[Heart of the Faceless Demon]
[Rarity: Cursed Item]
[Curse: Can link to a designated target's heart, but requires a large amount of fresh blood to sustain daily.]
[Description: Every part of a powerful Faceless One harbors a curse—especially their heart. When you hear your own heartbeat, beware. It may no longer be yours...]
Lynn: "!!!"
The old woman cackled eerily. "If there's someone you want dead, think of them, then torment this heart in the cruelerst way you can. You'll find immense pleasure in it... Hehe..."
A chill ran down Lynn's spine. As expected, few things the old woman carried were ordinary. This heart was definitely a deadly weapon judging by its effect—but the cost of using it must be enormous.
Soon, the old woman pulled her cart and gradually vanished into the black mist ahead. Lynn watched her leave, staring at the beating heart in his hand with a strange look. His collection of bizarre items was growing by the day. Still, this trade was definitely worth it—this scavenger passed the shop every morning, making her a reliable friendly NPC he could exchange various items with regularly.
When the weekly supply monster arrived, Lynn paid a large sum of Skull Coins to restock the shop's warehouse. Calculating the days, his master would be back either tonight or around this time tomorrow.
Returning to the counter, Lynn waited quietly for his first customer of the day. Outside the shop, black mist swirled. Suddenly—knock, knock, knock—three raps echoed at the door.
Lynn looked up instantly, putting on a professional smile. "Welcome—"
The Wraith Lamp hanging on the doorpost flickered violently, flaring up and dying down repeatedly. Lynn's pupils contracted sharply—such intense flickering meant the visitor was far from ordinary in rank.
Outside the door, a woman in a scarlet evening gown stood smiling at the threshold. Waves of curly hair cascaded down her back—she was a seductive woman who seemed capable of draining a man dry with just one glance.
"Boss, may your business thrive."
[Bloodclad Wraith]
[Level: ??????]
[Alignment: Chaotic Evil]
[Combat Ability: She will drain you dry bit by bit.]
[Description: A twisted conglomeration wandering the Dark World. Never be tempted by their enchanting figures—otherwise, a nightmare awaits you...]
The woman's status panel appeared before Lynn. She held a covered tray in her hand, and a faint aroma of meat wafted from beneath the lid.
Lynn tensed inwardly but maintained his composure. "Hello. May I help you with any discomfort?"
The Bloodclad Wraith smiled brightly, revealing a row of eerily white teeth between her scarlet lips—a sight that exuded an indescribable weirdness. She brushed a lock of curly hair aside and purred seductively:
"I'm not unwell. I just moved to this street this morning, so I thought I'd visit my neighbors. You... wouldn't mind, would you?" She licked her scarlet lips slowly.
[Lynn's Sanity: -1]
Lynn knew full well that in the Dark World, the more "normal" a monster appeared, the more dangerous it was. And the woman before him emanated a distinctly ominous aura.
"Welcome, of course!" Lynn's smile never faded. He secretly placed the revolver and the demon heart under the counter, within easy reach. "Please come in. Bloodsaw Potion Shop welcomes all friendly neighbors."
Against a monster whose level was completely unreadable, the Wraith Lamp outside was practically useless. If she truly meant harm, there was no stopping her.
The woman smiled broadly, her graceful figure gliding across the threshold. Almost immediately, a system prompt echoed in Lynn's ears.
[Ding! Quest Triggered: Survive.]
[Quest Objective: Keep your Sanity above 0 and prevent the Bloodclad Wraith's malice from reaching 100% for 30 minutes.]
[Quest Reward: 500 Skull Coins, 200 Basic XP, 1 Special Reward.]
Lynn's heart tightened instantly. As expected—this wraith had ill intentions. And triggering a "Survive" quest this terrifying meant the danger was on par with last night's encounter.
He remembered clearly: if he'd done nothing last night, that Abyss Headhunter would have devoured every resident in Ghost Alley. It had been a life-or-death crisis. What about this woman? She didn't seem like an Origin-level monster, but killing him would surely be effortless for her.
"Boss, you don't look like a local," the woman said, settling gracefully on a stool in front of the counter. She rested her chin on her hand, gazing at Lynn with a lingering smile. "Aren't you afraid of being eaten by unfriendly customers?"
One of her fingers traced lightly across Lynn's chest, oozing charm.
[Lynn's Sanity: -10]
But Lynn quickly regained his composure. With a professional smile, he flipped out the boning knife his master had left behind and said calmly: "I am a little afraid, but a doctor's duty is to heal the sick and save the dying. No matter how scared I am, I must treat every customer seriously—that's a doctor's principle."
[Ding! Current Danger Level: 51%]
The woman blinked seductively, her breath fanning Lynn's ear as she laughed: "How interesting. What if... I'm not a customer?"
"What if... I want to eat you?" She whispered softly, as if sharing an intimate secret.
[Ding! Current Danger Level: 61%]
Lynn stayed calm, his smile intact as he said earnestly: "Impossible. You're so beautiful, sister—your heart must be as lovely as your appearance. A graceful lady like you would surely dine with the dignity and elegance of a noble, even when feeding."
[Ding! Current Danger Level: 56%]
"You're quite the charmer," the woman smiled coquettishly, her finger brushing her lips. "Do you truly think I'm beautiful?"
"Absolutely!"
"Then tell me—do you still think I'm beautiful now?"
In that instant, before Lynn's eyes, the woman's face split open from the middle. She still wore a smile, but a row of sharp, reversed fangs emerged from the bloody crevice. Slimy, stinking tentacles squeezed out from the gap, and a thick stench of rot and blood filled the air.
[Lynn's Sanity: -30!]
"Do you still think... I'm beautiful?" A gurgling, viscous laugh echoed from the fissure in her grotesque face.
[Ding! Current Danger Level: 81%]
[Ding! Current Danger Level: 85%]
[Ding! Current Danger Level: 90%]
Slowly, as the danger level soared, the wraith with the split face leaned closer to Lynn, her slimy, hoarse voice growing nearer and nearer.
"Am... I truly beautiful?"
The terrifying visage was now less than five centimeters from Lynn's face. Slimy tentacles and sharp barbs surrounded him completely. At this critical juncture—
Mwah~~ Lynn kissed her.
...
...