NOVEL NEXT Chapter 245: Stomach Dimension
[Speaking of which, did you tell Bai Shishi and the other two? Did they manage to escape?]
Lucian fired question after question, leaving no room for Nyx to explain. Only after silence resumed, it rolled its two compound eyes and replied, [I did attempt to tell you, but you were busy. Moreover, Bai Shishi now knows, but he's stuck and has no choice but to go forward. Don't worry, I gave him a perfect plan — to go through with the trade and leave. But that is beside the point. If the bandit the employee talked to makes it to the trade location, our plan to enslave the Warring Sharks will be ruined.]
Lucian's frown deepened.
[Why's that?]
Suspicion flickered in Lucian's eyes. What Nyx was telling him did not add up. He and Lily were unknown, insignificant non-Mages. They had not shown any of their cards, so how could his plan be ruined if the bandit made it to the trade location?
[What are you hiding?] Lucian asked suspiciously.
Nyx remained silent.
'I thought so. It's hiding something.' Lucian thought and waited for an explanation.
Slightly over a hundred yards away from Alabaster Hotel, Nyx felt like it was sweating buckets despite being a robot.
Carried by Pei Buhan, who slowly walked forward under the dim light reflected by the moon, Nyx had all the time in the world to ponder.
Yet, that was a mere illusion, time was ticking. With each step the young bandit, who was many yards in front of them, took, time was closing in on them.
'The Host is going to go crazy this time.' Nyx sighed as it could already imagine the scene of carnage.
'Was it wise to kill the employee?' It mused, and the conclusion it came to was a resounding yes.
Explore more at My Virtual Library Empire
If Nyx simply incapacitated the employee long enough for its Host to enslave him, there was a chance for its Host to discover what the employee and young bandit had planned to do to Lily.
Even though it was nearly impossible for them to achieve their lustful fantasy… the probability was there.
And that probability frightened Nyx.
So the employee had to die. But his death, now made things complicated. The young bandit was a few minutes away from the trade location. His arrival there would not ruin its host's plan. Only after the Warring Sharks discover the employee had died would the plan be ruined.
'My Host's plan can't be ruined. But he can't learn of their disgusting plan, or else, he'll torture the Warring Sharks and even the Black Fire Bandits to death.'
The System was stuck in a dilemma.
'However… the young bandit can't be killed off either. He's too strong for Pei Buhan and me to kill. I also can't use the same trick twice. No sane Mana Condensation Realm Mage would lure a Mage stronger than them into an alleyway. What's more, even if he is dumb enough or arrogant enough to follow, it would be useless. He's not a Mana Condensation Realm Mage, but a Blood Tempering Realm Mage. His physical body is too strong for me to pierce. If only there was a way for me to increase my Mage Rank in a short amount of time…'
It was then Nyx remembered, 'Damn it. How could I forget!? The Celestium Shard's Devour Skill.'
To make sure no mistakes occurred, Nyx opened the Status Screen and navigated to its Skills.
<{Devour}>
<{Rank: 3 Star Primordial}>
<{Mastery: Level 1}>
<{Description: A Skill that allows the caster to consume anything in existence into a closed Dimension. Can be used to enhance personal Skills, Artifact Grade, Mage Rank, and augment dishes with unique Skills, Elements, and effects from the consumed target.}>
<{Time limit: Once per day}>
<Requirement: If the target is conscious or has a higher Mage Rank or Grade than the caster, the Skill may fail.}>
After reading the description, Nyx's eyes brightened in delight.
'I was right! However, having the Skill is one thing, but fulfilling the requirement is another. I only have one shot.'
A day's time to reuse the Skill was too long. But it made sense for a Skill as powerful as Devour. But that made the situation all the more precarious.
'It's best to play it safe.'
Nyx did not have to kill the bandit itself. As long as the result was the same, the process did not matter.
With that in mind, Nyx took out the Spatial Ring it looted from the dead employee.
'Hopefully, he had something of value.'
All Nyx needed was a Novice-Grade Low-Quality Artifact, a Grade 1 Item, or anything of such poor quality.
Combing through a load of crap stored in the Spatial Ring, Nyx was becoming increasingly dejected.
'There's nothing! If only I had Mana Sense, I wouldn't have to look through each item.'
Annoyed, Nyx had to rely on Pei Buhan.
[Use your Mana Sense on this Spatial Ring to find me a Novice-Grade Low-Quality Artifact among this pile of garbage!]
Pei Buhan had no idea why Nyx wanted a Novice-Grade Low-Quality Artifact, but he did not dare ask questions. Ever since he realized there was a deep relationship between his Master and Nyx, he became just as respectful toward it.
After a single sweep of his Mana Sense, Pei Buhan found three Artifacts, all of the same quality as Nyx wanted. Not knowing which it preferred, he summoned all three onto both palms — an orange amulet, a cracked mirror, and a small ceremonial dagger. Each Artifact emitted a weak aura, indicating its Artifact Grade.
From its vantage point above Pei Buhan's shoulder, Nyx looked at each Artifact.
'Does the item matter? Will it affect my Mage Rank?'
Nyx was unsure. The Skill did not give any explanation as to what the outcome would be. But left with no choice, Nyx chose the orange amulet.
Its reason was simple and crude… because the amulet looked more appealing than the other two items…
[Place the amulet next to me.] Nyx commanded.
[Yes, Lord Nyx.] Pei Buhan said respectively as he placed the other two Artifacts in the Storage Ring, and then, placed the amulet on his right shoulder.
Nyx crawled over and tilted its head at the amulet, which looked gigantic in comparison to its tiny ant body.
'How am I supposed to devour this?'
As soon as that thought appeared in its mind, instinctively, Nyx opened its mouth.
As soon as Nyx realized its mouth was open and what it was attempting to do, it felt ridiculous by the situation. How could an ant swallow an amulet the size of an adult's palm?
Yet… the unbelievable happened. An irresistible suction force left its mouth and latched onto the amulet, pulling it back as swift as lightning. The amulet shrunk, while in mid-air, and in the blink of an eye, it disappeared into its mouth, leaving it and Pei Buhan, who had been wondering what Nyx was attempting to do, utterly shocked.
Just then, System Notifications appeared in Nyx's mind.
<{Congratulations! You have successfully devoured your first item.}>
<{Please check the Stomach Dimension to view the Amulet of Terra.}>
<{Further information will be given upon entering the Stomach Dimension.}>
Once again, Nyx was at a loss. The System Notification clearly said to check the so-called 'Stomach Dimension'. But how was it supposed to do that without Mana Sense?
'Why couldn't Mistress make a manual for the Celestium Shard? Or at least, explained how to use this thing. Everything is vague.' Nyx sighed and decided to focus on trying to enter its stomach like how it instinctively opened its mouth to devour the Amulet of Terra.
Maybe… a miracle would happen…
Nyx focused and tried to act like it had Mana Sense. It imagined being able to see the insides of its body where a small door lay within its stomach. Upon reaching there, it slowly reached out, twisted the door handle, and stepped inside.
In an instant, Nyx's vision blurred, and it found itself in a white 100-square-foot room.
'… I can't believe it actually worked.'
"So… this is my Stomach Dimension?" Glancing around, Nyx was mildly disappointed. There was nothing in particular about the room. It was empty except for a floating amulet, encased in a transparent sphere in the center of the room.
Shaking its head, Nyx walked over to the floating amulet, and as it did, new information appeared in its mind.
<{The Amulet of Terra}>
<{Artifact Grade: Novice-Grade Low-Quality }>
<{Description: The first successful Artifact crafted by a Novice-Grade Low-Quality Blacksmith as a gift for his wife, Terra.}>
<{Effect: Enhances Earth Magic manipulation.}>
<{Enhancement Options.}>
<{Consume to increase comprehension of Devour Skill.}>
<{Consume to increase Artifact Grade. 0/3 Novice-Grade Low-Quality Artifacts.}>
<{Consume to increase Mage Rank to Mana Condensation Realm.}>
<{Consume to augment a dish with a Skill, Element, or Effect from the Amulet of Terra.}>
Nyx did not even ponder the options, and, in an instant, mentally clicked on the third option.