Lucas happily walked through the sewers of Arcanum Academy, carrying the Rehud Staff on his shoulder.
Despite the strong stench and the scurrying rats everywhere, nothing could dampen his mood.
In Epoch Games, players had no way to keep the Rehud Staff for themselves. It was a quest item, and after breaking through Willard's air maze, it had to be returned according to the storyline.
Players had tried various methods to hack the Rehud Staff, as its attributes were incredibly enticing.
Lucas had a photo of the staff's attributes on his phone.
Rehud Staff:
- Attack: 468
- Spell Mastery: 214
- Energy Compatibility: All
- Spell Efficiency Increase: 15%
- Mana Consumption Reduction: 50%
- Mana Recovery Increase: 20%
- Polearm Skill: +2
- Independent Magic Core: Can store mana for spell consumption (1000/1000)
Though the real Rehud Staff didn't display attributes, Lucas could feel that all its properties were intact, similar to its effects in the game.
The Rehud Staff was known for its high attack and high spell mastery. Using the same spells with the Rehud Staff would elevate their power by one or two levels.
Additionally, it improved spell efficiency, reduced mana consumption, and enhanced mana recovery.
Mages couldn't take their eyes off it.
But the game's mechanics ensured that players couldn't leave the enclosed instance with the Rehud Staff without returning it.
Now, that problem didn't exist. Lucas had fulfilled the wish of all Epoch players by hacking the Rehud Staff.
Well, it wasn't exactly hacking. He took it fair and square!
Another reason players desperately wanted to hack the Rehud Staff was its additional attribute: +2 Polearm Skill.
It was like teasing players who loved modifying items with a feather, tickling their fancy relentlessly!
Lucas couldn't resist testing its effectiveness as a polearm immediately upon obtaining it. The smoothness of its performance was truly addictive.
Players' grumbles were justified.
Using such a perfect spear shaft as a mage's staff for Willard was indeed a waste.
Now… it would finally fulfill its true potential!
Lucas was so pleased that he didn't want to stash the Rehud Staff in his backpack. Instead, he carried it out of Arcanum Academy on his shoulder.
He found the virtual teleportation anchor and returned to Storm City.
Daylight was replaced by the dark of night, and the wilderness turned into a city.
Lucas and Ela met up in a secret chamber by the Lilim River.
Next… with the long night ahead, it was time to craft a weapon for his main body.
A spear.
The shaft would be the Rehud Staff, the spearhead made from the red dragon's tooth, and it would be wrapped in the soft skin from the dragon's neck.
This would ensure that even Willard wouldn't recognize his Rehud Staff.
As Lucas and Ela worked on crafting the spear in the secret chamber...
Meanwhile, in Storm City, chaos erupted.
The elf who stole the "Heart of Red Dragon Nielcolone" had invaded Arcanum Academy and stolen the Book of Calamity.
She even took Headmaster Willard's staff.
Over a hundred years ago, the Book of Calamity caused a catastrophic magical mishap, triggering the greatest crisis since the founding of Arcanum Academy.
More than a dozen mages from the Department of Secret Arts fell into corruption during the mishap. They gained immense power but their minds descended into chaos and darkness.
They called themselves Abyss Mages and secretly formed the Abyss Society, using the power of the Book of Calamity to lure the academy's staff and students to join them.
When Arcanum Academy discovered they were performing live sacrifices in their secret arts research, they demanded the Abyss Mages hand over the Book of Calamity and disband the Abyss Society.
In response, the Abyss Mages attacked the academy.
That war involved everyone at Arcanum Academy, nearly destroying the entire institution.
Countless lives were lost, and invaluable materials were consumed in flames.
The losses crippled Arcanum Academy, taking decades to recover from the uprising's impact.
But the Abyss Mages were not eradicated.
The original 13 Abyss Mages called themselves Apostles, wielding the greatest power. After Arcanum Academy suppressed the uprising, seven surviving Apostles escaped with the remaining Abyss Mages.
For over a century, the Abyss Mages remained active.
Using their mastery of secret arts, they transformed the Abyss Society into the Abyss Temple, striving to recreate the Book of Calamity, which Arcanum Academy had seized and supposedly destroyed.
The Abyss Apostles believed that since the Book of Calamity was once the "Encyclopedia of mysticism" turned into a mystical artifact, they could replicate it.
Reports indicated that the Apostles' attempts to recreate the Book of Calamity were unsuccessful.
Now, the supposedly destroyed Book of Calamity had reappeared, falling into the hands of a powerful elven assassin.
This incident was far worse than the theft of the "Heart of Red Dragon Nielcolone."
After all, no matter how powerful, a red dragon could only wreak havoc for ten minutes.
The Book of Calamity nearly destroyed Arcanum Academy, a malevolent and dangerous mystical artifact.
And the strength of that female elf. She had managed to escape from Headmaster Willard, even stealing his staff.
Thinking of her power made everyone hold their breath.
The "Heart of Red Dragon Nielcolone," the Book of Calamity, the Rehud Staff, and the elf Ela.
This combination was now in Storm City. No one who heard this news could sleep.
Arcanum Academy convened an emergency meeting of senior staff.
Headmaster Willard first admitted his underestimation of the enemy and proposed the reformation of the Arcanum Academy Crisis Committee.
They would enlist powerful faculty and senior students to form the Arcanum Battle Mage Corps, which had been used to combat the Abyss Mages in the past.
At the academy board meeting, Headmaster Willard solemnly stated, "We cannot determine if the elf Ela is aligned with the Abyss Mages, but the reappearance of the Book of Calamity will certainly draw them out.
The war between Arcanum Academy and the Abyss Mages will reignite, and we must prepare for battle.
As one of the few survivors of the calamity a century ago, I warn each of you: do not harbor any illusions or hopes about the Abyss. When you face the Abyss, either defeat it or be devoured by it…"
Headmaster Willard took charge of Arcanum Academy after the catastrophe a century ago. His diligent efforts brought Arcanum Academy back to the pinnacle of the world.
His contributions earned him unparalleled prestige.
His fairness and kindness made him respected by both faculty and students.
Although most faculty and students were unaware of the specifics of the past disaster, they chose to unconditionally trust Headmaster Willard.
The academy's Crisis Committee was reformed.
Outstanding faculty and students were selected to form the Arcanum Battle Mage Corps.