Malachi's confident smile remained as he held out the Fragments of Aetherium Crystal for all to see. The inn's atmosphere shifted from one of amusement to one of intrigue and curiosity as patrons whispered and pointed at the valuable crystals. Some even wondered why this kid was brave enough to bring those crystals all alone.Monkey Monk's expression changed from one of dismissive arrogance to one of apprehension. He knew the worth of those crystals, and the stakes had just been raised far higher than he had anticipated. Malachi took a step closer to the table where Monkey Monk presided. "Can I play now?”Monkey Monk hesitated, glancing around at the expectant faces of the inn's patrons. He couldn't afford to back down now; his reputation as a fearless gambler was at stake. "Very well," he said with forced confidence. "But only if you're willing to match my bet with those crystals." Malachi nodded, his eyes never leaving Monkey Monk's. He placed the Fragments of Aetherium Crystal o
Under the bridge of a dirty slum. A man lie dead on the side of the river. His blood made their way down to the stream and washed away. The man died an unfortunate death. His limbs were twisted with some of the bones crushed and jolted out of the skin. His teeth was no more, and one of his eye balls were gone. It was a gruesome sight, enough to keep naughty children to never go out at night ever again.There was the sound of footsteps approaching. Walking out of the darkness, Malachi appeared and confirmed that Monkey Monk was truly death. “This man has faked his own death many times before,” Malachi said.“Well, I don’t think he can fake his own death anymore,” Seraphina replied.Malachi turned around and smiled. “You did a great job.” He reached out his hand and a massive head approached.Malachi rubbed the undead’s head like it was a dog. Suddenly, coughing sound was heard.Malachi and everyone else turned around to see the body on the pavement actually moved. Monkey Monk cou
After Killing Thomassin, Malachi exited the carriage and saw corpses lying around with most of the carriages already shattered and broken.The two pleasure women that entertained Thomassin were also among the corpses.Colborn stood there, among the corpses, waiting for his next order. “Did you let anyone escape?” Malachi asked.Colborn grunted and shook his head.“Good.” Malachi raised his hand, and easily, souls came out of the corpses and flew around in the air. Most of them tried to run away, but a mysterious force manipulated their trajectory.[You have obtained 75 soul points]“Since you did a good job, I will reward you with 20 soul points.”Twenty pitiful souls were then pulled away. Colborn opened his mouth and the souls went in, wailing in desperation for freedom.After gulping the souls, Colborn underwent a small change in his form. The amount of souls weren’t enough to transform him to something else, but his strength did increase.Malachi was satisfied with his first unde
After the man revealed the elixir in hand, Malachi asked: “Before we make this deal, may I know your name?”“My name is Nick Gil. You probably won’t remember that name.”Malachi shrugged. “Perhaps, I won’t. But it’s courtesy to one each other’s names before we make a deal. My name is Malachi.”“Hm,” Nick Gil could care less about the courtesy. “Now give me the vial.”“You haven’t give me the elixir.”“You give the vial to me first, then I will hand you the elixir.”“No. What if you cheat me?”Nick Gil glared at him. “You think I am a liar?”‘You are,’ Malachi thought. “Alright, but you will need water to drink this vial. It’s very thick and heavy.”“I got a bottle of liquor with me.”With a sigh, Malachi threw the vial at him. “Now give me the elixir.”“Wait. I need to make sure this vial is legit.” Nick Gil downed the vial. Sure enough, it was quite thick and heavy. It felt like he was eating a mouthful of creamy porridge.He raised his liquor and drank it, making it easier for him
A cloaked figure at the end of the hall, obscured in darkness, acknowledged Malachi's presence. The figure, presumably one of the higher-ups in the syndicate, gestured for him to approach.Malachi walked with an air of confidence, his every step echoing in the cavernous space. Seraphina trailed gracefully beside him, her ethereal form adding an eerie ambiance to the surroundings.The cloaked figure spoke in a low, raspy voice. "Malachi, you have returned. Report your mission outcome."Malachi didn't waste words. He recounted the encounter with Thomassin and that he was confirmed dead.Right after that, Malachi went straight to the Shadowcraft Academy. There was actually no reason for Malachi to come here again, since he was basically a formal member now, although that was not official yet.But, the workshop here cost much cheaper than other places, and it was a very safe place for Malachi to do his experimentation. Entering the academy, Malachi navigated through dimly lit corridors
Malachi uncorked the enhanced elixir, revealing the mesmerizing glow within the crystalline liquid. Seraphina watched the elixir intensely.He raised the vial to his lips, his gloved hand steady. With a determined expression, he downed the elixir in a single gulp. As the elixir entered his system, an immediate surge of dark energy coursed through Malachi's veins. It was as if shadows themselves were awakening within him, swirling and coalescing around his essence. The magical effects began to manifest, both internally and externally. Seraphina’s eyes glittered. ‘The elixir has a very potent dark energy. How is he processing it without destroying his body?’Internally, Malachi felt a profound transformation. The dark energy infused every fiber of his being, intertwining with his own magical prowess. It resonated with his core, amplifying his innate abilities and drawing upon the latent power within him. His senses heightened, and he could perceive the ebb and flow of magic around hi
Varian felt a slight fear, and his hair stood on end for a moment when he saw Malachi's abyssal gaze. He quickly shook the thought away, attributing it to mere illusion or his own overactive imagination. After all, a young boy like him couldn't possibly possess any power that could unsettle a seasoned warrior like Varian. Ignoring the brief unease, Varian turned away and joined the rest of the team. The group gathered in a huddle as Quest Master provided details about the mission. "Miriella and her team decided to infiltrate the church upon hearing rumors about a powerful artifact hidden within," Quest Master revealed. "In her last communication, she mentioned uncovering crucial information but was subsequently ambushed. Our intelligence now suggests that the church in Peiros is a front for this item. Your mission remains to infiltrate the church, rescue Miriella, and retrieve any valuable information she might have obtained." “Using the church as a place to keep an item,” Lysand
Aldric, along with the two other priests, entered the chamber with an air of authority. The trio wore intricate white robes adorned with religious symbols, their expressions shifting from surprise to a subtle acknowledgment of the situation. “Who are you people?”Aldric's eyes locked onto Malachi, and a sly grin spread across his face. "Well, well, if it isn't Malachi. What brings you to our sacred chambers?" His tone dripped with sarcasm. Varian looked at Malachi weirdly, wondering how the priest knew him.Malachi, despite the dire circumstances, maintained his calm demeanor. "Just passing through, Aldric. It seems you've been busy." He gestured towards the fallen church members on the floor. The other two priests exchanged uneasy glances, clearly not expecting outsiders in their secret chamber. They clutched onto their holy symbols, their expressions a mix of suspicion and concern. Miriella, now freed from her chains, stepped forward. "Hehe. I did not expect you keep something l