Parker and the others retreated from the fountain, everyone watching them.
Without being asked, they all summoned their armaments.
Parker summoned a wicked axe that looked like it had been carved from jade.
It was a light green with darker green blotches along its edges, resembling flowing liquid.
It was single-edged, with its blunt side featuring strange holes and sharp protrusions.
Jamie summoned a long steel spear.
It seemed fairly normal—fully metal, with a red body. Its spearhead, however, was blue, and the socket where the spearhead attached was designed like a sea monster with many teeth.
Colin, shockingly, summoned a white lantern. It had six strange gems and a wide brown base adorned with tiny figurines locked in different activities, conversations, walks and duels.
Applause and loud whoops of excitement rippled through the cavern. Those not part of their group watched passively.
Many were envious and weak, their eyes glinting with something almost hungry.
Jesse hummed as the light faded. "I love wishes. They always help me remember nice things."
Matthew was surprised to learn this was universal. "What did you remember? Did the light feel… warm and smell like the sea?"
Jesse shook her head. "For me, it was cold. The air had this taste, like steel. But there was warmth—a bonfire, the smell of wool, kind of wet. I went camping with my friends."
Matthew was intrigued by how the fountain triggered these sensations. Maybe it connected to something beyond normal perception. Could it be a message?
It was a good feeling, so maybe it was a message of something good happening. His little sister. The sound of waves. The warm breeze. What could that mean?
Hmm… This is one place Bayesian statistics helps no one.
Jesse asked, "What did you see?"
He described the beach and his little sister, wondering if it meant something.
Adelina, who was nearby, opened her mouth as if to ask if it had to mean something.
Then she shut it and instead said, "We're dealing with some kind of deity here. I'm not religious, but maybe it's raising our spiritual intuition or something."
They passed the weapons around so people would feel them, Jamie looked a little unwilling to give out the red spear while Colin was giving people his Lantern and calling people over to feel it.
Joey rubbed his hands over the Lantern. "I guess Jackson was right. They didn't even bother giving Colin something he could use to hit someone over the head with."
Colin rolled his eyes. "This is way better than a weapon. In fact, I have to say this is incomparably more precious than your sharp sticks."
Brian's eyes widened as he asked, "It's higher than rare?"
Colin raised his hand dramatically. "No, but it's still better. Guess?"
Everyone was silent, refusing to indulge him.
Jamie rolled his eyes. "Just tell us, man."
Colin sighed, muttering, "You guys are so boring."
Then he read aloud:
White Lantern of Nazguire
Rank: Rare
Description: The light of the void lives within this lantern, bringing the blessings of the second sun.
Power is born through knowledge, and blessings come to those prepared to sacrifice.
Stolen novel; please report.
Daytime Effect: Heals injuries as long as the six gems are saturated with mana. The lantern generates a field that significantly speeds up recovery for six hours.
Nighttime Effect: The mana can be used to grant a person one skill for 12 hours. This skill is random.
Six people, including the lantern's master, must bind themselves to the gems, losing five mana per day.
Increases concentration and mana regeneration.
Jamie scowled. "That's actually pretty awesome. I got Fair rank. My spear can shoot out the tip every sixty seconds."
Parker nodded. "I got Fair too. After ten attacks, I can throw a stronger hit."
The conversations continued from there, which irked him a little as he felt all the descriptions were important.
They began to formalize the groups, leading to their strategies as well as the First and second group giving their opinions on surviving the Dark forest
"We've already investigated the first terrace pretty well, there are two you can get two terraces on the next level. The one the Yellow dragons fled to is also close to the swamp Joey advised you to avoid, the other terrace is hard to get to, the drop is extremely high but it's well lit and we didn't notice many monsters nearby"
"So yeah my suggestion is gathering vines for a ladder while avoiding the yellow lizard's territory,"
He didn't have to stand when he spoke so when he was done Parker continued his own speech.
Matthew turned slightly to Asha who was beside him. "I wish we could hear the exact descriptions of the other armaments. They seem important."
"White Lantern of Nazguire... where is Nazguire?" Asha muttered, frowning. "That's another place I've never heard of."
Kirk scratched his head. "Did yours come from some fantasy world?" he asked Parker.
Parker who was just done speaking remaining standing to read out his weapon's description:
Green Claw
Rank: Fair
Description: Green Claw was the trusty weapon of a lone martial artist. He loved his axe and was seen swinging it everywhere.
He followed the Proud Lord of the Heavens in his campaigns to conquer the world after Ariel's death and reaped many lives with his chaotic attacks.
Grants the ability to build power with each successful strike.
The tenth strike delivers twice the force.
Increases attack power, stamina, and patience.
Jackson seemed unwilling to have to repeat what the red spear could do but reluctantly revealed his spear's description:
Steady Spear
Rank: Fair
Description: After the fall of the blue star, the world was drowned in water.
These spears were used to hunt and slay the great monsters that rose from the devouring depths of the sea.
The tip of the spear can be shot at enemies every sixty seconds.
Increases attack power, concentration and accuracy
Matthew felt a little bewildered by the descriptions. He knew now that they could definitely be on another world.
He looked up at the plain roof of the White temple wondering what the skies looked like now.
