''Tch! Fine! I won't take that thing from you as well!'' King harrumphed coldly in response as he finally put his hand down. He clicked his tongue in frustration, crossed his arms under his chest, and then, with a growing sense of anger, he grunted inwardly, 'Damn it! I acted too impulsively again. Now, it will be harder to get this guy's trust. How annoying.'
''Haha, a sudden change of mind, huh? That's quite unlikely,'' Jax chuckled in response. Then with a faint smile, he shook his head slowly and added, ''Don't worry, I can bring with me one creature from this Forbidden Land out of this place.''
''Wha... Really?!'' King lost his composure again as he almost jumped up in excitement. He grabbed Jax's shoulders, pushed him back and forth, as he added, ''Then what are you waiting for? Let's leave this shitty place now real quick!''
''Ugh...'' Jax suddenly began foaming. That guy was really... ''WAIT!''
Jax forced the other party's hands off of him as he added, ''Stop pushing me!'' It took him all he got but at least, he managed to get the other party's hands off his shoulders. Then he roared, ''Don't get too excited! I'm still trying to learn more from the Scroll!''
''Ah... Sor...'' King was just about to apologize but when he realized that it was the first time for a long time that someone spoke to him with that kind of tone, anger filled him again. His eyebrows twitched violently as he had an urge to erase that little brat from existence.
And also, why would he apologize? He never did that to anyone before!
But knowing well that his ego wasn't that important now, he simply harrumphed coldly, crossed his arms again, and then replied, ''Fine!''
But Jax wasn't paying attention to him now anymore. Instead, his focus was on the Scroll, reading the new and exciting information it had just revealed.
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[Reminder!]
By completing the Lord's Quest, you are allowed to leave the Fish Mystic Land using the FL Special Return Scroll. However, you can continue the quest for more and better rewards. Once the time limit has run out, you will be forced to use any kind of Return Scroll you have in your Inventory, or else you'll remain here forever.
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''Hmm...'' Jax nodded his head slowly as he pondered deeply. If he collected more than a hundred souls in one go, and it already gave him a handsome reward, then what kind of better reward would he get if he continued grinding souls for several days?
Thinking about it, a wide smile suddenly appeared on his lips.
''It's not done yet,'' Jax suddenly muttered as he seemed to come to a decision. He shifted his gaze to King as his smile suddenly turned into an ear-to-ear grin.
''Wha... What are you looking at kid?!'' King retorted as he suddenly felt a chill running down his spine. That creepy look... This brat must be up to something.
''We're not done yet. We can't leave this place yet.'' Jax replied. Only then did his smile fade away as he sighed and shook his head slowly.
''Huh? And why is that?'' King was clearly annoyed. His gut was telling him that this guy was really up to something really annoying.
''We need to collect more souls before we leave this place.'' Jax replied as he sighed again.
''What? Again with that? Don't think I don't know what you are planning!'' King harrumphed coldly. He could tell with just a single glance that this brat was just planning to make use of him.
''Sigh, that's too bad.'' Jax sighed in response, shaking his head slowly and closing his eyes in regret. ''It seems like I have to leave on my own.''
After he said that, he raised the return scroll as though ready to use it at any moment.
''Wha... WAIT!!! Don't leave yet, you bastard! Or else, I'll kill you!'' Agitated, King spoke coldly. It was unlikely for him to act that rampantly, but with his current situation, he couldn't remain composed and collected at all.
''You just need to collect souls, right?'' King then spoke again, and with a growing sense of malice flashing coldly from his eyes, he added, ''I got it. I will give you the whole lot of them to the point that you will beg me not to give you one anymore.''
That was also a good thing. He might as well vent his anger at all the pests here.
''Haha, that's good then. I'm starting to like you, bro.'' Jax laughed in response as he tapped the other party on his shoulder thrice.
King was yet again displeased. For that little brat to treat him like they were equal, he couldn't help wanting to kill him more and more.
In the end, King couldn't restrain himself as he replied, ''I don't like you at all...''
To his frustration, King was just about to finish his words when he learned that Jax wasn't paying attention to him anymore. Instead, he was at it on the Scroll again, smiling stupidly like a madman.
King found his eyebrows twitching violently again. It was the first time he felt so annoyed.
Meanwhile...
Jax looked at the Scroll intently. His excitement palpable, his hands were even shaking.
''I really... Scroll, you're the best!'' Jax spread out his arms and yelled out.
Right now...
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[Vengeful Soul]
Description: You can control your soul as well as the soul of others. Gives twice the effect of every skill unlocked against enemies you seek vengeance on.
• Phase 1 (novice): (Soul Form) You are able to separate your soul from your body and enter Soul Form. In Soul Form, you're intangible and can't be seen through the naked eye. You can control your soul to go from place to place.
• Phase 2 (novice): (Soul Steal) You can take the soul of the living out of their body upon contact with your physical body. The stronger the target, the heavier the soul. And the weaker the target, the lighter the soul.
• Phase 3 (novice): (Vessel of Countless Souls) You can collect souls and use their skills and abilities. You have three slots available for three different souls of any creature, with each slot stacking up to nine times. When you stack up souls, their skills and abilities will go up stronger accordingly.
• Phase 4: ??? (To see the unlock requirements, you need to at least reach Beginner-level proficiency with two of your skills and one Intermediate-level skill.)
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As he expected, the Phase 3 of his ability was now available and had unlocked him with a new skill. Among the hundred Cute Puffies he had stolen souls from, some of them were definitely Elite Rank monsters.
Since he only needed one to kill, he already completed the unlock requirements even before he completed the Second Trial.
He just happened to read the information now when he recalled about it and tried to inspect his Character Status.
'A skill that allows me to absorb souls and use their skills and abilities...' Jax thought with a growing sense of excitement, 'Damn, if I use King to beat up stupidly strong monsters in this place half-dead, and I absorb their souls, aren't I going to be an overpowered character in no time?'
''Ke ke ke ke ke...'' In the end, Jax couldn't help but reveal an ear-to-ear grin. He laughed maliciously, as if he was possessed by the Devil.
Meanwhile, King, who was watching Jax from the side, suddenly felt a chill running down his spine. Did he come up with the correct decision? Looking at Jax now, he didn't know anymore. He felt like this little devil was obscured with mystery as whatever he was up to was something he couldn't read at all.
''Right, if this little brat plotted something funny to deceive me...'' A sudden realization crept up to King's mind. A wide, sinister, and chilling smile surfaced on his lips as he muttered again, ''I will kill him slowly to the point that he will think that dying is much better than being alive...''
At that moment, somewhere in one of the Forbidden Lands, a compact between two young men was formed. A compact that held no ground, a compact that would easily break even without a storm.
One would use the other to escape the confines of that place, while the other one would use the other to acquire formidable strength. Both had their own selfish goals. And both had a scheme that wouldn't tell the other.
Little did they know that this simple and seemingly unimportant event would cause a huge steer to their twisted fate. On whether they would become friends or foes, only fate could tell.