it's too precious!

"What's going on, Clark?"

Dirk rushed over to Clark when he heard the voice, and his previously clean black combat suit was splattered with blood.

Not far away, several bodies lay lifeless on the ground. Dirk's face turned pale, and he managed a weak smile at Clark.

Clark contemplated for a moment before slowly speaking, "Dirk."

"We need to head to the school next. There are not only a large number of zombies there but also the possibility of awakened ones inside."

"As you've seen today, sometimes the danger doesn't just come from zombies."

"So..."

"Clark."

"I understand. I'm sorry; I'm the one who slowed you down."

"I was foolish, knowing it's the end of the world, yet I had no sense of alertness."

Dirk interrupted Clark, smiling bitterly with a hint of dimness in his eyes.

He had already witnessed the power of the awakened ones. Initially, he thought that, with his military background, he could somewhat assist Clark. However, after experiencing what had just happened, he felt like he was nothing more than a liability.

"I'll leave on my own later to find a psychic node and become an awakened one."

"I know our team won't keep useless people around."

He remembered the image of Clifford being rejected by Clark that day, and it left a bitter feeling in his heart.

"Arnold already told me where there are psychic nodes."

"I hope I can come back alive and not burden you, but instead, be of help."

The chances of regular players becoming awakened ones were very low, but as long as there was a chance to gain power, even if it was one in a million, he was willing to try. He never wanted to experience the pain and humiliation of that night again.

"If... something happens to me, Clark, I have a request."

"Can you please find Viola? I owe her an apology for not being able to protect her."

Dirk mustered up the courage, and his voice quivered.

Clark: "Um..."

He touched his nose, feeling a sudden awkwardness in the abyssal aura he had concealed behind him.

"Dirk, you may have misunderstood my meaning."

"What I meant was that we will face even more dangerous situations in the future."

"So, are you willing to become an awakened one?"

Dirk stood still, a wisp of black aura hovering in the air slowly approaching him.

"This is a 'gift' I prepared for you."

Clark patted his shoulder, his eyes filled with anticipation and encouragement.

"Accept it."

"I had originally planned to help you find some items that would reduce the chances of failure, but I didn't expect to come across this here. It's even better than the items I had in mind."

He instinctively reached out and touched the black aura floating in front of him, and an in-game prompt appeared.

"Ding, obtained Abyssal Aura (Blue)."

"Abyssal Aura: Power from the abyss, can be consumed to allow two players (non-awakened) to change into Abyssal class professions."

"Basic Transformation Requirements: All attributes above 6 points, consume one corpse of any mutated creature (transformation effect is enhanced based on the consumed corpse's strength)."

"Current Usage: 2/2! (Replenishable!)"

"Abyssal Class Professions: Infiltrator (Assassin), Black Dragon Sentinel (Tank), Abyss Vanguard (Berserker), Cursed Acolyte (Mage, Support)."

"Transformation Effect: After transformation, gain the awakened template, all attributes raised to human limits (10 points!), and receive an additional 4 points of attribute bonuses based on the specialized profession, as well as one exclusive skill."

This is for me! Dirk looked at the Abyssal Aura in disbelief, his mind going blank.

Along the way, he had already inquired about Arnold's attributes. As the highest attribute was his constitution, Arnold had a constitution of only 18.2 (base 14 + team amplification + player level 1 + awakened + 2)!

And as long as he accepted the aura and successfully transformed, he would immediately gain at least 10 points or more in a single attribute, with the highest being 14 points! Just one more level and killing two mutated creatures at random, and his attributes could instantly catch up to Arnold's. A leap from being a mere mortal to a being who glimpses the extraordinary!

Clark smiled at Dirk, understanding his excitement at this moment. In their trade, whether it was the attribute increase or gaining special bonuses, in terms of value, this inconspicuous aura was the most precious existence.

The Abyssal Aura was an item capable of mass-producing special awakened individuals! 

In a previous life, because he had placed too much trust in others, his key was stolen. The person who took the key, after forsaking all humanity, obtained this strand of aura. However, unlike the one in his hand, that person received the full version of the aura, with an initial usage count of up to 99 times!

By using the method of mass-producing special awakened individuals, he had risen to become one of the Four Abyssal Lords.

It's unlikely that anyone could imagine that in his previous life, Clark appeared to be nothing more than an ordinary player barely clinging to survival, but in reality, he almost became one of the Four Abyssal Lords, controlling millions of lives!

This heaven-defying item, while seemingly excellent, came with an equally heavy cost. If he didn't have a certain level of confidence in facing the Great Cataclysm, he wouldn't want to converse with his "other self" again. 

The fear in his heart was not just empty talk. The key had another meaning; it was to open the door to desire and destruction. Even though Clark still retained some humanity, he could actually sense that becoming "him" was only a matter of time after the transaction was completed.

"Clark, is this really for me?"

"This... it's too precious!"

"I can't..."

Dirk was incoherent, the experiences of the past few days had left him desperate for power, but in the face of such a precious item, he was at a loss.

"You're my brother, there's no need to be so awkward. What's with all the hesitation?" Clark intentionally kept up a stern expression and continued,

"Also, don't ever say things like 'burden' or 'don't want to hold me back' in the future, all that nonsense!"

"Just remember one thing, I, Clark, will never abandon my brother!"

"Even if you were disabled, or worthless, I would still protect you with all I have!"

His words came from the heart. As soon as he finished speaking, Clark decisively pushed the Abyssal Aura into Dirk's chest with a palm.

"Ding, Abyssal Aura has been used, current usage count 1/2."

Like a living being, the black aura generated mysterious patterns around Dirk as it entered, and he instantly fell unconscious within the intricate patterns.

Clark paid it no mind, he knew that Dirk had entered the awakened transformation state, and once he woke up, he would gain power beyond that of an ordinary person.

His eyes were filled with anticipation. He didn't know what kind of profession Dirk would acquire after a successful transformation. As a unique talent different from regular awakened individuals, Abyssal Transformed individuals might not have flashy powers, but in terms of combat prowess, they were undoubtedly stronger than most awakened individuals. 

Otherwise, the "Abyssal Lord" in his previous life wouldn't have had the qualifications to lead nearly a hundred Abyssal Warriors and command millions of people!

...

"Clark, what does this mean?"