NOVEL NEXT Chapter 417: Blood coral
After the Tidecaller was set before Damon, the waves lapped against the shore as though echoing the conch's will.
This thing was a very valuable item indeed, especially for any water mage. It could instantly turn the environment to their favor. Not just water mages, but even for others, it had the ability to make the atmosphere more bearable.
Once again, Damon did not expect something this valuable to pop up here in the middle of nowhere. Yet the offerings weren't finished. Another group of merfolk emerged, this time carrying several baskets of long strands of seaweed.
"These are Tideweeds," the merman explained. "When consumed, they bolster vitality, granting warriors a ten percent increase in their health and stamina for a tide's length. We have cultivated them in sacred groves of the ocean for generations. They are few, but every strand carries the strength of the sea."
Damon nodded. While this wasn't much of a treasure by itself, the fact that these guys were farming this and could produce it repeatedly made it that much more valuable.
Following the seaweeds came baskets woven from bonefish ribs, brimming with herbs that glowed faintly with oceanic essence, some pale as moonlight, others burning with deep blue fire. "Ocean herbs," the merwoman who brought it bowed lightly and explained. "Used by our healers to mend wounds, soothe corruption, and strengthen the body. Brew them, and even the weakest of warriors will find renewed vigor."
This was followed by some more herbs, which no doubt had plenty of uses in alchemy. Damon even knew a couple of famous alchemy recipes off the top of his head to use these herbs in. Overall, the harvest was quite good.
And it looked like these herbs could also be produced repeatedly as long as the area wasn't disturbed too much.
Finally, a pair of merwomen swam forward with shells so wide that it took both of them to cradle their contents. Gleaming within were ocean gems, sapphires, aquamarines, and opalescent stones that pulsed with condensed mana. Damon could feel their energy even from a distance.
"These are Ocean's Tears," the leader said. "Not of our bodies, but of the world itself. Gems born in trenches from long ago. They will serve well in crafting or enchanting."
And then came the last gift. Four warriors carried it together, their arms trembling from its weight. Resting upon a slab of pearlstone were scales, black, silver, and deep cobalt, each one larger than Damon's hand, radiating a dormant, terrifying power.
The leader's voice dropped into a reverent hush. "Draconic scales. Taken from the husk of a sea wyrm that once slept beneath these waters. We do not know how it died, only that the tides carried its bones to us. We have guarded these scales as sacred relics, but now we place them at your feet. To the Blood God, to our God and savior."
Damon was once again shocked. Just how much had these people collected!
Every single item brought out today was extremely valuable. If he sold these items in the auction house, they would easily net several million, perhaps even a billion, despite being undervalued. Yet these people were casually handing him everything.
This was the advantage of being a dark faction player and surviving so far. This alone was not enough. A normal player could never have saved the tribe and claimed these items.
The scenario would have turned out completely different if it were anyone else. Probably the entire area would have become a demon faction area, giving an edge to the demon players. Now that Damon remembered, in his last life, most of the portal areas were indeed demon faction areas.
Though vampires and necromancers were very popular, this was the reason many players chose the demon race. It was just practical to do so, giving everyone easy leveling up zones and free access to many areas.
On the other hand, the demon race's core skills were simply not as good as the other races, like vampires and undead, making everything somewhat balanced. Demons typically used the numbers to their advantage, and it showed. Of course, there were exceptions to every rule.
Many players like Starfall and Bloody Hands became top players even though they had picked the demon race. Rumors had spread that these two were the pioneers in exploring many places in Bloodlands, and only because of that, they were able to come to the top.
Damon had always wondered what they had gotten to give them such an edge, but now that he saw the abundant loot he had gained from the merpeople, he finally understood. If resources like these were piled up all over the Bloodlands, then the heavy blow he had dealt to the super ten guilds wouldn't be enough to hold them back.
He needed to act fast and secure these resources for himself and his group. The sheer size of the dark faction continent made this impossible, but he could always try. Maybe it was time to bring Ghost and everyone else into the Bloodlands. Better his allies than his enemies.
In a couple more days, they would be able to secure the portal, and then it should be easy to bring the others in. And Damon knew exactly what he was going to do for the next couple of days.
He quickly dealt with the merpeople tribute ceremony and did not linger long. He had rested more than enough and did not plan to slack off any longer.
Damon's gaze fell on the Bloodcoral. His blood throbbed with hunger, each beat hammering a single command into his mind, consume it. The longer he stared, the louder it became, until it drowned out even the chatter of the merfolk bustling around the lagoon.
He walked over and grabbed one. He curled his fingers around the coral, and a shiver ran down his spine. His instincts screamed that this was no ordinary treasure. This… this was different. It was meant for him, and him alone.
A faint smile curved across his lips as his crimson eyes glowed brighter. "Looks like I know what I'll be doing next."
Without another word, he tucked the blood corals, the draconic scales, and the other treasures into his inventory. He had rested long enough. Now it was time to push his bloodline further, to see just how much deeper the abyss of his power went.