[Name: Touch of Mercy]
[Type: Weapon]
[Tier: Second Order - Golden Legend]
[Description: Under the heavy hammer all things are equal, great compassion saves all beings.]
[Effect: ①Wielder can swing it light as a feather, but continuously consumes magic power.]
[②Can deal actual damage to ghost-type creatures, strikes carry lightning, especially effective against dark spectral beings.]
[③Brilliant radiance, see no evil: Protects the self from cold invasion.]
[④Has ability to deflect spells, but if capacity is exceeded, outer shell will shatter; needs to absorb magic and blood to reform shell.]
[⑤Inscribed runes are primordial fire, can serve as forging tools.]
[Rating: Take it up and you'll be hell's most dazzling guy!]
Another Second Order Golden Legend card! And it lived up to that reputation.
When Ethan reached out and grasped its cold, smooth handle, slowly drawing it from the flat canvas, a ring of golden radiance emanated from its silver-white shell. Like the halo around a light bulb, filled with sacred, pure feeling.
"Gurgle gurgle." Several blood-red eyeballs rolled across the hammer's surface.
The moment they made eye contact, sizzle sizzle, Ethan's vision flickered like a broken television screen, flashing countless colours.
On the silver-white shell were carved the ancient runes the higher being in the mirror had taught him. When he learnt these runes, Ethan's mind had automatically formed their written forms.
Mr Black said there was no way to express them... it seems his understanding wasn't deep enough.
"So perfect, so sacred..." Ethan muttered dreamily, gazing at this flawless silver hammer.
When he gripped it, wrapped in its golden light, Ethan felt a righteous aura rising from his heart. As if he'd donned white robes and become a saviour helping all beings!
"I've always hated seeing others suffer... Don't be afraid, souls, I'm coming!" he declared with fervour. "I'll end your pain right now!"
Saying this, Ethan directly broke through the window—climbing out from Luna's second-floor bedroom to the outdoors. No choice—the Pure White Gate formed from the basilisk's body was simply too massive for the bedroom.
Though presumably in the dead of night, no one would notice what he was doing.
Whoosh! A pure white door rose and expanded continuously. Extreme cold emanated from within.
Crack Crack. The surrounding green grass gradually covered with white frost, finally becoming a giant gate over ten metres high standing before Ethan.
"Hiss..." The serpentine body forming the doorframe slowly writhed. Orange vertical pupils opened, looking down at Ethan and flicking out a crimson tongue.
Little master, long time no see... hm?!
The basilisk suddenly froze. Before it appeared a "strange person" wearing white gauze and wielding a silver-white hammer. Wrapped entirely in brilliant golden light, yet that eerie hammer constantly dripped blood.
The basilisk stared in confusion: "..." After not seeing him for a while, how had its little master evolved again? Every time it thought the little master had reached human limits, the little master would show through actions that humans could choose not to be human.
"Good evening, little snake," Ethan said, patting the basilisk's smooth body and hefting the hammer onto his shoulder with a clang.
Flashing a sunny, cheerful smile, he announced: "I'm going in to save all beings!"
With that, he stepped into the extremely cold doorway, entering the secret realm beyond the world.
[You have entered the Pure White Gate.]
[The Lamp has lit, guiding your path forward.]
A thread of orange light extended like a line all the way to the end of the white mist. As before, deathly cold pierced bone and muscle. But this time, under the brighter power of the lamp, the cold was blocked outside.
Ethan gripped the "Touch of Mercy", feeling waves of warmth flowing through his entire body. This was the power of the "Fire" rune—the fire of life, the fire of protection. And this warmth would surely attract souls hungry for life!
Ahh—ahh—Like the groans of dying people, the sound of nails scraping glass came from all directions.
Then came countless pale remnant souls! With their longing, malevolent black eyes staring directly at Ethan, constantly surging and gathering toward him like an endless tidal wave!
Ahh—ahhh! They would swallow Ethan whole! Devour that vigorous life force and living warmth completely!
However, they didn't see—or lacked the rationality to see—the curve of the lips on the youth they saw as "prey".
Ethan raised his eyes, cobalt-blue pupils gazing at this "sea of death" surging toward him. Blue fire flashed in his eyes!
Raising the hammer high, he grinned: "I'm here to take you home!"
As his words fell, the silver-white hammer wrapped in thunderous power crashed down!
"BOOM!" Instantly, like heavenly thunder striking down, mist churned and souls wailed as they were annihilated! The entire secret realm shook violently!
One hammer blow—lightning crackled in the air like dancing sprites around Ethan. With Ethan as center, the ground cracked and collapsed. In the vast circular area, not a trace of souls remained.
Direct area clear!
This—how can this human attack them?! The sea of souls suddenly stilled in shock, as if the essence of the human before them had changed.
However, driven by instinct toward life essence, they'd long abandoned rational thought.
Ahh—ahh! Wailing and roaring, they filled the gaps and continued surging toward Ethan!
"Clang." Ethan slowly lifted the hammer head as debris fell from it. His cobalt-blue eyes looked at the countless souls clawing toward him. He licked his back teeth excitedly.
On the silver-white hammer, eyeballs rolled gurgle gurgle, blood-red vessels pulsed like arteries. Like a blasphemous object mocking the gods or corrupted heaven, it radiated sacred golden light!
"I represent the God of Light... helping you find release!" Ethan shouted.
With a low battle cry, he charged straight into the oncoming death tide like a hunting leopard! Swinging the hammer, every blow carried thunderous power. In flashing lightning, he swept in all directions!
Ahh—! Souls struck by the hammer would instantly wail and scatter, then be replaced by other spirits.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!" Like a merciless bulldozer, brilliant golden light illuminated this eternally pale, dead land!
"Hahaha!" Ethan couldn't help laughing with pure joy. The hammer in his hands swung constantly, each blow taking away swaths of souls! Wrapped in shining lightning.
At this moment, Ethan was like a saviour from beyond the veil—physically delivering salvation to all beings.
Finally, after what felt like hours—
"Huff, huff, huff..." Ethan panted heavily, gripping the hammer, sweat covering his forehead and back.
Ahh—ahhh—! A weak moan came from below.
Ethan looked down and lifted his foot to see a soul with just a trace remaining, trembling and wailing. In those black voids usually driven by desire appeared a fear never before seen—as if facing not a delicious living person, but a terrifying monster!
There's a fake human here!
Ethan smiled gently: "Oh, poor little thing. You're the only one left, aren't you? Don't be afraid. I'll send you to your next life right now."
Saying this, Ethan raised the hammer and smashed down with a bang. The world fell silent.
Ethan straightened up, wiped sweat from his forehead, put his hands on his hips and looked around proudly: "I'm really excellent. I helped so many souls escape the sea of suffering."
Ethan stood on perfectly clean, white earth. Around him was empty space—not a single soul remained! Complete area clear!
[You passed the soul trial, one step closer to the advancement gate.]
[Due to passing the trial in a unique way.]
[You gained the "Terror Harvest" skill.]
[Terror Harvest: Each time you kill an enemy, you can replenish life and magic.]
Oh ho. Got a skill too. The more you kill, the stronger you get; the more you kill, the more excited you become.
"Hmm... doesn't quite fit my righteous style. This system really is foolish," Ethan mused. "But the effect's not bad. Indeed, good people get good rewards."
He smiled happily.
[Lamp brightness increased.]
The thick fog before him cleared, revealing a wide, rushing river. Light blue mixed with fine gold dust, emanating a scent mixing nuts and minerals—the smell of paint.
[You have reached the "River in the Painting".]
[The advancement path has been unlocked.]
[You can cross the River in the Painting to reach the final trial ground.]
[The "Gatekeeper" awaits you.]
Then, at the distant horizon, golden light blazed, and a roar Ethan had heard before rang out again: "ROAR!"
"Splash splash!" The deafening roar, carrying fierce wind, made the river churn and splash! It blew back Ethan's robes and swept his black hair backward!
Still so mighty and powerful. Can't imagine what kind of massive creature blocks that advancement gate!
Ethan gripped the hammer handle tighter, growing more excited. "What I need to do is continue learning ancient magic and raise my strength to the maximum! Then challenge that arrogant, powerful 'Gatekeeper'!"
Just then, wisps of pale souls flowed into the leather pouch at Ethan's waist, as if being absorbed by something. Ethan rummaged around and finally pulled out the Necronomicon he'd obtained in the past.
Pale souls were absorbed into it. Ethan opened the pages and was delighted to see new text had appeared!