The group was quite serious when they started purchasing so items for their mission. They had to be this ready since they weren’t sure if this mission would truly lead them to Chaos Arts Practitioners or other problems, like traps made by other Dark Arts Practitioners or other crazy Arcanists.
Soon, they bought Phantom Spider Cloaks for everyone. They were mid-grade Noble Artifacts worth 5,100 Zen each. With this cloak, movents within the forest would be easier as it repels various detection spells, evil spirits, and could also help them with their camouflage.
They also found Nullstone Amulets being sold in this city. They were products of the Shadow Consortium and could suppress chaotic interference, allowing spells to function even with Chaotic Force.
These amulets had limited use, about three to five tis, but nonetheless, they could be a crucial item to fight against the Chaos Arts Practitioners...
"These Researchers are really incredible. I heard that the Shadow Consortium had only created these Amulets from what they had studied in the Abyssal Rift of Zenthra."
Jessie, the elentalist, comnted.
The Rift she was talking about was, of course, the Forbidden Land that Vale had previously visited and sealed as much as he could.
Its outskirts had still gathered a lot of Arcane Researchers, and after a few years, they were able to have so decent results.
At this ti, with the help of the Nullstone Amulets, any disturbance made by minor Chaos Energy that disrupts Spells could fix the surroundings even for a mont in order for their spells to pass through.
"We’re having a peaceful life these days... Those Arcane Researchers must’ve had plenty of ti studying that Forbidden Land." Cyril comnted.
In any case, they were already satisfied with these two items. Well, the Amulets were actually high-grade Noble Artifacts, and they were worth almost twice as mid-grade Noble Artifacts.
They were actually worth 9,450 Zen each!
As they were about to leave the town, however, they noticed an Alchemy Shop... They already had enough neutral potions to assist with their healing, arcane energy recovery, and thers.
However, there was a poster outside the shop about their promotional potion to increase combat abilities for a short duration.
Jessie hesitated and stopped at the shop selling combat stimulants. "Should we—?"
"No," Thane cut in. "It had negative side effects after usage... Chaos Arts Practitioners might be able to use that against you. Just get so antidote and paralysis wards." He added before tossing a pouch of zen to Jessie, who imdiately entered the shop.
No one asked him why he needed those items, but since anything could happen in a fight against other Arcanists, it would be better to always be prepared.
***
After everything was prepared, at dawn the next day, they set out to accomplish their mission.
It only took them a couple of hours to reach their destination, the Obsidian Forest.
It wasn’t really a forest filled with black trees, but instead, it was called that due to the sand, stones, and the mystical black grass in the forest.
As they entered the forest, Jessie could not help but hold her Nullstone Amulet... She wanted to be ready, equipping it as she was already sensing so kind of disturbance in the surrounding Arcane Energy.
"It’s like the forest hates us." Jessie comnted as she started feeling pressured.
Thane’s gaze remained fixed ahead and he nodded. "It does."
As they continued to head deeper into the forest, the air itself started to feel wrong.
"This place is cursed," Cyril muttered while his hand rested on his sword.
"Not cursed," Thane corrected with a calm voice... "Corrupted."
Her senses stretched outward, and soon, it reached a few mystical creatures that lurked in the shadows. It could be a summoned creature, or perhaps it was a creature that had mutated either due to a natural phenonon, or it was deliberately done by an Arcanist.
Thane decided to ignore this creature as it didn’t seem aggressive.
After an hour more, Jessie summoned a flickering fla in her palm.
"I don’t like this. My fire gets weaker as we go deeper. The energy stability in this place is getting worse... I think there’s really a base of Chaos Arts Practitioners here."
Zarall flexed his fingers, and a bolt of lightning arced between them.
"You’re right... The energy is unstable..." He said.
To be honest, it was still an impressive spell, and it seed perfect for them. However, Zarall actually found an issue with it.
Cynthia then adjusted her gauntlets as she knew that a fight was coming...
"Then let’s move fast..." She suggested. However, before the others could agree, they noticed soone’s presence...
Thane then turned to a subtle figure observing them. "Sothing’s watching us."
As soon as he gave the warning, the enemies made their moves... There were actually two of them!
The mont the two figures appeared, the surroundings started pressuring Thane’s group, and the Arcane Energy started causing havoc!
One wielded a dagger, and its edge was distorting the light around it. It was definitely an Artifact at Royal Grade!
The other figure, on the other hand, seed to have controlled the ground under Jessie’s feet...
It suddenly moved and attacked her!
Jessie barely had ti to scream before the earth transford and coiled around her legs.
This move was definitely impressive as it also stopped Jessie from casting her Fire Spells.
After all, Jessie had already triggered her Nullstone Amulet... It should stop the Chaotic Energy from disrupting her. However, the Chaos Arts Practitioner switched to Earth Spell!
Being surprised by the attack, the flas she ford died, as if snuffed out by an unseen force.
Cyril then moved swiftly to help her... His sword moved, cutting off the transford earth... It tried to regrow itself, but Jessie had the ti to forcefully escape!
"They’re disrupting our Arts! We need to work together!" Cynthia complained as she also tried to cast a Spell just now. However, it seed that she really had to rely on her Sword and physical strength to win against these Practitioners.
Even the Nullstone Amulet could not assist them in the battle!
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