Chapter 6 Jormungandr (2) Nothing happened here...
A tall man named Jormungandr led the way, while Xia Ying and Qiongqi trailed behind about three steps behind.
Xia Ying looked around curiously, her gaze wandering for a while before gradually settling back on Qiongqi, whose expression was tense.
She tugged at the other woman's sleeve and asked softly, "Miss Qiongqi, are you feeling unwell?"
Qiongqi frowned at her, seemingly squeezing out a few words through his teeth. Xia Ying didn't hear them clearly and moved closer to her, only to be suddenly pulled into his arms.
"I have to stay focused and alert right now, that's the legendary ancient abyssal creature Jormungandr!" Qiongqi anxiously squeezed Xia Ying's skin repeatedly. "I can't afford to have anything super cute distracting me right now!"
Although Qiongqi himself did not realize that this overflowing affection was putting Xia Ying under a lot of pressure, she quickly ran away a few steps and hid to the side to summon the Abyss Compendium.
Abyssal Species: World Serpent
Name: Jormungandr
Hazard level:
Special Note:
Synchronization rate (unlocked): 32%
Synchronizable skills: Not yet unlocked
(Unlocked entry)...
Xia Ying cupped her face in her hands and pondered: "The initial impression was quite high? It seems she really is very cute..."
"We have arrived at the entrance to the Minotaur Labyrinth."
Jormungandr stopped and turned to the two of them.
"The Golden Fleece Treasury is hidden deep within the labyrinth. As a reward for the survivors, you will receive a magical artifact from the treasury."
Xia Ying was greatly shocked: "How on earth are we supposed to get through this maze?!"
Jormungandr smiled at her, and a long staff entwined with two snakes appeared in his hand. He tapped the ground with the staff, and green vines immediately sprouted from where the tip of the staff touched, instantly covering the silent labyrinth's stone walls.
A rumbling sound arose, and the stone walls seemed to come alive, constantly changing positions at a dazzling speed, quickly assembling a straight path leading to the center of the maze.
A golden palace stood at the end of the road, and at the palace gate sat a bull-horned giant with shackles on both hands and feet.
Sensing someone had entered the labyrinth, the giant stood up, pulled his battle axe embedded in the rock with one hand, and the labyrinth trembled at his movement. The shackles and chains clashed against his steel-like body, producing a metallic clang.
“I’ve brought the survivors from this time to choose their rewards,” Jormungandr said to the horned giant. “Let them pass, Minotaur.”
The giant silently looked down at the group, and after a long while nodded and said, "Only one-eighth of the scale."
He stepped aside, making way for the steps leading to the treasure trove he guarded. Xia Ying followed her companion forward, gazing up in amazement at his majestic, mountain-like figure and his large, beautiful horns.
As he passed by the Minotaur, he suddenly turned his gaze toward Xia Ying. Meeting the giant's deep eyes, Xia Ying did not flinch or look away; instead, she smiled at him.
Minotaur planted his battle axe back into the rock, causing the labyrinth to tremble once more, but Xia Ying did not miss the moment he nodded gently to her.
As they ascended the steps and stepped into the palace, the scene around them shifted, and they found themselves in a magnificent... database?
The Golden Fleece Treasury is devoid of ornate decorations, glittering gold coins, and mountains of treasures. On the contrary, it is almost an empty space, with only a golden ocean of countless data streams surging endlessly through the space.
"The Golden Fleece Treasury is a spatial artifact created by the Demon Lord. As you may know, he is very interested in human civilization."
Jormungandr looked thoughtful, as if he were recalling something.
"'Data is the best way to organize,' he seemed to say that... Ah, I should get back to the point."
Jormungandr reached into the sea of data and retrieved three flowing runes.
The harvested items were stripped of their data form and restored to three magical artifacts.
The phone immediately emitted a notification sound.
"Beep! [Student Handbook] Initiating search... Search complete! The following will be an explanation of the selectable magical items."
"【Ama-no-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi】: A sword that breaks curses and can greatly enhance power, with exceptional effects against certain types of abyssal creatures."
"【Cloak of Disguise】: Conceal something you want to hide. It could be you, your valuables, or the truth and secrets you don't want others to know."
"【Broken Key - Part Thirty-Two】: One of the key fragments. Collecting all 32 fragments will lead to the 【Secret Room】 in the 【Library】."
"Survivors, please select your rewards in the order you passed the [Entrance Test]... Beep! After searching, the first-place recipient did not enter the treasure vault... The second-place recipient, Qiongqi, will be selected next."
Qiongqi exclaimed in surprise, "The first survivor? There was another survivor? Why isn't that guy here?"
"Because that freshman violated the academy's rules, he is now in the underground prison," Jormungandr said with a smile. "Choose your reward."
Qiongqi stepped forward and stood in front of the three glowing magical artifacts.
She already possessed the Great Xia Dragon Sparrow and no longer needed any other sword-type magical tools. As for the [Broken Key]... she didn't intend to waste her opportunity on an item whose purpose was unclear and which required a lot of effort to collect.
So Qiongqi chose the [Disguised Cloak] without hesitation.
Xia Ying couldn't help but feel disappointed, because this was the magical artifact she wanted most.
But there were other options. She then stepped forward and chose the [Kusanagi Sword].
This is a black-spined, snow-bladed, thin, and sharp weapon with a slightly curved blade at the end, exuding an extraordinary aura.
Xia Ying sheathed it, and the [Ama-no-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi] became bound to her soul, disappearing into the treasure vault.
At the same time, the third unselected magical artifact, the Broken Key No. 32, also vanished. According to Jormungandr, it will automatically belong to the third survivor who was not present.
"Ding! Treasure Vault reward obtained, proceeding with other reward settlement..."
The new student [Xia Ying] receives 1000 [Aobo Coins].
The new student [Xia Ying] has obtained the equipable title {Survivor}.
Rewards settlement complete.
Xia Ying tapped on these unfamiliar terms, and the Student Handbook immediately popped up with relevant definitions.
[Opal Coin]: The common currency in the College of Cocytus, used for various transactions.
Equipable Title: Your own unique embodied epic, which has special effects when equipped.
{Survivor}: When equipped, grants immunity to one death within the Cocytus range, with a cooldown period of 30 days.
"Then, my mission is complete."
Jormungandr struck the ground again with his staff, and a whirlwind of magic enveloped the three of them, teleporting them outside the labyrinth.
The path to the treasure vault closed behind them, and the Minotaur Labyrinth resumed its impenetrable blockade.
Jormungandr looked at the two survivors: "If there is anything else you would like to visit, I can guide you within the limits permitted by the Academy's laws."
Qiongqi replied, "No need, I plan to stay in the city of Avalon first."
“It seems you are not entirely ignorant of Cocytus,” Jormungandr inquired. “You must also know the way to Avalon, right?”
“Of course, I have my own intelligence channels.” Qiongqi turned his gaze to Xia Ying. “And you, little one, do you want to come with me?”
Xia Ying shook her head: "No, there are still places I want to go."
Qiongqi let out a disappointed "Oh," and was about to turn and leave when Xia Ying suddenly grabbed his hand.
Will we ever meet again, Miss Qiongqi?
"..." Qiongqi turned his head and raised the corner of his mouth slightly, "Of course, I'm always waiting for you to come to me."
Qiongqi spread its wings and quickly disappeared from Xia Ying's sight.
Xia Ying turned around to face the guide from Cocytus and said firmly, "Mr. Jormungandr, the place I want to go is the Fountain of Life."
Jormungandr looked at Xia Ying's request with a knowing expression: "I'm not surprised."
"Why? Have many survivors said this?"
“Not at all. In fact, many of them have expressed a desire to go to the Golden Fleece again,” he replied gently. “But I watched your entrance exam, so I know you have someone you’re looking for there.”
He then placed his staff upright on the ground.
"Come on, Xia Ying, grasp the staff of the Twin Serpents."
Xia Ying stretched out her hands and acted according to Jormungandr's guidance.
As she gripped the staff tightly in her palm, the two snakes carved on it suddenly began to move, intertwining and biting each other's heads and tails, forming an incredibly mysterious and magical symbol.
The space underwent a strange transformation during this process, and when Xia Ying looked up again, what appeared before her was an endless lake shore.
A gentle breeze swept across the lake, rippling the vast and pure water. The lake shore was covered in lush greenery, and silvery-white life essence danced lightly among the tiny flower clusters.
Xia Ying immediately believed that this was the "Fountain of Life" that could revive the dead.
"Like the vast ocean, it stretches to the horizon..."
She looked out over the water but didn't see the person she was looking for; there was still a large area out of her sight.
Where will those abyssal creatures that died on the Charon be reborn?
“To get there, we’ll probably need to walk a bit further along the shore,” the gentle guide said to Xia Ying. “The life magic near the spring is very concentrated. I think taking a walk here for a while will help you relax.”
The environment here did indeed soothe and calm her mood. Xia Ying nodded and hopped lightly on the rocks by the lake. Jormungandr walked not too far behind her and chatted with her, asking and answering questions.
"Where is the city of Avalon that Miss Qiongqi is going to?"
"On Midgard Island."
"Can she get there by flying?"
"Probably not, but she should know how to use teleportation artifacts."
Is there a place to rest there?
"certainly."
"Can I go with my friend?"
"You mean that Fiery Hellhound? As long as you're all willing."
"I hope we can find Ker'er soon." Xia Ying gazed at the shimmering waves on the lake and murmured to herself, "I miss him a little."
"You really like him... or rather, you trust him." Jormungandr's smiling voice came from behind. "Even after witnessing the infernal hounds' rampage, do you still think so?"
Xia Ying stopped in her tracks and turned to look at him.
Jormungandr slowly walked towards her, the sunlight illuminating his silhouette. The tattoos on his dark skin shone brighter than molten gold, but his expression remained hidden in shadow, like a sacred sculpture whose face was obscured.
Even so, Xia Ying could still hear his whispers carried to her ears by the wind.
"Even if you are aware of the brutality of the creatures of the abyss and the weakness of humanity, do you still think this way?"
The lake, the lush grass, and the swaying flowers—everything seemed normal.
But Xia Ying keenly sensed the dangerous changes that were quietly approaching.
In the blink of an eye, she turned and ran on the Persephone Spring, but the sound of something cutting through the air was faster than her. Something suddenly wrapped around her waist, and a pair of arms embraced her from behind. Then Xia Ying felt a pain on the side of her neck, as something sharp pierced her flesh.
The venom was injected into Xia Ying's body, and fatigue and numbness gradually robbed her of her life force. She slowly slid down and lay on the edge of the water.
The lake waves gently lapped against Xia Ying's upper body as she submerged in the water. Her black hair spread out, swaying with the current like algae. Nothing seemed disturbed by the minor death that had occurred there. Everything reflected in her unfocused pupils seemed still tranquil and gentle.
The special effect of the "{Survivor}" title has been triggered. Remaining cooldown: 30/30 days.
In the lake, Xia Ying's fingers suddenly trembled.
A note from the author:
----------------------
To finish submitting my application for the rankings before Thursday, there will be another update later tonight.
Please, everyone, leave more comments! (Spurting tears)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
