Chapter 97 The Greedy Aiwass
In this era, the existing equipment has basically been monopolized.
If you want to consistently obtain this type of high-priority equipment, you have to dig for it. In the game, it's like digging for treasure by drawing cards.
This is the "special channel" mentioned earlier.
From "Madame Mina's Fortune Telling Shop", you can get random "clues" through daily fortune telling. These clues are ranked, which is a classic treasure map mode.
In the game, you can use it to dig out a BOSS when you get to the place. After defeating it, the whole team will get a piece of equipment. The equipment is bound and cannot be traded.
This boss is very difficult to defeat, usually requiring you to call for help from the world channel. Even if you don't get it, you can pay players who have drawn high-level clues to form a team to take down the boss.
Purple clues mean that everyone will drop at least one light purple equipment, while purple to dark purple are likely to drop this priority equipment. Purple is generally the core of the set, and dark purple is a powerful piece.
And "at least" means that there is a high probability that what is dug out will be light purple.
These pieces of equipment came from ancient families with top-tier powerhouses. Most were gifts from celestial officials, apostles, or the gods themselves. In ancient times, without a convenient "professional" system for succession, the legacy of extraordinary abilities was easily lost. And after the fall of the ancient kingdom, these pieces of equipment were likely buried along with it.
Iverson had been very eager to follow his mentor on an archaeological expedition just to dig up things like this.
I hope there's a clue like this or something similar in this world's "Madame Mina's Fortune Telling Shop"...
Tomorrow is Saturday - when the weekend comes, Aiwass will have time to go shopping in the "mall".
This [Shadow Stalker] is also a rare piece of equipment from ancient times. Aiwass knew it was ancient equipment because it can be dug up, meaning players have a chance to obtain it. However, modern items cannot be dug up.
For example, two of the Grand Arbitrator's equipment, as well as the Queen's scepter and crown, came from the blessing of the Silver Crown Dragon.
The assassin's status might be even higher than Aiwass imagined. [Shadow Stalker] was typically granted by the Hawkeye leader to Master Assassins who had reached the fifth level.
While it might be unkind to say this, this assassin clearly wasn't worthy enough. She had indeed reached level 39 at a young age, but that didn't guarantee her advancement. Failure three or four times in a row would essentially render further advancement impossible. However, with age, experience, and mastery of the mystical arts, the chances of advancement would increase.
So either the Hawkeye leader was particularly optimistic about her talent, or she was very favored.
But she shouldn't be related to the leader by blood... Aiwass knew his daughter. His daughter was in her thirties, and his grandson was only a few years old now. It didn't make sense. And if that were the case, the Hawkeye Organization wouldn't have sent Miss Assassin on such a dangerous mission.
However, she was a bit childish and had no patience at all. She was obviously the spoiled type, not the cold-blooded assassin who had undergone brutal training. She was more like a proud young lady.
In this situation where she is not very well suited to the path of adaptation, she was able to reach the peak of the fourth energy level at such a young age. It is likely that she entered the path of adaptation at a very young age and was guided by elders who were on the same path.
That's why she insisted on leveling up the third-level "Shadow Affinity." This path trait is essentially useless until it reaches level three. It's good enough to level it up once during the first two-level advancement, and she might not even level it up this time. How could she possibly level it up three times in a row without someone teaching her?
And before she maxes out three times and masters shadow stealth, she is basically powerless.
As an almost expendable assassin, isn't the cost for Hawkeye to train her a bit high?
——Unless she doesn’t need to go on missions when she is at a low level.
It is precisely because she has no experience of playing games with others at a low level and ultimately failing in assassinations, and basically relies on level and equipment suppression...that she acts so impulsively.
Then, she was most likely related to the previous generation of assassin masters. And that master probably didn't approve of her joining the Hawkeye organization.
That makes sense... So that assassin lady, although of such a high level, was performing a bunch of easy tasks in Avalon.
Sister, you have connections.
...But this also meant that this equipment might be a bit hot to the touch. Although her superior hadn't received her signal, if she hadn't contacted him, he would have known that the assassin was dead. And there was a high probability that she would be captured, or even exposed.
In that case, he would have to relocate and escape, and word of her death in Avalon would have reached the Hawkeyes.
Unless Aiwass can find her superior in advance and kill him, the master assassin may have to come in person.
But Miss Assassin is a relative and lacks experience, so she was exposed directly - could her superiors also be exposed?
Aiwass isn't counting on it.
But even so, he had no intention of giving up the benefits he had gained.
He had always been very greedy. Even if Aiwass couldn't use this kind of good stuff himself, he could give it away, sell it, or even hand it over in exchange for something else. But he definitely wouldn't just give it away quietly after getting scared!
"...Anyway, what ends up in my hands is mine!"
Gently touching the black waist guard he had just taken off, Aiwass made up his mind.
No matter how powerful the Master Assassin is, he is not as troublesome as the Star Antimony Kingdom and the Rosicrucian; Aiwass's future enemy is the Fallen Angels, so who are you, a Master Assassin of only the fifth level?
Give me a year to develop, and I can reach the fifth level in both paths!
Besides, Meg is still alive.
If a strong person of the fifth energy level really enters the country, those bigwigs will definitely monitor him immediately.
"Come to think of it," Aiwass suddenly thought of something and immediately relaxed completely. "The Master Assassin...does he also use shadows to sneak?"
He asked, "Shadow Fiend...if a fifth-level assassin uses shadow stealth, can you deal with him?"
"If he voluntarily enters the master's shadow, I can easily kill him, and he won't be able to resist at all. But if he doesn't come in, I can only use your body to fight him... But only if you master the third stage of shadow affinity can I fully enter your body without causing you irreversible harm."
Shadow Demon said tactfully.
——Otherwise, Aiwass’ body would be crushed.
The Path trait of "Shadow Affinity" allows transcendents who adapt to the Path to learn Shadow Sneak or Shadow Stealth; while for Aiwass, who has transcended the Path, it only allows him to cast a Shadow Ball. However, as Aiwass's Shadow Affinity level increases, the power he can contain within the Shadow Demon increases.
By the third level, Aiwass could barely contain the Shadow Fiend within his own body. That way, the Shadow Fiend no longer had to hide in Aiwass's shadow, but could enter his body. This also prevented others from realizing there was something in Aiwass's shadow.
Only when "Shadow Affinity" reaches the fifth level can Aiwass merge with Shadow Fiend and truly unleash all of Shadow Fiend's abilities.
Even more powerful than the Shadow Demon himself!
Higher-level demons like Shadow Fiends, Fire Fiends, and Mirror Fiends lack physical form. This lack of physical form imposes certain limitations on them—for example, Shadow Fiends are wary of the midday sun and are severely damaged by spells with sunlight modifiers. However, if a Shadow Fiend pilots an Aiwass mech, it has nothing to fear, as the Aiwass, acting as its outer shell, easily blocks the very spells it fears most.
But if he takes Shadow Affinity five times in a row, Aiwass won't be able to take any other traits. Unless he chooses a combination of traits like "Vessel of Burning and Radiance," Aiwass's current plan is to first take Level 3 and then choose a vessel-type trait—and then return to top up Shadow Affinity once the cap is reached at Level 50 or above.
"So," Aiwass pressed, "if I had a third-level shadow affinity, could you stand up to him?"
"no problem."
The Shadow Demon replied briefly, "They still have a poor understanding of shadows. They can't even jump between discontinuous shadows. As long as he enters the shadow near me, I can sense him."
That's good.
Aiwass was relieved.
In other words, when I surpass the Tao and reach the third energy level as quickly as possible, that master assassin will no longer be my opponent.
So he became a little impatient.
——When will you come over to deliver some more equipment?
Lily is still missing two pieces from this set.
By the way, could you bring some skill books with you when you come? Secret books are hard to come by...
The merits that Aiwas has achieved now are probably enough to exchange for another secret book.
He hoped that he could choose for himself this time—if so, he would choose a tantra book suitable for Lily's path.
"...You're much more fluent in speaking now than before."
Aiwass felt relieved and chuckled softly.
It speaks much more fluently than before. Before, it would often get stuck when speaking such a long string of words in one breath.
Moreover, its soft and sweet voice is indeed much better than before - the voice it created before was too cool, like a gloomy empress or a hoarse female demon.
Now I look much younger.
At this moment, the shadows behind Aiwass suddenly gathered.
Black tentacles made of pure shadow rose from the ground, flowing into Aiwass's trouser legs and out of his collar.
The scattered black smoke gathered together to form the upper body of a beautiful girl.
She was light, weightless, even translucent. Her shoulder-length curly hair and pupils were a pure black, like nothingness. Below her collarbone, she was completely naked.
She wrapped her arms around Aiwas's head, her upper body emerging from his collar and sleeves. But Aiwass felt no softness or warmth, only a cold, slippery touch like snake scales. He shivered from the cold.
"Master...how do you think I look in my new form?"
Shadow Fiend looked at Aiwass expectantly.
Aiwass looked at her in surprise, then understood: this must be a new image created by Shadow Fiend using the assassin lady as a template. Using only black and white was a bit of a stretch for it—it looked like a 3D portrait of a deceased person.
He reached out and stroked the shadow demon's cheek, head, and hair.
The touch of Shadow Demon's skin was like shower gel dripping onto winter jade. Her hair, on the other hand, felt like a cold spiderweb, something almost gaseous yet barely tangible.
"very beautiful."
He praised sincerely, "The voice is nice too. But the voice is just fine—but the appearance should be changed back. I still prefer cats and dogs."
“Isn’t this beautiful?”
The Shadow Demon was a little confused, but still melted and dripped obediently, turning into a black hound.
Aiwass squatted down and touched the dog's head affectionately, and said with a smile: "It's very beautiful, I like it too.
"It's okay to be like that sometimes. But I'm here to feed you, and you should have the willingness and awareness to be a pet. If you do something like that in human form, forget it.
"—Whether it's making a fellow human being a pet or consuming their flesh and blood, it will distort my mind. Our once pure, mutually dependent, and mutually discerning partnership will gradually deteriorate."
Aiwass explained seriously, and the black agile hound melted and turned into a black cat as he rubbed it.
Its eyes and fur are pure black, like a ball. If you put it in a corner, you will probably be completely invisible and can't find it.
"Look, how cute is this?" Aiwass exclaimed.
"...And, Shadow Fiend. Even now, you haven't even told me your real name, right? You don't think I've forgotten, do you?
"Or do you think... I would think your name is 'Shadow Demon'?"
Looking at the silent Shadow Demon, Aiwass's lips curled up. "When you decide to tell me your real name and stop calling me master—when we become true, equal, and mutually trustworthy companions. Then, you can become like this."
“…Will there ever be a time like that?”
Shadow Demon couldn't help but ask back, "Humans can only reach the fifth or sixth energy level at best."
"Yes," Aiwass said calmly, petting the black cat. "All we have to do is kill the Fallen Angels."
Hearing this, the Shadow Demon shattered into a pool of black mud with a buzzing sound.
It obviously didn't expect Aiwass's ambition to be so big—
Such a sweet transcendent heart made it unable to help but become excited and unable to maintain its mimicry.
Aiwass clapped his hands and stood up. He spoke slowly and softly to the shadows boiling beneath his feet, "Even so, your loyalty still deserves a reward.
"There are still ten days until the next advancement. When we successfully advance next weekend, I will feed you a delicious meal as a reward for your lovely thoughts at this moment...my lamb."
"...I look forward to that day, my master."
The Shadow Demon's voice was so excited that it was almost trembling.
The update of 7,900 words is completed!
Still the same old rule, correct the typos after getting up!
(End of this chapter)
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