This item is displaying vigorous reaction.
“Since it will dissolve in blood, can I touch it?”
Annan asked, “Will I pollute it?”
“How could that be? Just touch it.”
Salvatore couldn’t help but laugh, “If it contaminates so easily, it wouldn’t be called Sage’s Stone. Even if you spill the dust into it, it won’t be contaminated.
“But be careful. Although it looks like a liquid, it weighs like mercury and is much heavier than it looks. If you’re not careful, you may suffer a bone fracture.”
Watching Annan about to step forward, Salvatore alerted.
Annan nodded, “Got it.”
As he approached the ritual area, he felt a heatwave sting his face.
After inching a little closer, the temperature had increased a lot. Annan soon broke into sweats. The sweltering air made his breathing difficult. Worse still, he vaguely felt his eyeballs getting hot.
It was just like he was in the boiler room. No, it should be hotter than the boiler room.
Annan suddenly realized why Salvatore reminded him to wear less just now.
When Annan touched the endless flowing liquid Sage’s Stone, he felt a sharp pain on his finger.
A glimmering panel immediately appeared before his eyes:
[Hermetic Sage’s Stone (34% purity)]
[Type: Consumables/ritual material/sacrifice/wondrous item (Gold)]
[Description: Sage’s Stone of the Hermetic School, unrefined.]
[Description: You have never heard that it can be used as a ritual material (“Advanced Mysterious Ritual” check failed).]
[Description: You have never heard that it can be used as a sacrifice (“Advanced Mysticism” check failed)]
【Effect: After a certain amount of injection, a temporary level is obtained within 180 seconds. Currently, your level can be increased to LV 41.]
[Price: Severe pain throughout the body within three days.]
…Level 41? Annan was startled.
According to the current rules, the Bronze Rank was LV11 to LV20. For the Silver Rank, it would be LV21 to LV30. For the Gold Rank, it should be LV31 to LV40.
According to Salvatore, it was considered lucky that the stone of truth brought about the increment to LV40 after use.
But, LV41…
This should be the truth level, right?
Is it because of the Book of Divine Transporter?
That seems to be a possible explanation.
But… What’s Hermes?
Is there a Hermes in this world? Or is there a deity by this name?
No, it is unlikely.
Annan quickly rejected this idea.
If Hermes was a deity’s name, this item should be labeled with a mysterious knowledge tag. It wouldn’t be so easy to acquire it.
“It’s quite heavy, isn’t it?”
Salvatore said contentedly behind Annan, “I didn’t expect that I could successfully craft this.”
“You’re quite a genius.” Annan couldn’t help but exclaim.
Hearing this, Salvatore was silent for a moment, then coughed slightly, “En, thank you. Your words are too kind.”
Salvatore clasped his arms tightly and bent his body within. It seemed he had become low-spirited and was silent.
Looking at Salvatore’s behavior, Annan was in deep thoughts.
He probably guessed why Salvatore acted so.
There was always an inexplicable, heavy pressure on Salvatore and a sense of inferiority.
But this wasn’t unreasonable.
As Black Tower’s Son, this proved that his talents were better than the tower master.
It was rare to have such a great young talent not to be arrogant. In comparison to Arthur, Salvatore had the character and psychological quality of a valid Gold Rank.
(TN: A quick reminder that Arthur is a mage appears in Hunter’s Carney’s Nightmare back at Chapter 170)
Compared with the confident Arthur, Salvatore was more than low self-esteem, almost like a shut-in.
It appeared that his extraordinary talents didn’t seem to be consistent at all times. Salvatore was deeply troubled by this.
Annan couldn’t help but shake his head.
Why let it bother you?
As an erratic genius like me, is it enough to use the external power to make up for the shortcomings? You, as my teammate, shall safeguard the lower limit, and I will push the upper limit for you.
Yes, those in the protagonist’s team typically become strong rapidly and suddenly like the light novels.
“By the way, senior.” Annan asked nonchalantly, “Do you have any good items here? The more fun kind.”
“Yes, I do.” Hearing Annan’s question, Salvatore thought for a while and then replied, “You should put on some clothes afterward. Here are my winter clothes in the closet over there, although the clothes may appear a little too big. Put on your shoes and walk to the innermost dungeon. There lies a magic mirror.”
“Magic mirror?” Annan lamented.
For real?
Annan put on a baffled expression.
He was aware that the Black Tower’s Son might have a more solid family backing than he thought.
The ruby ??the size of a pigeon egg wasn’t something ordinary people could have, let alone the formula of Sage’s Stone.
But, what kind of magic mirror?
Annan walked in the direction of the closet that Salvatore pointed at and asked casually, “What type of mirror?”
Is it a mirror in which you ask questions? Or the one that can watch videos?
Or is it just a brown-nosing mirror?
“It’s a curse vessel.” Salvatore put the elixir back in his hand and explained with his back facing Annan, “There is a compound spell of the Prophet school and Idol in it, which allows you to see the essence of your soul. Of course, it is a more abstract version.
“For example, if I put the golden mistletoe in front of the mirror, it will reflect the golden oak tree, dripping blood, beating heart, baby crying, bull horn trumpet. This means it has resurrection capability and mighty healing power. We generally use it to check on unknown items, but in general, you still need to analyze on your own for what the mirror indicates.
“But in the absence of clues, it is still useful. At least it can reveal a vague research direction. For the time being, it is better than nothing.”
Salvatore turned around and smiled casually, “It’s like the ‘analysis’ that Soul Snatch Wizard does to you. You don’t need to take it too seriously. It’s also something to pass the time.”
“Okay, I’ll go take a look!” Annan put on funny cotton-padded shoes and walked towards the dungeon enthusiastically.
He didn’t really want to see the magic mirror.
As he had finished assessing the Sage’s Stone, it would seem that he had an ulterior motive if he left immediately. But it would be awkward if he just stayed in that place.
In the end, Annan just wanted to give Salvatore a personal space to adjust his mood.
“Salvatore, Annan have found out about your secret.”
A deep, crazy, reverberating voice sounded in Salvatore’s heart, “Do you know what to do now?”
Salvatore went silent.
He approached the Sage’s Stone, reaching out and gently touching the rushing red liquid.
The flowing liquid was only two fingers thick. At the time Salvatore’s finger touched it, it flicked away, just like what would happen if a finger reached out to a high-speed spinning wheel.
“If I were you, I would kill him.” The shadow smiled and said, “He knows too many secrets about us.”
“Shut up.” Salvatore said calmly, “At least, for now, I’m in charge of this body.”
As Salvatore spoke, he put his right index finger into Sage’s Stone.
The moment he connected his finger to the ritual, Sage’s Stone instantly lit up with red light. The speed of rotation gradually slowed down and stopped. Then, the sunken lines on the table lit up. The red gem hung high-up like the sun shone with scorching brilliance.
A red gleam appeared in Salvatore’s pupils, seemingly like the red gem’s reflection.
Salvatore went silent for a long time before slowly pulling out his finger. The ritual went out instantly. The Sage’s Stone began to spin again.
There was white smoke from his index finger, and his rotting injuries healed almost instantaneously.
“Has the purification failed? As I said, you have no talent. Salvatore, what can you do on your own?”
The shadow mocked, “You are just trash. You will fall asleep sooner or later; you can’t hold it anymore.”
“I may not be able to do anything.” Salvatore calmed down instead, “But if you were me, you would have been unable to hold on for a long time and fell asleep.”
“Efforts without talent are meaningless.” The shadow repeated, “How many times have you failed?”
But Salvatore didn’t say much.
He just looked in the direction Annan was leaving, gently and calmly.