After weighing his options, he made up his mind.
He possessed the Blacksmith Shell and opened the panel, clicking Grandmaster Forging Art.
[Would you like to consume the High-Grade Thunder Enchantment Stone to imbue the Thunder Dragon Staff-Spear with the power of Thunder?]
[Enchanting…]
[Enchant successful!]
[Your weapon Thunder Dragon Staff-Spear is now permanently enchanted with Thunder!]
Lin Xun opened his Inventory to inspect.
[Thunder Dragon Staff-Spear +1 (Epic Weapon): …This weapon has been enchanted with Thunder. When attacking or casting skills, it now deals additional thunder damage.]
With his equipment now enhanced, it was time for Lin Xun to strengthen himself.
He went to speak with the Librarian.
Clicking the Source of the Apocalypse in his Inventory, he finally turned his attention to the legendary and powerful Relic he had long anticipated.
[The Librarian eyes you with shock and curiosity, unable to believe you possess such immense potential, enough to obtain a Source of the Apocalypse.]
[He tells you that to solidify it into a true Relic, you must touch the massive Book of Salvation behind him. It will grant you the great power of the Relic.]
Lin Xun raised an eyebrow and stepped forward, clicking the Book of Salvation.
[You reach out and touch the Book of Salvation. Your feeble wandering soul resonates with the tome.]
[You now have access to the Salvation Function of the Book of Salvation.]
[Would you like to start the next chapter and embark on your next salvation journey?]
[Apostle Swordsmith detected to be in possession of the Source of the Apocalypse. Hidden feature unlocked, Solidify Relic!]
A new option appeared beside Begin Next Chapter: Solidify Relic.
Lin Xun selected Solidify Relic.
[Please select the Source of the Apocalypse you wish to use.]
He opened his Inventory and selected the Type-II Source of the Apocalypse Fragment.
[Do you wish to solidify Type-II Source Fragment – Corrupted Mire into a Relic?]
[Warning: This action is irreversible. Please choose carefully!]
Lin Xun frowned for a moment, then relaxed.
The New World organization’s use of the Source in the real world definitely wasn’t its proper purpose.
Judging from the authorities’ stance toward New World, the Source of the Apocalypse was likely to cause massive harm if misused in reality.
As an official Apostle, Lin Xun knew it was his duty to use it correctly, to strengthen himself.
He pressed Yes with great anticipation.
[Solidifying…]
[Solidification successful!]
[You have obtained Type-II Relic Fragment (Corrupted Mire)]