NOVEL NEXT Chapter 822: Weak Links
It was all good except for one problem.
The first was simple. Damon had his shadow storage and therefore had a few hundred mana cores inside, which would last him a while. More importantly, he possessed a massive mana pool.
His mana levels were absurd to consider, so he wasn't worried about himself.
His gaze turned to Lazarak. He was a god, mysterious and powerful. Damon wasn't even worried about the toddler-looking bastard. If Lazarak couldn't figure something out, then nothing would.
Damon's main concern wasn't even Matia. She could absorb mana cores. He just had to give her some or let her hunt monsters.
No. The real issue here was Lyn and Sithara.
The two children did not have the ability to absorb mana cores because they had not yet reached the first class advancement.
Even with an abundance of mana cores, they would likely die a slow and agonizing death.
He could feel Lazarak's gaze on him. The god must have reached the same conclusion.
The children would die.
And what would kill them wouldn't be a monster, not a blade, not a god.
It would be the environment.
Damon bit his lip. This was one of the most basic lessons he had learned long ago.
When on an expedition, the thing you feared most wasn't the enemy. It was the world itself.
"Ahh, I really don't have much luck with mana anomalies, do I."
Turning away, he closed his eyes. He had a few recovery potions and healing potions. They could restore some mana, but it was temporary.
They wouldn't last the duration of the journey.
Then there was also the lesser demon. It would need mana cores as well.
Damon scratched his head, feeling the faint ache of a new demon horn growing where he had ripped the last one off.
'Oh right. That too.'
He would have to add filing down his newly growing horn to his routine every now and then.
Great. Just great.
It would be nice if it didn't feel like pulling out his own tendons every time.
"How long before they reach the first class advancement."
He asked Lazarak while the children watched silently, already aware of how dangerous their situation was.
Lazarak frowned and shrugged.
"I do not know. Most of the time the first class is a psychological and philosophical awakening. It is different for everybody. Though sometimes, one awakening within a shared group may induce others."
That was different from what Damon knew, but Lazarak had lived far longer.
He knew more.
"Then can we induce it?"
Lazarak placed a hand on his chin.
"We cannot turn back now, and going forward is uncertain. We can try, but the results are up to them. From the looks of it, their class will not be mediocre, given the strength of their beliefs."
Damon narrowed his eyes.
"In that case, what we need to do is put them in life-threatening situations."
Lazarak winced, glancing at Damon sideways.
"I really hate how your mind jumps straight to the cruelest option."
Damon crossed his arms as the desert heat pressed down on him.
Before he could respond, Lyn spoke.
"It's also the most logical option. It meets all survival criteria. We are the weak link in this group. If we can't contribute, then the least we can do is not hold the party back."
"How thoughtful for one so young." Lazarak smiled.
His gaze shifted to Sithara, who was drawing something on the back of the lesser demon while muttering to herself.
"By calculating the degree of mana consumption, by wind resistance…"
She was already working ahead of them, putting thought into action.
Damon glanced at Lazarak, who was the most magically knowledgeable one present.
"Don't you have any spell or method?"
Lazarak smiled faintly, seeing Damon's concern.
"Don't worry. It will turn out fine. I hope."
Damon frowned. He had no idea what the bastard was hiding, and Lazarak clearly had no intention of telling him.
"Fine. Keep your secrets."
He had secrets of his own.
And speaking of secrets, hadn't he received a new item from the system earlier. A charm.
Knowing the unknown god, it was probably something he needed.
The unknown god had a habit of doing that.
Though his level-up requirements this time were concerning.
Level Up Requirements:
Chained [0/10]
Ten of the chained people.
Damon sighed.
He really hated how the system always seemed to know what awaited him.
Opening his system window, he glanced at his updated stats.
[HP: 24995/24995]
[Mana: 55,567/55,567]
[Strength: 31124]
[Agility: 23157]
[Speed: 33985]
[Endurance: 34210]
[Class: Usurper]
[Shadow: 1900]
[Shadow Hunger Levels: 0%]
[Shadow Level: 19]
[Condition: Shadow Is Full]
[Attributes: Umbral, Domination Fragment]
[Skills:]
[5x] [Remorseless] [Shadow Perception] [Water Celebration] [Sacrifice] [Shadow Control] [Parkour] [Shadow Armor] [Beholder's Gaze] [Dead Eye] [Spirit Affinity] [Ashborn] [Omen Of Dread] [Dealer's Hand] [Bloodletting] [Shadow Movement] [Shadow] [Faceless] [Danger Sense] [Shadow Storage] [Wave Walk] [Shadow Clone] [Blitz] [Flash Step] [Air Walk] [Appraisal] [Iron Bones] [Astral Projection] [Accel] [Terror Engine] [Vengeance] [Soul Tongue] [Eyes of Veracity] [Shadow Stride] [Soul Conduit] [Heart of Shadow] [Demon Dominate] [Shadow Seizer]
[Mastery:]
[Etiquette Lv3] [Swordsmanship Lv7] [Survival Lv10] [Persuasion Lv2] [Deception Lv3] [Bartering Lv2] [Theft Lv3] [Archery Lv5] [Trap Lv5] [Alchemy Lv1] [Dagger Arts Lv5] [Cooking Lv2] [Basic Magic Lv5] [Mana Control Lv7] [Magic Gatling Lv5] [Pain Resistance Lv6] [Mental Contamination Resistance Lv5] [Disintegration Resistance Lv3] [Sniper Lv5] [Rune Magic Lv3] [Insanity Lv4] [Fate Manipulation Resistance Lv2] [Ravenous LvMax] [Poison Resistance Lv6] [Elemental Resistance Lv3] [Petrification Resistance Lv5] [Magic Resistance Lv5] [Curse Resistance Lv2] [Pressure Resistance Lv2] [Corruption Resistance Lv5] [Aura Farming Lv4] [Charisma Lv9] [Tyranny Lv3] [Ragebaiting Lv5]
[Items:]
[Pale Crown Armor] [Broken Bonds] [Deep Quiver] [Silver Blades] [Staff of Carnage] [Sword of Nicolas] [Furnace of Frost] [Helm of Balero] [Womb of Healing] [Charms] [Potions] [Miscellaneous Items]
[Quest:]
[Path to Conflict] [Nightmare of Lazarak]
His newest skill was Shadow Seizer. A shame he hadn't been able to use it yet.
But what truly caught his attention was the new item.
Womb of Healing.
It was supposed to be a charm, but instead it was categorized as a normal item.
Whenever he obtained charms, they usually had their own section.
"That's odd."
He opened the item details.
Perhaps this could help Lyn and Sithara.
[Womb of Healing]