The third skill of the Holy Human race, true to its name, offered a remarkable twofold increase in power. Meanwhile, the second skill was designed for swift execution, capable of eliminating enemies with a single, decisive strike.
Earlier, Essim had witnessed Voirel summon a dark aura, which indeed amplified his strength. However, he was unaware that this second skill also carried a passive ability, allowing him to inflict double damage on dark creatures.
"How fortunate I am this time. Without Voirel's dark aura, I might have had to resort to using more powerful items," Essim said, releasing a relieved sigh.
Indeed, he possessed a myriad of items, some of which were countless in number. Yet, only a handful could effectively threaten a tier-3 creature. Among those he considered using were the Sky Mortar and the Intercontinental Ship.
"Brother, are you alright?"
Aisha had approached him, her brow slightly furrowed with concern. However, thanks to the golden defense amulet, her anxiety began to dissipate.
"I'm fine, and you?" Essim replied, returning her concern.
"Of course, I'm perfectly fine! ;)"
Aisha radiated her usual enthusiasm. The encounter with Voirel had deepened her understanding of her own capabilities. It was indeed a source of pride to contend with a tier-3 creature, especially with the considerable assistance provided by the golden amulet.
"Alright then, let's finish off those beasts."
Essim's gaze shifted toward the remaining creatures summoned by Voirel, which had been effortlessly dispatching thousands of golden puppets.
They charged forward, intent on launching their attack.
[Killed (Fire Lion), exp +1800, contribution points +10]
[Killed (Black Crow), exp +1900, contribution points +10]
These monsters offered less experience than tier-2 creatures, yet each provided a modest ten contribution points.
Slash...
Swish... Sizzle...
Essim's first skill, a passive attack, continued to prove effective. The five additional sword shadows that followed his main strike served as a perfect finishing touch, ensuring the beasts met their demise.
From a distance, Aisha unleashed arrows that flew with incredible speed, ferocity, and an air of terror. Not only were they remarkably powerful, but they also possessed the ability to explode upon impact.
Aisha danced gracefully through the air, her movements almost ethereal. Although she could glide momentarily, she needed to touch the ground after a few agile maneuvers.
Her arrows were nothing short of terrifying, and her Arrow Dance skill enabled her to strike rapidly from any angle.
[Killed (Golden Python), exp +1860, contribution points +10]
...
Eventually, they dispatched all remaining beasts. It was time to collect the spoils.
[Extract corpse (Golden Python), are you sure?]
"Yes."
[Successfully extracted corpse (Golden Python), obtained:]
Golden Python Skin
Energy Crystal x23
Golden Python Blood 10ml
Hard Bone x1
Essim was pleasantly surprised by the items he had extracted. While their individual value was modest, they would prove highly beneficial for the Blacksmith Players on his island.
Aisha assisted in extracting the corpses of Voirel's beasts. Within a minute, they had successfully harvested all of them.
Next, Essim made his way to the spot where Voirel had fallen.
There was no body to be found, only a silver ring glimmering with a faint white sheen.
Essim picked it up, examining the information displayed on its panel.
(Space Ring - Silver)
Owner: Voirel
Slot: 10,000 cubic meters
Note: The space ring has an active soul barrier. Please break the soul barrier with Soul Power to change the owner.
"Soul barrier? Soul Power?" Essim muttered, puzzled.
He had never encountered the term "soul" before.
Attempting to access the silver ring's space, he discovered only darkness within, devoid of any content.
He found he could neither enter nor interact with it in any meaningful way.
Essim decided to store the silver ring in his own space ring for safekeeping.
"So, what's next? Should we return or press on?" he asked, turning to Aisha.
"Hmm... It would be best to return and report our findings," Aisha suggested.
Essim nodded in agreement. He then retrieved a small boat from his bag, approximately 50 meters in length.
Before departing, however, he approached the Island Orb located at the center of the island.
[Island Orb]
Owner: Essim
Island Speed: 5 square meters per second
Island Size: 500 square meters
Action: (Take over)(Destroy)
Since he intended to acquire Island Blocks, he chose the option to (Destroy).
[Destroying territory (Essim - 500 m²). Obtained 23 island blocks]
As a result, 23 island blocks, each measuring 1 square meter, materialized within his storage. While these blocks didn't appear physically, in his inventory they resembled cards with the number 7800 inscribed in the upper right corner. Essim had noted that the maximum number that could be stored was 10,000.
Having completed the destruction of the island, they boarded the small boat and began their journey back.
Behind them lay Essim's empty island. Humanity was already aware that an island that had been destroyed would collapse into the void within a matter of minutes.
The small boat sped swiftly through the emptiness. Although it seemed like a void, air still flowed, and the wind whipped through, causing Essim and Aisha's hair to flutter in the breeze.
"Brother, is it possible to bring the dead back to life?"
Aisha's sudden question caught Essim off guard. For some reason, he sensed that something was amiss with her demeanor.
He turned to look at his sister, who sat at the front of the boat. Her back was straight, evoking memories of their childhood.
He recalled picking Aisha up from elementary school just a week after their parents had passed away. During the ride home, Aisha had asked with innocent hope,
"Brother, when is Mom coming back? I miss Dad?"
At that moment, her face was full of longing and expectation. In her youthful mind, she believed their parents were simply on a work trip and would return soon. To shield his ten-year-old sister from the harsh truth of their loss, Essim had concocted a comforting story about their parents' demise.
He had assured her earnestly that Mom and Dad would come back, bringing with them delicious fruits and snacks.
Now, faced with Aisha's poignant question, Essim struggled to find the right words. He didn't want to risk causing her more heartache with his response.
"Sniff..."
...
Quiet sobs filled the air.
Yes, Aisha was softly weeping, desperately trying to suppress her tears.
Her gaze remained fixed on the endless dark void ahead, her expression blank, as if lost in deep thought.
Suddenly, she felt a comforting hand on her shoulder, followed by the warmth of someone sitting beside her.
Essim had settled next to Aisha, gently patting and hugging her with one arm.
Occasionally, he would steal glances at her face. Despite the gesture, Aisha's gaze remained vacant, staring into the abyss.
Essim felt a mix of confusion and helplessness, unsure of what to say or do. So, he chose to remain by her side in silence.
Out of the blue, he felt Aisha's head rest against his shoulder.
Aisha seemed weary, leaning on him for support. Yet her expression remained blank, and her cheeks were still damp from her tears.
And so, the two siblings navigated the vast void in their small boat, slowly but surely making their way toward their destination.