Goblin Dependency

The stem is made of three copper wires twisted in a spiral, with noticeable twisted and dented marks in the middle, seemingly deformed by the impact of a heavy object; the top candle holder is an outward-spreading toothed ring, covered in gray dust with traces of wax tears that can no longer be seen.

Summeran carefully examined this exquisite creation, so different from Grey Valley and Grey Valley Village, focusing his attention deliberately.

Immediately, as expected, translucent characters once again burst forth in the void:

...

[Ancient Brass Candlestick]

Type: Candlestick

Level: /

Introduction:

An old brass candlestick that once briefly dispelled darkness in some corner, illuminating the weary face of a traveler and a tome long forgotten.

Note:

"Great and merciful Lord, the fire fades..."

—Anonymous nun of the Ashen Church

...

"Again with this 'Ashen Church'?"

Summeran quickly scanned the attribute panel with his gaze, murmuring in his heart.

The same wording that he previously saw on the [Dampening Old Coin], now appearing again on the candlestick in the Grey Valley Ruins, clearly proving Leon's conjecture correct.

That half of the coin was indeed looted by the goblins from Grey Valley, with the coin and candlestick originating from the same source.

But...

Summeran carefully reviewed the information on the attribute panels of the two items, pondering their unique and exotic design patterns, trying to match the information he captured with the knowledge in his mind.

No inspiration whatsoever.

Coming from a rural background, being able to read and write the Universal Language proficiently was already quite impressive, and knowledge related to Extraordinary Power was nearly non-existent.

Even the name of the previous king of the Sevia Kingdom was something Summeran only learned through urgent study after crossing over.

Now, having been in this world for over a year, he had learned various aspects of knowledge during his spare time, but he was only at the level of an ordinary person at most.

If not for having read relevant records, simply based on the appearance of one or two items or a few vague words, he could not determine the origins of these things.

He could only put the candlestick back in his backpack and remember those suspicious words, planning to ask the villagers about them after returning to see if he could gain anything.

Moreover, the current situation gave Summeran a sense of déjà vu, a very familiar eerie familiarity.

The same secluded environment far from people, the same inexplicable ruins appearing as if out of nowhere in an unsuitable environment, the same drastically different type of objects...

"Could it be another Secret Realm?"

His mind couldn't help but recall that dark cave inhabited by a massive serpent and the Gilded Gourd Dew that provided him with precious attributes.

Summeran felt a subtle ripple in his heart.

His pitch-black eyes glanced deeper into Grey Valley, trying to see through the increasingly thick mist to uncover the hidden truth.

"Crackle."

Suddenly, a very subtle sound was captured by his extremely keen perception.

His mind focused, instantly determining the direction from which the sound came.

His eyes shifted slightly, and several tall figures well-hidden in the mist came into his view.

"Stay alert."

Summeran suddenly spoke, causing Leon beside him, his body strained in the deathly still environment, to jerk in surprise.

His eyes quivered, lips parted yet unable to utter a word.

The next moment, a long, high wolf howl erupted, like that which once echoed through the goblin nest, engulfing his consciousness.

In an unfamiliar environment, discovering an enemy lying in ambush nearby, with a "burden" beside him, what should one do in such a situation?

Typically, one should prepare to fight while silently retreating with the "burden" until both reach a safe area, or until the enemy can no longer hold back and attacks.

But for Summeran, there was no need to think so much.

His keen Perception Ability allowed him to determine the approximate number and strength of the ambushing enemies almost instantly, and the exaggerated mobility provided by [Teeth Hunting] meant that, if he wanted, he could swiftly overturn the original situation.

No need to feign with the enemy or test any acting skills, nor to make plans elsewhere.

Since he had confirmed the enemy's quantity and strength were within his ability to handle, he might as well finish them all off.

Thus, the fierce pitch-black winter wolf, like a chilling gust from the highlands, shredded the mist amid the high-pitched howl.

Death and fear descended under the shadow and the red hue.

Who were these enemies?

Five axe-beaked birds, standing approximately two meters high on two legs.

Like living boulders capable of movement.

With scales resembling coarse gray stone slabs stacked layer upon layer, their feathers transition from light gray to dark, simulating the color of wind-eroded rock, perfectly integrating with the jagged gray mountainside;

Their legs, covered in thick, gray-black skin, are unusually sturdy, with massive bird claws resembling hooks, searching for footholds amid the steep rock slope;

In contrast, the two pairs of wings at their sides are petite and laughably disproportionate, clearly not meant for soaring through the sky but merely maintaining balance.

Their most conspicuous bodily part, easily identifiable even by Summeran, was their massive, heavy beak.

Unlike other birds' lightweight, curved beaks, theirs resembled crude giant axes chipped from whole boulders, with a sharp upper edge extending effortlessly from the base to the tip in a blunt arc forming an axe blade, while the lower edge was thick and dull, serving as an anvil bearing immense force.

—Axe-beaked Bird, Challenge Level 1/4.

The five Summeran encountered were likely a type of subspecies, adapted to the rocky environment of Grey Valley.

Compared to the species tamed as mounts on the grasslands, their color and size have notably changed.

Perhaps their Combat Ability is somewhat stronger, and they are more ferocious in temperament?

It doesn't matter.

If Summeran were an expert professor engaged in biological research, he might be interested in these creatures' evolutionary process.

But in reality, he was just a regular adventurer who suddenly found himself ambushed by enemies in an unfamiliar environment, sensing their greedy and malicious intent.

What happened next was then logical.

First, at almost the same moment the wolf howl reverberated amid the stone walls.

The axe-beaked bird closest to both of them had been bitten by the black wolf, severing its throat.

Scarlet blood gushed from the wound, not yet hitting the ground, and under the [Night Mother's Gaze] specialty of [Teeth Hunting], the remaining four axe-beaked birds fell into a state of fear.

The greed and brutality in their avian gaze towards their prey disappeared entirely, replaced by panic and confusion akin to facing heaven and earth.

The massive bodies, capable of easily pecking humans to death, now resembled four flappy-winged chicks, scattering in a comical and panicked manner.

Summeran didn't spare a single one.

The iron-gray swordlight stirred the mist, flashing four times in Grey Valley, and the sound of beaks hitting the ground followed like echoes.

All four "axe-beaked goblins" were slain one by one.

He waved over Leon, standing dumbfounded nearby, motionless.

Summeran looked up at the sky, seeing the sun sinking and dusk about to fall.

He again gazed intently toward the deeper mist-filled parts of Grey Valley, contemplating the lateness of the day and the potential secrets that seemed to abound here, predicting transformations at night and noting the youth beside him limiting his actions.

Exploring again in the daylight wouldn't be too late.

Having decided, he wasn't rushed to depart.

Instead, he turned his head, looking thoughtfully at the bodies of the axe-beaked birds on the ground, asking the dazed Leon beside him:

"What do you think...which parts of these wandering chickens are tastiest?"

"Well, thigh meat is definitely good, wings, breast might be okay too."

"By the way, are organs something you're used to eating around here?"