Adventure World Online (AWO)

"Then, shall we go now?"

Hisa-chan asked in turn, looking just as excited. Meanwhile, the two spirits belonging to Aswa and Siegfried, along with the others who were not part of Chang Long's retinue, stood confused like chickens with their heads cut off. They had no idea what Chang Long and her group were talking about or why they were so thrilled. From what they could see, the spot Chang Long was pointing to was merely a steep, dark ravine—gloomy and eerie. It looked like a vicious beast might leap out at them at any moment. But on second thought, perhaps that place was hiding a treasure trove of immense value. Maybe Chang Long had a map, and after going through so many hardships, she had finally found what she had been searching for.

"We can't go yet, Hisa-chan. We don't know what awaits us along the way. And I haven't even checked my own readiness since the battle with Leviathan. Before we go, we'll need to plan our journey a bit."

Chang Long replied seriously. She figured there must be some kind of test waiting ahead. Just reaching the Mirror of Truth—the gateway to the Land of the Dead—had already been tremendously difficult. And now, they had to travel to where the mirror was originally placed. It was certain there would be obstacles lying in wait.

"That's true. In that case, let's head back to the city and stock up on supplies first."

Fluffy Head-chan agreed. So Chang Long and all her companions turned back to head into the city to stock up on necessary items, while outsiders could only speculate and guess wildly about the contents of the conversation they could not quite grasp.

"Uh—Chang Long. Speaking of Leviathan, I almost forgot. Aswa and I dove down together to salvage the loot dropped when Leviathan died. We'll hand it over once we get back into the city. But here—this one, I know you're still collecting."

Siegfried suddenly remembered, after a full day of chaos with the Incan townspeople. He took out a small, deep-black orb with a shimmering indigo glow, about the size of a ten-baht coin, from his shirt pocket and handed it to Chang Long.

"This is..."

Chang Long reached out to accept the orb, visibly amazed. She smiled at the young man, her eyes filled with joy and surprise. As soon as the orb entered her hand, the system made an announcement to her.

"Player Chang Long has obtained the Eye of Darkness."

"What is that, missy?"

Devi-chan asked with interest, peering at the item Siegfried had just given to his heir.

"Player Chang Long receives the Advanced Eye of Darkness, a final relic of the Tribe of Darkness. Having more than three such relics in possession automatically activates the quest: Revival of the Tribe of Darkness. This quest has no time limit. Other players cannot be invited to join. Quest reward is joining the Tribe of Darkness (Gain Race.) Quest details can be found from clues left behind by the Tribe of Darkness. Let the Eyes in your possession guide the way."

Chang Long and her friends returned to the eastern city gate, where she met the daytime clerk of the Spirit Shop once again, who had already prepared the items she had asked for. Chang Long turned to the three young men and told them to go buy supplies and to remember to get some for her too, since she would be staying behind at the Spirit Shop, listening to the clerk pitching some peculiar-looking products laid out on the counter. The three men agreed, though they would have liked to listen in as well, thinking that once Chang Long finished her business at the Spirit Shop, she would most certainly be setting off on her journey again.

"So? Ready to show me what you've got?"

Chang Long asked, now standing at the front of the Spirit Shop.

"Oh, of course. The items you asked for are quite rare. The usage is complicated. Naturally, the price is high too. The first thing I'll present is: Skill Ashes. You probably already know that to use a unique skill of a spirit you own, the user's base level has to be quite high—and even then, there aren't many skills available. Skill Ashes are used to extract skills a spirit ought to have or once had and make them usable, regardless of whether the user's level is high or low. But keep in mind, the skill you get is random. You might end up with a low-tier useless skill, or a high-level, hard-to-use one…"

"Next, Ascension Pagoda. Normally sold in pairs with the Profession Change Pagoda. These are some of the toughest and most brutal items to use. It's not like you just send a spirit in for a trial and they'll pass easily. I'm telling you now, the success rate is extremely low. But if they do succeed—it's absolutely worth it."

"And this—you've probably been waiting for this one: Soul-Boiling Cauldron Set."

Chang Long looked puzzled when she heard the clerk introduce what appeared to be a pitch-black, very old three-legged cauldron. About two spans wide, it came with a set of empty glass bottles, black candles, a stirring paddle, and an instruction manual.

"What is this? Why would I be waiting for some old cooking set like this?"

Chang Long asked, sounding uncertain.

"Who said this is a cooking set? This is a miraculous tool for bringing shattered souls back to life! There are two types of shattered souls. The first type is a soul that still exists but shows no response—its presence is as good as nonexistent. Most of the time, this type of shattering happens to ancient souls that have endured suffering for hundreds or even thousands of years. The second type is a soul that has been destroyed to the point of annihilation. These are usually unwilling to be shattered and still have lingering attachments. To call them back from annihilation is an extreme act of defying nature, which requires a long process and many steps. If even one step is done incorrectly, the chance of reviving that soul becomes zero immediately."

"Oh, just this pot alone can bring shattered souls back?"

Chang Long asked, hardly able to believe it.

"No, of course not. I already told you it involves materials and complicated steps. Just having the Soul-Boiling Cauldron doesn't mean it's done. Here's the instruction manual, including a detailed list of the materials you'll have to gather. Interested in buying it?"

"Sure, I'll take it. By the way, how many grades are there for Spirit Tablets and Demon Puppets? I'd like to sell the ones I have and buy ones of higher grade instead. Is that possible?"

The daytime clerk nodded. So Chang Long took out the Spirit Tablet and Demon Puppet she had bought from Elder In and Elder An. Meanwhile, the clerk brought out Spirit Tablets and Demon Puppets from the shop for Chang Long to choose from.

"Spirit Tablets made from hardwood are best, because they won't easily break if dropped. They're durable and lightweight. As for decoration, that depends on the price. If it's a basic model, it's cheaper than the jade tablet you have. As for Demon Puppets, there are those made of wood, like yours, granite, quality metal, and iron."

Chang Long browsed the items again before placing her order: one Soul-Boiling Cauldron set, Golden Ghost Coins, ten standard-grade hardwood Spirit Tablets, ten fine-quality iron Demon Puppets, one dozen Spirit Binding Candles, assorted-scent offering incense, one Resurrection Boundary, one Sin-Binding Shackles, one Spirit Maiden Jar, one dozen Skill Ashes, and one Pagoda set (Ascension Pagoda and Profession Change Pagoda).

This purchase cost Chang Long several hundred thousand coins. And it seemed the three young men had not returned yet, so she took out the Eye of Darkness that Siegfried had given her to examine. She placed it into her sword, causing a flash of black light as the eye embedded into the blade. The system then announced to her:

"Player Chang Long has acquired the skill: Abyssal Tide."

"Abyssal Tide? Wonder what that does."

Chang Long murmured. Just then, the young men walked back out from the city of Cuzca.

"Shall we set out now? Wasting time like this isn't good. We've all left our developing cities behind. Guilds without their leader for long often become targets of attack."

Aswa spoke up with concern, since he himself had been away from his guild for quite a while.

"Then go ahead. I didn't ask you to wait. I'm going to place the mirror first, then I'll head out to the path leading to the Heavenly Avian Temple. You're the leader of a major guild, going alone shouldn't be a problem for you."

Chang Long's answer made the young man choke up. If he ever succeeded in wooing Chang Long and they became a couple, he would surely be the one following behind in the relationship. From what he knew, no one dared raise their voice to her—not even himself. Not because she was stronger, but because he liked her so much, he was willing to give her everything!

In the end, Aswa followed Chang Long. He did not want to leave her behind and let Siegfried score more points and leave him in the dust.

Though the warning from the Path Keeper elder had stated: even if one was great and powerful in the realm beyond death with granted permission to enter the place where the mirror was placed, they still had to undergo a test of capability from the Path Keeper. Even if the title had been inherited, without the Path Watcher's approval, Chang Long would never have reached the cliff where the mirror was to be placed.

The path sloped downward and split into two routes. One led to the fortress that Chang Long, Devi-chan, and Hisa-chan intended to claim—but that would have to wait until business with the Heavenly Avian Temple was finished. The other path led straight to a tall, steep, gloomy stone cliff that seemed to emanate an evil presence, as if something malevolent was lying in wait.

"You guys can wait here if you want. If you die, it wouldn't be worth it. This is a quest that's mine alone."

Chang Long turned to tell the three young men.

"I already said I'd help. No way I'm letting Chang Long go alone—especially when it's something this dangerous."

Siegfried replied.

"I want to go too. Even if I die, it doesn't matter."

Captain Hicks also wanted to follow Chang Long. Although waiting seemed like a more interesting option, leaving Chang Long—who had once saved his life—to face danger alone was not his way of a true man.

"The more people, the more strength. I'll help with everything I've got."

Aswa refused to be outdone, even though in his heart he had an unspoken follow-up thought: Even if it means dying prematurely like back in the Purple Forest.

Once everyone agreed to accompany Chang Long on her quest, they set off down the second path, heading toward the high cliff, flanked along its entire length by tall, dead-standing trees. The atmosphere was eerie and untrustworthy, with a moaning sound coming from something at intervals—enough to send chills down their spines.

Even though it was daytime, the path was dim and shadowy enough to activate Chang Long's Vampire Eye skill automatically, startling Aswa and Captain Hicks, who thought they were under attack. And it seemed that their involuntary cries of surprise drew the attention of something all too well.

Shadows of something unidentifiable flickered and darted about like candle flames. The eerie moaning grew louder, seeming to close in at times. It swooped in and retreated again and again, until the group began to feel on edge. These flickering shadow attacks did not cause physical wounds, but they steadily wore down everyone's mental fortitude. Even the strongest-minded among them could not deny that what was happening was utterly terrifying—truly hair-raising.

Sweat seeped across their faces, and their bodies trembled from suppressing fear. Why would a game have something so inexplicable—something that could inspire such deep fear in a player's heart? Human skeletons littered the ground, increasing in number the deeper they went. A question surfaced in their minds, as if their memories had been erased: Where were they going? Why were they in such a terrifying place?

Just as fear and confusion overtook them, a shadowy figure appeared ahead. A man with shoulder-length golden hair, skin pale as paper, wearing a long-sleeved white shirt without buttons and glossy black leather pants. In one hand, he held a long, curved scythe taller than himself, made of silver that glowed with a shimmering white light. In the other hand, he held a crystal orb the size of a palm. Cold gray eyes stared at Chang Long's group.

"If not dead, you shall not pass."

The man said in a flat, emotionless voice.

"W... Who are you?"

Chang Long asked, uncertain.

"The Path Keeper. The one who decides whether a soul deserves to go forward or not. I am The Judgement, the successor to the Spirit Guide. I am the one who tests which soul is worthy to pass through the mirror, to pledge themselves before the Reaper King."

The golden-haired man replied.

"The Judgement?"

Chang Long repeated the name in confusion. Kearick had never told her anything about this before.

"You are not souls. I will not permit you to reach the place of the mirror. If you insist on going forward, then leave your mortal bodies behind."

The Judgement spoke with the same calm, emotionless tone.

"If we become spirits, how would we place the mirror? So, you're not going to let us pass nicely, huh, Blondie?"

Chang Long asked. The pronoun she used to address The Judgement made his eyebrow twitch slightly.

The Judgement spun his massive scythe and attacked Chang Long while still holding the crystal orb in his other hand. Chang Long swiftly raised the Sovereign Sword to block the blow in time. But the attack did not stop there. The moment she blocked it, The Judgement delivered a fierce kick, forcing Chang Long—who raised her arm to guard—to be sent flying a great distance.

"Master, let me fight him instead!" Fluffy Head-chan volunteered, seeing that Chang Long had been hurt.

"No! This guy is too strong. And that skill of his, the one creating all those illusions, has already drained so much of our strength. Even your full form wouldn't be able to handle him!"

Chang Long shouted the last sentence loudly when she saw Fluffy Head-chan about to argue. He immediately shut his mouth in frustration.

"Impressive that you knew. When morale declines, the body's strength also diminishes. A wavering, unstable mind can never defeat me."

The Judgement replied.

"Yeah, you're strong, Blondie. But let me tell you something—I'm stronger. Hisa-chan, Spirit Possession!"

As Hisa-chan's spirit was drawn in and merged with Chang Long's body, her power increased tremendously. She did not wait for The Judgement to recover and took the opportunity to activate a skill.

"Abyssal Tide!"

The young woman slashed her fingers toward The Judgement's body and invoked the skill from the Advanced Eye of Darkness she had just acquired. A torrent of water erupted from the eye, latching onto The Judgement's body. The current was so strong it sent him spinning along its fierce flow. The water swirled together into a massive sphere, trapping The Judgement inside.

Both the scythe and the orb fell from his hands. He struggled to escape from the torturous prison, causing the illusion that had weakened everyone's mental stability to vanish with it. Everyone began to watch Chang Long's battle clearly, even though the fear within their hearts still lingered.

The more he struggled, the faster the water current spun—violent, as if in fury. The golden-haired man thrashed and clawed for freedom as he was running out of air. His final breath was about to run out. He would surely die soon—if he were just an ordinary human. But The Judgement, like Kearick, was a special class of the dead. Though resurrected by the Reaper King, he held a unique status: that of a half-zombie. He still breathed, but his heart no longer beat like that of a normal human.

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