novelraw Chapter 186-1: The Legendary Starborn Spirit – Thunderbeast Mammoth Lonka (1)
Chapter 186-1: The Legendary Starborn Spirit – Thunderbeast Mammoth Lonka (1)
“Only those whose faith is unwavering?”
Lin Xun couldn’t help but think of the Essence of Star Faith he had just obtained.
[You step into the hall. On the dome and stone pillars of the hall are carvings of countless tiny stars. As you proceed deeper, you see a row of enormous lifelike statues standing in the depths of the hall.]
[The statues take the form of colossal, misshapen monsters. Just looking at these lifeless figures makes you sense the overwhelming power they must have possessed.]
[Like the starborn beings you had encountered before, these monsters all bore their signature carapaces or bony plates, bristling with savage fangs and claws.]
[Each monstrous form is distinct, some brandish claws and bare their fangs, others spread wings to roar, still others seem poised to burrow into the ground and disappear…]
[You step closer to inspect them, and discover to your shock that these monsters aren’t statues at all, but… corpses, more precisely, preserved specimens!]
[These remains have been weathered by countless ages. Their bodies are dull in color, the segmented claws blunted, and here and there you even see cracked bony plates flaking off and falling to the floor.]
[You notice inscriptions carved into the pedestals beneath the remains. You read aloud, word by word: Legendary Starborn Spirit – Terror Scorpion Nunes]
[You look at the others: Legendary Starborn Spirit – Dread Stinger Serpent Zuniga, Legendary Starborn Spirit – Nightmare Jumping Mantis Zabi][Each monster’s pedestal records the name bestowed upon it by its god.]
[Your gaze settles on the creature called Legendary Starborn Spirit – Dread Stinger Serpent Zuniga.]
[This monster is nearly ten times larger than the Dread Stinger Serpent you faced earlier. Its bony plates are unbelievably thick, concealing even greater and sharper dorsal spines. The sickle-like blades on its forelimbs have multiplied from one to three…]
[The creature before you seems like the ultimate, perfected form of the Dread Stinger Serpent.]
[You surmise these monsters were all leader-level beings among the Starborn, leading their tribes to fight for the radiant stars in the God Wars. After death, the gods themselves named them Legendary Starborn Spirits, preserving their remains in the Star Spirit Palace to commemorate their glory.]
[Steadfast Apostle of faith, which Legendary Starborn Spirit will you choose to receive an unknown reward?]
“So this is the reward segment?”
According to Maguire’s records, only those who hold unwavering faith in the stars can pass through the Star-Chasing Corridor and reach the Star Spirit Palace to receive a divine gift.
And within the hall lay the remains of various Starborn kin.
While facing the preserved corpses, the wretched game did not offer the Possession option. Whether this was due to insufficient Compatibility or simply the passage of too much time, he couldn’t tell.
Lin Xun’s imagination took off: perhaps the reward was precisely to choose one of the preserved remains and inherit the creature’s formidable powers.
“Hmm, that’s quite a reasonable guess.”
He considered that having just slain a Dread Stinger Serpent, it might not be wise to pick the leader of the same species now.
Besides, he didn’t think much of the stinger-shooting and acid-spitting abilities.
“Their skills aren’t flashy at all, some of us care about aesthetics, you know.”
Your gaze sweeps across each fearsome monster…
[Legendary Starborn Spirit – Terror Scorpion Nunes, a gigantic scorpion-shaped creature clad in jet-black armor, its scorpion tail arched high as though releasing clouds of lethal venom.]
[Legendary Starborn Spirit – Nightmare Jumping Mantis Zabi, with two thick segmented limbs rising vertically from its back, the scythe-like blades at their ends glinting with unnatural sharpness. Its forelimbs had dug a hollow in the floor, as if preparing to hide within.]
[Legendary Starborn Spirit – Dread Stinger Serpent Zuniga…]
—
[Legendary Starborn Spirit – Thunderbeast Mammoth Lonka, the largest remains in the entire hall, towering several times larger than any other specimen. The crown-like armored plate on the giant beast’s brow was as thick as a fortress wall. Four massive crossing tusks jutted from its lower jaw like the scythes of death itself. The giant beast’s upturned roar seemed poised to trample all other corpses underfoot.]
[Steadfast Apostle of faith, please choose one Legendary Starborn Spirit to receive a reward.]
[You may also decline the favor of the Legendary Starborn Spirit and leave the Star Spirit Palace.]
Lin Xun’s eyes lit up.
Just from the name Thunderbeast Mammoth, it sounded vastly more powerful than any jumping mantis or stinger serpent.
“If I’m picking, I’m picking the biggest and the strongest!”
“Venom sprays and spine shots are worthless…”
He thought for a moment, then switched Shells.
You have possessed the Shell of the Corrupted Earth Giant!
Judging by its build, the Thunderbeast Mammoth must have been one of those sturdy tank-type species. Its abilities would likely be a perfect fit for the Earth Giant.
The Mage Shell already had more than enough skills, and Lin Xun still worried about the President’s short mana bar, giving it more skills would just be a waste.
You walk up to the colossal remains. Standing at the feet of the Thunderbeast Mammoth, you are no bigger than an ant.
You reach out and touch the enormous corpse…
“Damn, why does it have to be touching… What if it revives?”
Lin Xun twitched the corner of his mouth, unease churning in his chest.
If the Legendary Starborn Spirit really came back to life and discovered he was a traitorous oathbreaker…
“I’ll take the reward if I can. If I can’t, I’m out of here…”
He prepared himself mentally to run at the first sign of trouble.
—
You wait in silence. Nothing happens. The remains do not stir at all.
[You lack the steadfast and pure faith in the stars. You cannot receive the favor of the Legendary Starborn Spirit.]
Lin Xun frowned slightly, then let out a quiet breath.
He opened his inventory and tried clicking on the Essence of Star Faith he had obtained earlier.
As expected, the wretched game displayed a related message.
[You have not sworn the Oath of the Radiant Stars. You cannot use this item to deepen your devotion.]
You feel somewhat disappointed.
[You are astonished to discover that the cold speck of starlight in your hand seems to be drawn toward the colossal remains before you.]
[A faint glow emanates from the Essence of Star Faith, flowing toward the Thunderbeast Mammoth.]
[Do you wish to offer the Essence of Star Faith to the remains?]
Lin Xun guessed that the star gods designed the labyrinth of the Star-Chasing Corridor to lure heretics into converting their faith. They must have worried that some would stumble through by dumb luck and reach the end without true devotion.
So they placed another barrier here before the remains: anyone who had not sincerely changed their beliefs, or whose faith was hesitant and impure, would be unable to receive the divine gift.
Those who could not obtain the reward would have to return to the Star-Chasing Corridor and pray before the statues of the Radiant Stars, to strengthen their piety…
[The Essence of Star Faith merged into the colossal remains, and starry light burst forth in the beast’s eyes.]
[The remains, eroded by ages, were suffused with vivid color. The battered body grew new, pristine carapace, and the four massive tusks beneath its jaws gleamed with a cold brilliance…]
[The deafening roar of the Legendary Starborn Spirit – Thunderbeast Mammoth Lonka thundered through the hall, echoing layer upon layer…]
[Its giant eyes looked down at your tiny figure. Its voice boomed like a great bell. “Outsider starborn! You have awakened a slumbering legendary soul!”]
[“Your pure faith has allowed you to pass the trial of the Star-Chasing Corridor. Your steadfast devotion has roused the legend that once was!”]
[“Starborn, what kind of reward do you wish to receive?”]
Lin Xun was ready to bolt at the first sign of trouble. He hadn’t expected that the giant beast, rather than exposing him as a traitorous oathbreaker, would actually offer him a reward.
“…All I can say is, a man who loves games will never have truly bad luck.”
The giant beast before him didn’t seem truly alive, it was more like an undead without consciousness… or perhaps it was more accurate to call it an undead insect.
Otherwise, it would have already realized Lin Xun was a filthy (and) secret (oathbreaker).
[The Legendary Starborn Spirit – Thunderbeast Mammoth Lonka presents you with three choices.]
[1. Indestructible Tusk Blades.]
[2. Impenetrable Chitin Carapace.]
[3. Fearless Frenzy of Unyielding Zeal.]
Lin Xun stared at the three options before him, falling into thought.
If indestructible tusks struck an impenetrable carapace… what would happen?
He shook his head to banish the absurd idea.
As he expected, offering the remains granted a racial skill or innate talent from the Starborn.
The first option was powerful offense. The second was formidable defense.
The third option was harder to decipher.
“Fearless Frenzy of Unyielding Zeal… What sort of skill is that? Does it boost resistance to mental spells, or does it trigger a mindless berserk mode?”
There was no time limit on the three options before him, so he could take his time to decide.