Pride Online

Chapter 476: The Forbidden Weapon, “Dark Longinus” Part IV

“Crystal ink?”

Everyone repeated out of curiosity, especially Shin who had a huge question mark between his eyebrows that knitted together.

“Have you guys ever heard of the ‘tattoo’ system in Pride?”

Snow turned to ask everyone.

And it was Waree who reached up to touch her lips like she just realized something.

“The game’s tattoo system is to use tattoos to increase abilities stats for the user, isn’t it? Each tattoo has a different effect. Some of them increase magic points, and some of them allow the user to use some skills. These tattoos started to grow in the market lately because they are like items that don’t require the user’s equipment or weapon slot. However, the items used in processing the ink are all rare items. That’s why there’re very few players who have tattoos.”

“That is correct, gorgeous.”

Snow turned to give Waree a sweet smile. She put her index finger up as she was about to continue explaining, but suddenly she paused, looking back at Waree again.

“Anyway, who are you? I’ve never met you before, right?”

“Huh? ...er, ...I,” Waree stuttered.

“Just leave it, Snow.” Shin cut her off. “And what now? That ink in your hand.”

“...”

Snow was still staring at Waree. Those indigo-blue eyes narrowed down like she had something going on in her mind. But finally, she snorted, before turning her face to Shin again.

“Well, sure, if you said so.” She said knowingly. “Give me your hand, the non-dominant one. Your left hand, right?”

She went right to the subject now. And hearing that, Shin raised his eyebrows as he grudgingly handed his left hand to her. Then, without hesitation, Snow took it to look closer. She was studying it for a long while before she curled up a smile finally.

“Okay, your hand size is just as I expected. This might hurt a little, but it won’t be long. Just think of it as giving a blood donation.”

“Huh?” The one who just got his hand examined arched his eyebrows.

“I’m going to tattoo you. This crystal ink is the combination of many items I’ve developed from your Four Seasons. It’s going to be put under your skin, not in the form of an accessory anymore.”

“So, a weapon in the form of a tattoo?”

Manoch whispered out of surprise because there had never been a weapon like this before. And if Snow really succeeded in it, it was going to be another legend she created!

“The reason I did this is because your enemy is one of those who use dark curses, aren’t they?”

Hearing that, Shin recalled Sven’s attacks right away.

“Yeah.” He nodded in reply.

“So, changing the weapon’s form into a tattoo will help you cut off the weapon damage problem totally. However, you must deal with the other problem instead, which is why I have to know how much pain you can endure.”

“Why?” Shin knitted his eyebrows together. “Does it have something to do with the undamageable weapon?”

“Yes, it does.” Snow curled up a sweet smile. “Because this tattoo isn’t just a common tattoo, but a special cursed one.”

“Cursed tattoo?” Shin repeated with a curious face.

“Right. I mixed hundreds of cursed crystals in the ink, dude, including the one with the strongest effect like ‘Soul Ripping curse’ that kills the player who gets this curse within 10 seconds.”

“Eh, I know that curse,” Aerin spoke up. “It’s the highest-ranking curse that can’t be dispelled. The one who gets cursed with it has to die absolutely. It’s exceedingly rare that no one’s able to use it nowadays, isn’t it? Then how come you got it with you, Miss Snow?”

Hearing that question, the white-haired weapon maker curled up a soft smile.

“It’s a business confidential, babe.” She said in a delighted voice, before turning to Shin again, “So, Shin, how much pain can you endure? Because I’m about to shove all of these curses in you at once.”

The man was quiet for a moment. Those lavender-colored eyes glanced at the tiny clear jar that was filled with red liquid consideringly.

“So, it means that every time I activate the weapon, the curses will...”

“Correct.” Snow nodded. “Every curse will be activated at the same time. At first, you might have to endure the pain they’ll cause. But I believe that you’ll get used to the pain one day after you use it for a while.”

“But isn’t it dangerous, Miss Snow?”

Waree was the one who interrupted. Her face looked quite worried.

“Yes, it is.” Snow paused for a moment, before curling up a knowing smile. “But trust me, the danger will be like a minor inconvenience compared to the effects of the weapon’s latest version I built for Shin. You bet that this is the best piece I’ve ever created. And I’m sure that this will become the best in the Pride world as well.”

After these exciting words, everyone got quiet. No one dared to make a sound, especially Waree. She squinted at Shin’s face silently and noticed that he was considering this so hard.

Normally, Shin was the type who liked taking bets with these kinds of things anyway.

But it was just that the bet was too risky this time.

“And this tattoo can’t be removed, right?” Shin made sure of it.

“Right. Sorry that I can’t let you remove it to sell to anyone.”

The listener sighed. He rolled his eyes around for about 10 seconds as if he wanted to think this through. Finally, he curled up a slight smile.

“Got it.” He spoke up eventually.

“So?” Snow asked.

“Make it look cool, okay?”

And Shin held his hand out to Snow right away. The weapon maker smiled softly after his words, unlike his friends who let out a long sigh. No one said anything as they could not do anything more than just accept Shin’s decision.

They knew that Shin never turned his back or feared.

And he would never let this trip go to waste.

He was not a coward, especially not a selfish person. He would gladly sacrifice himself for what was good for everyone.

“Well then, brace yourself. This might hurt a little. Because when I tested it with monsters, they all struggled on the floor.”

“Yeah.”

After that, Snow pulled off the cork of the bottle right away. The red ink started glowing when the air from outside. At the same time, she pulled Shin’s hand close to it. And in the blink of an eye, the sticky liquid inside slashed out of the bottle on the desk.

The red ink flew up to spread all over Shin’s left hand quickly.

And at the first second it touched his skin, Shin widened his eyes.

“ARRRRRRRG!!!”

He screamed out aloud. The pain that was hard to describe hit all his senses violently. The tall man fell and crouched around himself on the floor. His left hand was held up as if he wanted to wave the pain away, even though he could not.

“Shin!”

Everyone called out his name, not daring to get near him. Only Waree who was acting like she was about to get to the man, but Snow was the one who held her back.

“Don’t.” She said briefly with a serious face.

“Look at him!” Waree shouted with an anxious face.

“Right now, the curses are being absorbed in his body. If you touch the ink, the curses will get absorbed in you as well. And then, everything will be all ruined.”

“But...”

“Don’t worry, Waree,” Shin said through his gritted teeth as he lay flat on the ground, his other hand holding his left hand painfully. He tried not to show in his expression that he was in pain, but his sweat was soaking up uncontrollably.

“I can take it. ...I ...it’s nothing.”