Chapter 653 - 416: A Note from an Unknown Existence

Chapter 653: Chapter 416: A Note from an Unknown Existence

’Nine levels at once?’

Zhou Chen was stunned. ’This is way more experience than an Elite Monster could ever give!’

Even in the early game, leveling up nine times required a massive amount of experience. The *Gaia* strategy guide, compiled by generations of Players, stated that killing an early-game Elite Monster would only get a Player to about LV 4 or LV 5 at most. Yet here he was, only half an experience bar away from LV 10. The amount of EXP was on a completely different scale.

Plus, this Vine Witch had a proper name. As everyone knows, any enemy in a game with a full name is usually one of the most powerful figures in the World’s lore.

It dawned on Zhou Chen. Vine Witch Shafali wasn’t an Elite Monster at all; she was a true Boss Level monster!

He walked over to the pile of loot Vine Witch Shafali had dropped and started snatching it all up. One by one, description pages for the new Artifacts popped up.

—[Vine Witch Hat: A leather witch hat adorned with a Thorny Ring.

A pointed hat, the mark of a Heretic Mage.

The Vine Witch’s favorite headwear when she was human.

Grants Intelligence +3 when equipped.]

—[Vine Witch Robe: A leather witch robe covered in a thorny pattern.

The Vine Witch’s favorite garment when she was human.

Grants Physical Strength +2, Endurance +2 when equipped.]

—[Vine Witch Pants: Leather witch pants covered in a thorny pattern.

The Vine Witch’s favorite garment when she was human.

Grants Physical Strength +2, Agility +2 when equipped.]

—[Shafali’s Master Staff: The Magic Staff of Vine Witch Shafali.

The green gemstone on the Scepter, known as the "Emerald Green Light," enhances Plant Magic.

The Scepter of a Magic Master, it contains immense Magic Power. The power of any Magic cast with it is increased by 20%.

Only the wise may wield it.

Required Attributes: 30 Intelligence.

Grants Intelligence +5, Endurance +3 when equipped.]

—[Desecration Emblem: A stone shard with bizarre markings, stained red with dried blood. It exudes a profane and ominous aura. Staring at it for too long will cause dizziness.

The heavy, blasphemous knowledge will corrupt its wielder, like an inescapable Curse.]

—[Academy Key: A slightly rusted room key belonging to Butonbus of the Magic Academy.]

—[Magic: Lethal Thorn: Fires a sharp thorn that automatically homes in on the locked target.

Required Attribute: 18 Intelligence.]

—[Magic: Thorn Entanglement: Summons thorns to entangle one target within a ten-meter radius, dealing damage.

Required Attribute: 18 Intelligence.]

Zhou Chen was astonished after reading the descriptions of all the Artifacts.

The loot dropped by the Vine Witch painted a faint picture of her past. She had once been a Magic Master at the Magic Academy, but something caused her to leave and become a Heretic Mage. The cause of her betrayal was most likely the "Desecration Emblem."

The description mentioned that staring at the Emblem caused dizziness. Combined with the text that followed, it wasn’t hard to deduce that the Desecration Emblem was a source of mental pollution, gradually corrupting the mind of its owner.

Unwittingly corrupted, Shafali grew more and more deranged. She eventually fled the Magic Academy, becoming a notorious Heretical Witch. As the mental pollution intensified, she gradually transformed into something inhuman: the Vine Witch.

’That’s probably how the story goes.’

"If Shafali was a Magic Master, it all makes sense. That’s why she gave so much EXP... Tsk, how did I get so unlucky? Spawn-camped by a major boss right at the beginning..."

Zhou Chen then equipped the Vine Witch’s Armor Set and allocated all the Attribute Points he gained from leveling up to Intelligence.

—Even though it was called a Witch’s Armor Set, you couldn’t tell if it was designed for men or women just by looking at it. Besides, the set gave impressive Attribute bonuses. Forget it being unisex; he would wear it even if it were a frilly dress.

If a cute little dress offered the best stat bonuses in the game, even the burliest, most macho man would equip it without a second thought.

This was the Player’s pursuit of better Attributes!

Physical Strength: 13

Intelligence: 28

Endurance: 11

Power: 8

Agility: 14

’Just two more points in Intelligence and I can use Shafali’s Master Staff.’

Once everything was in order, Zhou Chen found the save button and clicked it, making a manual save just to be safe.

He then headed into the tunnel on the other side. After some climbing, dropping, and swimming, an ancient stone door appeared before him.

Zhou Chen stepped forward and pushed the door with all his might. The stone door rumbled, and dust that had lain undisturbed for countless years fell in a cascade. A crack opened, letting a sliver of light shine through.

The view before him opened up dramatically. He saw a vast plain overgrown with twisted, bizarre trees, among which stood several huge, dilapidated ruins. In the distance, he could see a few low-level monsters roaming the path.

The sky was shrouded in leaden clouds, bleak and desolate. A pitch-Black Sun hung high above, emitting a dim, lifeless glow. The entire World felt oppressive and silent, as if at the end of days, and the very air reeked of decay and rot.

Far off to the northwest, a massive, cold, and pitch-black sphere hung in the sky. It was the Sun forged by the Dwarf King and the Giant King, now extinguished.

On a large, jutting rock not far away stood a man. He wore a tattered burlap robe with the hood pulled up to cover his head, and a simple steel mask concealed his face.

Just to be safe, Zhou Chen saved his game manually one more time before cautiously approaching.

"Oh, an outlander?"

The masked man noticed him and spoke first, his tone gentle and his voice elegant as he introduced himself. "I am a nameless spirit, wandering the Gaia Land in search of destined outlanders, to show them the way forward and offer some guidance and aid."