Chapter 83
CHAPTER 83
WHEN THINGS GO AWRY
Lino sat in the corner of the auction house, growing ever so numb to the headache-inducing prices that his items were being sold for . One after another, the pile just kept on growing till the point he simply couldn"t be bothered to count any longer . With his mind already off to the near future and the war itself, he appeared slightly dazed .
Moment by moment, the auction continued heating up as the remaining [Rare] and [Unique] items were sold off . A few among the audience who were yet to place the bet grew fidgety as they knew what was the last item: an [Epic] grade one . Something that"s as rare as feathers of a Phoenix . They stared intently as the woman atop the platform smiled flirtatiously .
"The next item is the last of the auction," she said . "And, as they say, we saved the best for last . [Swallower of Skies] is a Level 90 sword, perfect for those of you who aim for speed . Bring it up . " as the cloth atop the table was unveiled and sword beneath shown, it took but a moment for the entire place to fall silent; yet, just that moment later, it erupted in chatter, noise booming all throughout .
[Swallower of Skies - Epic]
Level: 90
Damage: 4180-5833
Magic Damage: 1820-2400
+100% to Hand Speed
+20% to Agility
+10 Agility
+15 Speed
Special Effect: infusing the Sword with Qi will unleash pseudo-Sword Lights in a quarter a mile range
Special Effect: attacking will automatically create blurry afterimages as to simulate the unparalleled speed
Special Effect: sword can evolve 2 times by being infused with enough Sky Qi - 1/10,000
Note: Unparalleled in its range, the Swallower is beyond sharp and quick, perfect for swordmasters .
Even Lino was jolted to reality by the erupting cheers, causing him to sigh . By the time he came to, he realized that the price was already at 500 million, surpa.s.sing the best-selling totem by a hundred million already . He couldn"t be bothered to stand there any longer so he quietly left, departing from the arena-like auction house and coming to the open field shortly after . It was well beyond midnight, moon in its silver hue hanging high up in the sky, surrounded by countless stars . There was a trace of meek breeze brus.h.i.+ng past one"s cheeks, yet the temperature remained on the higher end . Lino looked up toward the sky and wondered how he was going to spend the remaining two and a half months before his promised return . I suppose I ought to start cultivating seriously . . . I should reach at least Mid Mythic Realm before the war, as otherwise I don"t think I"d be as useful . . .
"You should get ready . " robotic voice suddenly echoed inside his mind, startling him .
"For what?" Lino asked, frowning .
"I sense immense amount of Devil Qi inside the arena and the surrounding forests . " Lino nearly slipped over and fell, rolling his eyes so hard they nearly got stuck in the back of his skull .
"Holy s.h.i.+t, and you thought NOW was the good time to tell me?!!! What the f.u.c.k do you want me to do?!"
" . . . "
"Right, now you go quiet . Screw you . I hope you break your freaking spine . " Lino mumbled curses lowly before turning around and going to the backstage entrance of the arena were Ava was . He knew that there was no time to lose . The h.e.l.l are they doing here though? Can"t they tell that it"s a ma.s.sive gathering of cultivators of all things? Ugh, whatever . Lino quickly found Ava who was sitting with glee plastered on her face, eyes s.h.i.+ning in gold as she counted the sheer amount of resources inside the few Void Rings atop of her palms .
"Hey . " startled, she nearly slapped Lino silly until she realized it was him .
"Hey my a.s.s! Don"t startle me like that!"
" . . . quite the --ugh, no time for that . Let"s go . "
"Go where?" Ava asked, slightly confused .
" . . . I sensed overbearing amounts of Devil Qi around this place . It"s about to boom . "
": . . "
"Yup . "
" . . . "
"No matter how wide you make your "o" mouths, it ain"t gonna change a thing . "
" . . . "
"Oh for the love of--" just as Lino was about to pull her up and outside, a singular explosion bellowed out from inside the arena, followed closely after by screams and shouts of pain and agony .
Both Lino and Ava were blown backward like kites, spiraling past the arena and into the open field where they rolled on the floor for nearly a good half a mile before finally coming to a stop . Lino immediately got on top of his feet and looked toward the auction house, were sky-high flames were raging like demons from h.e.l.l . A mere moment later, several dozen flashes of light heaved out of the flames and barreled in an arc toward them . Startling him, Lino immediately wanted to escape but realized a firm hand grip wouldn"t let him .
"They"re alright . " Ava said, grim expression on her face . Soon enough, several dozen people landed in front of the two, most of whom were rather young . Lino, though, only paid attention to a few of them, all of whom were at Purity Realm; there was a youth slightly older than him with piercing, blue eyes and neatly tied hair, a stout, tall man with crimson hair and eyes and looking the type who always seems angry, with another woman standing by his side with extremely flirtatious disposition and similarly dyed hair . There were another two youths, around blue-eyed man"s age, the first one having completely bald head and almost expressionless eyes as though he was dead inside . The other was slightly on the older side, almost nearing thirty according to Lino"s estimate . His features were hidden beneath a dark cloak and his figure was on the slender side, bordering bone-and-skin . They all exuded rather dangerous air about them .
"Who was it?" Ava suddenly asked the group .
"Tortar . " the blue-eyed youth replied . "He tried to steal the sword, whereupon he used Devil Qi . "
"Brazen!!" Ava barked suddenly, her expression growing ever darker . "We"re surrounded . " she added, looking around .
"Estimated number?" the blue-eyed youth asked .
"Hah, who cares? Are you that much of a coward Sevan?" the crimson-haired man said aggressively in a mocking manner .
"If you"re in rush to die, go ahead . Don"t drag the rest of us with you . " the man called Sevan replied casually .
"Humph . "
"There are at least several tens of thousands of the Possessed," Ava replied . "A few dozen or so Demons, and a single Devil . "
"What?! Devil?!" quite a few people exclaimed at the same time .
"Up there . " she pointed toward the flames and above; suddenly, everyone turned their heads and spotted a figure neatly hovering in the sky, enrobed in thick shadows, exuding oppressive and dangerous air .
" . . . Skydevil Variant . " Sevan mumbled, frowning . "This is dangerous . Where did they come from all of a sudden?" If I speak up, they"ll berate me . Yup, definitely . Oh well . . .
"From outside the Valley, I gather . " Lino spoke up, dozens of pairs of eyes immediately focusing onto him . Nearly a moment later, everyone frowned as they realized they couldn"t see through this rather . . . poor-looking youth .
"What makes you say that?" the crimson-haired woman asked, smiling while revealing a set of perfect, white teeth .
"Because I"ve come across an army at least half a million strong in the forest outside the Hope Town," Lino replied honestly . "I gather this is just a scout party . "
"Half a million? That means there are at least dozen Devil Variants," the woman said, her easy-going disposition suddenly replaced by a grim one . "What the h.e.l.l? We"ve just barely gotten over the last invasion, and there"s already a new one?"
"There"s no more time to chat," Ava suddenly interrupted . "Where"s the sword?"
"Here . " Sevan took it out from his void ring and handed it over .
"Keep it for now," Ava said . "You"ll join me against the Devil . Temar, Seya" she turned toward the crimson-haired pair . "You"ll take the vanguard . Hanner," she then spoke to the balded man . "Take the supportive role . The rest of you will spread in the groups of five and begin exterminating whatever stands in your path . Lino," she then turned toward Lino and leaned in closer, whispering into his ear . "You take a chance to retreat . Though I can"t see through you, I very much doubt you"re that strong considering how good of a blacksmith you are . "
" . . . you underestimate me missy," Lino whispered back, biting her ear suddenly and grinning as she jumped back in shock . "I"ll take vanguard with those steroid-induced beasts . "
"Steroid-induced?"
"Beasts?"
"It"s a compliment," Lino hollered as he walked toward the two . "Heh, it"s been a while since I"ve spilled some demonic blood," he mumbled, looking toward the distance where a swarm of black began to gather . "This should help me break through . . . hopefully . . . "