The Cornflower Witch

Book 2: Chapter 180: Level Reward

Vol 2 Chapter 180 Level Reward

Sylutia now stood before a new fork in the path, the patterns on the two walls respectively revealing what she would encounter next.

One side depicted a [Shield], while the other showed a [Two-Headed Stork].

After a moment's thought, Sylutia guessed that the shield side likely offered defensive gear or defense-oriented cards, but she didn't need those right now. Instead, she was interested in the 'Two-Headed Stork' side.

Having made her choice, she walked towards the 'Two-Headed Stork' side.

Not long after proceeding, she arrived at a new room. As soon as she stepped inside, the stone door behind her descended and closed. Then, a stone pedestal rose from the floor. On the pedestal was the pattern of a two-headed stork. Beneath the head of one of the storks, there was an empty card-shaped indentation, but no card was stored within. When Sylutia placed her hand on the pedestal, the newly acquired [Killing Fist] in her Fate Plate felt like it was about to detach.

This should be a place to remove a card, Sylutia suddenly understood.

She thought for a moment, then released the restriction on that card. Subsequently, [Killing Fist] detached from her body and fell into the indentation on the pedestal.

Then, the two-headed stork radiated black and white light. The pattern on the pedestal flipped over, revealing the same pattern on its underside, but with a difference: beneath the head of the other stork, there was now a card.

The card depicted a butterfly sipping nectar. Within its body, faint golden patterns, the same color as the nectar, seemed to be visible.[Sealed Card · Nectar-Scent Breathing Technique] (Insect Moth): Utilizes flower nectar to enhance oneself. (Other information requires further exploration.)

This... Looking at the verdant card before her, Sylutia took it into her hand and examined it closely.

It didn't seem dangerous. She tried integrating the card into her Fate Plate, and then a strange desire rose from the depths of her heart—a craving for sweet liquid.

Retrieving some previously stored sweet flower nectar from the manor, Sylutia took a small sip, then closed her eyes to sense the changes.

The sweet nectar, rich in the 'Verdant Nectar' Aspect, entered her body and was rapidly absorbed. It then transformed into a peculiar power within her blood, circulating along her internal pathways. Her body became exceptionally light and agile, and her sense of touch became remarkably sharp.

It was roughly like being able to feel the clear flow of air with her fingertips, keenly perceiving any disturbance or change in the air currents, and reacting accordingly.

Compared to traditional Breathing Techniques, this one, after absorbing nectar, could lighten the body, providing a greater increase in speed and perception. If a typical Breathing Technique could temporarily increase reaction speed and movement speed by 30%, this one could increase them by 50%, and grant an additional tactile perception.

The effect was quite good. After adapting, Sylutia felt that if she were to weigh herself now, her body would probably be about 20% lighter than before. If she mastered some kind of flight ability, the effect would undoubtedly be even better.

This should be a 'Breathing Technique' meant to be used in conjunction with flight abilities. Using it alone on the ground probably couldn't unleash its full potential.

So it seemed, the meaning of [Two-Headed Stork] was an exchange of cards with uncertain fortune or misfortune.

Understanding this, she glanced at the pedestal where the [Killing Fist] card had vanished, then turned and left.

Although that card was gone, she had already recorded its detailed information in her Picture Book. She only needed to spend three portions of 'Blood Crimson' to completely deduce the cultivation method. Learning it later wouldn't be difficult.

After leaving that place, Sylutia continued forward. Soon, another room pattern representing a monster appeared ahead.

It looked like another fight was coming, but it was just perfect for testing the power of the new card.

She walked inside and began to face the awakening monster...

In other corners of the labyrinth, the woman with the face wrap crouched on the ground, examining the passageway environment, then cautiously stepped into a room. At that moment, the sound of mechanisms clicked, and several crossbow bolts shot out, piercing the spot where she had just been standing. Shortly after, another volley of bolts shot out, chasing her new foothold.

After dodging all five waves of bolts, a stone pedestal rose in the room, presenting a gray shield.

[Gray Rhino Shield] (Second Tier · Superior)

"Tch, this shield doesn't suit me." She looked somewhat disdainfully at the shield, but couldn't bear to throw it away, so she picked it up and continued forward.

When she arrived at a new room, she saw the [Two-Headed Stork] pattern that Sylutia had encountered not long ago.

"Oh, luck is pretty good this time." She smiled excitedly, then placed her hand on the two-headed stork pattern, inserting a forged Distortion card into it.

This card wasn't a normal ability, but a fabricated Ability Card created through some method, containing chaotic 'Distortion' Aspect energy. Its tier matched that of a regular card, but it was completely unusable.

After placing it, the two-headed stork on the stone slab flipped over, revealing another card hidden underneath.

[Red-Tail Bee Sting] (Insect Moth); A burst of venomous bee stingers, usable for a desperate attack.

"Another free card, hehe." She picked up the card triumphantly, integrated it into herself, and then a flash of red light gleamed in her eyes. A special red venomous stinger extended and evolved from the elbow of one of her arms.

"Bee tail stinger, really suits me." She nodded in satisfaction and continued onward.

...

Apart from Sylutia, the other few people in the labyrinth gradually understood the function of these rooms during their exploration. They were also delighted by the gains here. Using temporarily acquired cards to enhance themselves, they defeated monsters along the way, obtained new rewards, and gradually immersed themselves in this special 'trial game'.

Of course, the clever ones among them began to discover many loopholes in this game. For example, after choosing one fork in the path and obtaining the desired item, quickly turning back to take the item from the other fork. Or, when facing a monster too difficult to defeat, simply fleeing the room for the next passageway, shaking off the monsters. Or using fake cards at the Two-Headed Stork location for exchanges, and so on.

Exploiting these loopholes came with no punishment, and the extra profits were addictive. After tasting the benefits, many began to try, even if there was a small risk.

The only exception was that silver-haired girl, who had no intention of exploiting loopholes at all, even though she realized the rules here weren't perfect.

'Although I don't know why this strange tomb exists, since rules are set, I should follow them properly. It's not like there's any harm.' That's what the well-behaved Sylutia thought.

When she passed through another room and obtained a dark red serrated scimitar weapon, a new room appeared before her. The pattern on it was a beast's head magnified several times, with flames spewing from its mouth.

After the large door opened, this room was five times larger than an ordinary room. When she entered, the door behind her descended, sealing off her retreat.

Soon, a giant scorpion with a brass metal shell crawled down from above Sylutia's head. After landing on the ground, its metal carapace scraped, producing a rapid, rattling impact sound, as if trying to frighten the girl and display its own power.

[Brass Sand Scorpion] (Third Tier · Insect Moth); A scorpion covered in tough copper armor, possessing great strength in its large pincers. When engaging it, one must also be careful of the venomous stinger raised at its rear.

Although also Third Tier, this was the strongest Third Tier creature Sylutia had encountered, several times more powerful than the 'Lion-Head Monster' she had fought before.

Sylutia, utilizing the speed from the 'Nectar-Scent Breathing Technique', agilely dodged the descending massive hammer-like front pincer.

Stone fragments flew. Sylutia leaped into the air, then swung the newly acquired dark red scimitar, slashing at the brass-colored armor plates.

Sizzling sparks and sounds trailed as the serrated blade left faint scratches on the carapace, but ultimately failed to break through the defense.

After that, Sylutia switched several weapons, but even a sharp Glittergold blade couldn't cut through this sturdy copper armor defense.

Facing the girl's attacks, the sand scorpion continuously smashed with its front pincers, then took the opportunity to thrust its tail stinger, assaulting the dodging Sylutia.

If not for her keen reactions and the enhanced tactile sense and movement capability granted by the 'Nectar-Scent Breathing Technique', she might have been hit by its attacks.

The difficulty has ramped up, the girl thought to herself after several fruitless attempts at close combat.

It seemed that in terms of physical means and direct strength contests, she would have a hard time surpassing her opponent while at the same tier. After all, this thing weighed five or six tons, and just that copper armor alone was exceptionally sturdy and heavy.

In the 'Verdant Nectar' state, her close combat capabilities were quite limited. And if she switched here to the 'Fourth Tier - Castle' Aspect to respond with a knight, it would be somewhat overkill, like a high school student going back to take a middle school exam.

She still remembered the purpose of coming out to explore this time: to test the practical application scenarios, strengths, and weaknesses of her various abilities.

Since the abilities under 'Verdant Nectar' weren't easy to deploy effectively here, she would change her approach.

Thinking this, a light flickered in Sylutia's pupils as she switched from 'Verdant Nectar' to 'Alien Star'. Then, she slightly closed her eyes and opened them again.

Golden eyes manifested. That majestic will impacted the sand scorpion brandishing its giant pincers before her, causing its movements to stiffen and its strike to go awry, hitting the ground.

Subsequently, one purple eye pattern after another materialized around the girl's figure. Their light converged, numerous rays focusing on the scorpion's tail, meeting at a single point there.

A dazzling radiance flashed, and then the sand scorpion's raised tail stinger was melted and severed, falling to the ground.

In excruciating pain, the sand scorpion broke free from the control of [Majestic Eyes]. It brandished its giant front pincers again, but the girl before it, her eyes shifting in color, that flowing purple hue made the sand scorpion stare dazedly, gradually losing its desire to fight. Instead, it slowly crouched down and lay prone on the ground.

Despite its great strength and sturdy carapace, as an Insect Moth, its Mental Power and will weren't strong. It was easily subdued by the girl's eerie ocular techniques.

Seems not that powerful after all, the girl thought, raising a finger to seal the giant sand scorpion before her.

In the room, the sand scorpion's signs of life vanished. Soon, the sealed wall slowly opened, revealing the passageway behind.

At the end of that passageway, one could see three raised stone pedestals. On them respectively rested a [Potion Bottle], a [Card], and a [Brass Pendant].

It looked like these were the rewards for clearing the stage. Sylutia, filled with curiosity, walked towards those three pedestals.