I Know the Secret to Surpass Level 100

Chapter 211: Artifact Absorption

Connor excitedly ran to his friends and showed his staff. He added a bonus hit in his attacks from an artifact in Inferno.

Before, when his attacks would hit the target, they would have a burn with a fixed target of 2,500 per second for 5 seconds. Now, he has a damage of 6% the enemiy's max HP for 4 seconds. The duration is shorter but in combat, it would help them a lot.

"We can have artifacts here and help ourselves in the upcoming tournament," Connor said with a grin. "Priestess Geneva will help us."

"That's not the reason why we came here," Elliot said, unsure of what to say. "And you hang around here?"

"Sometimes," Connor smirked. "Well, I'll take the Artifacts and bring it back to Terra. Feel free to check in with me after you're done with your stuff."

"Okay?" Elliot said, dragging the word. From how he sounded, it was more like a question than a response. He and Lance looked at each other, waiting for something to happen. 

"Hey," Cain whispered from the door. "I found a room for us to talk. Let's go."

The two said goodbye to their friend and the priestess, following Cain who was now more relaxed. There's something about it when you're not in your Realm. Something odd, a feeling of irking inside your body that you can't explain.

For years, Cain had been hiding in Terra. Elliot couldn't imagine staying a day longer here, let alone spending years. He missed his own Realm and he realized that's what calmed Cain down. The feeling of home.

They got inside a room that looked like an empty office. There were bookshelves on the side but there were no books. There was also a worn out desk and chair in the middle with a carpet that looked like the rats had feasted on.

"This was Abel's office," Cain said. He looked around with a look of longing in his eyes. He seemed to miss his brother so much. "No one really knows but everything in here has a spying related disruptor. Meaning, no one can place a ward or any spying spells in here or around the room."

"So," Lance spoke. "What is it about your son that Hell wants?"

Cain turned to them, flattening his lips. "As I've said, Adam has the ability to see the future event that could affect the balance of Realms. For example, a death of an Eternal, a ruler, or even an Heir. He can see those."

"And?" Lance quirked his brow. "Why does Malice wants that?"

"Adam saw something in the future, a prophecy about Malice's demise," Cain answered. His reply made the two boys gasp in shock, followed by hope. "Someone could finally defeat Malice."

"Then who?" Lance asked. "We need to find that person right now. They're the only hope we have to stop her tyranny."

"That is the problem," Cain sighed. "Adam had this prophecy when the dragons attacked Nefantine, and I was away on a mission for another kingdom. It was also when Lilith came and help save the city. But then I never got to see or hear the prophecy. They usually keep the prophecies in a crystal ball from Lilith. And even that ball is missing."

"So, you have no clue then," Lance lowered his shoulders in defeat. "But this is good. At the same time, no. How can we make a move when we don't even know where they are?"

Cain walked to the chair and slumped his body there. The old wooden chair creaked from his weight, the nails groaning as Cain continued letting the chair bear his body.

"I don't think I'll ever get to see them again," Cain confessed. He placed his hand on his face, hiding his tears that started the to stream down. "Everything was going to be perfect."

'New quest [ The Prophet ] available.'

Elliot's body jolted after seeing the notification. He opened it without any hesitation and read the entire description.

[ The Prophet

Reward: Twilight Brew

// The Prophet who could see the future of the Realms is taken away. But he is not in the darkness, but he is home. In the crowd in a specific day of a competition, find him. ]

Elliot turned to the seemingly hopeless Cain. He walked over to him and placed both his hands on the desk.

"We'll find him," Elliot said. "Come to the day of the Championship. We'll find them there."

"Elliot, what do you mean?" Lance asked, walking over to him. "Adam wasn't taken to Hell?"

"No," Elliot shook his head but paused. "Maybe? I don't know. But we need to plant people in the crowd at the day of the Championship. I think. As many as we can. We will find Adam."

"Elliot, this is an extra stake in an already high stakes event," Lance warned. "Remember, you need to win this to free the villagers from Cilca as well as Christina. And then there's the Twilight Wings that Polschk told us. And now, Adam?"

"I don't know too," Elliot confessed. "There's a lot of things going on and I'm about to flip out. But I'm sure I can do this. When I worked as a baker, I would bake four to five kinds of bread at the same time. And what was at stake? Just a few coins. This is for the sake of the whole world, Lance. I don't see a reason why I can't do my best."

Elliot turned to Cain, "Bring me back to Terra. I want to recruit the people now."

Cain nodded vigorously. What Eliot said lit a fire inside him, another spark. Another hope.

Cain tapped the wall and the portal was formed. "This way, you won't land on your behind again."

Lance playfully rolled his eyes and passed through. Elliot was going to enter too when Cain pulled his wrist.

"Are you sure about this?" Cain asked, his voice filled with desperation. "That I will get to see them again?"

He didn't want to promise. But everything in The Manual had happened, every quest that it showed, happened. He didn't see why not this wouldn't.

"Just trust me, okay?" Elliot said and smiled. "You will see you children again."

Cain sounded like he released his entire lungs when he breathed out. The heavy tension in his shoulders were now gone, he could relax more now.

"Thank you," Cain said. "For everything."

Elliot nodded and finally passed through. Only to feel himelf behind pulled back and forth until he found himself inside the guild.

"Elliot!" Connor yelled and handed him the item. "This is it. Try it."

"I'll do it later," Elliot said. "I need to rest for a moment."

"Do it now! It has a special touch to it," Connor grinned. "Your enemies would be paralyzed for about 2 seconds when you hit them with your sword."

"Then I'll do it now," Elliot said without hesitation. He took the doorknob from Connor, eyeing its grotesque shape before he brandished his sword and tapped the knob on his Weapon Gem.

'Absorb Artifact?'

[ Yes ] [ No ]

"Yes."

'Absorbing Artifact'

'Artifact Absorption failed.'