Surviving The Fourth Calamity

Chapter 985: Chapter 781: High-grade Artifact in the Blood Pool

Hill resisted the urge to turn around and look at the Moonlight Pool, merely nodding with gratitude.

So, could this be some sort of evil artifact?

How did it end up in the hands of a bunch of not-so-intelligent undead… Artifacts always have intelligence! And they are all proud and arrogant.

Hill was a bit confused, truly unable to think of whose artifact could bow so low.

The giant curtain on ‘Snow Cloud Peak’ walked to the wall with a puzzled expression and glanced at it: “Cloud Smoke, try using an attack divine art.”

Cloud Smoke unhesitatingly cast a Scorching Ray on the Blood Pool, which violently shook, emitting a screeching, piercing scream that made the nearby Undead Tribe involuntarily cover their ears.

“#! Why does Toril always produce these bizarre things? This damn thing is alive!” ‘Snow Cloud Peak’ turned and shouted: “Light Mage, join the ranks, except for the Sun God Priest switching to attack divine arts, the rest continue with the rain.”

About one hundred thousand Light Mages quickly joined the battlefield, one by one launching Scorching Rays from all directions among the priests… yet there was no sound from the Blood Pool anymore.

It seems that earlier, Cloud Smoke was simply lucky… the artifact hiding in the Blood Pool had no defense and was directly hit by his Scorching Ray.

The efforts of the Undead Tribe finally paid off two hours later, as a peculiar Silver Crown suddenly soared from the Blood Pool and flew straight towards the distance.

Although some quick-reacting mages and priests cast attack spells, the silver headband with four bony spikes and a Black Diamond embedded in it quickly vanished into the void.

Hill widened his mouth in astonishment and muttered after a moment of stupor, “Milko’s Horned Crown! How could it be here?”

This high-grade artifact contains a portion of King of Bones—Milko, the former Grim Reaper’s divinity and intelligence, and is an evil item with self-awareness, existing in the world solely to spread evil and pain ceaselessly.

Then, Hill realized… why not here?

Indeed, the Horned Crown would stay away from Mystra’s sphere of influence, but even if everyone knew it was under Deepwater City, Midnight’s Chosen wouldn’t easily venture into the Underdark… Shaer wouldn’t spare them.

This Blood Pool being so powerful also requires no suspicion… the death aura that kills those nearby and the soul-burning undead black flame are the inherent functions of this artifact… if it were worn on someone’s head, it would be even more terrifying.

If not for the fact that the souls of the Undead Tribe are unaffected by directly staring at the Blood Pit, they might have already been bewitched enough to jump in and fight over the crown… no wonder it stayed hidden in the Blood Pool, waiting for the Undead Tribe to kill each other over the temptation!

Yet it had no chance at all, and was also uncomfortable with the light magic, so the Horned Crown could only leave helplessly to look for victims elsewhere.

Having not retained that bizarre-looking artifact, the Undead Tribe didn’t feel too disappointed: to them, anything they can’t obtain is just the game planners scheming a plot kill again. Especially if it’s something clearly related to the story, managing to touch it would be a miracle.

With the departure of the Horned Crown, the Blood Pit soon gradually fell to the bottom… Holy Rain finally had its intended effect.

A gnome skeleton flashing gray-black light appeared at the bottom of the pit… the corrosion power of the Blood Pool hiding the Horned Crown is stronger than sulfuric acid!

Hill couldn’t help but stand up, suspecting this fellow was the fool who brought the Horned Crown to the Underdark… explaining why the Decaying Angels were so powerful, and why a well-developed defense system was established under Bone Mountain.

That was the residual power of the God of Bones, knowing that the Horned Crown can actually possess someone.

The wearer would gradually transform into an undead creature under the curse lasting two years… even regretting it would be too late, only Milko could remove this crown… but Milko is long dead, leaving only traces on the Horned Crown.

If the Horned Crown could fully control this gnome, it probably wouldn’t have sunk into the Blood Pool… ordinary legends can’t resist the divinity-bearing high-grade artifact, and judging by the black light flickering on that bone, this should be some deity’s demigod Chosen.

Thus, Hill paid close attention, genuinely wanting to know which demigod was doing such a foolish thing… the Horned Crown isn’t a well-hidden artifact without a reputation; Toril’s high-level professionals would recognize it at first sight.

Demigods can’t be confused; they would voluntarily choose to wear it… Hill honestly couldn’t understand which deity would choose a madman as their Chosen.

“It’s the Devious Gnome King…” an ethereal voice came through again, “Are you not very familiar with the Abyss? Eldridge and Lady Fungus’s alliance is indeed real~”

Eldridge is a neutral, genderless entity, born from the inner malice, evil, and destructive unconscious force within gnomes, a symbol of the evil impulses governing some gnomes… Hill always found it hard to comprehend why such deities exist… a race’s collective evil and fear actually becomes their greatest enemy.

The Devious Gnomes are the twisted offspring of gnomes who succumbed to Eldridge’s corruption. In the Underdark, they’re outcast monsters rejected by all creatures, barely surviving through the peculiar alliance between ‘Lady of Fungi’ Zugmoi and Eldridge, relying on the fungi and lichens of the Underdark.

This helped Hill understand why a group of Decaying Angels would know how to utilize those fungal creatures, especially the powerful and special Grey-whiskered Mushroom.

Hill frowned, watching the undead tribe on the screen try burning the corpse… under the purple-red flames, the gnome skeleton showed no reaction.

“Eldridge often likes to use mole people as avatars, but occasionally picks a little gnome… This gnome naturally becomes the king,” Celene said lazily, “Its avatar’s only abilities are a sturdy skeleton and claws; the mortal realm’s fire cannot burn it.”

Hill finally couldn’t resist glancing at the Moonlight Fountain… Although Celene hid her presence according to AO’s will, it seems she only planned to stay off the radar!

Speaking so frequently, the waves of divine power are impossible to hide; any strong divine presence can be recognized at a glance… Hill’s Puzzle Lock and various Isolation Arrays can still prevent intermediate divine powers from peeping.

But Hill also isn’t afraid of intermediate divine powers… Even if they see Hill cursing them, what could they do?

Noticing the moonlight flickering increasingly brightly, almost forming a silhouette of a maiden… Hill slowly turned his head.

So, as long as she’s not caught in the act, it’s no problem even if everyone guesses Celene is here?

The divine power fluctuates so obviously that even the little fairies notice, but they’ve dared not speak for a long time… They still aren’t sure which deity is here.

Celene has been using the powers related to the divinity she lost back then, and the little fairies feel a bit unfamiliar.

Hill thought he misunderstood this Maiden of the Moon’s intentions yesterday… As long as she doesn’t speak, choosing to hint to her family about her presence, she certainly won’t have any complaints.

Finding themselves unable to deal with the undead gnome skeleton at the bottom of the pit, the Undead Tribe gathered to discuss for a while before a mage emerged to float that thing out of the pit and toss it into a small spatial bag.

‘Snow Cloud Peak’ gathered a few mages, solemnly took out a large wooden cup and two six-sided dice: “Alright, the person with the smallest score takes that bag and goes to find a corner to bury it!”

Then he took the lead in tossing the dice… which led to a burst of laughter: “Two points!”

“Ah hahaha!”

“Old Dog actually wants to gamble on luck! Truly the biggest joke I’ve heard in my life!”

‘Snow Cloud Peak’s face slowly turned ashen: “What’s going on? My dice…” He forcefully swallowed the rest of his words.

“Ah… Old Dog!” Cloud Smoke said, crying and laughing, “Didn’t you see William’s settings? The fake dice allowing you to roll whatever you want can only be used by yourself.

Once you compare with others, all cheating methods can’t be used!

The planner wouldn’t give cheaters a chance… Why did you suddenly act foolishly?”

“Lost too much and got desperate!” A mage participating in the gamble responded cheerfully, grabbing the dice tightly in Snow Old Dog’s hand and tossing them into the wooden cup, “Tsk, bad luck, only 8 points.”

Other mages also put down their hands, ‘Snow Cloud Peak’ watched with a tense face… hoping for another two points.

But unfortunately, the person with the worst luck also had four points.

He could only sorrowfully take the bag himself and flew straight into the sky.

No mention of Snow’s commander and his final tragic end… The Undead Tribe quickly leveled and transformed the mountain, turning it into their second base.

Probably considering the dangers of the Underdark, the Undead Tribe began carving Magic Arrays from the mountain’s base.

The Revival Point on the mountain top was placed in an Alchemy Castle… Outside the castle, the Undead Tribe built tall walls around the mountain.

Most importantly, on the castle’s spire, an oil painting was firmly placed in the secret chamber at the top of the tower.

A phrase floated behind Hill: “The Sun God and Goddess of the Silvermoon from your world really have a good temperament.

Much kinder than I am…”

Celene’s unfinished tone was full of envy… It seemed she thought she had been so good to everyone, yet always ended up being deceived and used… The Hill World’s sun and moon deities even donated an oil painting of their image without any issues.

So this Maiden of the Moon was feeling a little unbalanced.

Hill couldn’t help scratching his head… Due to the influence of the God of Time and Space, Teraxil’s deities don’t have any divine airs… even the fussy God of Nobility no longer cares how people discuss him.

But this doesn’t apply to Celene’s conduct; having no airs doesn’t mean lacking intelligence.