Ethan invited Irene to retrieve that artifact. Although he wanted to have it for himself, he felt that obtaining it alone would be too difficult. So Ethan decided to make a lot of preparations.
In addition to Irene, he also obtained something from Claudia — more precisely, forced her to give it — and that is something she referred to as a "spell."
It was a scroll stored in a tube, about the size of Ethan's hand and green in color. Claudia said that this spell could make anything stop moving for 30 seconds.
But he couldn't use it nonstop. There was a cooldown period of 10 minutes before he could use it again. Ethan felt that it was good enough.
Claudia also said that it was the best thing she had. Despite the threat to her life and her Soul Sense ability, Ethan repeatedly urged her to speak seriously, and she didn't change her answer. He knew she was telling the truth.
Certainly, here's the translation:
And now here they are. It was a structure that looked ancient. Ethan didn't care much about its origin. What he cared about was the Gear inside it.
"Come on," he said to Irene.
Irene nodded and followed him. She had placed her trust in Ethan since he saved her. Even though not one hundred percent, she already considered Ethan as a companion in her journey.
The structure is massive. It was wrapped in moss and vegetation, making it almost look like a hill. Ethan and Irene entered through a crevice at the base of that structure.
Once they were inside, the atmosphere shifted, enveloping them in a sense of reverence and awe.
The chamber was vast. Its walls lined with shelves containing artifacts of unknown origin. Glowing crystals cast ethereal light across the room, illuminating the long corridor within.
At that moment alone, they already knew that this structure contained powerful energy. They were expecting enemies attacking them.
"Are you ready?" Ethan asked Irene while holding his bow.
"Yes." Irene nodded, eyes determined.
They found themselves engulfed in an eerie silence broken only by the faint echoes of their footsteps against the ancient stone floor. The air hung heavy with the scent of musty decay, hinting at the passage of countless undisturbed years.
Dim glowing crystals flickered sporadically along the walls, casting long shadows that danced and writhed like specters in the gloom. Every step they took seemed to echo through the empty halls, amplifying the sense of isolation that surrounded them.
The corridor curved to the right. Based on the information Claudia had provided, this was where a group of enemies would attack them.
"This is where the enemy will appear," Ethan said.
"Alright," Irene replied calmly. She raised her daggers, gripping them tightly in her hands.
Her shadows moved from beneath her feet and flowed into her hands then forming small tentacles. Then, the shadows wrapped themselves around the daggers, turning the blades black.
With each passing moment, the air grew thick with tension as the duo sensed the presence of their unseen enemies lurking in the shadows.
Suddenly, from the darkness ahead emerged a group of creatures shrouded in an eerie mist, their forms twisted and contorted into grotesque shapes.
These enemies, known as Shadowstalkers — Uncommon Rank, possessed an uncanny ability to blend seamlessly into the darkness, their movements silent and swift as they stalked their prey.
Clad in dark and tattered robes that seemed to absorb the very light around them, they brandished wickedly sharp claws and fangs, ready to strike at a moment's notice.
They moved without a sound. Fortunately, Ethan could still sense their Souls. He aimed and shot.
The arrow soared through the air like a streak of dim crimson, and found its mark in the chest of the nearest Shadowstalker.
The creature let out a guttural hiss as the Aether arrow pierced its darkened flesh, its form crumbling to the ground in a heap.
Undeterred by the fall of its friend, another Shadowstalker lunged forward, its claws outstretched in a menacing arc.
Ethan stepped back, and then Irene lunged forward, following their simple plan from before.
Irene moved with the grace of a predator stalking its prey. Her daggers, infused with the dark energy of her shadow, glinted ominously in the dim light of the ancient structure.
With a silent, deadly look etched upon her face, she advanced towards the approaching creatures, her eyes gleaming with fierceness.
As the creature lunged towards her with claws outstretched, Irene reacted with lightning speed. With a swift motion, she spun on her heel, her daggers slashing through the air like twin streaks of darkness. The blades sliced through the creature's shadowy form, causing it to dissipate into nothingness with a haunting wail.
Irene continued to move with a dancer's grace. With each strike of her daggers, she carved a path through the encroaching horde, her shadow-enhanced attacks leaving nothing but wisps of darkness in their wake.
From behind, Ethan shot his bow peacefully. All of the Shadowstalkers now focused on Irene, considering her the main danger. Yet, he killed almost the same number as her.
With each coordinated strike, they whittled down the Shadowstalkers. Ethan's arrows found their mark with unerring accuracy, while Irene's daggers cut through the darkness with lethal precision.
With each fallen Shadowstalker, their confidence swelled. Until finally, the last of the creatures lay dead at their feet.
Breathless but victorious, Ethan and Irene stood side by side. Irene let out a long breath. Despite facing horrible creatures just now, she felt satisfied. Her shadows slithered back from the daggers to her body.
She turned to Ethan and saw him smiling as he looked into the space in front of him.
"What do you see?" Irene asked, curious.
"My Rune," Ethan answered.
What he saw were the numbers of Soul Essence he possessed. It reached [250/5000].
When he asked Jane, she said there was no clear explanation about Soul Essence. She only said that Soul Essence was something he needed to strengthen his Talent, and he would obtain it from killing monsters, people, or from another meaning.
The amount of Soul Essence a person would obtain also had no exact measure, making it hard to gauge it.
But Ethan wasn't concerned about that. As long as he kept killing, his Soul Essence would increase.
Suddenly, his Soul Sense tingled with danger.
"Hide!" Ethan hissed.
Without asking further questions, Irene followed him, hiding behind a bend in the corridor.
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