The Wisp of Aires remained standing a few meters away from Jacob as the flames on its figure continued to blaze and flicker powerfully. There was deadly silence as both of them seemed to be in a deadlock. Jacob was naturally waiting for the Wisp of Aries to make its move since he didn't want to attack it if there was a chance that it could all be resolved peacefully. However, after encountering the Wisp of Capricorn, he wasn't sure and was fully on alert just in case the Wisp of Aries turned out to be the same.
However, at this moment, the Wisp of Aries unexpectedly nodded at him before the surrounding flames intensified, making the whole chamber brightly illuminated, and the temperature increased to a ridiculous degree.
Jacob instantly gathered the lightning mana around his palms, thinking that this was some kind of warning before the attack. But the next moment, no attack came, and the Wisp of Aries's incomprehensible voice buzzed in his head.
"&%$#*…"
However, this time, Jacob didn't feel as much pain as before and remained steady. A hint of relief flashed past his burning eyes as he knew this was over, and just as he thought the next moment, he appeared in the same blank space.
Jacob knew that he had earned the Wisp of Aries's acknowledgment, and he was glad. But unexpectedly, he instantly sensed someone else's presence, and he knew what that meant.
Jacob turned around and saw a crimson mist surrounding a figure. To his surprise, this mist was actually made with Soul Force!
"What happened?" A startled, charming voice rang from the mist as if surprised by this sudden turn of events.
The owner of this voice also noticed Jacob's hooded figure, "Is this part of the trial?" She mutters before the mist parted, revealing a figure standing amidst the darkness.
She was tall, like a specter from a nightmare, with a slender, curvaceous form that was both alluring and dangerous. Her skin was pale, almost translucent white, with an unnatural glow that made her appear ethereal as if she were barely tethered to the mortal realm.
Her long, raven-crimson hair cascaded down her shoulders like a bloody waterfall, contrasting sharply against her ghostly complexion.
Her eyes, a deep crimson, locked onto Jacob's with a predatory glint. They shimmered with an unholy light, exuding an unnatural hunger that made him feel as though his very soul was targeted.
The outfit she wore clung to her body. It was a dark, intricate dress made of sheer lace and flowing silk that seemed to blend into the surrounding shadows. The fabric was barely there in places, revealing the curves of her body in an almost provocative manner. Sharp, onyx-like accessories adorned her wrists and neck, giving her the look of a gothic temptress.
Her presence was intoxicating, like the sweet scent of a poisonous flower luring its prey closer. The eerie aura around her seemed to pulse, mingling darkness and desire in a way that was both hypnotic and terrifying.
Suddenly, her lips, stained a deep shade of red, curled into a faint, teasing smile that was equal parts seductive and menacing as she spoke. Two long fangs were revealed. Her voice was a velvety whisper, soft yet carrying a faint echo that resonated in the empty space. "Are you my next opponent?"
Jacob looked at the pale woman with scrutiny because although she may have looked like a human or elf, he knew she wasn't. The surrounding aura was something that only a dark being should have, yet it was unique because he could feel intense blood vitality from her!
Furthermore, because of his own attainment in blood manipulation, he felt this woman could also control blood, which was unexpected.
Nonetheless, Jacob knew that this woman should have used the Legendary Key of Aries to enter the tower. Since he had directly entered the final floor and cleared it, she appeared here with him as well, and she seemed to be fighting in a trial when he cleared the tower.
Now, she seemed to be unaware that Jacob had cleared the trial and thought of him as his next opponent.
But at this moment, the tower's voice rang unexpectedly.
"Congratulations, Trialist!
"You have passed the Star King difficulty level Tower Trial of the Tower of Aires!
"The Rewards of Star King difficulty Trial will be granted!
"First Reward: The Legendary Vestige of Aries has been given!"
The woman's nonchalant expression instantly changed when she heard the unexpected announcement, and so did Jacob's because this was the exact scenario he didn't want to face.
He thought that the tower would wait for them to duke it out among each other before it announced the final winner, but it seemed that wasn't the case, and now the reward had appeared, and whoever claimed it would be the winner.
At this moment, the Cosmic Vestige of Aries emerged in a burst of fiery energy, illuminating the vast, dark space with a radiant and intense crimson glow.
Its form was like a spiral ram's horn. Its surface was made of a shimmering, translucent material resembling polished ruby, with flecks of gold and fiery red veins running through it.
The horn emanates a soft, radiant glow, pulsating with energy that flickers like embers within. Its curves are graceful, and the edges appear razor-sharp, giving off an aura of primal power and determination. The vestige levitates slightly above the ground, surrounded by a faint, swirling mist that glimmers with stardust, embodying the cosmic essence of fire.
The moment the Legendary Vestige appeared, the pale woman instantly snapped out of her daze. The next moment, she turned into crimson mist as she bolted towards the Vestige without hesitation!
However, Jacob was a step ahead and closest to the vestige. By the time the woman reacted, which was extremely fast, Jacob had already grabbed the Vestige, and the next moment, it vanished into his Infinity Pendant!
"Thief! Hand it over!" The woman's enraged voice rang with a hint of disbelief since she never expected Jacob to be so fast, and she was still clueless about how this person appeared in this place and completed this trial even before her.
Nothing made sense to her despite her vast knowledge; this entire scenario was out of her wildest dreams.
"Hmph!" Jacob merely sneered when he saw that the crimson mist had changed its target for him, and he felt pure soul force and blood energy from it.
The next moment, lightning energy and soul force took the shape of two swords in Jacob's hands, and he instantly slashed them into the mist using his mighty power!
Although this woman was strong, and he knew she was wearing a piece of legendary rank treasure, after he encountered the inheritor of the Chaotic Darkness, this pale woman seemed insignificant.
The crimson mist suddenly trembled under the incoming attack of purple ethereal lightning as if she also sensed the danger behind that attack, and instantly a magic runs suddenly appeared just in time when Jacob's attack collided with the mist!
"Bang…" A powerful energy blast rang in the space, filled with crackling lightning and crimson mist as a powerful soul force ripple spread.
But Jacob remained unaffected while his burning eyes were staring at the blast point, and he couldn't help but mutter, "You have some skill to utilize your space-type treasure just in time…"
Just as his voice trailed off, a few hundred meters away, the crimson mist began to gather, and the woman appeared again, but this time, there was an apparent terror in her eyes as she looked at Jacob.
At this moment, she quickly spoke, "Who, might I ask, is the one before me? I'm Gracey Val Doom, the daughter of Legendary King, Vampire Marquis Wilbur!"