A Relic!

The host system upgrade process was quick and overwhelming, a sudden surge of energy flooded the surroundings.

"Upgrade complete! Congratulations to the host for evolving into an F-class mid-tier undead creature. Current growth value: 9/100,000."

A powerful gust of wind exploded outward, with James at its epicenter. The force wasn't just for show; it violently swept away two nearby intermediate F-class cultivators, knocking them off their feet. Carmen, standing at a short distance, felt the impact and couldn't hide his shock. His eyes narrowed as he tried to comprehend what had just occurred.

"Advanced?! How can that be possible?! And with such overwhelming power?"

For a moment, Carmen's usual composed expression vanished, replaced by an intense, almost panicked, seriousness.

Meanwhile, James remained unaware of the external reactions. Inside his body, he felt an unfamiliar yet invigorating force surging, as if a massive, dormant power had suddenly awakened. The straw-like sensation that had previously filled his being wriggled and then exploded into raw, untapped strength. The feeling was overwhelming, but fleeting; as it ebbed, he blinked his eyes open, surprised to see the people and the alien species around him staggering, disoriented.

Before he could fully grasp what had happened, a familiar voice broke through the haze.

"What the hell just happened?!" A man who had ridiculed James earlier was now clawing his way out of the dirt, his face contorted in anger and disbelief. He pointed a dagger at him and barked, "You think you can attack me and get away with it?!"

James scratched his head awkwardly. "Uh, was that me? My bad. I didn't mean it. You're just… really weak to be blown away like that..." His tone was casual, but he clearly had no idea of the extent of his newfound strength.

The man's face flushed with embarrassment and fury. "You bastard!" He charged at James, dagger raised, his intentions clear.

Just as James was about to test his freshly upgraded abilities, something unexpected happened. Two fingers, belonging to none other than Carmen, calmly clamped down on the blade, stopping it dead in its tracks. The man froze mid-attack, eyes wide in shock.

"Come on now," Carmen said with a grin, his voice laced with mockery, "no need to be so hot-headed. Friends shouldn't be so aggressive with one another, right?"

The man yanked on his dagger, desperate to free it from Carmen's grip. No matter how hard he pulled, it didn't budge an inch. The realization hit him like a brick. His confidence crumbled, and his face turned ghostly pale.

"Y-you're right... I-I was out of line. I'm sorry, really sorry," he stammered, sweat pouring down his face. He wasn't stupid; he could sense it now. The mere aftershock of James's promotion had been enough to fling him aside. If James had truly been targeting him, he wouldn't have stood a chance.

"Impressive. That surge of power you released just now..." Carmen released the dagger, his sharp gaze turning toward James. "You're full of surprises, aren't you?" He threw an arm around James's shoulder, seemingly friendly, but there was something calculated behind his casual demeanor.

However, James was quicker now, his reflexes heightened with the upgrade. He deftly sidestepped before Carmen's arm could make contact.

"Whoa, what's with the cold shoulder?" Carmen chuckled, raising his hands in mock surrender. "But let me ask you something, weren't you here for spirit crystals? You've been avoiding the alien species this whole time. Don't you know? No kills, no crystals."

James remained calm, his tone indifferent. "I figured you needed those crystals more than I do. I'm just here to get a feel for the place." Without waiting for a response, he started to walk away, trying to distance himself from the situation.

But Carmen wasn't about to let him go that easily. He moved to block James's path, his playful attitude taking on a more serious edge.

James's expression darkened. His straw-like brows knit together as he stared at Carmen. His voice, now cold and sharp, cut through the air.

"What exactly do you want from me?"

Even now, James couldn't be entirely sure if he stood a chance against Carmen, who was practically radiating fiery energy. Deep down, James knew that if he were willing to pay a steep price, maybe, just maybe, he could hold his own in a fight. However, this wasn't the time or place for that. With the bustling crowd in the passageway and the ever-watchful eyes of the Mercenary Association, engaging in a public conflict was out of the question. The last thing he wanted was to draw attention to himself and risk being exposed.

"Don't get worked up," Carmen said with his usual unsettling grin, pointing to a quieter corner. "I'm not here to start a fight. I just want to talk."

Without waiting for a response, Carmen casually strolled to the side, leaving James no choice but to follow. After a brief hesitation, James's curiosity got the better of him, and he trailed behind.

"So, what do you want?" James asked, his tone guarded as he observed Carmen, who had folded his arms across his chest like he was sizing up the situation.

"I've discovered a relic," Carmen began in a hushed tone, his eyes scanning their surroundings to make sure no one was listening in. "But I'm not strong enough to handle it on my own. I need a partner."

"A relic?" James raised an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued. "In this cave? That doesn't make any sense. This whole place is natural. Why would there be a relic here?"

Carmen's eyes gleamed as he noticed James's interest. "Yes, a relic. It's not human-made, I'm sure of that. I've been inside. The entrance is disguised as a spirit crystal mine, but once you're in, there's something far more mysterious; a statue, a human-like figure, but I've never seen anything like it before. It's definitely not of human origin."

James's eyes narrowed. "If you've already been inside, why are you asking me to go with you now?"

Carmen let out a heavy sigh, his previous bravado giving way to a more frustrated demeanor. "Originally, I thought it was just a simple spirit crystal mine. But when I wandered deeper, I stumbled into the ruins by accident. Beneath that strange statue, there were three items. Two of them I couldn't make sense of, but one… one was a sealed black spirit crystal."

He paused, watching for James's reaction before continuing. "That crystal isn't like the ordinary ones we've seen. The aura it gives off… it's stronger, more refined. I'm convinced it's at least a mid-grade, maybe even high-grade spirit crystal."

James smirked, still skeptical. "If it's such a treasure, why didn't you just take it yourself?"

Carmen's expression darkened. "I tried. But there's an alien species guarding the ruins. I've never seen anything like it. It's black, about the size of a monkey, but with massive wings. It's only ranked at the lower level of F-class, but it's freakishly strong. I barely escaped with my life. The strange part is, once I got out of the ruins, it stopped chasing me. Like it was bound to that place."

James pondered this for a moment. A low-level F-class creature that powerful? It didn't add up. He glanced at Carmen, trying to piece things together.

"One last question," James said, his eyes narrowing. "Why me? Don't bother with the polite lies."

Carmen chuckled, his eyes sweeping across the crowd of adventurers and mercenaries that filled the cavern. "Take a good look around. The strength of most people here is wildly inconsistent. I've been in this dungeon long enough to know that. Half of these guys can't even handle their own spiritual methods. They're barely qualified to be cannon fodder. Sure, there are a few who are ridiculously strong, but if I team up with them, I'll be lucky if I make it out alive, let alone get a share of the spoils."

Carmen's face turned more serious, his gaze locking onto James. "But you, on the other hand… I don't think I'm weaker than you. In fact, I'd bet you think the same. That's why you're the perfect partner."

James's eyes flickered with amusement at the audacity of Carmen's words. "Well, aren't you bold? So, you're confident you can take me on if it comes down to it?"

Carmen shrugged, a knowing smile playing on his lips. "It all depends on how capable you are, doesn't it?" His words were casual, but his eyes betrayed a fierce determination.

James couldn't help but let out a low laugh. "Well, I have to give you credit for being upfront. Fine, let's work together." He extended his arms, pulling Carmen into a brief, tension-filled embrace.

As he spoke, his voice dripped with sarcastic amusement. "Happy cooperation."