However, when compared to the Crimson Inferno Robe, everything else seemed to pale in significance.
[Crimson Inferno Robe]
[Level: 10]
[Quality: Gold]
[Attribute Bonuses:]
[HP+1200]
[Mana+1200]
[Physical Defense+120]
[Pyro Magic Resistance+120]
[All damage received reduced by 12%]
[Special Effects:
Hellflame Domain (When enemies enter within a 10-meter radius of the equipment holder, they will be scorched by Hellflame, losing 120 HP per second)
Fire Resistance Ring (After the equipment holder is attacked consecutively three times, it releases a Fire Resistance Ring repelling the fourth damage strike)]
Despite being only a gold-tier item, the Crimson Inferno Robe boasted a high level of 10, providing higher attribute enhancements than even the Mana Drainer.
The boosts it granted spanned across HP, mana, physical defense, magic resistance, and a percentage reduction in damage sustained.
While these were impressive standard attributes, what truly caught Howard’s eye were the unique effects — the Hellflame Domain and Fire Resistance Ring.
The former could assail all nearby enemies while the latter had the power to repel an attacker, both remarkable features in their own right.
The only downside was that the robe required level 10 to equip, meaning Howard would have to wait before he could take advantage of its attributes and special effects.
In addition to the robe, the Red Phosphorus Serpent King had also dropped two silver-tier items — the Red Arena Gloves and the Cruel Blaze Wand.
The gloves, designed for a pugilist, were of no use to Howard.
The wand, despite being a level 10 item, couldn’t compete with the platinum, level 1 Mana Drainer due to its silver quality, hence not warranting further discussion.
What did pique Howard’s interest, however, was the final piece of loot — the ‘Shadow Cloak’ skill book. .
[Ding! Reminder for awakened Howard: would you like to learn the E-level dark magic — Shadow Cloak?]
“Yes, learn it!”
Shadow Cloak was a low-tier Dark Magic. As a magus, Howard naturally could learn it, and besides, the skill’s effects were indeed impressive.
[Shadow Cloak]
[Level: E]
[Effect: Harness dark magic elements to form a Shadow Cloak. The cloak can conceal the spellcaster, effectively reducing their presence and allowing them to evade enemy detection skills…]
[Cooldown time: 5 minutes]
[Consumption: 30 mana points per second]
[Proficiency: 0/100]
Although it lacked attack power, it was highly functional, virtually a divine technique for surprise attacks from behind.
Having settled matters at the Dark Serpent Cave, Howard turned to leave, ready to return to Saint City for some rest and recuperation.
The wilderness at night was terrifying. Many powerful predators only emerged to hunt during the night, with many dark creatures said to receive additional attribute bonuses in the dark, like werewolves and vampires.
Furthermore, monsters such as wraiths couldn’t operate during the day, typically appearing only at night.
Encountering such beings would give even the mightiest awakened a headache.
Knowing his limitations, Howard resolved to return to Saint City as quickly as possible.
Moreover, having garnered a substantial haul from his expedition, it was time to head back to Saint City and convert his gains into real combat power.
Only by doing so could he face greater challenges, rather than narrowly avoiding disaster as he had earlier in the day with the Red Phosphorus Serpent King.
“Bro, when can we finally take down that damned Howard? If we delay any longer, we’ll lose our chance once Abby returns from the elite team,” a somewhat familiar voice reached Howard’s ears.
Hearing his name along with Abby’s, Howard subconsciously halted, activating Shadow Cloak on the spot to hide himself.
“Hmph, isn’t it because you’re useless? Can’t even handle a woman and needed the family to clean up your mess,” a second voice remarked with disdain.
“Yeah, if it wasn’t for Headmaster Jay wanting that kid dead, we probably wouldn’t dare to act. But now with Headmaster Jay and that young master backing us, that kid is as good as dead,” chimed in a third voice.
Howard’s brows furrowed slightly as he peeked out, affirming his suspicions.
Howard saw the Lion and the Fox brothers from the Jeffers family sitting behind a huge rock, feasting on roasted meat.
A large chunk of pork hind leg was roasted to a golden hue, its dripping fats creating a ‘sizzle and pop’ on the fire, the delightful aroma wafting to Howard’s nose and causing him to involuntarily swallow.
Yet, the conversation of the trio was awakening a surge of murderous intent in him, wishing he could instantly emerge and shatter them to pieces, reducing them to ashes.
“Ah! This kid is really lucky, even the Enchanted Boar tide couldn’t kill him, otherwise, we wouldn’t have to exert so much effort,” the younger Jeffers commented with a hint of frustration in his voice.
“It’s all Alec’s fault. If he hadn’t killed the Enchanted Boar King, not just Howard, the entire leveling team would have been doomed,” the elder Jeffers chimed in with a scornful tone.
“Big brother, second brother, is it really okay for us to do this? If people find out that we were the ones who led the Enchanted Boar tide there, I fear our entire Jeffers family will be held accountable, and Headmaster Jay will never spare us,” Menard said with a fearful and worried expression painting his face.
Upon hearing this, Howard instantly realized that the Enchanted Boars, which originally lived deep in the forest, were lured by these three siblings with the intention of sending him to his demise.
He initially wanted to stand up, summon his fire dragon, and obliterate the trio on the spot, but the words of the elder Jeffers caused him to crouch back down.
“You don’t understand. Only when these students, along with Alec, are dead, will that old guy Jay rely more on us. Over the years, our family has committed countless dirty deeds for Headmaster Jay. If people find out, our whole family will be finished. But as Soulspark Academy has been growing stronger, Jay has gradually distanced himself from us. This time, even though Jay and that young master ordered us to deal with Howard, once that little bitch Abby returns, we brothers will definitely be thrown out to appease Abby’s wrath. We have to make Howard’s death look completely unrelated to us, and have Soulspark Academy decline again so that we won’t be discarded, understand?” the elder Jeffers elucidated passionately and with gravity.
“Exactly, even if they all die, what does it have to do with us brothers? If someone seeks revenge, they should find the Enchanted Boars, haha!” the younger Jeffers added with a laugh, showing a merciless yet jocular disposition in his guffaw.
At this moment, his face was a canvas of cold and ruthless lines, as if the person who once shared warm smiles and a deep mentor-student bond with Alec had never existed.
“You three bastards, you truly deserve to die!” Recognizing that the trio had no further valuable information to reveal, Howard stepped out from the bushes, his voice steeped in rage.
Howard’s sudden emergence startled the three brothers, who knew full well that their scheme of unleashing monsters on the newly awakened could spell doom for the entire Jeffers family if brought to light.
But upon recognizing Howard, their fear dissipated, giving way to uproarious laughter, their eyes even welling up with tears from their mirth.
“Ha, ha, ha! So it’s you, the lucky little Howard, huh? You know, learning that you didn’t fall to the Enchanted Boar’s tusks actually made me happy because now I get the chance to kill you myself,” one taunted with a menacing grin.
“We just got word that Alec’s team returned safely to the academy without your name on the death list. But you didn’t return to Saint City either, which had us scratching our heads — turns out you were hiding here!” another jeered, relishing the discovery.
“Wasn’t life good? Yet here you are, willingly stepping out to meet your death. If you had stayed hidden like a rat, waited for us to leave and then returned to Saint City to expose us… hmm, though nobody would believe you, it might have caused us a bit of trouble. But now, all troubles will be resolved,” the third chimed in, his face reflecting a wicked delight at the unfolding scenario.
“After you die, that little whore Abby will be mine. I assure you, I will have her a hundred times before selling her into a brothel, letting everyone have a taste of the S-level heaven’s favored daughter,” he added, his words laced with vulgar greed, exposing the depths of his depravity.
The stout trio stood in unison, emanating a crushing pressure as they walked towards Howard, their mouths spewing arrogant and contemptuous taunts.
But at that moment, an intense heat permeated the air before them, with a fiery red halo spreading out as a fireball started to gather, with a fire dragon taking form within.
Although the dragon was made of flames, each aspect of it — from claws, teeth, scales to its dragon eyes — bore a lifelike and vibrant semblance, as if it were a living creature, ready to burst forth.
And then, Howard’s furious voice resounded with a commanding force.
“Fire dragon, cleanse these three pieces of trash!”
𝑖.𝘤ℴ𝘮