novelraw Chapter 356-1: Demon Zircon Mask Combat Armor (1)
Chapter 356-1: Demon Zircon Mask Combat Armor (1)
“Could it be that Valkyrie and Kim ran into the Wet Nurse?”
“No, that should be impossible. But no matter what they ran into, I must hurry back immediately!”
[The Mask-Crafting Expert puts on a profound and unfathomable look as it tells you that its teacher is living in seclusion at the Demon Zircon Mining Pit not far from here.]
[The Demon Zircon in the mining pit has already been completely mined out, but the bottom of the pit is still connected to a hidden mine tunnel. That tunnel contains a small amount of Demon Zircon, but of extremely high purity.]
[This ore is a must-have for making masks. Its teacher lives in seclusion deep within the tunnel, using the ore to continue improving mask-making craftsmanship…]
[Are you going to immediately return to the Demon Zircon Mining Pit, take the Mask-Crafting Expert with you, or kill it on the spot?]
“The mask master is living in seclusion at the mining pit?”
Lin Xun raised an eyebrow, suspecting that Valkyrie’s death was most likely connected to the mask master.
He immediately pressed the second option and took the Mask-Crafting Expert along.
He left the hatching pool at the fastest speed, riding a Military Mole Cricket to the Demon Zircon Mining Pit.The Military Mole Cricket was much faster than a Courier Mole Cricket, but even at top speed, it still took nearly ten minutes to reach the Demon Zircon Mining Pit.
[…]
[Before long, the Military Mole Cricket arrived at its destination.]
[You lift the Mask-Crafting Expert and rapidly approach the mining pit…]
[You carry it to the edge of the pit. The black cocoon still stands intact at the bottom of the pit.]
[A huge opening has been broken through the side wall at the bottom of the pit, connecting to a pitch-black large mine tunnel…]
[But Kim, who had been guarding beside the black cocoon, is nowhere to be seen…]
The good news was that Flanda was fine. The bad news was that Kim was gone.
Thinking of the mask master’s true identity, Kim probably would not be in too much danger… but it was hard to say. If both of them recognized each other’s identities, then how did Valkyrie die?
[You lift the Mask-Crafting Expert, your bone wings beating once as you leap down to the bottom of the pit…]
[The Mask-Crafting Expert sees the enormous black cocoon and freezes, clearly realizing something. Sensible as it is, it pretends it did not see anything and points at the mine tunnel, telling you that its teacher lives in seclusion at the deepest part of the tunnel. It can guide you.]
To be safe, Lin Xun immediately summoned the Nine-Tailed Fox and Nurarihyon to guard the black cocoon.
He himself took the Mask-Crafting Expert and went deeper into the mine tunnel.
There were quite a few branching paths inside the tunnel, twisting and turning. If he explored on his own, it would probably take a long time.
With someone guiding him, he quickly reached the deepest part of the tunnel.
[…]
[Light shines from the end of the dark passageway. You lift the Mask-Crafting Expert and arrive at a large stone chamber at the end of the tunnel.]
[Inside the chamber, Kim is kneeling on one knee, gasping for breath. There are many gruesome wounds on its body. In some places, the carapace has shattered, revealing the original jet-black color.]
[Behind it lies a huge monster that is barely hanging on. The centipede-like monster is covered in pale carapace that emits a faint glow. The glow is exactly the same color as Demon Zircon…]
[You notice that there are also many wounds on the monster’s carapace, exposing the aberrated jet-black color.]
[You have discovered the Aberrant Devouring Thousand-Footed One!]
[At the other end of the stone chamber is a short, fat Ascender. Aside from a pair of legs beneath it, it has six short, thick arms.]
[Yet that is not the strangest thing about it. The battle armor that extends from its facial mask to cover its entire body is extremely exaggerated and enormous. Unlike ordinary carapace armor that is airtight, this armor is hollow, like a skeletal frame.]
[A skull-sized Demon Zircon embedded in the chest of the exoskeleton combat armor shines with dazzling light.]
[The short, fat Ascender is controlling the armor like a large exoskeleton as it faces off against Kim and the Devouring Thousand-Footed One, and it seems to hold the upper hand.]
[You have discovered the Ascended Mask Master!]
[The Mask-Crafting Expert you are holding by the neck suddenly roars, Teacher, save me! I was kidnapped by a demon, and I only managed to lure the demon here with great difficulty!]
[As soon as the words fall, the Mask Master lunges at you. A blinding light erupts from the chest of the exoskeleton combat armor, and the scythe blades extending from its limb ends grow larger and larger in your vision…]
Lin Xun instantly realized that the Mask Master was not a Primordial Firefly believer at all. That patch of jet-black carapace used to impersonate an Ascender probably came from the Devouring Thousand-Footed One’s body.
The person before him was an enemy, not a friend!
[Kim hurriedly warns you, the enemy is very strong, especially that suit of armor…]
[You have no time to think further. You throw away the person in your hand and meet the attack head-on!]
[Claws and scythe blades collide, erupting with a piercing loud noise…]
[The Mask Master retreats again and again, the armor’s feet plowing two deep grooves into the ground.]
[Several gaps break open on its hand scythe blades. Cracks spread across them, as if they are about to snap.]
[You can feel that the enemy’s strength and speed are both inferior to yours. You are fully confident you can kill it.]
[The Mask-Crafting Expert rolls over and scampers to its teacher’s side.]
[It says to the person beside it, Teacher, don’t conserve Demon Zircon. As long as we keep feeding the Thousand-Footed Demon, we can continuously produce high-purity Demon Zircon.]
[And killing the demon lurking in the Divine Kingdom is a great merit. Even if you want to openly raise the Thousand-Footed Demon in the future, it won’t be a problem.]
[It grins at you and speaks to persuade you. You should stop making pointless struggles and immediately give up resistance. It guarantees it can spare your life.]
[After speaking, it takes the mask handed over by the Mask Master. Immediately, a slightly smaller suit of exoskeleton combat armor manifests and wraps around its entire body.]
[The Mask-Crafting Expert does not notice that its teacher’s expression is somewhat off. Wearing the exoskeleton combat armor, it seems to surge in strength and decisively attacks the badly injured Kim.]
[Its attacks all go for Kim, while trying to avoid the Devouring Thousand-Footed One behind Kim as much as possible.]
[The Mask Master’s expression is complicated. It quickly pulls out a piece of Demon Zircon and fastens it onto its chest, then lunges at you again!]
[Its speed is faster than before, and its offensive is even more ferocious!]
[You beat your bone wings and stomp the ground, swinging your claws forward…]
[Legendary+ skill: Destruction Demon Claw activated!]
[Your claws sever the enemy’s scythe blades and even tear apart several of the exoskeleton ribs over the enemy’s chest, sending the Mask Master flying backward even faster than when it charged in.]
[The Mask-Forging Expert holds back from roaring, Old bastard, if you keep holding back, we’re all going to die here today. Hurry and use that Demon Zircon…]
[The Mask Master finally cannot hold back and speaks. It scrambles up and spreads its hands, whispering, the Secret Crystal Demon Zircon has already been used up.]
[The Mask-Forging Expert suddenly stops, flashes back to its teacher’s side, and asks in disbelief, used up?]
[Its teacher nods and answers firmly, used up. The only one was used for researching new combat armor… but unfortunately, the research failed.]
[The Mask-Forging Expert is stunned. It stands there for a long time, then reacts and forces a couple of awkward laughs toward you. It very obediently retracts the exoskeleton combat armor, raises both hands over its head, and kneels on the ground.]
[After taking two attacks, the Mask Master also realizes it is far from being your match. It imitates its disciple, retracts the armor, and indicates surrender.]
[Kim, seeing you handle the enemy, finally cannot hold back and sits down hard on the ground while clutching his wounds.]