Chapter 84 - 83: Soaring Blaze
[Interface Module: Creates a one-time, permanent link between an object and an Energy Crystal, establishing an energy pathway.]
[The user can expend their own energy to drive the object to use the crystal’s inherent channel ability. (Can be active simultaneously with the user’s own equipped crystal abilities.)]
[When the link is first established, it will consume a portion of the materials to scan and store a structural blueprint (adjustable). If the linked item is damaged or lost, it can be repaired or remade from this blueprint by consuming specified materials.]
’Besides the usual supplies and potions, there’s actually something new I’ve never seen before!’
’A new treasure!’
’And it’s related to materials!’
He didn’t have time to carefully read the description of the newly dropped [Interface Module]. With a mere thought, the item appeared in his hand.
They were two round emblems with strange patterns on their surfaces—one black, one light blue. Each was about five centimeters in diameter. They felt heavy in his hand, even heavier than steel, and he had no idea what they were made of.
Once in his hand, a more detailed description appeared before him...
[Interface Module (Small): Links object (≤10kg) with crystal]
[Interface Module (Medium): Links object (≤100kg) with crystal]
...
’If I’m understanding this correctly, this is...’
’Enchanting...’
’Linking an object with a crystal... The description doesn’t specify what kind of object, only that the small and medium sizes restrict the object’s weight. That probably means any type of item will work.’
’Gloves, shirts, pants, underwear, socks...’
But Lin Fan didn’t dare to experiment with it yet. First, its specific function was unclear. Second, the battle before him wasn’t over. Starting to sort out his gains now could easily lead to disaster...
The fire in the residential building to the north burned ever more fiercely. From time to time, zombies from the upper floors were driven out by the flames, plunging to the ground like tattered sacks, crippled on impact.
Not far away, the Banshee Zombie was struggling to get up. Although it had been sent flying by a punch from the Giant-Armed Zombie, losing nearly a hundred Life Value, it was a blessing in disguise, as the blow had dislodged it from the spear.
Although Lin Fan’s javelin had left a fist-sized, penetrating wound in its lower abdomen, that clearly wasn’t a vital spot. The wound was currently writhing slowly, the flesh knitting itself back together.
But with the Giant-Armed Zombie now dead, a single Banshee Zombie clearly posed no threat to Lin Fan.
So he raised his spear, settled into his stance, and advanced on the pale figure.
Although the Mutated Zombie seemed to possess some intelligence, it was likely just instinctual cunning and predatory drive.
The one before him, at least, didn’t seem to understand fear.
Seeing its prey willingly approach, the Banshee Zombie actually settled into a fighting stance.
The large mouth on its head, which had just been deformed by the Giant-Armed Zombie’s punch, suddenly snapped open, revealing concentric rings of teeth as it let out a silent shriek!
Its long arm coiled defensively before it, ready to strike at any moment.
Many of the abdominal legs under its body were broken and deformed, but it still dragged its torso left and right, searching for an angle of attack.
Seeing this, Lin Fan wasted no more time and switched to the Activation Crystal.
The Wild Potion was still in effect, and stacking an Activation Crystal on top of it produced an effect no less potent than a medium-grade potion!
His speed surged dramatically. Without dodging or evading, he charged straight at the Banshee Zombie!
As expected, the long arm shot out to stab him just like before. But the Lin Fan of this moment was a far cry from the Lin Fan of the past. With a forward thrust, his spear plunged straight into the tip of that long arm!
[-39]!
He flicked the spear up, then stabbed down again!
[-56]!
[-48]!
The long arm was like a loach skewered on a bamboo stick, writhing frantically but to no avail!
The Banshee Zombie was no brute; it was completely overpowered by Lin Fan. He rammed the entire spear, with the long arm still impaled upon it, straight into the zombie’s maw!
’First, seal off its scream!’
[-72]
He pressed down again, pinning it firmly to the ground so it couldn’t move an inch!
The segmented limbs on the pinned Banshee Zombie’s lower body continued to writhe!
With a thought, a 40-centimeter-long, narrow Blade appeared in his left hand.
Gripping the hilt firmly, he stabbed it straight into the zombie’s lower abdomen!
He ripped downwards with all his might!
[-399]!
[0/1000]!
The edge of the blade scraped against some kind of brittle shell. Under the spear, the Banshee Zombie instantly stopped struggling. Its Life Value dropped to zero, and it was 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: Screaming Potion (Medium) *2]
...
’Looks like this thousand-HP Banshee Zombie isn’t as generous as that two-thousand-HP Giant-Armed Zombie. Besides supplies, it only dropped potions...’
With his sharp eyes, Lin Fan immediately spotted the crystal within the gash left by his Blade.
Just like last time, the crystal was nestled within a nearly-spherical bone casing, surrounded by brain matter. That was its vital spot.
He scanned his surroundings, then reached out and plucked the polygonal crystal from the semi-liquid, grayish-white brains. A description appeared before his eyes...
[Stealth Crystal]
[Energy Level: 1]
[Quality: Common (Fusible, Effective Channel Structure 10%)]
[Stealth: Equipping this allows the user to erase their presence, effective against all forms of observation. Consumes the user’s energy while active. (The degree of erasure is based on the crystal’s Energy Level.)]
[Equippable]
...
Oh?
’A complete Stealth Crystal...’
With a thought, Lin Fan took out the one he had before.
Two crystals, identical in name. One was a small, crystal-clear sphere, like quartz. The other was a polygonal crystal, and a hazy energy seemed to flow within it.
’One is damaged and has no level; the other is complete and Level 1. The difference is that thing called "Channel Structure"...’
Lin Fan suddenly remembered something. He flipped his right hand over, and a similar polygonal Crystal Stone and a light-blue emblem appeared in it. They were the Activation Crystal and the Interface Module.
"The user can expend their own energy to drive the object to use the crystal’s inherent channel ability..."
"Effective Channel Structure 20%..."
’In other words, the so-called "channel" is the inherent structure of each crystal. It’s because their structures are different that each type of crystal has a different ability...’
’The input energy passes through the crystal’s channel and is shaped into various abilities...’
Lin Fan mused, staring at the flowing, light-blue mist inside the Activation Crystal...
Hearing footsteps approaching from behind, Lin Fan quickly stored the items in his hand back in his inventory.
"Brother Lin...?"
Liu Bin and the others had seen Lin Fan staring blankly at the disgusting Mutated Zombie’s corpse from a distance. Worried something was wrong, they couldn’t help but call out.
"Oh... I’m fine..."
Lin Fan planted his foot on the Banshee Zombie’s corpse to hold it down, pulled out his spear, and said slowly,
"This building is done for..."
Looking at the thick smoke and fierce flames pouring from the windows of several apartments above, Lin Fan could feel the blast of scorching air even from downstairs.
BOOM!
Following a muffled bang, a fourth-floor balcony suddenly spewed out a tongue of fire, shattering the window and its frame and sending fragments flying outward.
"Ah!"
A spray of red-hot glass shards rained down onto the street, spattering onto Liu Bin and the others who had just approached, drawing startled cries!
"Fuck! The gas line!"
Liu Bin, who had been patting himself down, suddenly stopped and cried out in alarm.
The falling shards of glass sparked a faint blue shimmer across Lin Fan’s body. He just frowned, staring up at the building.
The instant Liu Bin’s voice fell, a pillar of fire shot skyward from the other side of the building!
’It’s the building’s main gas line...’
’It’s been ignited!’