Meanwhile...
"Are you kidding me... This is just... Too OP!" Jax erupted, still processing the carnage. The Wailing Siegebow had shredded through the forest like it was tissue paper, leaving a trail of devastation in its wake. He imagined unleashing it on a fortress – the walls, once thought impenetrable, would definitely crumble like sandcastles before the bolts' unrelenting onslaught.
Jax beamed with satisfaction, but his grin was short-lived. The Wailing Siegebow slipped from his grasp, crashing to the ground with a thud mere inches from his feet. He swayed, drained, as wielding the beast had left him utterly spent.
Almost immediately after that, he collapsed onto the ground and joined the Wailing Siegebow. He braced himself with his arms, his breathing labored and heavy, as he struggled to keep his upper body propped up.
"Damn it, I can't even lift a finger now..." Jax gasped, his gaze drifting to the crossbow lying inert beside him. A growing sense of unease crept in, and he shook his head, still trying to wrap his mind around it all.
That bad boy surely was gluttonous!
Sure, it could deal massive damage, but that power came at a crippling cost. His strength was utterly depleted. The price of wielding such a beast left him speechless.
Wouldn't he get killed easily if he happened to use this crossbow even once?
"Tch, guess this thing's a last resort, and only if I've got backup like King." Jax nodded his head, his decision made. He summoned the Scroll and tucked the Wailing Siegebow away in his Scroll Inventory.
The Wailing Siegebow dissolved into wisps as its fragments were being swallowed by the Scroll.
"Phew," Jax wiped the sweat from his forehead. To his surprise, his strength began to return, the exhaustion of moments before slowly ebbing away as he felt himself being rejuvenated for reasons unknown.
"This is... ???" Jax's mind trailed off as red and blue energy threads, invisible to the naked eye, streamed toward him. The strange energies sank into him, restoring energy, strength, and maybe even health.
Jax was surprised. He couldn't see the red and blue energy, but he felt it coursing through him. He could tell that some external force was pushing its way in. Just what on earth was going on with...
As Jax's thoughts swirled, a snippet from the Wailing Siegebow's description clicked in his mind...
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Once its heavy bolt landed, it will shrink back to its original size and cause a shockwave that reaches up to a hundred meters radius. The bolt will disappear and its shockwave can inflict fear on all living creatures within its range. Anyone affected by fear will have a portion of their energy and life stolen.
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This heavy crossbow could actually do something similar to the lifesteal and manasteal effect from the video games he played!
"He he he..." Suddenly, Jax's lips twisted into a maniacal grin, his barely audible laughter growing louder until he threw his head back and laughed at the sky. As if he'd finally snapped and gone mad.
If he could just regain his energy back shortly after he released the massive bolt of his Wailing Siegebow, then what was there to worry about? He could just use it again and again whenever his energy was restored.
Although it could have a long cooldown, he could do a bombardment endlessly until nothing remained to his target but scattered rubbles.
The notion of being an overpowered character cemented itself in his mind. And Jax couldn't help but laugh maniacally, the sound echoing without end.
''What the hell are you laughing about? Hurry up and stand up. We are leaving.''
Jax was still going mad at it, when he heard a sudden voice nearby. He refrained from laughing and shifted his gaze to the source of that sudden voice.
''Oh, King, my friend. You're back!'' After recognizing the person, he greeted him with a warm and bright smile. But two question marks floated above his head as he asked, ''What's the matter? Why are you in a hurry?''
''So, you really have no idea how much mess you've caused, huh?'' King's eyebrows twitched uncontrollably. He stared at Jax coldly in the eyes as he had an urge to give this brat a good punch in the face.
''Huh? What wrong did I do?'' Jax was taken aback, his smile froze as a question mark appeared above his head. ''I'm just behaving here quietly and testing my new weapon. What's wrong with that?''
''That giant bolt earlier... You've hit a mermaid.'' King was too impatient to beat around the bush as he replied. ''Just to let you know, mermaids are the owners of this land.''
''A mermaid?!'' Jax's eyes lit up. He rose to his feet as he asked, ''Are they strong?''
If it was a mermaid from the myth, then it must be a strong creature, right? If he happened to obtain their souls and put them in his collections, then he could also obtain their skills and abilities.
If they truly were strong, then he could be as strong as them! Jax shuddered in excitement at the mere thought of it.
''Why are you stupidly excited?'' King frowned as he replied, ''Don't even think of using me to kill her. I would rather kill you instead.''
After all, getting tangled with those bitches would cause more trouble than it's worth.
"Huh? For real?" Jax's excitement deflated. If King was this worked up, then things must be that bad. Heaving a resigned sigh, and with regret flickering in his eyes, he muttered, "Damn, didn't think you'd get outclassed by a mere mermaid."
King's visage suddenly turned grim. Hearing such provocations left him unable to feign a smile. Why did this brat have a talent for grating on his nerves? With anyone else, he'd be unfazed. He could brush them off effortlessly and remain calm and nonchalant. After all, he could just erase them if he wanted
Right. That must be because he was patiently keeping this brat alive.
Breath. Breath. Breath.
He must hold it in no matter what.
For freedom's sake!
''Listen up, brat. Killing that little girl is no biggie. But her mommy is too annoying to deal with.'' King responded coldly, looking down at Jax in a disgusted manner. ''I admit it, but we might really get killed if that old hag is the one to make a move.''
Gulp.
Jax couldn't help but swallow a mouthful of saliva and sweat it. For King to say such concerning words, and with that kind of icy tone, then that mermaid, that old hag he was talking about, must be too strong and terrifying just as he implied.
Jax thought that King was already an invincible character. But to think that there was still someone more formidable than him that he was afraid of. Just how strong was that mermaid for him to behave like that?
''Tch, fine! We'll leave right away.'' Jax gave up. Too bad, it appeared like he wouldn't be able to obtain a mermaid's power this time. It was regrettable, but it seemed like they needed to run away now.
With that in mind, Jax was just about to turn around and leave but then, he had his gaze snagged on something.
''Huh?'' Jax blinked twice, narrowed his eyes, and frowned out of confusion. But in the end, he raised his forefinger and pointed it in the direction where he saw that certain something. And then, with a growing sense of curiosity, he asked, ''Someone is approaching us. Is that someone you know?''
King's eyes flared wide, his pulse stalling. No way he knew someone there. It couldn't be that... the mermaid recovered that fast and was now on the furious move?
''Damn it, are we already too late...?'' King gasped. It was a known fact that among all the elementals, mermaids were the ones who possessed the strongest vitality and regeneration capability. They could survive even the most deadliest attack.
Slowly, King turned around to see, to confirm the hunch that he wished was nothing but a mere wild imagination, but the instant he turned around, that mermaid was already there to land a hit.