Artifacts were one of the pillars of every Phantom's power. Sure, unlike Initial Gene and Nexus, the artifact usually appeared much later.
Most Phantoms were Artificial Ones, which meant they had to spend a lot of time and resources to find the right artifact.
It was all about Evolution Tree and Initial Gene, they had to accept the Artifact so the Phantom could use it and develop it.
That was one of the advantages Naturalborn Phantoms had over Artificial Ones because almost all Artifacts matched them.
Artifacts had different Rarity Levels, anyone who knew Dead Lands well enough was aware of that.
Strangely enough, finding a Second Rarity Level Artifact was much easier than developing a First Rarity Artifact, because a lot of conditions had to be met.
However, with some circumstances and luck, an evolved artifact could be a better solution.
Not all Second Rarity Artifacts were equally powerful, some were that way due to their birth in horrible anomalies and others due to Phantoms like Adam who did everything to develop their Artifact.
The conditions were three:
[Required:
1 - 10 Purple Threat Level genes
2 - 10 of any Zero Rarity Artifacts
3 - 1 Essence of a suitable element!]
Adam had already fulfilled two of the three conditions long ago, the genes were inside his Vault, and the Artifacts were in his personal storage in the Citadel. The only thing he had been missing for a long time was the Essence, and he was finally able to get it.
However... there was one problem here... Adam's Artifacts were tens of kilometers away from his current location. Obviously, he couldn't return to the Citadel right now.
"Shit... Did I really fail?" Douglas muttered, staring at the screen in the corner, which showed a black fighter jet. There was no Phantom inside, for that fighter had flown on Douglas's order for the sole purpose - to deliver Adam the Artifacts from his storage.
Douglas knew why Adam had originally gone to Salt Village, so when he realized that Adam was going to fight Thunder Demon, he immediately gave the order.
A second later, ten Zero Rarity Artifacts appeared in Adam's inner space, hovering around Essence.
'Good... Now I'm ready...' Adam internally muttered with a slight smile on his face. He waited for this moment for a long time, perhaps too long, but now he could finally make his wish a reality.
At Adam's will, 10 Purple Threat Level genes flew out of the snow-white book, his Vault, heading towards Essence.
Then, Essence, the genes, and artifacts actively shook, transforming into a bright substance that covered Adam's Artifact from all sides, causing it to change.
The False Orb, Adam's Artifact, looked like an unusual sphere, with long spikes protruding out and flat ends with electrical discharges running between them.
Tremble. Tremble. Tremble.
The Evolution Tree began to tremble as well, lightning bolts passing between its branches as if in anticipation of the great power of lightning.
[Artifact Evolution has succeeded!]
Then, Adam saw his new Artifact, which looked like a long, curved horn, somewhat reminiscent of those of Thunder Demon.
[False Orb, First Rarity Level Artifact turned into Second Rarity Artifact - Horn of Calamity].
[All Traits of your previous Artifact have been lost, with a few exceptions.]
[Trait of your new Artifact is ready for use!]
[Danger!]
[There is too much energy inside the Horn of Calamity! You need to use the First Trait immediately!]
"Sure... There's no need to be in such a hurry. I'm more than willing to do it." Adam bitterly smiled as he closed his eyes, returning to the real world.
Adam looked at Tirana, running towards him with the clear intention of killing him.
Then, Adam's eyes shone brightly, electric shocks went through his entire body, and his feet rose slightly off the ground, while an unusual feeling consumed Adam's mind...