Chapter 33: Unique Accessory: Blood of the Earth
Chapter 33: Chapter 33: Unique Accessory: Blood of the Earth
[Blood of the Earth (Unique · Accessory)]
[Attribute 1: Constitution +5]
[Attribute 2: Life Natural Recovery Speed +10/hour]
[Attribute 3: Life Recovery Bonus +20%]
[Attribute 4: Earth Element Affinity +10]
[From the Earth: Active use. Instantly recover 20% of max Life Value and remove one weakening effect. Cooldown: 24 hours. Remaining cooldown: 23 hours.]
"An essence buried underground for an unknown time, finally revealed to the world."
——
"Holy shit! An accessory?!"
Clutching the massive gem, Jon felt his hands tremble.
It wasn’t just because the gem was a [Unique] grade piece of equipment, a tier with a special color tag that he had never encountered before. It was also because its power was already affecting him, soothing the fatigue and pain in his body.
Of course, the main reason was pure excitement!
In terms of Attributes, the gem’s stats weren’t particularly outstanding to someone like him, who was used to seeing high-level equipment.
But its type was far too rare—an "Accessory"!
It was a piece of equipment that didn’t take up a normal gear slot, with each player able to wear five. They were exceedingly rare, even late into the game!
Unless one bought them with cash, many players might reach the Official Level or even the Advanced Level without ever finding a suitable accessory!
And now, he was holding such a precious accessory, one whose Attributes were a perfect fit for his needs!
Four Attributes, and three of them were related to Life!
The +5 Constitution went without saying; it was his, Jon’s, main attribute. The more, the better.
The +10/hour Life Natural Recovery Speed was equivalent to the effect of consuming Chu Blood Grass Essence. This meant that just by carrying the Blood of the Earth, he would enjoy Chu Blood Grass-level recovery at all times.
As for the +20% Life Recovery Bonus, that was the icing on the cake. It not only made his recovery effects stronger but also allowed his [Heart of Balance] to start showing its true power.
From now on, consuming 1 Magic Power would restore 1.2 Life Value!
The final of the four Attributes, [+10 Earth Element Affinity], was the real heavyweight!
One had to understand that among the multiple trials to advance from the Official Level to the Advanced Level, there was one that tested elemental adaptability. This attribute was something you could usually only gain one or two points in by completing all sorts of difficult trial quests, yet this single gem provided a full 10 points!
If Jon reached the Advanced Level in the future and chose the Earth Element as his affinity, this piece of equipment would save him a ton of effort!
This attribute also solved a small mystery.
The weary Warrior kicked the Scorpion Mother’s corpse at his feet and sighed.
’No wonder this big fella transformed the moment it ate the gem. A semi-Elemental Creature gaining an Earth Element Affinity bonus... it would have been weirder if it *didn’t* have a massive power-up...’
’Unfortunately, I’m too weak right now. I can’t convert elemental affinity into combat power...’
The power of the "Advanced" Level was still too distant for an "apprentice" like him, unless he was willing to transform himself into an Elemental Creature.
Thinking of the grotesque forms of Professionals who had attempted elemental transformation prematurely and failed, the young Warrior couldn’t help but shiver.
’Hmm... I’d rather die than turn into that...’
As for the active Skill, [From the Earth]—a heal plus a debuff cleanse—its value was self-evident.
Unfortunately, the Scorpion Mother must have triggered the effect instinctively, so he’d have to wait until this time tomorrow to use it again.
But Jon wasn’t the least bit dissatisfied.
Although the gem’s various numerical bonuses weren’t exceptionally high, it was an accessory. You could pretty much consider them free Attributes!
Free! Free! Free!
Important things must be said three times!
Such great Attributes, and on a unique accessory that didn’t take up a normal equipment slot—it was his now!
All the trouble he went through was completely worth it!
The next step was to clean up the rock scorpions now scurrying around the mine and end this Dungeon trip!
Wait, scurrying rock scorpions...
Jon’s brow furrowed. He thought of the girl he had brought into the mine, and a sudden chill ran down his spine.
’Oh no. That girl didn’t wander off, did she?’
’She shouldn’t have her powers yet. If she runs into a rock scorpion, she’s finished!’
If the future Sun Saintess died in this tiny Abandoned Mine because of an accident caused by a scorpion, his sin would be great indeed!
He broke into a run, holding up the Blood of the Earth for light. Ignoring the scattered rock scorpions along the way, he rushed frantically toward her hiding place.
The young Warrior charged all the way to the entrance of the funnel-shaped tunnel, where his steps faltered.
The faint firelight that should have been glowing from the tunnel’s depths was extinguished.
’No way...’
His heart tightened. He picked his way over the rock scorpion corpses he had slain, stumbling toward the crevice that was only wide enough for one person to squeeze through sideways.
The closer he got, the more unsettling signs he saw.
Fresh rock scorpion tracks.
The tracks meandered, as if confused, but ultimately, they led over the bodies of their own kind and into the crevice.
All of Jon’s joy from obtaining the Blood of the Earth vanished completely.
It wasn’t just because Reya was a quest objective he needed to protect, one deeply tied to his own interests. It was also because this girl was genuinely connected to the direction of many future Major Events!
Without her, the ambitious schemers and the Blood Eye Association lurking in the heart of the Harvia Empire would not be exposed early, and they could continue to plot their conspiracies, spreading fear and chaos.
Without her, Belina Benest might not have smoothly become the Empress. Even if she eventually took the throne, without the financial support of the Noble Merchant Association, she would not have been able to raise the invincible Iron Rose Knight Order.
Without her, the Matia Religious Country would not tolerate a "faithless" nation like the Harvia Empire to continue growing and would have undoubtedly carried their [Holy War of Faith] to the bitter end!
So many things would be changed! So many people would walk different paths of Destiny because of this!
Jon tightened his grip on the blade at his waist and stepped sideways into the crevice, tentatively calling out the girl’s "name."
"Reina! Are you in there? Reina?"
No response.
The short two-step distance felt agonizingly long.
When he stepped into the space behind the crevice, the first thing he saw was a dead rock scorpion, its pincers and head smashed to a pulp.
And the girl with the dazzling red hair was curled up in the farthest corner, clutching the short sword he had left her, completely still—as if she were dead.
!
Jon’s pupils contracted. He kicked the obstructive insect corpse aside and rushed forward.
He supported Reya’s limply hanging head and reached out to feel the side of her neck, relaxing slightly a moment later.
Thank god. It was faint, but there was a pulse.
After confirming this, he immediately shoved the Blood of the Earth into the girl’s hand, hoping its effects could keep her alive.
Then he lifted her into his arms, laid her flat on the ground, and threw open her dust-covered cloak to begin checking for injuries.
Neck, spine, chest, legs... he probed each area, checking for broken bones in these vital spots.
Then he pressed on her lower abdomen, her sides, and her lower back, checking for ruptured organs or internal bleeding.
Throughout this process, the girl’s fair, flawless body did not stir a single impure thought in him. There was only a calm assessment of her physical condition.
Because he was the one who had brought her down here, and he was the one who had promised to protect her.
As a Warrior, a protector, he had to be responsible for the one under his protection!
Just as he was about to pry open Reya’s eyelids to see if she was still conscious, the girl woke up.
She opened her eyes, a little dazed, and looked at the Warrior’s face before her, which was stern yet tinged with a trace of worry. She spoke in broken phrases.
"Mr.... Mr. Jon... I... I wasn’t... a burden to you..."
Then, as if completely exhausted, her head lolled to the side, and she went still once more.