"Most of them I can't use, actually it's not just me here, but also Old Jin's."
"This Horse-cutting Saber, Old Jin obtained from a centaur-shaped leader-level opponent. The effect of the saber is straightforward and brutal, a fifteen percent chance to cause forced stun."
"And this shield, it can reflect attacks."
Wen Xishu couldn't help but ask:
"Reflect? Conceptually, or numerically?"
Albert laughed:
"Of course, numerically. This thing wouldn't stand a chance against Sagittarius, it couldn't even withstand one of my punches."
The old principal's gaze wandered over numerous items.
There were exoskeletal arms that could mimic the movements and skills of the original body, daggers that could enhance paralysis effects, shoes that could increase speed, and wings that could enable flight. The items varied widely, all capable of changing the course of a battle.
But none of these items caught the old principal's favor.
Albert's gaze finally settled on a pair of gloves.
Not even an orange item.
Just a pair of purple gloves at Level 89. Among the many numeric or functional items, Albert ultimately chose the gloves.
Wen Xishu asked: "What's it called?"
Albert said: "Unyielding Gloves. A pair of gloves that can convert fighting spirit and rage into combat ability. Not very strong, but this thing once saved me from death when I was about to die."
Wen Xishu was slightly moved.
Albert did not wear the gloves, he just took them out, showing a childlike smile, as if he had found a teammate from years ago.
"I've given up using it for some time now, because it's not needed. Honestly, last night, I didn't sleep well, I'm very concerned about the showdown with Sagittarius."
"Because perhaps he has Old Jin's truth, and it might really clear the path for the young to go beyond the seventieth floor."
"But I don't have absolute confidence."
"I keep thinking, what item could defeat Sagittarius?"
"I thought for a long time, but regrettably, if the opponent is too strong, I find no item can defeat him."
"But just as I thought there truly wasn't one, I suddenly found it."
"Look, this is my item."
Wen Xishu noticed that the old principal did not show him the gloves, but instead stretched out his hands.
Those hands, at first glance, seemed almost not human, more like some ancient, resilient weapon. They hung heavily at his sides, carrying a serenity born from countless life-and-death battles.
Palms face up, the first visual impact is that unbelievably thick layer of calluses.
They aren't evenly distributed but concentrated below the palm knuckles and mid-finger bones, forming uneven, deep yellow-white hard shell areas, like a layer of rough, overgrown bark.
These hands, Wen Xishu had never seen before.
But he truly saw the unrivaled weapon.
He suddenly understood the old principal's meaning.
In the face of a formidable enemy, no amount of items compares to oneself; what he needs is the conviction that he will undoubtedly defeat the enemy, and the courage to fight to the death even if defeated.
So the gloves are not the weapon for battle, the hands are.
Wen Xishu deeply respected these hands.
It was unimaginable, what kind of tempering it must take to make the palm lines so deep and chaotic.
Life and wisdom lines had long blurred, as if his life's trajectory had long been covered by pure "strikes".
This is the limit of humanity, the limit of courage and willpower.
If such a limit fails, killed by Sagittarius...
At this thought, Wen Xishu suddenly understood Xun Hui and Evelyn. It's not that they lack courage or the resolve to sacrifice everything.
But the principal truly represents humanity itself.
"I cannot imagine your failure, as I do not believe you will fail, which is why I proposed." Wen Xishu said.
"Hahahahahahaha, then, I wish you good luck." Albert laughed.
...
...
Ever since Wen Xishu last climbed the tower with Xun Hui, Xun Hui felt that it might truly be a training mechanism.
So he began researching the feasibility of mentoring through team items. The feasibility is actually very low, as newcomers blindly venturing to higher levels face enormous risks.
But Xun Hui still considered using this method for some exceptional talents. Therefore, he did not give up the research.
Firstly, the research should be on levels. For instance, if a Level 1 teamed up with a Level 70, what level would they be matched to?
This research has not made much progress, but there is some result.
If Xun Hui, Wen Xishu, and Albert teamed up, according to the level allocation mechanism, Xun Hui predicted they would be assigned to Level 81.
Yes, even though Wen Xishu's Slaughter Tower Level is only Level 18...
Albert, as a Level 97 participant, can also bring him into Level 81.
Hence more people must be arranged.
Of course, there is also a situation where Slaughter Tower, being a vast world, can actually team up directly.
Xun Hui and Albert could directly proceed to related areas of the seventieth floor or higher.
But in doing so, they may encounter a slaughter day. Even Albert finds the slaughter day quite troublesome, especially having to protect two little guys.
So finally, under Xun Hui's calculations, two more individuals were arranged, two pure rookies.
For these two individuals, Xun Hui hoped to arrange them as death row inmates.