Amateru Sakiinaās gift was sealed and couldnāt be used for now.
But even if the weaponās quality had degraded for some reason, the Harvest Sickle was still the highest-grade equipment Lin Xun had ever seen.
The time he spent meeting the deity was brief, yet the amount of information revealed in that short span was staggering.
Both the New Gods and the Old Gods, and all things in the world, had been bound and manipulated by the Malice of a terrifying god.
Judging by the hostile intel heād seen when joining the Oath faction, that āterrifying godā was very likely the Extreme Delusion Fruit.
āAmateru Sakiina is really overestimating me, calling me the only one who can save the world. Not even the New or Old Gods can resist the Extreme Delusion Fruit. Me trying to stand against it is like a worm shaking a tree.ā
A Legendary+ weapon was certainly tempting, but the price was to oppose the deity that controlled all existence.
āIāll just take it one step at a timeā¦ā
Lin Xun shook his head and stowed the weapon away.
He was about to have the shrine maiden Shell leave the worship hall when game text suddenly appeared.
[You are being watched by an unknown presence. Your connection to the Extreme Delusion Fruit has deepened!]
[You are being watched by an unknown presenceā¦]
[Strands of black smoke poured forth from the void, filled with inexhaustible, boundless Maliceā¦]
[The black smoke coiled around you, as though trying to drag you into the voidā¦]
Lin Xunās entire body tensed in alarm!
He had only just met Amateru Sakiina for a brief moment, yet he had already drawn the attention of the enemy boss.
Last time the Extreme Delusion Fruit had noticed him, heād been saved by the Chaotic Origin Dragon. Heād barely escaped with his life, this time, who would come to his aid?
Lin Xunās mind spun wildly. Without hesitation, he switched Shells.
[You have possessed the Knowledge-Seeking Primordial Hermit Shell!]
[Special skill Dragon Godās Blessing activated!]
[From the distant void came a dragonās roar. A small phantom five-clawed golden dragon appeared out of nowhere, coiling protectively around you.]
[The dragonās voice was painfully familiar, it was the roar of your āfather,ā the Chaotic Origin Dragon.]
[But this roar was indescribably feeble. Compared to the universe-shaking bellow youād once heard, this sounded more like the dying rasp of an old man on his deathbed.]
[The little golden dragon bared its claws and fangs, struggling mightily as it slowly drove back the black smoke.]
[Its scales dulled to a lifeless gray, and it looked utterly battered. In the next instant, the phantom vanished without a trace.]
[An unknown power blocked the Extreme Delusion Fruitās gaze. The smoke that had coiled around you gradually dissipatedā¦]
Seeing that he was finally safe, Lin Xun let out a long breath.
āOld Dragon⦠Iām sorry. I really had no other choice.ā
Thankfully, the Chaotic Origin Dragon had granted him the special skill Dragon Godās Blessing, which could resist the entangling Malice. Otherwise, being targeted by the enemy boss, no amount of soul strength would have been enough.
He knew the Chaotic Origin Dragon was barely surviving as it was, but relying on himself alone, there was no way he could fight the Extreme Delusion Fruit. He could only cling to this massive, dying lifeline.
[Most of the black smoke had scattered, but a single thin wisp remained in the world.]
[This strand of black smoke didnāt continue to attack you. Instead, it slipped through the crack in the door and fled outsideā¦]
[You quickly flung open the worship hallās door, only to see the black smoke darting toward the main sanctuary behind the hall.]
[Originally, the main sanctuary was where the true statue had been enshrined. But because Amateru Sakiinaās form could not be shown to the public, they built the third worship hall to hide it there instead.]
[The now-vacant main sanctuary had become the place where the High Priest and Chief Priest managed the shrineās affairs.]
At the moment, Lin Xun was still inhabiting the Little Dragonkin Shell. If he chased the smoke into the sanctuary, heād expose himself for sure.
[You have possessed the Fire-Worshipping Heartless Flow Master Instructor Shell!]
[You strode forward, intending to annihilate the wisp of black smoke, but you saw it slip rapidly into the main sanctuaryā¦]
[A wail of agony echoed out, shaking the entire shrine!]
[You sprinted to the doorway just in time to see two elderly figures in ornate robes writhing and screaming in utter torment.]
[The wisp of black smoke had twined around their bodies, forming a ring-shaped ribbon that tightened and compressedā¦]
[Under that crushing force, the two old menās bodies began to twist and fuse.]
[The monstrous merging was hideously unnatural and excruciating. The High Priest and Chief Priest howled in agony.]
[In an instant, the fusion was complete!]
[Before you now stood a two-headed, four-armed abomination. The black smoke merged into its distended body, and its sickly pale flesh turned pitch black.]
[The creatureās swollen mass grew rapidly, tearing the sanctuary apart in seconds!]
[With an earth-shaking crash, the building collapsed. The enormous, misshapen monster planted its feet among the wreckage, its vast shadow engulfing youā¦]
[You looked up and saw that one of its faces was grinning ecstatically, its mouth split so wide the corners nearly touched its ears. The grotesque smile made your scalp crawl.]
[The other face was twisted in rage, bulging eyes glaring, long canine teeth bared as it let out furious roars.]
[Its four hands each held a massive weapon: a sword, a spear, a bell, and a fan. Four baleful gazes fixed unerringly on your tiny form.]
[You have discovered the Extreme Evil Asura!]
āShit! What the hell is this nightmare boss?!ā
Lin Xun clenched his jaw. He was certain now, the Extreme Delusion Fruit didnāt fight fair at all.
[Such a colossal horror appearing in the shrine sent all the clergy into a panic. Screaming, they fled in every directionā¦]
[The Asuraās smiling face cackled wildly. The furious face howled without end.]
[It lifted its enormous foot and brought it crashing down toward you!]
[The massive sole blotted out the sun, descending like a mountain to crush you!]
[You have possessed the Knowledge-Seeking President of the Direct Vision Association Shell!]
[You opened a single pink eyeā¦]