Before Ashton could ponder more about the 'second party', Anna collapsed. Casting [Illusion] on the Lich was more problematic than she thought, and what little bit of mana she had regenerated was pulled away from her, making her unable to do anything more.
At the same time, they returned to the cave right in front of the boss room. The doors were wide open, and a Staff could be seen floating in the middle of the empty chamber.
As much as Ashton wanted to take the staff, he couldn't. If anyone but a succubus so much as touched the staff, they would be gone forever. However, the prize inside the other room was all his.
But before that, there was something else he had to check.
__
Name: Ashton Fenrir
Species: Human-based Tribrid (Active), Carbon-based Space Farer (Active).
Status: Zompirewolf
Class: Revenger (werewolf class), Blood Mage (vampire class), Necromancer (zombie class)
Subclass: [Cinder Soul]
Title: [Defiant], [Novice Brewer], [Monklin Slayer], [Researcher], [Owner Of the Eastern Palace], [First Modern Space Farer of Earth], [Hydra Slayer]
Age: 16 years
Gender: Male
Grade: C-tier (Evolution is possible) [You can begin the third stage of the evolutionary process.]
Cumulative Level: 180
Affiliation: Self.
Level:
> Werewolf Level: 90 (0%)
> Vampire Level: 90 (0%)
> Zombie Level: 90 (0%)
Stats:
HP: 21500/21500
Mana: 18000/18000
Dark Aura: 12370
Damage: 314
Armour: 269
Stealth: 299
Stamina: 285
Agility: 239
Intelligence: 389
[UNUSED STAT POINTS]: 0
Nature:
Calculative
Unforgiving
__
"Already maxed out C-grade, huh..." Ashton mumbled.
As part of personal rewards, he was supposed to get 100 stats points. However, during randomising the rewards, those points were taken away. Usually, that would have made Ashton go batshit crazy, but there was something else he was concerned with, namely his evolution.
Unlike one common task, he was assigned three missions for all his primary genes. It was a bit weird, but considering specialised his genes were, it was bound to happen sooner or later.
[Just so you know, from now onwards, you will have to evolve all your genes before you can turn into a Zompirewolf again. Otherwise, the imbalance within your gene could lead to unforeseen problems.]
"So basically, you're saying I should evolve all of the genes simultaneously?"
[Yup, and good luck with that. It's not an easy feat; if it were, we would have hundreds if not thousands of S-grade beings in the galaxy.]
Ashton scoffed, ready to prove Astaroth wrong again, and continued checking on Anna, who was sound asleep. Although Ashton always thought he was the one protecting Anna, had it not been for her, the Lich would have screwed him up for good.
"Wait, where did that bastard disappear to?"
Ashton frantically got up, scanning everywhere. Although the Lich had admitted defeat and the dungeon had been effectively cleared, Ashton was not planning on leaving the Lich alive. After all, he was too dangerous to be left alone.
"Master, he's there!" Sven yelled, pointing towards the boss room.
Ashton headed straight into the room with Atlas closely behind him while the rest protected Anna. Lich was headed towards the Staff of Eden. Fearing the worst, Ashton leapt to push the Lich away.
However, the Lich stopped him in mid-air with a snap. Atlas rushed to help his master but got stuck in an invisible forcefield. A moment later, Lich walked past the staff, opened a concealed ancient-looking chest, and pulled out a piece of paper and a pair of black gloves.
Once done, he returned to Ashton and snapped his fingers again to free Ashton and Atlas from their invisible prison.
"Just because you deceived me once doesn't mean you are superior to me." Lich sighed before handing Ashton the paper and the gloves, "These were the possessions of Lord Reaper. Since you're deemed a worthy successor, these now belong to you."
Ashton used [Detection] on the gloves without wasting any moment and was surprised by what he saw.
__
Item: Grim Reaper's Gauntlet
Type: Armour / Stat Enhancement gear
> Magical Defence: 500-600 HP per strike
Stats bonus:
>> Armour: +10% while equipped for use
>> Mana: +300% while equipped for use (up to a maximum of 30,000. Can be increased when more equipment of the same set is found)
>> Intelligence: +20% while equipped for use (up to a maximum of 200. Can be increased when more equipment of the same set is found.)
Rarity: Legendary item
Description:
A legendary piece of equipment of unknown origins. However, more about the equipment might be found once more parts of the set are united. It can be only equipped by a high levelled undead or a necromancer.
The weapon had been enchanted and imbued with unique abilities and effects.
Effect(s):
> Drastically decreases the intelligence and mana required to cast spells related to the Necromancer class.
> Reduces the intelligence required to resurrect or create undead soldiers by 70%.
> The skeletal soldiers created no longer suffer through weakening resulting from resurrection. Instead, being turned into skeleton soldiers increase their stats and levels.
> Set items gathered: 5/10 (Partial Set effect can now be triggered)
--> Grim Reaper Transformation:
The user can turn into a being of absolute death for five minutes. During this time, the user turns immortal. Furthermore, undead under the user's command would be buffed permanently.
The user would also ignore all restrictions on the Necromancer or related class and would be able to regenerate undead soldiers infinitely (While the transformation is active).
Item: Grim Reaper's scythe can only be used during the transformation.
Other effects would be revealed as more set items are gathered.
__
"To think you challenged me before you had at least seven set pieces," Lich scratched his head, "I wonder how you were able to survive till now with that recklessness of yours."
[Eh, I just got used to it by now. This fucker won't listen to reason either way-]
Ashton ignored Astaroth as a sloth would ignore danger and instead turned his attention towards Lich.
"So what now?"
"I don't understand-" Lich was still talking when someone entered the room, "Don't touch that!"
Lich yelled at the person behind, but it was too late. A blood-soaked Grimm was standing next to the staff.
"This artefact better be worth the sacrifice of my brothers-" Grimm smiled as blood dripped from his hair and onto the staff, "W-What's going on! ARGHHHH! SOMEONE STOP IT!!!"
The curse of the staff forced Grimm to transform, just like it forcefully changed Lilith into a succubus thousands of years ago. However, Grimm's transformation was not as pretty as Lilith's, as he became one with the darkness.
"I hope you are ready to battle again," Lich mumbled, "I'm afraid I'll be needing some help this time around."
"So I have a choice?" Ashton shrugged and drew Balmond, "There's no rest for the Reaper."