Devil Spawn

Before me was a large thick brown hide, the hide of a monster. On it was an intricate illustration of a magic circle, made of squares, triangles, hexagons, stars, cryptic text and circles.

The cryptic text written on certain areas of the magic circle wasn't really cryptic...at least to me. My Thousand Tongues skill allowed me to understand and comprehend virtually all languages whether written or unwritten, no matter how old or ancient they were.

So, with it, I was able to decipher the meaning behind the runic words and take action accordingly.

"Hmm...", I studied the circle with a hand on my chin and narrowed eyes.

"Am guessing I probably need to pour the World Energy into it for it to work...but the problem is...how?"

I pondered for a moment before saying, "Wait...what about-"

I cut myself off mid-sentence and summoned the Inept Lantern.

Inventory Open.

[Equipped Item: Inept Lantern]

The moment it manifested, I grabbed hold of it and immediately looked at it the round handle attached to the chain. On it was an engraving of similar cryptic text.

When I looked at it, I raised an eyebrow, "Huh? I can't understand it..."

I was confused.

When I first checked it out as well, Thousand Tongues didn't activate...why?

I turned to the magic circle. The text written on it; I could understand but the text on the Lantern remained inscrutable.

Why was that?

Inventory Open.

I summoned all the magical items that Galter had created.

Worthless Bowl, Empty Goblet, Arch of Error, Maladroit Ax and Featureless Quiver.

I inspected the Worthless Bowl and Empty Goblet; and just like the Inept Lantern, they too had inscrutable engravings.

I turned to the other three items.

They were items that I hadn't used too often and for a good reason.

They were rather flawed.

[Inventory:] Arch of Error: The name says all. This Common Item has the Effect; Filament.

[Effect:] Filament: In exchange for a flux of the World Energy, this item forms its string.

[Inventory:] Maladroit Ax: Worth less a butcher's toenail. This Common Item has the Effect; Razor.

[Effect:] Razor: In exchange for a flux of the World Energy, this item becomes twice sharper.

[Inventory:] Featureless Quiver: A folly to its kind. This Common Item has the Effect; Bolzen.

[Effect:] Bolzen: In exchange for a flux of the World Energy, this item forms arrows based on one's affinity.

At first glance, it's easy to be mislead by their Effect descriptions and believe they're decent not until they were put to practical use would their flaws come to light.

The Arch of Error was a peculiar longbow with no string, its Effect 'Filament' created the string from one's World Energy and thus could only shoot an arrow fashioned from such.

This is where the Featureless Quiver comes in, an empty quiver which forms arrows based on a wielder's affinity.

The two items are complementary, they go hand in hand. The problem though is my lack of an affinity.

From what I have observed, an affinity is the type of magic a person can use, like Dave who has Ice Affinity and Vicki who has Air Affinity.

I have no such affinity and as a result, I can't use the Featureless Quiver nor the Arch of Error.

A frustrating happenstance.

The reason for my lack of an affinity is mysterious but then again, I lack enough evidence to prove that everyone has an affinity.

My case could actually be a common occurrence and in truth, having an affinity may even be a rare occurrence.

I do doubt that though.

With a sigh, my gaze rested on the Maladroit Ax; an outlandish hatchet.

The Maladroit Ax had but one flaw.

It's consumption of the World Energy was stupendous.

When I first grabbed the Maladroit Ax, I was instantly overcome by an intense sense of nausea and lethargy. At the time, I thought it was the item's Effect and quickly put it away. It wasn't until after my experience with the Lantern that I discovered the reason.

Even after I had figured out how to absorb the World Energy, I was still reluctant to use the Ax.

"Well now am up a wall.", I joked as I inspected the text inscribed on the hilt of the hatchet, without touching it.

Just like the rest, I couldn't decipher its meanings.

"Hmm..."

I fell into deep thought, my right hand resting on my chin and my left arm atop the flickering Lantern.

Could it be that...Galter used some sort of spell...like a spell that doesn't allow anyone other than him to scrutinize his engravings?

I turned to the Lantern with a suspicious expression before raising it up. I turned the lamp until the bottom-side was visible to me.

When I first examined the Lantern, nothing really stood out except the runes...but...

I stared at the bottom even closely, my eyes narrowing.

Hmm...

I raised my hand and knocked it with my finger.

CONK!

A dull sound was emitted when I struck it, causing my eyes to glint suspiciously.

[Skill: Reverb Mapping has been activated.]

The instant my skill activated; the interior of the bottom became naked to me.

AHA!

My eyes flashed as the realization dawned on me.

Immediately, my hands moved, grabbing the Lantern's bottom.

There's a hidden mechanism underneath it.

I tried twisting the bottom both ways but it didn't budge. At this, I raised an eyebrow.

Is this another one of Galter's elaborate puzzles?

My expression turned deadpan and immediately, I raised my fingers and broke the bottom with a flick.

PLINK!

The metal easily shattered under my Level 5 strength.

I ruffled out the broken pieces and peeked into the revealed interior.

Huh...? What is that?

Reflected on my retina was the image of a blue crystal, glinting with a pale light.

"Is this what has been cockblocking me?"

Uhh...Alex...language

Yeah, yeah.

I shrugged before poking it with my finger.

Nothing happened, except the blue crystal's light flickering a little, nothing of note happened.

"Hmm...", I put the Lantern down and turned to the Empty Goblet.

I picked it up and did the same thing I did to the Lantern; breaking the bottom.

Once again, I peeked through the bottom and found a similar green crystal, shimmering as well.

I prodded it and just like before, except a little flickering, nothing happened.

My expression turned slightly confused.

"Should I break the crystal?"

Not every problem is to be solved with brawn. – Inner Voice.

Shut up.

With a frown, I put the Goblet away and began to think.

My gaze wandered over to the magic circle and then to the two items.

"Huh?", I blurted out when I immediately noticed something.

T-The color!

Indeed.

The crystal underneath the Lantern had gone dull.

"What? What happened?", my hand shot to the Lantern and grabbed it, causing the flame in its chamber to erupt.

Without paying any attention to the flickering flame, I immediately sighted the crystal. It had once again regained its color.

Immediately, I connected the dots.

Ah! I see!

"These crystals are the conduits for the World Energy and these cryptic texts most likely act as a passage for the energy...in fact, I believe these runic texts actually mean just that, 'passage'...", I trailed off as I examined the Lantern closely.

If I'm right then the main cryptic text 'fire' is actually at the epicenter of this lantern...

I placed the Lantern on the ground and took my hand off it, causing the fire to vanish.

I peered into the broken part of the Lantern and looked at where the fire usually ignited.

"Bingo."

At the lower center of the Lantern was a miniature magic circle which was strikingly similar to the teleportation circle. It had the same structure and the same placement of the words; Tide, Flux, Negate and Positive.

The only difference was a new word at the center and just as I thought, it meant 'fire'.

Immediately, my eyes shot to the teleportation circle and a gear in my head clicked.