ℭ𝔥𝔞𝔭𝔱𝔢𝔯 𝟙𝟘𝟜: 𝔐𝔬𝔫𝔰𝔱𝔢𝔯 ℭ𝔞𝔪𝔬𝔲𝔣𝔩𝔞𝔤𝔢 𝔊𝔯𝔞𝔦𝔩 ⓇⒺⓋⒶⓂⓅⒺⒹ

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The overwhelming pressure from Jay weighed heavily on the Atlans. Among them, only the Sea Lord, Aton, managed to maintain a semblance of composure, though even he felt the strain. From the sheer difference in their power levels, Aton quickly realized that Jay was far beyond anything he or his subordinates could contend with.

Steeling himself, Aton approached Jay with visible effort and lowered his head slightly in a gesture of respect. “Please, Sir Jay,” he pleaded, his voice calm but urgent. “Forgive my subordinate’s insolence and spare his life. In return, I promise that he will serve under you for the rest of his days.”

Turning his attention to the trembling male Atlan, Aton spoke firmly, emphasizing each word. “Akor, if you value your life, blink your eyes three times to show your agreement. Quickly! Your survival depends on it.”

The Atlan named Akor, paralyzed by fear and still trembling under the suppression effect of║RULER’s PRESENCE║, managed to blink three times as instructed. It was a decision born of desperation, his fear of death outweighing any hesitation he might have felt.

Jay observed the entire exchange with a faint smirk, finding the situation more amusing than serious. He had no intention of killing Akor—or any of the Atlans, for that matter. The scene had unfolded entirely due to a misunderstanding, and Jay had no interest in correcting them.

Moments earlier, Earth Wyrm MJ had mentally contacted Jay, informing him of Spirit Metal ore reserves beneath the seabed where they stood.

This discovery intrigued Jay, and it was the real reason he had drawn the Stream Wind Sword. While his gesture of pointing the sword at Akor’s throat had been intended only to scare him, the Atlans had misinterpreted it as a genuine threat.

As Akor shut his eyes, seemingly resigning himself to his fate, Jay ignored the dramatics. Holding the sword with both hands, he coated it in Stage-3║Sword Aura║as he activated║Aura Extension║, extending the blade’s aura into a solidified form nearly ten meters long. With a decisive motion, Jay plunged the sword into the seabed with all his strength.

The piercing strike sent tremors rippling through the surrounding area, the ground quaking violently as the extended Sword Aura sliced through layers of rock. Dust and debris clouded the water as the force of the strike left a wide fissure in the seabed.

Satisfied with the result, Jay deactivated his brother’s skill that had held the Atlans in place. Turning his gaze toward Aton, he spoke calmly but firmly. “I have business beneath this location. Take your subordinates and move further away. Wait for me there. Don’t even think about escaping—I still have a few things to discuss with you. And don’t worry, I’m not going to kill anyone over something this trivial.”

Aton, quick to sense Jay’s sincerity, nodded without hesitation. “Understood,” he replied. Gathering his subordinates, he led them out of the hideout, his tone authoritative as he ordered them to comply. None dared protest, too shaken by the display of power they had just witnessed.

Jay watched until he was certain the Atlans were a safe distance away. Only then did he grip the hilt of the sword again, pulling it free from the seabed with a smooth motion.

Next, Jay activated║Size Alteration║, his body rapidly shrinking until he was no more than five inches tall. With his now diminutive form, he approached the opening created by his strike and leapt into the narrow hole. The descent was quick, and soon he landed within a cavern illuminated by an ethereal green light.

The sight before Jay confirmed MJ’s findings—a Spirit Metal ore mine stretched out in the dimly lit cavern. Though the mine itself was not particularly large and contained only a modest amount of ore, Jay wasn’t disappointed by that. His sharp eyes focused on the green-colored lumps embedded within the rock walls, each glowing faintly with an ethereal hue.

As Jay examined the ore more closely, he noticed the faint mark left by his extended Sword Aura on one of the lumps. The depth of the cut was barely noticeable, a clear indicator of the ore’s density and rarity. MJ’s voice rang in his mind, confirming his observation.

‘Master! Your 37 Luck stats didn’t go to waste. This is Emerald Spirit Metal ore—a Grade-4 mineral. While the quantity here is limited, it’s more than enough to create one or two pieces of Epic Grade Spirit Equipment.’

Jay’s mind raced with possibilities. He immediately asked, “MJ, can you make an Epic Grade replica of the Dual-bladed Silver Glaive?”

“Of course, Master,” MJ replied, the tone of its voice confident. “But with this amount, I can only craft a single weapon.”

Joy surged through Jay at the thought. A Grade-4 Spirit Weapon would finally allow him to unleash his ultimate trump card,║Heaven Breaker║.

Until now, the Grade-3 Silver Glaive replicas MJ had crafted for him couldn’t withstand the Origin Energy for more than two seconds— a second short to execute║Heaven Breaker║.

Although he had never used the skill before, Jay knew it was an immensely powerful technique he had inherited from the predecessor of his Innate Talent. Its destructive capabilities were unimaginable, and having a weapon capable of sustaining it would give him a critical edge in dangerous situations.

Although he knew the stages and details of the Trial Program in advance, he still had to be prepared for any uncertainty, just in case things goes sideways.

Focusing his attention back on the task at hand, Jay activated the telekinesis ability of his║SOUL EYES║, carefully excavating the lumps of Emerald Spirit Metal ore from the mine. Each piece floated effortlessly through the air before being stored within his ring’s storage space.

Jay couldn’t help but feel a surge of gratitude for the flexibility of his Spirit Items. Both his Debuffer Ring and Centauri Kavach automatically resized to fit his altered form whenever he used║Size Alteration║, sparing him the inconvenience of adjusting them manually.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

Once he was certain he had collected every last piece of the rare ore, Jay took one last glance at the now-empty cavern before leaping back into the narrow shaft he had created. Once he ascended, his body returned to its original size. Emerging onto the seabed, he turned his gaze toward the Atlans.

Jay approached the Atlans, who were gathered a safe distance away from there. Except for the Sea Lord, Aton, none of them dared to meet his gaze. Instead, they lowered their heads submissively, their postures stiff with lingering fear. The Suppression effect he had unleashed earlier had clearly left a lasting impression.

Choosing to ignore their deference, Jay fixed his attention on Aton, who stood visibly tense as he awaited Jay’s next move. Waiting no time, Jay addressed him with a calm yet firm voice. “Shall we begin now?”

Aton and the other Atlans visibly flinched, caught off guard by the fact that Jay spoke fluently in their native language. The revelation was deliberate—Jay had made the effort to speak their tongue as a subtle reminder that there was little they could hide from him.

"Y-Yes, Sir Jay," Aton stammered before quickly regaining his composure. With a respectful gesture, he added, his tone tinged with respect, "Please, after you."

Jay observed the group’s nervousness and shook his head slightly. Their fear was evident, but he made no attempt to ease their tension. Fear, after all, could be a useful tool, and he had plans that required their compliance.

“I’ll get straight to the point,” Jay began, his tone cutting through the water like a blade. “A possession of yours caught my interest. I would like to exchange it for items of equal value.”

The air between them seemed to grow heavier as the meaning of his words sank in. Aton’s expression immediately hardened, and his grip on his hands tightened subtly. It didn’t take him long to realize exactly what Jay was referring to—the Monster Camouflage Grail.

The Grail was the most precious Spirit Item in Aton’s possession, a golden treasure that had allowed the Atlans to survive and thrive within the trial zone. With its ability to grant the Monster Camouflage Buff, they had been able to avoid detection even by the newly released Tier-3 Low-Phase monsters since the start of Day-7. They relied on it for survival.

Aton’s reluctance was evident, but he kept his reservations silent. With a resigned sigh, he reached into his Uncommon-grade Spirit Ring and retrieved the Grail. As it emerged, golden rays of light shimmered across its surface, illuminating the water around it with an almost divine glow.

Jay’s gaze sharpened as he laid eyes on the Grail. He right away activated║Analyse║on it.

╭── ⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅ ──╮

║Monster Camouflage Grail║

⧼Rare Grade⧽

* A special Grail that produces ten drops of golden nectar per day, each granting the 'Monster Camouflage Buff' upon consumption.

Durability: 100/100

║Monster Camouflage Buff║ ⧼Rare⧽

* Consuming a single drop of golden nectar applies the buff, which lasts for 24 hours. ⧼Cannot be stacked.⧽

* During the buff, your presence is camouflaged to resemble that of a monster, preventing Tier-3 and below monsters from attacking you unless provoked.

╰── ⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅ ──╯

Jay’s║Analyse║quickly revealed the limitations of the Monster Camouflage Grail. The buff it granted could only be used ten times a day. While not indefinite, the utility of such an item was undeniable.

It would save him considerable trouble in dealing with hordes of monsters when breaking system barriers to travel between trial zones. Beyond that, its potential uses in tactical situations were numerous, and Jay’s mind already raced with ideas.

He glanced at the Sea Lord, Aton, and the other Atlans. Their expressions were a mixture of reluctance and unease.

Understanding their hesitation, Jay decided it was time to sweeten the deal. He raised his hand, and five glowing fruits floated above his palm. Each fruit shimmered in a different color, corresponding to one of the five main attributes.

“You all know about Essence Fruits, right?,” Jay began, his calm voice carrying an air of authority. “You might even possess a few. But I doubt any of them are Grade-3.”

He let his words hang for a moment, watching the flicker of intrigue in their eyes before continuing, “These are the real deal. Check for yourselves.”

At his suggestion, the Sea Lord and the Atlans immediately activated║Analyse║to inspect the fruits. The results left them wide-eyed. The Vitality Fruit alone was a life-saving treasure, capable of replenishing and bolstering one’s vitality in critical moments. Each fruit, when consumed for the first time, could increase its corresponding attribute by ten points—a significant boon for any Alpha Chosen.

Seeing their reactions, Jay pressed his advantage. “Since there are nine of you here, I’ll provide nine sets of these five Essence Fruits in exchange for the Grail. These fruits will enhance your overall strength, something you’ll need to perform well in the upcoming Tournament.”

The Atlans exchanged uncertain glances, their reluctance evident. Jay decided to add one more incentive. His voice lowered slightly, taking on a more serious tone.

“Let me share something you don’t know. Among the 1000 Trial Zones participating in the Trial Region Tournament, only ten will emerge victorious. The winners will receive not only bountiful rewards but also qualifications to enter the Continental Tournament, scheduled for Day-20.

The event taking place on Day-10, however, is only the Regional Tournament. Those who fail to secure a spot will miss out on the chance to grow stronger and will fall behind. These fruits could significantly improve your trial zone’s chances of making it to the top 10.”

His words hung in the water, heavy with implications. While some of the Atlans seemed swayed by the offer, the Sea Lord’s reluctance remained. The Monster Camouflage Grail was more than just a tool to him—it was a symbol of their race’s survival and a treasure he believed could shape their future.

Jay smirked inwardly, sensing their hesitation. He didn’t bother explaining the full extent of the rewards for becoming one of the top 10 trial zones. To him, it wasn’t necessary. The fear he had instilled in them with his earlier display of power ensured that none of the Atlans would dare to voice their doubts or objections outright.

The tension in the group was unmistakable as they awaited the Sea Lord’s decision. Jay watched Aton carefully, knowing that the Atlans’ leader held the key to completing the exchange. For now, Jay’s confidence remained unshaken; he knew the value of his offer was more than fair.

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