The King's Shapeshifting skill was a unique ability available to beast kings, allowing them to transform into human form while in cities or certain special areas.
"This is great. Now Kitsune doesn't need to waste energy using his transformation skill. Too bad it only works in cities. I wonder if anyone would be able to tell who's a player and who's a beast. But then again, how many people even have beast kings as pets?"
Chang Long rubbed her hands together in excitent as her gaze sparkled, fixed on Kitsune and Hulu—her primary candidates for testing out the skill.
"Uh... wh... What is it, Master?"
Hulu asked nervously.
"Why don't you two try out the King's Shapeshifting skill for ? If you do, I'll treat you to a dinner at a luxury restaurant"
Chang Long offered enticingly. At the ntion of a luxurious al, Devi-chan's eyes imdiately lit up. It was not the transformation that excited him—he had seen both of them in human form countless tis—it was the promise of a fancy al that had caught his attention.
The two beasts complied obediently, using the skill while inwardly hoping it would look the sa as when Kitsune had used his transformation skill before. The agreed to use this skill because they did not want to be ogled for their strikingly divine appearances.
As the light of the skill faded, Chang Long was taken aback by what she saw. Their faces were familiar from previous transformations, and their physiques had not changed much either. However, there were so noticeable differences...
"E... Ears! And tails!"
Chang Long blurted out. Would this not stand out even more than their divine beast forms?
"You've even got horns, Hulu..."
Devi-chan laughed uproariously.
"What? Ears! Tails! Horns too?!"
Hulu repeated incredulously, patting his head as Kitsune walked over to look at himself at a nearby mirror displayed outside a furniture store.
A tall, slender young man with fair-yellow skin and golden-orange hair, dressed only in strawberry-patterned boxer shorts, stared back at him from the mirror. Behind him swayed three fluffy orange tails, and atop his head, his recognizable fox ears twitched lightly. When he bared his teeth, his fox-like fangs were still visible.
"What is this!"
Hulu yelled, marching over to the mirror to inspect his own appearance. Seeing himself, he thought that this was even weirder than staying in his kirin form.
"I think you two should put on so clothes. Players are starting to return to the city,"
Chang Long herself seed sowhat displeased. She knew that accessories and fashionable clothes players often bought and wore had so similarities to her pets' looks, so their appearances could sowhat blend in. Probably only players with beast king pet might recognize her pet, and Chang Long guessed there would not be many of such players.
As they began to leave, a voice filled with anger echoed behind them.
"Aiya! My mirror! Who sared blood all over it like this?" The furniture store owner stepped outside to inspect what had happened in front of his store after hiding inside to avoid the spirit army for a while. His gaze fell on a luxurious mirror, his most expensive item. Enraged, he turned to Chang Long, who stood before the mirror with a puzzled expression, her palm still marked with a fresh wound.
"It's you! Do you know how expensive this mirror is? You've stained it like this—you need to compensate !"
The shopkeeper's furious outburst did not account for the presence of Chang Long's companions. Seeing their master reprimanded, her followers shot nacing glares at the shopkeeper, causing him to quickly shut his mouth and glance nervously at them.
"How much is the mirror, shopkeeper?"
Chang Long asked calmly, shrugging.
.....It had been a long ti since Chang Long last returned to her small ho. Anya, the fairy, quickly flew off to check on the night roses with Brownie scurrying after her. Hulu, in human form, carried the mirror and set it under the large tree in front of the house. anwhile, the spirits and Kitsune lounged lazily on the grassy field while Chang Long followed Anya to the flowerbed.
Kiki, her AI maid, was diligently watering and tending to the plants, removing pests with care. Anya hovered, inspecting each rose bush. The night roses had begun to bud, bringing Chang Long joy at successfully growing one of the ga's rarest plants.
"Kiki."
Chang Long greeted the AI maid softly. Kiki turned quickly in surprise, nearly dropping the watering can.
"Master!"
Kiki exclaid excitedly and hurried over to Chang Long, brimming with joy.
"You've done an amazing job taking care of the night roses. None of them withered, and they've grown beautifully—almost ready to bloom."
Chang Long praised her with a smile. Kiki bead at the complint and led Chang Long on a tour of the flowerbed, explaining her thods for tending to the roses.
Anya, too, was pleased with Kiki's efforts, her delight evident in her expression. Leaving her companions to relax around the house, Chang Long opened her status window to review her character's details.
Character Status
Na: Chang Long
Base Level: 1
EXP: 0
Profession: Lord of Spirits (Lord of Lord of Death, awaiting unseal)
Title: Reaper King
Passive Skills:
Swift Movent – Level 1
Climbing – Level 1
Evasion – Level 1
Swordsmanship – Level 1
Endurance – Level 1
Celestial Hearing – Level 10
Mind's Eye – Level 1
Special Skills:
Telepathic Communication – Level 10
Advanced Telepathic Communication – Level 1
Animal Language – Level 5
Ingredients Selection – Level 1
Cooking – Level 1
Digging – Level 1
Planting – Level 1
Basic First Aid – Level 3
Secret Skills:
Mystic Gust – Level 10
Avian Alliance – Level -
Dinsional Shift – Level 3
Vampire's Eyes – Level -
Profession Skills:
Shaman: Spirit Net
Shaman: Spirit Summoning
Shaman: Spirit Possession
Beast User: Puppet Manipulation
Beast User: Soul Transfer
Lord of Spirits: Soul Booster
Lord of Spirits: Spirit Realm
Lord of Spirits: Spirit Drain
Lord of Death: Infernal Reaper Judgnt (sealed)
Lord of Death: Soul Resurrection (sealed)
Lord of Death: Infernal Demon (sealed)
Lord of Death: Reaper Soul Harvest (sealed)
Lord of Death: Reaper's Baptism (sealed)
Miscellaneous Skills:
Avian Alliance
Calamity Lightning (from Advanced Eye of Darkness)
Mausoleum (from Advanced Eye of Darkness)
"Level 1... Ugh! At least the other pirate king heirs haven't shown up yet. I still have ti to grind my level back up."
Chang Long muttered to herself, but just as the words left her lips, the system broadcast a global announcent, which was normally used for special events across the entire ga.
"The sixth Pirate King's Hidden Tomb has been discovered."
"Hehehe… great, just great!"
Chang Long let out a sarcastic laugh, exasperated to her core.
.....
The streets of Longshan City were nearly deserted. A young man reentered the city, confused. He had just returned and had not checked the public communication channel to see what had happened earlier. Although he occasionally passed other players heading toward the city's potion shop, their faces were filled with fear. The man began to feel uneasy, suspecting a high-level beast might have infiltrated the city. To ensure his safety, he summoned his pet.
"Unseal Big."
At his command, his ring emitted a white light, releasing a majestic White Cloud Lion Beast King. The massive lion, with fur as fluffy and pristine as clouds and piercing blue eyes, scanned its surroundings warily before nudging his master's arm with his large head. The man patted the lion's head affectionately, and the pair continued toward the potion shop.
"We finally et…"
A cold voice, brimming with malice, interrupted them. Without warning, a mysterious man dressed as a high-ranking ninja appeared before the young man like a ghost.
"I don't know you,"
Thankhun replied icily, while Big stood in a poised, defensive stance, growling. Thankhun quickly stepped forward to restrain the lion.
"I'm sure you don't. But if I told you that you're holding sothing that rightfully belongs to , could you guess what I an?"
The mysterious man asked calmly, his gaze fixed unblinkingly on Thankhun, unfazed by the lion's threatening growls.
"I'm confident that everything I possess belongs to . None of it could possibly be yours,"
Thankhun retorted, his voice steely. Though he could not discern the stranger's intentions, the murderous aura emanating from him was palpable to both him and Big.
The stranger's eyes darkened with a grim determination. Slowly, he pulled an object from his coat—a rolled parchnt tied with golden silk. Thankhun regarded the item with confusion, unsure of the man's intentions. If he was here to reclaim sothing, why show a worn parchnt?
"I couldn't open it, and neither should you unless you've taken what belongs to and ford a pact with it!"
The mysterious man spoke in a calm voice as he tossed the scroll to Thankhun, who caught it with precision.
"What is this?"
Thankhun examined the scroll with a puzzled expression. He had never seen it before and could not fathom why the stranger would hand it to him.
"Open it."
The stranger commanded.
"Why should I? If it's yours, open it yourself."
Thankhun replied warily, uncertain of the man's intentions.
"You need to do as I say to prove you haven't taken what's rightfully mine."
Though still unsure, Thankhun reluctantly followed the instruction, hoping to prove that he had not taken the thing that belonged to this man.
Whoosh!
The golden silk cord unraveled effortlessly at the slightest tug, and the scroll unfurled. Thankhun peered at its contents, discovering a map leading to an unknown destination.
ROARRR!
Big let out a thunderous roar, startling Thankhun. Lowering the map, he saw the stranger charging toward him at blinding speed. The White Cloud Lion leapt over his master, claws extended, aiming for the approaching attacker. The stranger narrowly evaded, his sleeve slashed by Big's razor-sharp claws. Undeterred, he continued his rapid charge toward Thankhun, a gleaming blade aid directly at his throat. Thankhun had only seconds to evade, but the vast gap in their levels made it impossible to dodge completely.
The mysterious man twisted mid-air, barely escaping Big's swipe, though not unscathed. The lion's claws raked across his ankle, leaving a deep gash. Despite the injury, the stranger gritted his teeth and turned to face Big once more. To his surprise, the lion ignored him and rushed back to its wounded master, who lay bleeding on the ground.
"Tch! That bastard's already made a contract with the armor. Even if I die, I'll take you down with !"
The man snarled, pulling out two blood crystals and biting into them. Poised to attack Thankhun once more, the man was determined to eliminate the one he believed had stolen his title as an heir to the Pirate King.
Blood poured relentlessly from Thankhun's wound despite his attempts to stem the flow with both hands. His health bar plumted rapidly. Thankhun almost could not move, he knew he was on the verge of entering a critical state, but his mind raced with unanswered questions. Who was this man? What did he want? Most importantly, what had Thankhun supposedly taken from him?
As Thankhun's consciousness began to fade, the agonized roar of his pet reached his ears. He lacked the strength to even lift his head and see what had happened. The sunlight further blurred his vision, but then a shadow lood over him, blocking the light. The figure raised a gleaming silver blade high into the air and thrust it downward with all its might.
BOOMMM!
The blade missed Thankhun by re inches as the assailant was flung backward by Big's skill. The massive lion staggered toward its master, who was on the brink of entering a coma. He nudged Thankhun with his head, trying to prompt him to get up, but all he could manage was a weak blink of his tired eyes.
"Do you even know who I am?"
The stranger's icy voice rang out as he rose to his feet, his body battered. His piercing gaze bore into Thankhun and his pet. Big growled, but refrained from attacking again, fully aware of just how dangerous this man was.
"I am Q, the leader of the Bat Guild. I was the first to earn the title of Ninja Master in this ga. I was the one who discovered the Pirate King's treasure map. I toiled endlessly to find the keys to unlock the tomb. And who are you! WHO ARE YOU to dare steal what should rightfully be mine? The Rahu Shadow Armor, the title of Pirate King's heir, the treasures within the tomb—I'll never forgive you, no matter who you are. You will die to atone for what you've taken from , and this won't be the last ti I co after you. I'll make sure you can't even play this ga anymore!"
Q's voice was filled with venomous fury as he prepared to unleash a skill he was confident would annihilate both Thankhun and his pet in a single blow.
-----
Read 'Adventure World Online (AWO)' before anyone else with more chapters at sjinovel/en
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