novelraw Chapter 250: Forbidden Legend! Ember’s Touch. Shadow Weaving!
Chapter 250: Forbidden Legend! Ember’s Touch. Shadow Weaving!
Inside the small cabin, the dim yellow light flickered, and on the gray stone wall, the number of shadowy hands grew steadily.
The little Shadow Weaver moved like an elegant conductor, manipulating these shadow hands, placing Ember’s Hands and Ember’s Touch together. Unconsciously, hundreds of dexterous weaving hands had sprouted behind it.
Although these hands were wildly chaotic, each could perform its own task in an orderly fashion.
Among these skillful hands, Ember’s Touch served as the basic equipment, placed on the table, while Ember’s Hands continuously drew out thread after thread...
Chen Qi leaned against the wall, listening to the ‘zzz zzz zzz’ sound of the shadow loom, waiting for the final product to be completed.
Zzz zzz zzz!
Zzz zzz zzz zzz!
Amid countless reflected shadows, a precise weaving was proceeding in an orderly manner.
No one knew how much time had passed... the little Shadow Weaver’s movements stopped and it said:
“I need more Wriggling Shadows to complete the final shaping...”At this moment, the little Shadow Weaver was completely immersed in weaving, with none of the earlier fear, just like a perfectionist master obsessed with completing their work.
Wriggling Shadows were a huge consumption... Chen Qi shook his head.
Fortunately, the White Tower Hunters had killed a large number of shadow beasts during the Night of Smiling Moon and along the way.
In the end, Chen Qi spent two million Shell Coins to make a deal with the White Tower Hunters, exchanging all sixty Wriggling Shadows they had in one go.
The little Shadow Weaver accepted the Wriggling Shadows, picked up the shriveled Shadow Hands, and connected them to Ember’s Touch—
Zzz zzz zzz!
Zzz zzz zzz zzz!
Finally, after an unknown amount of time, with the installation of the shadow hands, Ember’s Touch suddenly condensed, turning into a black tide, which then gathered and transformed into a small burning black flame.
“A masterpiece! The forbidden among the forbidden!”
The little Shadow Weaver’s eyes were blood red, holding this tiny black flame seedling in both hands.
This tiny flame was only the size of a goose egg, yet the aura it emitted was as immense as the ocean waves!
Chen Qi stepped forward, opened his right hand, and grasped Ember’s Touch.
Although Ember’s Touch had transformed from its original gem-like form into a deep black flame, Chen Qi could still feel this powerful ember closely connected to his body.
Under the burning sting, a brand-new prompt appeared before Chen Qi’s eyes.
[You have obtained Ember’s Touch. Shadow Weaving]
[Ember’s Touch. Shadow Weaving
Affinity: Blade, Shadow, Light
Equipment type: Flesh Armor
Wearing conditions: Constitution 100, Strength 70, Inspiration 50, Medium Mental Resistance
Description: Forbidden equipment crafted by countless shadow hands of the Shadow Weaver, combining forbidden materials from the dark night and the original Ember’s Touch.
Passive bonuses:
Shadow Guard. Power Dissipation: Provides high defense, combined with Wriggling Shadows and Shadow Threads. Although it appears like a tattered cloak, any direct force impacting the armor is dissipated through imperceptible vibrations via the shadow threads on both sides, offering enhanced defense.
Note: Even spiral bullets cannot easily penetrate this armor.
Shadow Guard. Spiritual Energy Dissipation: Combined with Wriggling Shadows and Shadow Threads, the shadow force attached to the armor’s surface reduces the power of spiritual energy spells.
Active skill:
Shadow Touch: Consumes a small amount of spiritual energy to summon ten thick shadow tentacles behind the wearer. Compared to the tentacles of Ember’s Touch, these shadow tentacles are larger, stronger, and have greater adaptability!
They can produce completely different effects based on the input of spiritual energy and the wearer’s will.
When spiritual energy input is maximized, Shadow Touch tentacles can reach up to twelve meters long, with a diameter of 0.7 meters, possessing extremely strong offensive and defensive power!
Note: After activating Shadow Touch, a continuous ‘blade’ rage emotion arises, only battle can suppress this endless fury.
Ember’s Hands. Bloom:
An advanced evolution of Ember’s Bloom, requiring Shadow Touch to be activated first.
Within a short time, the armor’s shadow force is drawn out. The ten tentacles on the back of the armor are imbued with powerful dark energy. Accompanied by Ember’s burning, the tentacles’ heads transform into ten more powerful dark flame hands, and four new dark flame hands grow out from each, totaling fourteen dark flame hands.
All fourteen dark flame hands can be considered extensions of the wearer’s arms. They possess terrifying strength, agility, and dexterity, and can perfectly serve as a ‘spiritual energy medium’ to unleash more powerful spells.
Note: After activation, the wearer will suffer continuous negative rage power combining ‘blade’ and ‘shadow,’ which severely impacts the user’s spirit and overdraws their strength.]
Chen Qi quickly scanned the description of Ember’s Touch. Shadow Weaving.
Although it was only an ‘upgrade,’ essentially, the entire equipment’s tier had risen by one level.
New-age equipment is based on Rift tier rankings: D-tier Rift gear, C-tier Rift gear...
Forbidden equipment is the strongest category on player forums, especially around the time of the Smiling Moon event. All powerful and rare equipment was collectively called forbidden equipment.
After Smiling Moon and with version updates, even stronger equipment officially appeared.
Ember’s Touch, and equipment like it, was often forged from materials from B-tier Rifts and some C-tier Rifts.
Moreover, these ancient pieces had their combat power greatly reduced by time’s passing.
However, with the arrival of B-tier Rifts, ordinary hunters also gained the ability to enter B-tier Rifts, farm materials, repair, and upgrade gear.
Thus, on the forums, successfully repaired forbidden equipment mostly made from B-tier Rift materials was called Forbidden Legend.
Compared to ordinary forbidden equipment, Forbidden Legend gear had power increased severalfold.
Even for legendary Transcendents, it could still serve as main equipment.
Chen Qi could clearly feel that compared to the initially weak Ember’s Touch, the current version had at least quintupled in functionality.
However, as Forbidden Legend equipment, its requirements were also harsher.
100 Constitution, 70 Strength, 50 Inspiration...
Currently, Chen Qi’s Constitution was 65, Strength 43, and Inspiration 65. These stats only ranked mid-level among third-tier Transcendents.
Except for Inspiration, his Constitution and Strength were insufficient.
Still, even if his Strength and Constitution were lacking, he could equip it, but all functions would be reduced...
Reduced by about thirty percent? Chen Qi stroked his chin and pondered.
Compared to analysis, actual combat would truly test the equipment’s power! Chen Qi eagerly looked toward the door.
Outside, the White Tower Hunters anxiously waited, some occasionally glancing toward Chen Qi’s direction.
Now, half of the Night of Shadow Tide had passed...
But Chen Qi had yet to fight the Shadow Tide.
“Little Shadow Weaver, well done!”
Chen Qi reached out and patted the little Shadow Weaver’s head.
In fact, although shadow beasts looked fierce, their bodies mainly consisted of ‘shadow,’ a cold, jelly-like substance.
Therefore, whether touched or squeezed, it felt very comfortable.
Comfortable—
Chen Qi patted it back and forth a hundred times.
“...”
The little Shadow Weaver lowered its head, unable to resist, simply enjoying it.
Sadly, such a great working weaver couldn’t be taken along, to help him tread the sewing machine on the ship... Chen Qi sighed inwardly.
The little Shadow Weaver was actually a tamable shadow creature.
But he was not a legendary beast tamer, lacking skills, so it was impossible to tame the Shadow Weaver.
Moreover, the little Shadow Weaver itself could not leave the Rift.
“Farewell!”
Chen Qi lightly pinched the flame in his hand, which instantly transformed into a surging tide that covered his body, forming a new set of Hunter’s Garb.
At this moment, under normal conditions, the surface of Ember’s Touch emitted a very strong shadow spiritual energy.
Much more comfortable... Chen Qi felt inside.
Inside the original Ember’s Touch were countless tiny tentacles that absorbed Chen Qi’s spiritual energy to power the armor.
In some cases, these tiny tentacles affected Chen Qi’s combat.
However, the upgraded Ember’s Touch no longer had this flaw.
The tiny tentacles were replaced by invisible shadow threads that wrapped around his neck, hands, legs, and body.
This greatly reduced discomfort and improved spiritual energy transmission efficiency.
Chen Qi stretched his muscles.
Although his Constitution and Strength were still insufficient, wearing this armor under normal conditions caused no discomfort.
Chen Qi pushed open the door.
At this moment, seven White Tower Hunters, bored, sat together playing Beiguo’s famous Tycoon game.
“Everyone, take your time. Until we meet again!”
Chen Qi waved goodbye to them and headed toward the battle center pier of the Shadow Tide Night.
Soon, his figure disappeared into the darkness.
“Huh?”
Melanie, who was rolling dice, turned her head, still uncomprehending:
“Leaving so soon! I still wanted to ask about the Flower Witch...”
At this time, the White Tower Hunter wearing glasses beside Melanie stood up:
“Captain, I’m going to rest.”
Melanie frowned:
“Stop, Aelor. According to the contract, I won’t attack him nor harbor murderous intent.”
Only the captain and the Black Hunter had signed the contract. Therefore, theoretically, the remaining White Tower Hunters could violate the contract by ‘acting on their own.’
The glasses-wearing White Tower Hunter shook his head:
“Captain, I have no intention to challenge him privately. I’m simply curious about his true identity and strength.”
Melanie said coldly:
“Keep your distance, Aelor, or you might die. Besides, his identity is none of your concern.”
The glasses hunter anxiously said:
“Captain, the Black Hunter has close ties to the Flower Witch. Capturing him is like catching the Flower Witch’s tail! Our mission is definitely more than just the Deep Blue Flame...”
“Indeed. But we have no reason to intervene. Cooperation is what we should do.”
The glasses hunter retorted:
“Why? This kind of monster is not easy to meet again.”
The chance of meeting the Black Hunter again was extremely slim.
Melanie rubbed her forehead, then a faint smile appeared at her lips:
“Because my junior sister who worships the Ice Witch will be very interested in this tentacled monster.”
“Junior sister...”
The glasses hunter broke into a cold sweat and instinctively adjusted his glasses.
...
...
Night had fallen, the coastline was covered in deep darkness.
Seven full hours had passed since the Night of Shadow Tide began.
Yet, the intense cannon fire along the coast had not ceased.
Thousands of cannons were lined up, roaring angrily one after another.
Flames shot up from the sea surface, explosions rang out repeatedly, and dark waves surged wave after wave.
Under the barrage, shadow beasts charged, struggled, and roared. After seven hours, their numbers had not decreased but instead more shadow beasts emerged from the sea.
With cannon damage and dwindling resources, the hunters’ frontline had retreated by over a thousand meters.
The ocean trembled, the eastern lighthouse had collapsed, and the walls had crumbled.
Hunters and pirates roared, struggling to maintain the final line.
On the far west side of the front, huge waves suddenly bulged, and a massive figure rose from the sea, heading straight toward the western lighthouse on the island like a moving mountain, unstoppable!
Even though they knew, the hunters on Sea God Island were still terrified.
“This is too huge! Can we really stop it?”
The Shadow Mountain Beast, a gigantic creature resembling a yak, measured a full thirty meters tall. The dense crowd of humans before it looked like tiny ants.
Boom! Boom! Burning bombs fired at the Shadow Mountain Beast from afar only made small dents, unable to injure its interior.
Its surface was covered with Night Scales, harder than steel, making cannonballs hard to penetrate its defense.
The intense bombardment enraged it. The Shadow Mountain Beast roared like a giant bull, suddenly crouched, sped up, its massive body like a colossal meteor falling from the sky, rolling from the shore toward the tiny lighthouse—
Rolling mountain!!
If the western lighthouse fell, thousands of hunters on the west front would face collapse.
However, the hunter group guarding the western lighthouse was already battered. Facing the massive waves, they could only retreat and helplessly watch the giant approach—
Rumble rumble—
The sound grew louder! The waves on the sea grew larger!
Boom!
Suddenly, the Shadow Mountain Beast’s rolling stopped on the sea surface—
Everyone was shocked. In the darkness, they could barely see by the lanterns above that a mass of tentacle grass had entangled the thirty-meter Shadow Mountain Beast!
But the power difference was too great. With a little effort, the beast could break free from the tentacle grass.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Yet, the next moment, everyone was stunned again.
On the Shadow Mountain Beast’s body, eight ten-meter-long tentacles suddenly extended, gathering into fists, relentlessly pounding downward!
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Punch after punch! These tentacles delivered hundreds of thunderous downward blows!
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Under the continuous pounding, the massive Shadow Mountain was forcibly driven into the seabed, stirring giant waves that crashed over everyone.
They were shocked once more, realizing these punching actions were not the power of tentacle grass—
These powerful punches clearly were Transcendent techniques!!
On top of that enormous Shadow Mountain stood a blurry figure, the silhouette of a person—