Chapter 68 - Blood-Dyed Track Record

[Okay. From what I've comprehended, Evolution isn't meant for you.

The ability was created after duplicating your assimilation skill. But due to reasons unknown, Evolution evolved and became an upgraded version.

The armour is now able to absorb the mana with elemental traits. The spell which triggered the ability had fire elemental traits embedded in the mana. A large portion of the fire essence was sucked by the armour which caused the massive flame pillar to fade quicker than usual.

This is also applicable for other elements like Water, Ice, Lightning, Wind and Earth. Regarding the Light and Darkness attributes, I'm optimistic.

Also, the armour cannot absorb an endless amount of the elemental essence. Once the armour drinks sufficient mana, it'll evolve. How it evolves is a mystery for now. Other than the elemental traits, the armour can absorb mana from beast cores. It has to do with the presence of wisps of souls residing inside the crystals, I assume.

In a nutshell, it is the armour's ability to evolve.]

Adam's pace slowed down a bit. 'Isn't the Deity Of Doom' a Treasure-tier artefact?'

Treasure-tier!

That's the pinnacle level an artefact can attain.

[I'm unsure myself. The Deity Of Doom expresses its desire to evolve further. It also conveys that this is the skill that it had been looking for its whole life.]

'Is that so?' He was slightly startled by the revelation.

Emerging into the almost vacant reception hall of the Guild, Adam walked to the mission board. While conducting a conversation with Endevil, he simultaneously skimmed through the White-tier quests.

It was then his perception picked up two figures walking of the passage he just left. Looking over his shoulder, he saw Edgar and Celestina walking to him while briefly conversing.

"... if that's the case, then we can arrange something."

Catching the glimpse of the armour, the duo dismissed their dialogues, but Adam was able to catch the tail-end of what Celestina spat.

Noticing their conversation breaking off in his presence, he turned back to the quest board and immersed himself in the descriptions written in the papers.

[We already finished that quest.]

'Which one?' Adam's focus began to run all over the board.

[Upper-left corner, second from the top. The quest to collect two Bark-Skin Salamander beast cores.]

'Got it.'

Adam immediately extended his hand and plucked the mission request from the board. After confirming the content of the mission, he turned and walked to the reception.

"This quest..."

Sliding the quest detail paper towards Celestina, Adam conveyed. Before she could pick the paper up, he had flicked his wrist and two deep-green coloured crystals gracefully fell on the parchment.

"... is complete."

***

Just like that, Adam registered two more beast core collecting quests as terminated. Storing the silver coins into his storage ring, he conveyed his request from yesterday.

"Sure. But you only have an hour or two before we close the library." Taking a glance at the orange-red sun reclining on the sea of trees beyond the window, Celestina notified.

In return, Adam only nodded and paid 15 silver coins before the lady gave him a token.

"This is the attendance token. When you go to the first floor, you'll see a knight standing next to the door. Give this to him and he'll do the remaining procedures. As soon as you step inside the library, a 60-minute timer will appear on the token and will count down..." Before proceeding to the stairs, Celestina debriefed him about the procedures.

Memorising the instructions, he paced to the stairs, ascended and reached the floor. Just as Celestina advised, he passed the token to the soldier and he inspected it with some device.

After receiving the token back, Adam stepped into the library. At once, the timer which Celestina spoke about appeared on the token in large font.

[Let's make every second count.]

Adam couldn't agree anymore with Endevil as he walked to the nearest bookshelf and picked the first book in the row. It was about the floral life around the Swanhild kingdom.

"Nope."

Placing the book back, Adam began to skim through the names on the hardcovers. But it was proved exhausting as there were more than a quarter of a million books scattered in about fifty shelves.

Instead of reading through the names, Adam closed his eyes and spread his perception across the library. At once, a pitch-black screen appeared in his mind. The outlines of the nearby shelves and the books in it were revealed to him instantly.

[Looks like we need to take a walk.]

With his eyes closed, Adam began to step forward through the aisle. The perception ability that constantly sent out waves of awareness regularly updated the map thrice in a second.

With such assistance, it would have been a miracle if Adam couldn't find the correct books.

...

Shortly, he pinpointed the correct shelf and walked to it.

"Art of Ascension."

Reading the golden cursive letters imprinted on the book's cover, Adam began to flip the pages.

About six minutes later, he could only place the book back in disappointment.

'No reference of the Rising Valor.'

[Let's continue.]

Nodding in agreement, the next book was taken out of the shelves.

***

Just like that, an hour went by as Adam scurried through the multitude of books in search of Rising Valor.

Exiting the library, Celestina noticed his dejected expression as he walked to the reception.

"Anything wrong?"

The evening had arrived and the bright orange light peeked into the reception hall through the main door. The lamps affixed on the walls had opened their eyes and shed their light.

"Ah, it's nothing." Detecting Celestina's gaze, Adam quickly corrected his expression and let out a smile.

It was at this moment a guard from the royal army came running into the hall. His eyes were filled with horror as he sweated profusely.

"Guild Leader, a rift appeared very close to the city!!"

While gasping for air, the soldier conveyed the message in one breath before coughing and stumbling, falling into the embrace of the floor.

What!?

The adventurer population was sparse at the moment but they clearly heard the message. Some felt their blood coursing for a good fight. Some felt apprehensive about the event.

Swish~

Just as Adam and everyone present were frozen by the sudden turn of events, a gust of wind roared out of nowhere. Its swirling noise resonated in the walls and alarmed them.

[A powerful presence appears.]

Endevil made a remark which made Adam's brows knit. Just as he was about to probe, a figure abruptly manifested out of thin air.

"Take him to the infirmary."

The pale-grey robed figure knelt and checked the unconscious soldier's pulse. After giving out orders, the person stood up and turned around to face the reception.

"Live again, the guardian artefact."

The lady in her late-forties wasn't weak or fragile. Instead, she exuded a powerful aura that seems out-of-place to her age. This vigour was brimming in her words which were imbued with mana.

At once, three deafening chimes of a giant-ass metal bell swept across the building and the land.

DANG~ DANG~ DANG~

[Damn, that bell must be a Pure-tier artefact.]

Endevil was in awe upon listening to the voice which housed a faint oppressive element. The adventurers at once were forced to lower their line of sight upon feeling this sensation.

But the earthling was standing upright, with his head high. Except for the Guild Leader who appeared out of thin air, he was the only other person who stood so.

This visual information caught the lady's attention but she didn't pursue the secret behind his abnormality. Instead, she made a mental note on Adam's face and the peculiar armour before projecting her voice with mana.

"The kingdom is under attack. Adventurers who participate in the battle will receive rewards according to their performance. Rank promotion possible for exceptional individuals."

As soon as her voice faded off into oblivion, her figure flashed and disappeared from the spot. Reminiscent of teleportation, Adam could only stand there and watch the events unfolded.

[Wind affinity mage who is possibly above level 50. Mastery has surpassed A-grade, Aura Formation, and reached S-grade in combat prowess. A difficult opponent, but not undefeatable.]

While the consciousness conveyed its initial analysis about the lady, Adam caught the sight of adventurers dashing out of the building. They were met with a wave of fellow adventurers who were charging at the building.

When both sides collided, confusion bloomed.

Which part of the city is under attack?

Watching the adventurers scattering in all directions, Adam stood there in the reception hall like a statue.

"Are you not going?"

It was Celestina.

"No. Those adventurers are more than enough to defeat fiends and spectres. Plus, I'm just a Copper-rank berserker. My limitations are severe." Adam shrugged and added that he won't even get a decent kill to make a count.

But the receptionist lady had a nervous expression on her face. Her demeanour was sour.