Chương 83: Tower of Flames

[Interface Module: Permanently links a physical object to an Energy Crystal, constructing an energy conduit.] [The user can consume their own energy to drive the object to utilize the Crystal's inherent conduit ability. (Can be used simultaneously with self-equipped Crystal abilities.)] [Upon establishing the initial link, a portion of materials will be consumed to scan and store a structural blueprint (customizable). If the linked object is damaged or lost, the blueprint can be repaired or reconstructed by consuming the specified materials.] Aside from the usual supplies and potions, there was actually something entirely new that Vince had never seen before! New loot! And it's related to crafting! There was no time to carefully study the description of the newly dropped [Interface Module]. With a mental command, the items materialized in his hands.

They were two circular badges covered in bizarre, intricate patterns—one pitch black, the other a faint, translucent blue. Both were about five centimeters in diameter. Holding them, they felt surprisingly dense, much heavier than steel. He had no idea what material they were made of. Once in his hand, a more detailed prompt appeared before his eyes... [Interface Module (Small): Links an object (≤ 10kg) with a Crystal] [Interface Module (Medium): Links an object (≤ 100kg) with a Crystal]...

If Vince was understanding this correctly, this was... Enchanting. It linked an object to a Crystal. The description didn't specify what kind of object, only limiting the weight based on the module's size. That likely meant it could be applied to absolutely anything. Gloves, shirts, pants, underwear, socks... But Vince didn't dare test the effect just yet. Firstly, the exact mechanics were still unclear. Secondly, the battle in front of him wasn't over.

Trying to sort out his loot right now was a great way to get himself killed... The fire in the residential building to the north was raging increasingly out of control. Occasionally, normal zombies hiding on the upper floors were driven out by the intense heat, plummeting to the concrete like sacks of rotten meat and crippling themselves on impact. Not far away, the Banshee Zombie was struggling to its feet.

Although the Giant-Armed Zombie had launched it with a hammer blow that shaved off nearly a hundred Health Points, it had been a blessing in disguise—the impact had forcefully dislodged it from the short spear pinning it to the ground. Although Vince's javelin throw had left a fist-sized through-and-through hole in its lower abdomen, it clearly wasn't a vital organ. The wound was currently undulating slowly, the fleshy tissue squelching together in an attempt to close.

But with the Giant-Armed Zombie dead, a single wounded Banshee Zombie posed absolutely no threat to Vince. He raised his heavy spear, settled into a combat stance, and walked steadily toward the pale silhouette. Mutated zombies seemed to possess a rudimentary level of intelligence, but it was likely just the primal cunning and instinct of a predator. At the very least, the one in front of Vince clearly had no concept of fear. Seeing its prey approaching, the Banshee Zombie actually dropped into a defensive posture.

Its head, currently deformed from the Giant-Armed Zombie's punch, suddenly unhinged. Its massive maw split open, revealing concentric rings of razor-sharp teeth as it let out a silent, hissing roar! Its single elongated arm coiled defensively in front of its chest, ready to strike like a viper. Several of the fleshy prolegs on its lower body were broken or mangled, but it still managed to drag its grotesque torso side to side, actively searching for an angle of attack.

Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. Seeing this, Vince wasted no more time. He swapped to the [Revitalization Crystal]. Since the [Feral Potion] was still active, stacking it with the [Revitalization Crystal] effectively gave him the buff of a Medium Potion! His speed and agility skyrocketed. He didn't bother dodging or weaving; he charged straight at the Banshee Zombie head-on! Exactly as before, the creature's elongated arm thrust forward like a spear.

But the Vince of today was vastly different from the Vince who first fought it. With a sharp flick of his wrists, he drove the tip of his heavy spear straight into the end of the creature's attacking arm! [-39]! He violently jerked the spear upward, then brutally thrust it down! [-56]! [-48]! The creature's elongated arm was now skewered exactly like a loach on a bamboo skewer. It twisted and writhed frantically, but it was utterly futile; it couldn't break free in the slightest!

The Banshee Zombie was never a strength-based mutant to begin with. Completely overpowered by Vince, it was forced backward as he viciously drove the spear—with the creature's own arm still skewered on it—straight into its gaping maw! Seal its screeching ability first! [-72] He then drove the heavy steel rod downward with his entire body weight, firmly pinning its head to the concrete, rendering it completely immobile!

Watching the fleshy arthropod segments of its lower body thrash wildly on the ground, Vince triggered a mental command. A narrow, 40-centimeter-long, razor-sharp blade materialized in his left hand. Gripping the handle tight, he plunged the blade straight into the zombie's lower abdomen! With a brutal twist, he ripped the blade downward! [-399] [0/1000]! The blade sliced cleanly through a brittle shell hidden within the fleshy mass. Instantly, the Banshee Zombie pinned beneath his spear ceased all struggling.

Its Health Bar plummeted to zero, completely dead! [Acquired: Purified Water (Medium) 1] [Acquired: Vegetable Pack (Medium) 1] [Acquired: Gasoline (Small) 2] [Acquired: Diesel (Small) 2] [Acquired: Stealth Potion (Small) 2] [Acquired: Stealth Potion (Medium) 1] [Acquired: Screech Potion (Medium) * 2]... It seems this 1, 000 HP Banshee Zombie isn't nearly as generous as the 2, 000 HP Giant-Armed Zombie. Aside from basic supplies, it only dropped Potions...

Vince's sharp eyes immediately spotted the Crystal lodged within the massive gash his blade had carved open. Exactly like last time, the Crystal was encased within a roughly spherical, hollow bone shell suspended in grayish-white, semi-liquid brain matter. This was its true vital organ. He glanced around quickly, then reached in, plucking the multifaceted crystal from the grisly brain matter. A string of text appeared before his eyes...

[Stealth Crystal] [Energy Level: Level 1] [Rarity: Common (Mergeable, Effective Conduit Structure 10%)] [Stealth: When equipped, erases the user's presence, effective against all forms of observation. Consumes user energy while active. (Degree of erasure scales with Crystal Energy Level)] [Equippable]... Oh? An intact Stealth Crystal... With a mental command, Vince retrieved the original crystal from his inventory. Holding the two identically named crystals side-by-side, he examined them.

One was a perfectly translucent, flawless little sphere. The new one was a multifaceted geometric crystal with what looked like a hazy, mist-like energy swirling inside it. One was damaged with no level. The other was intact and Level 1. The only other difference was that metric called "Conduit Structure"... A sudden thought struck Vince. He flipped his right hand, and a multifaceted [Revitalization Crystal] along with the faint blue [Interface Module] appeared in his palm.

"The user can consume their own energy to drive the object to utilize the Crystal's inherent conduit ability..."

"Effective Conduit Structure 20%..." Which means, this so-called 'conduit' refers to the inherent internal geometry of each individual crystal. Because the physical structure is different, the resulting ability of the crystal is different...

"The inputted energy flows through the conduit inside the crystal, shaping it into various abilities..." Staring at the faint blue, misty energy swirling inside the Revitalization Crystal, Vince formulated a wild, yet highly plausible hypothesis... Hearing footsteps approaching from behind, Vince quickly dismissed all the items back into his inventory.

"Vince...?" Seeing Vince staring blankly at the disgusting corpse of the mutated zombie from a distance, Ben and his men were worried something was wrong and couldn't help but call out.

"Oh... I'm fine..." Vince placed his foot on the Banshee's corpse, yanked his heavy spear free, and said slowly,"This building is a total loss..." Looking up at the thick smoke and raging flames billowing from several windows on the upper floors, Vince could feel the waves of blistering heat rolling off the structure even from down on the street. BOOM! With a muffled explosion, a massive tongue of fire erupted violently from a fourth-floor balcony, shattering the window frames and blasting them outward.

"Ah!" A shower of glowing, red-hot glass rained down onto the street, splattering onto Ben and his men who had just walked up, prompting several yelps of pain!

"Fuck! The gas lines!" Ben, who had been frantically swatting at his clothes, suddenly froze and shouted in horror. The falling shards of glass triggered a faint blue ripple across Vince's body as they harmlessly bounced off his armor. He merely frowned, staring intently up at the building. The very second Ben's words fell, a massive, roaring pillar of fire shot into the sky from the opposite side of the building! The main municipal gas line for the entire complex... Had just ignited!