Chapter 345: Source Seed
Chapter 345: Source Seed
The temperature soared to a scorching 1200 degrees Celsius.
In an instant, the Elemental Manipulator's clothing and skin were set ablaze.
Even as the excess flames were swiftly drawn into the vortex's storm, a safe zone formed around the manipulator's body.
The ignited flames continued their rampage on his body!
"Ah, help!"
"Ahhhh!"
The excruciating pain overwhelmed the Awakened individual, rendering him helpless.
He roared loudly, flailing his arms as he rushed towards the lake behind him.
"..."
On the other side, Lindsey seized the opportunity, raising his Flame Musket and taking aim.
The reticle instantly locked onto the enemy, and his skills even calculated the trajectory of the opponent's dive into the lake.
Lindsey would not give the enemy a chance to catch their breath.
But just as Lindsey prepared to fire, something unexpected happened.
The intense pain from the burns made it difficult for the Elemental Manipulator to focus, causing him to lose control of his skills.
The elemental vortex he had created stopped functioning at that moment.
The massive force lost its momentum and rapidly expanded outward from its compressed state, immediately triggering an even more exaggerated explosion.
Boom!
A visible shockwave erupted from the lakeside, filled with fragments of various objects, like shrapnel from a bomb, scattering outward.
"Huh?"
Lindsey opened his bag and took out some materials, quickly erecting a dirt wall in front of him.
Dense sounds of clattering and clashing echoed from the other side of the wall, as if raindrops were hitting it.
But only for a moment.
The center of the Valley Sanctuary became a scene of devastation.
Dirt, rubble, tree debris, and muddy droplets were scattered everywhere, with flames flickering amidst the mess, igniting the surrounding grass and trees.
As for the Elemental Manipulator...
The back of this guy was hit directly by the explosion of the elemental vortex.
He plummeted into the lake like a cannonball, where he had intended to dive, and lay motionless.
"..."
Lindsey emerged from behind the pockmarked cover.
He opened the map and took a look.
All nearby markers had been cleared, leaving only his own icon, standing alone in its original spot.
"This..."
Lindsey's expression was somewhat peculiar.
The flame bombs he had thrown were just an opening move in the battle, and he hadn't intended to rely on them for victory.
But as the saying goes, making the right choice in the right situation often yields the greatest results.
The previous situation fit this description perfectly.
So, the chain reaction triggered by just a few flame bombs directly helped Lindsey defeat his enemy.
With mixed feelings, Lindsey approached the lake's edge.
In the murky water not far from the shore, he spotted a blurry figure lying motionless.
Whoosh—Thwack!
Lindsey lashed out with his whip, pulling the Elemental Manipulator's corpse out of the water.
The enemy had first been burned, and then directly hit by the explosion of the elemental vortex. His charred corpse had unknown broken bones, and he looked like a broken jointed toy.
"..."
Staring at the pitiful sight of the corpse.
Lindsey scratched his cheek and subconsciously opened his attribute panel.
[Game Player] - Treat all targets equally.
So, on his [Hunting Notes], Lindsey also unlocked his first achievement for hunting humans.
Humans: 1/25.
Below, there was also an Elite Kill Count: 1/1.
"..."
Lindsey suddenly felt a bit nauseous.
Seeing the corpse of the enemy he had killed didn't bother him.
But on the game panel, recording the number of humans killed, and even benefiting from it, gave him a peculiar feeling.
It was indeed a strange sensation.
"Anyway, this is the consequence of your collaboration with evil."
Lindsey sorted out his emotions and shook his head slightly.
He turned to look around.
Years of adventuring had instilled in Lindsey excellent and practical habits.
So, he took a wooden bucket from his bag, drew several buckets of lake water, and extinguished the scattered flames around him, preventing a larger forest fire.
After handling the situation.
Lindsey carried the Elemental Manipulator's corpse and headed towards his companions.
Achievement rewards and material collection were also obtained along the way.
[Weapon: Gallows Axe]
An axe used by an executioner, stained with human blood. This weapon inflicts greater damage on humans; after killing a human, the next attack will deal increased damage for a short period.
Executioner's Set - (1/5)
Moderate Value.
A simple yet crude axe, its surface smeared with dark red bloodstains. The cold axe blade is wrapped in a twisted desire to kill, making anyone who glances at it feel extremely uncomfortable.
Lindsey holds it in his hand.
Feeling no need for any disguise, he could immediately step into a horror movie and play the role of a seasoned psychotic killer.
"..."
Lindsey silently puts the Gallows Axe into his bag and examines the newly obtained material.
Unusual Artifact/Ingredient: Source Seed
A special entity condensed from Source Essence. When consumed by ordinary people, it increases the probability of becoming an Awakened. It can also be used as a material to craft other items.
An extremely rare and valuable artifact.
Lindsey tries to use it as a material and places it on the workbench.
Source Seed x3 = Source Emblem
"..."
"Is it really a world where people eat people now?"
Looking at the attributes on the panel.
Lindsey's first thought was the common knowledge he had learned in the secluded borderland.
This item holds extraordinary value for both himself and others, and it might even lead to unimaginable disasters.
"Tsk..."
Lindsey shakes his head.
If he had killed the enemy and obtained this item from them, it would be understandable.
But to go out and deliberately kill for the sake of the harvest...
"It's not like we're in an RPG, killing monsters for loot. That's enough."
Lindsey carries the corpse and continues forward.
Soon, footsteps can be heard from the front of the forest, and he looks up.
An Adventurer's figure is rushing towards him.
The previous explosion had obviously caught Lezer's attention, as he had been dealing with prisoners but immediately came to provide support.
Seeing Lindsey's figure, Lezer breathes a sigh of relief.
"Lindsey, I heard a massive explosion from this direction."
"Are you okay?"
Lindsey points to the corpse he brought:
"The process was a bit twisted, but I won."
Lezer approaches and examines the corpse.
First burned and then caught in the explosion.
The body of the Elemental Controller is in a terrible state, and his identity cannot be determined by appearance alone.
Staring at the gruesome state of the corpse, the Adventurer asks with a subtle tone:
"How did he die like this?"
Lindsey shrugs:
"The explosion you heard was caused by him, and this is the result of that explosion."
"..."
The two exchange information and return to the edge of the valley.
Their companion, the Adventurer, has already cleared a space here, and the Shadowman, who had been unconscious, has now awakened.
He sees Lezer and Lindsey returning.
His gaze immediately locks onto Lindsey, and his expression changes from calm anticipation to frenzy:
"You! It was you who found me! How did you do it?"
"Tell me, how?"
The Shadowman's tone and actions are filled with madness, and his thirst is evident in his voice. His struggles are so intense that the ropes tear into his skin, yet he still cannot stop.
Lezer shakes his head beside Lindsey, his tone carrying a hint of sentiment:
"It's understandable for someone to react this way when their lifelong trained skills are seen through."
"..."
Lindsey's expression is also subtle.
He couldn't very well tell the Shadowman that he saw him running on the mini-map, could he?
Just then, Flavius, the Sensor who had been captured and had been behaving calmly, sees the body of the Elemental Controller.
He wants to say something, but the merchant's contract restricts his actions.
Flavius awkwardly says:
"You... You killed him?"
Lindsey turns his head away:
"In a life-or-death fight, how could I hold back?"
"But... maybe..." Flavius' eyelids twitch anxiously.
Looking at the charred body, Flavius' keen senses notice subtle changes occurring around them.
The Sensor tries to speak:
"I think it might not have been appropriate to kill him..."
(End of Chapter)
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