Chapter 87: The Crimson Vault and Its Price
Malik arrived at the City Lord's manor and was immediately escorted upstairs by a silent maid in black silk. The place was unusually quiet, not a single soul in sight. When he stepped into the hall, he blinked once… twice… even activated a mana pulse to scan the surroundings.
Nothing.
There wasn't a trace of anyone. Not even Yvonne—the daughter of the City Lord—was around. Her scent was faint, almost washed out.
"Hmm... Might as well check out the loot I obtained," Malik muttered under his breath, his voice bouncing off the carved wooden walls as he sat cross-legged on the floor.
With a flick of his hand, items began to appear, one after the other—dozens of shimmering, high-grade treasures clattered onto the floor like the spoils of war they were.
"These red players are really stacked…" he muttered with a low chuckle. "Most of these items are gold rank at worst. Bastards were walking around like mobile treasuries."
He reached for one item that caught his eye—a dark red piece of equipment with a dim, eerie glow, as if it pulsed with bloodlust. He activated [Eye of Insight] and scanned it.
[Crimson Bracers] [Fine Gold Rank]
Defense: 200–300
HP: +5,000
Effect: HP +30%
Required Level: 70
Description: A piece of equipment from the Crimson Set. Crafted from infernal crystals, it offers superior defense and was once wielded by a Crimson Executioner.
Current Set: 1/7
"A set equipment…" Malik's eyes gleamed. The kind of gleam that belonged to a hungry man discovering a banquet.
He scanned the pile quickly—and then his eyes landed on another item gleaming in that same signature red.
[Crimson Boots] [Fine Gold Rank]
Attack: 200–300
Effects: Increases attack speed by 20%
Additional Effects: 10% chance of stunning enemies when attacking with legs
Required Level: 70
Description: Another piece of the Crimson Set. Crafted to enhance the wielder's offensive potential and empower leg-based techniques.
Current Set: 2/7
"This… This is way better than my current Feral Boots," Malik muttered. "It'll pair nicely with [Vicious Trampling]."
Grinning, he made to equip the boots—but before they could latch to his legs, the system notification rang out coldly.
[System Reminder: Unable to equip until Level 70]
Black lines formed across Malik's forehead. "Seriously?" His excitement popped like a bubble. "I finally get upgrades, and I can't even use them?"
With a sigh, he checked the next item. His lips twitched as he discovered the same fate awaited him.
[Crimson Greaves] [Fine Gold Rank]
Required Level: 70
"Again…? That's three pieces I can't use…"
He turned to the armor, praying silently. "Hopefully, this one won't follow the trend."
[Crimson Armor]
Created from the scales of an Archaic Beast and tempered with precious materials. This armor grows stronger by absorbing the blood of living creatures—but weakens over time if it remains unstained.
Rank: Fine Gold
Required Level: 70
Set Progress: 4/7
Status: Upgradable
Malik stared at the armor blankly.
"…You've got to be kidding me."
"This set… this cursed, bloodthirsty set…" he groaned. "I don't even have any usable armor right now. What am I supposed to do, walk around shirtless like a barbarian?"
Grumbling to himself, he reached for the last item—a helmet.
[Crimson Helmet] [Fine Gold Rank]
Defense: 300–400
HP: +5,000
Effect: +20% Defense
Required Level: 70
Description: Crafted from invisible obsidian stones, this helmet protects the wearer from ordinary weapons. It's designed to be unseen, worn only by those walking the thin line between life and death.
Set Progress: 5/7
"The full set's seven pieces…" Malik sighed, shaking his head. "I'm still missing two. And I won't even know the set bonus unless I equip them."
Disappointed but not broken, he returned the Crimson Set to his inventory.
His eyes shifted to a peculiar staff lying on the floor, gleaming with a more ancient hue. He picked it up.
[Great Staff] [Dark Gold Rank]
Effect: +20% Casting Speed
Effect: Immobilize a target for 1 minute
Additional Effect: 30% chance of deactivating all of an enemy's skills if they remain immobilized
Cooldown: 10 minutes
Requirement: Mage Class
Description: Forged from the remains of a disciple of the God of Time. This staff turns the tide of one-on-one duels.
Malik's lips curled into a grin. "Now this is a staff worthy of legends… I almost got myself killed trying to grab this thing."
He twirled it briefly, then stored it away. "I'll keep it… might run into a mage worth gifting it to."
Next, his hand brushed against a glowing skill book.
[Battle Roar] [Skill Book: Grade A]
Effect: Increases allies' strength by 20% and reduces enemy movement speed by 20% within 100x100 yards
Additional Effect: Boosts ally defense by 10%
"This would be devastating in the hands of a Berserker… I'm keeping it," Malik said, sliding it into his storage with reverence.
He glanced over the rest:
[Smoke Bomb x3]
Creates a smoke screen used to disengage from combat.
[Elixir of Battle Trance x3]
Increases Attack Speed and Movement Speed by 20% for 30 seconds.
[Greater Potion of Stamina x5]
Restores 50% stamina instantly.
Malik nearly teared up.
"These are… heaven-defying items. Just wow." He carefully slid them into his inventory like a dragon hoarding its treasures.
All that remained were two more items, sitting quietly among the mess of gold and crimson.
[Crimson Shard Crystal x3]
Can be used to forge or refine weapons
Effect: Speeds up refining by 15%
Malik's eyes lit up. "Right… my gloves are still under evolution."
He retrieved the refining artifact given by the mysterious NPC and slid the shards into it.
"Please, evolve already… I'm in desperate need of gear," he whispered to the item like a starving beggar praying to the gods.
That's when his gaze finally landed on the last item—its aura exuded sharpness and silent death.
[Bloodcleaver – Dagger] [Epic Rank]
Damage: 5,000–10,000
Effect: +40% Attack Speed
20% chance of dealing Critical Damage
Passive Skill 1: Crimson Strike
Channel spiritual energy into the dagger and unleash a devastating strike.
Cooldown: 2 minutes
Passive Skill 2: Crimson Drain
Drains blood from enemies and stores it. When fully charged, unleashes a frenzy of deadly attacks.
Cooldown: None (Activates upon full charge)
Requirement: Level 70
Malik's eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets. "An… Epic rank item?"
He nearly dropped it in shock. Never in his life had he thought he'd lay eyes on one—let alone own it.
He stuffed it into his storage as quickly as possible, just as the soft echo of footsteps reached his ears. His body stiffened instinctively, and he turned to see Yvonne approaching, a serene smile on her lips. Beside her walked a thin, frail-looking man whose presence made the air grow heavy.
There was no information hovering over the man's head.
Malik instinctively wanted to activate [Eye of Insight] but paused. If Yvonne could detect it when he scanned her… there was no doubt this man would as well. And something about him screamed danger cloaked in silence.
He stepped forward and bowed slightly. "Man like Malik pays his greetings to the City Lord of Blackroot."
The man's gaze didn't waver. "Let me see it."
Malik immediately handed over the emblem. The man examined it briefly, and his eyes narrowed.
"It's truly the Crimson Vault Emblem…" he said quietly, his voice like the wind before a storm. "So tell me, young warrior—are you planning to take it?"
His tone was sharp. So sharp it sliced through Malik's heart and made it skip a beat.
Malik stiffened.
That one question held weight. Like accepting this Vault meant more than just looting treasures… it meant stepping into something greater. Something darker.
And now, the decision was his.