"I truly miss my youth," said the old man Herbert while opening a spatial rift in the air before him and pulling out two differently colored boxes. One was white with a silver glow, evoking peace and purity, while the other was black with a deep, dark shimmer reminiscent of an abyss.
Xiao Bing looked at the two boxes in old Herbert's hands with anticipation and caution. 'I wonder what's inside these boxes? They don't seem ordinary at all, and their energies are contradictory to each other!'
"What are these things inside the boxes?" asked James as he approached the small desk where old Herbert sat.
"These aren't just things! They are polished artifacts!" retorted the old man angrily, shouting at James.
'Polished artifacts! Why didn't the entity inform me about such things before? It told me they only appear after the death of a power-bearer, but it didn't specify the duration. It said they carry the hatred and resentment against the path of the person who killed their host, and also bear animosity towards the same path as their deceased host, and can cause disasters depending on their level! But it never mentioned polished artifacts!' Xiao Bing recalled the entity's previous words, realizing it hadn't told him about this.
"Alright, alright! Don't get angry, Uncle Herbert—it's bad for your health! But where did you get such polished artifacts?" asked James, trying to ease old Herbert's anger.
Old Herbert felt a pang of sorrow inside due to his illness but concealed it and said, "An old friend gave them to me as a farewell gift after we parted ways in a miniature parallel world, about thirty years ago. But I never used them! I stored them in a separate dimension and never took them out until now." The old man sighed and continued, "He told me back then that these polished artifacts were crafted by the legendary Ighor people, known for their exceptional skill in artifact-making! That's why they were sought after by all kingdoms on the continent. However, they are rare creatures in the miniature worlds, so no one has seen them for thousands of years. But it seems my friend was incredibly lucky to have encountered them, and they crafted many polished artifacts for him."
"The Ighor people!" exclaimed James and Xiao Bing simultaneously.
"Your friend was truly blessed to have had a destined encounter with the legendary Ighor creatures!" praised James while eyeing the boxes in old Herbert's hands.
'The Ighor people! It seems they are creatures capable of crafting polished artifacts! Perhaps the entity didn't tell me because it knew I'd never have a chance to meet these rarely appearing creatures, whom people have searched for thousands of years without finding! But are parallel worlds also real? This adds another layer of mystery to the secrets of this world. Thinking about it, I've discovered so many things in just one day—it feels strange.' Xiao Bing sank into his thoughts.
"But that's not all!" old Herbert spoke, placing the two boxes on the small desk before him and continuing, "These polished artifacts differ from ordinary low and mid-level artifacts in that they can level up, and their abilities are almost limitless. However, there are side effects that will haunt you as long as you use them."
'They can level up? And have limitless abilities? This makes low and mid-level artifacts seem like toys in comparison! But it seems all artifacts, whether polished or ordinary, have side effects. Still, I wonder what level these polished artifacts are at?' Xiao Bing wondered as he stepped forward and stood to the left of James.
Old Herbert glanced at the "devil" standing to James's left and said, "Since I am no longer at my true level due to my injury, and because I've grown old, I cannot bear or activate the abilities of these polished artifacts!" The old man moved his hand, and energy flickered and changed in his fingers above the surfaces of the two boxes before him. He said, "So, I will give them to you two! I could give these polished artifacts to James alone, but I will give one to you because, as my friend told me thirty years ago—and I still remember those words to this day—these two artifacts should not be used by the same person. They must be held by two different individuals; otherwise, the holder won't be safe from the two contradictory energies. But don't misunderstand—this isn't a gift from me. It's a mutual benefit, but with one condition."
'They can't be used by one person? That's a really strange side effect. But why does he ask me not to misunderstand? And he wants to give them to me with a condition and mutual benefit? Let's see what he wants first!' "What is your condition?" asked Xiao Bing, his eyes fixed on the black box.
'Did he agree to my condition? Well, judging by his reaction, it seems he accepted a single condition!' old Herbert thought as he noticed Xiao Bing's gaze toward the black box. He said, "My condition is that you do not harm my daughter and protect her alongside James! After all, I won't live much longer due to this illness spreading in my body!" said old Herbert while looking at Xiao Bing.
'Huh? Is his condition that I protect his daughter in exchange for giving me a polished artifact? It's a mutual benefit, as he said, though I'm not losing anything by accepting this benefit. But being tied to something and protecting it could become a fatal weakness!' Xiao Bing thought and said, "I'm sorry, but I'm inclined to refuse!" he said while averting his gaze from the black box.
Those words left James and old Herbert in shock. James didn't expect Xiao Bing to reject such an offer, and even old Herbert thought he was insane.
"Why? What reason makes you refuse such an opportunity?!" old Herbert spoke while scrutinizing Xiao Bing.
"Nothing specific, really. It's just that I don't want any burdens that could become weaknesses in the future!" replied Xiao Bing coldly, unafraid of old Herbert.
"Is that all?" asked James as he turned toward Xiao Bing.
"Yes, that's it!" replied Xiao Bing quickly.
"Then we'll accept this condition!" said James while looking at the silver box before him.
"What? Who gave you the right to decide for me?" shouted Xiao Bing, confronting James.
"I'm the one who gives the rights here!" replied James with a smile, his crimson eyes devoid of their usual coldness.
"Do as you please! But let me tell you, if I can't protect her or find myself in a life-or-death situation, don't expect to see that girl again." replied Xiao Bing coldly and added, "You understand what I mean, don't you?"
"Yes, I understand!" replied James quickly and looked at old Herbert, saying, "Did you hear him? He agreed!"
"Do you think I'm just a senile old man? How can I trust mere words laced with poison coming from the mouth of that devil?" old Herbert spoke, saying, "We must perform a pact ritual for me to trust him!"
'A pact? Is there such a thing? Damn! I only meant to say that I wouldn't help that girl if we were in a life-or-death situation—I'd save my own life. But it seems I overdid it!' Xiao Bing regretted inwardly and said, "What do you mean by a pact ritual?"
"You don't know what a pact is?" James said in surprise. "No, no, it's normal for a beginner like you. A pact ritual is something many supernatural power-bearers perform to ensure no betrayal among them and that each person fulfills their promise! There are many pact rituals, but the most famous are five: the Mortal Pact Ritual, the Earth Ritual, the Heavenly Ordeal Ritual, the Angelic Pact Ritual, and the Holy Venerable Ritual. Each ritual consists of four levels: low, medium, high, and supreme."
'That's a lot of rituals! And each one has four tiers! Why does it have to be so complicated!' Xiao Bing grumbled inwardly before saying, "So, which of these rituals will we use for the pact?"
...
End of Chapter ~ To be continued