Chapter 27 -27-Secret Realm Invitation

Chapter 27: Chapter27-Secret Realm Invitation

The first item was a black invitation, adorned with exquisite golden patterns.

At the center of the invitation was a design of a Red Moon.

[Item]: Red Moon Secret Realm Invitation

[Quality]: Special

[Description]: Using this invitation, you can enter the Red Moon Secret Realm for a trial. The Red Moon Secret Realm is a Level 15-25 Hell-Level Dungeon that has yet to be cleared.

This is an invitation to a secret realm, which all dungeons have a chance to drop.

Upon using a secret realm invitation, an awakener can enter the secret realm for a trial.

Once a secret realm is cleared, it manifests in the real world as a regular dungeon.

Most of the dungeons in the Federation have originated this way.

The rewards from clearing a secret realm vary depending on its difficulty level.

Secret realms are generally categorized into five levels: Easy, Adventure, Hard, Hell, and Nightmare.

The Red Moon Secret Realm is classified as a Hell-Level Dungeon.

Its status as uncleared attests to the sheer difficulty of this secret realm.

The second special item was a crescent-shaped ornament, primarily red in color, cool to the touch and piercingly cold, with an indiscernible material - it seemed to be some type of jade, or perhaps some kind of bone.

[Item]: Crimson Key

[Level]: Unique

[Description]: This key unlocks the treasure of the [Crimson Demon].

...

A Unique item, meaning there's only one of its kind, unattainable by others.

If John remembered correctly, this item was originally depicted in the massive mural behind the Ghost Wizard.

This suggests the item wasn't actually dropped by the Ghost Wizard but was unearthed by chance when the Necrochurch collapsed.

John stroked his chin, pondering.

The [Crimson Demon] must be the dark god worshiped by the undead magus and his followers, but the location of the Crimson Demon's treasure remained a mystery.

Holding just the key without the treasure's location felt somewhat futile.

However, since his awakening, John felt his luck had been exceptionally good, so encountering the treasure in the future wasn't entirely out of the question...

With these thoughts, John stored the Crimson Key and decided not to dwell on it further.

Having spent nearly a day and night in the Phantom Ruins, he planned to head back for some rest.

Mainly because he couldn't gain any more experience until breaking through the Iron-Tier's cap, making his stay here somewhat pointless.

The sight of the serpent, far larger than itself, left the decayhound bewildered.

"Boom!!!"

The fire serpent exploded instantly, the rolling flames spreading like tidal waves.

The terrifying fire soared into the sky, reaching heights of over ten meters, and a building already in disrepair was blasted into ruins by John's Pyrokinesis.

"-13157!" Seeing the damage from his casual attack, John himself was taken aback.

"Wow, that's strong! Worthy of me!" he thought, quite pleased with himself.

Seraphina, on the other hand, remained calm, having grown accustomed to such displays.

For the rest of the journey, John refrained from taking action; even a very ordinary skill in his hands could inflict over ten thousand damage, which was somewhat alarming.

After all, it was only the second day since the awakening, and there were many in the dungeon who knew him.

If seen, John could easily make the headlines in the Federation's daily news the next day.

Despite their efforts to keep a low profile, they still attracted quite a bit of attention.

After all, Seraphina's appearance and identity made her the center of attention wherever she went.

Moreover, having reached level 8, her damage output might not compare to John's, but among ordinary awakeners, she was an insurmountable peak.

Meanwhile, some people also noticed John, expressing great surprise.

One awakener remarked in astonishment, "Hey, isn't that John over there?"

Another person took a closer look and confirmed, "Indeed, that's John. I'm from StellarSea Academy; I've seen him before."

Yet another individual, somewhat enviously, commented, "How did he end up with Seraphina? She's the daughter of Stellarburg's city lord. Has he managed to latch onto Seraphina's coattails now?"

The first speaker shook his head, "It's probably just a coincidence they're traveling together. Maybe it could have been possible before, but now? Everyone in Stellarburg knows John's awakening was a failure. He's just an ordinary awakener now, not even fit to be Seraphina's subordinate."

...

Having reached level 10, John's physical abilities had enhanced, and with his mind power far surpassing that of ordinary people, he caught every word of the discussions around him without missing a beat.

John hadn't bothered with a cloak or mask, especially considering he was likely to encounter Lucas Carter's people upon exiting the dungeon.

Concealing his face would only be an admission of guilt.

Seraphina, too, heard these comments, her emotions a complex mix.

It must be frustrating to possess great strength but be unable to show it, only to be ridiculed instead.

Initially, Seraphina thought to comfort John, to tell him not to worry.

However, when she turned to him, she found that he didn't seem to care at all; he was even casually scrutinizing her figure without any restraint.

A flash of annoyance passed through Seraphina's eyes.

In her heart, she thought someone like John, an utter scoundrel, truly deserved to be scorned by thousands!