Dazzling Treasures
Wayne's spree of opening 100 ordinary-level treasure chests in one go resulted in the rapid depletion of nearly 300 chests.
Aside from amassing thousands of Orens, he also acquired several unique items.
Wayne was particularly surprised to discover three sets of books among his rewards. Judging from the titles, two appeared to cover topics from modern society, which he found intriguing. Knowledge can sometimes be more valuable than physical treasures, and sharing it could benefit many.
Additionally, the tropical plant seeds and gene inhibitors were unexpected yet valuable finds.
The seeds were a collection of tropical plants from Earth, including various spices and staples like cocoa beans and coffee beans—irreplaceable commodities for modern lifestyles. Even if sold as individual spices, their worth could reach over a hundred thousand crowns, especially considering they were top-quality varieties, improved through generations of cultivation. In comparison to seeds in the medieval world, these were vastly superior.
The gene inhibitors came from a cyberpunk realm, commonly used by specialists working with those who had undergone extensive prosthetic augmentations. Their main function was to reduce bodily rejection responses and stabilize genetic integrity, preventing breakdowns due to cybernetic implants. In the cyberpunk world, these were essential for high-risk cases. Wayne considered whether these inhibitors might have potential applications in the Trial of the Grasses—the dangerous transformation that turns people into Witchers. By reducing the rejection response, they might improve survival rates. This, however, would require thorough testing.
After cataloging these items, Wayne moved on to opening his expert-level treasure chests.
He only had forty-five expert chests, which required him to open them in batches of ten.
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Ding! Expert-level chest opened: 10
Obtained: 1705 Orens, Fire Staff.
Ding! Expert-level chest opened: 10
Obtained: 1600 Orens.
Ding! Expert-level chest opened: 10
Obtained: 1800 Orens, Ring of Protection.
Ding! Expert-level chest opened: 10
Obtained: 1760 Orens, five Royal Griffin Eggs close to hatching.
Ding! Expert-level chest opened: 5
Obtained: 899 Orens, Tempest X1 Motorcycle."
With more than forty expert-level treasure chests opened, Wayne paid little attention to the exact number of Orens he had accumulated. He was thrilled, however, with the four special items he had acquired from these expert-level chests.
Among these, the Tempest X1 Motorcycle stood out. Originating from the cyberpunk world, it was a custom piece crafted by a high-end military technology. Not only did it boast a sleek, futuristic look and incredible speed, but it was also solar-powered and made of military-grade materials. Wayne immediately fell for its appeal. This high-performance motorcycle was, in essence, the perfect embodiment of adventure. He couldn't help but imagine the appeal it would add if he used it to make a memorable entrance.
The other rewards—the Fire Staff, Protection Ring, and Royal Griffin Eggs—were equally impressive. The Fire Staff would greatly amplify fire-based attacks, and the Protection Ring, with its small storage capacity, could cast two tier-three protection spells. While these items were not particularly useful for Wayne himself, they would make thoughtful gifts. The Fire Staff, for instance, would be perfect for Triss; he could already imagine her smiling warmly and thanking him with a kiss.
The Royal Griffin eggs, however, held unique potential. According to the system, these were not from the Witcher's world but rather from Azeroth, specifically bred by dwarves as royal griffin mounts. Although confident in his animal-taming abilities, Wayne knew these creatures would require specialized training that only Azeroth's dwarves had perfected over thousands of years. Nevertheless, if he could successfully raise them, the Witcher Order would gain a formidable flying asset, which could prove invaluable in missions, battles, and as a symbol of strength.
Considering this, Wayne entertained the idea of visiting Azeroth sometime in the future to learn the dwarves' griffin-taming techniques and perhaps even secure more eggs. After all, it would likely take five or six years for a young griffin to reach maturity for manned flight, giving him plenty of time to revisit Azeroth.
Having acquired these valuable items, Wayne felt a surge of excitement. He stored the newfound treasures and gold in his spatial bracelet, took a calming breath, and set his sights on the five master-level chests.
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Ding! Master-level chest opened.
Obtained: 1655 Orens, Soul Goblet.
Ding! Master-level chest opened.
Obtained: 1705 Orens.
Ding! Master-level chest opened.
Obtained: 1808 Orens, Banshee Veil.
Ding! Master-level chest opened.
Obtained: 1666 Orens.
Ding! Master-level chest opened.
Obtained: 1788 Orens, concentrated life essence*1.
After opening the five master-level treasure chests, a smile crept onto Wayne's lips.
Five master-level treasure chests yielded three items, demonstrating that his luck attribute was quite effective. All three items were practical treasures, with nothing wasted.
Soul Goblet: This was once a prized possession of a devil king in the Hells. The Soul Goblet is a magical chalice that allows the user to absorb the essence of souls from slain enemies through the chalice's arcane inscriptions, creating a unique "soul wine." This wine, not only rich in flavor, also enhances the drinker's physical and spiritual strength, helping them recover physical health and boosting their spiritual resilience. It's a dark but highly valuable treasure.
Banshee Veil: A legendary artifact, this item is a cross-shaped gemstone necklace. The Banshee Veil grants the wearer substantial spell power, shortens casting time, and enhances magic resistance. The wearer also gains access to a special defensive shield, which can block up to three seconds or one potent magical attack and various spells. The shield regenerates after an hour.
Concentrated Life Essence: This rare elixir is derived from the life force of a higher being. When ingested, it improves the user's physical constitution and grants permanent night vision, making it a powerful asset for any adventurer.
Examining the black chalice, the intricately carved gemstone pendant, and the small vial of green glowing liquid, Wayne felt a deep satisfaction.
The Soul Goblet, with its dark ability to absorb and refine souls into a powerful spirit, was an object of profound, albeit eerie, potential. The Banshee Veil was a life-saving piece, enhancing magic casting and providing substantial protection. For any spellcaster, this was a formidable relic. And the Concentrated Life Essence was a true treasure, its ability to bolster physical fitness made it invaluable.
Suppressing his excitement, Wayne carefully stored these three master-level items before turning his gaze toward the two epic-level treasure chests.
With a deep breath, he kissed the golden ring on his pinky—a gift the Lady of the Lake—and whispered a quick prayer. He opened both epic treasure chests in one swift move.
Ding! The treasure chest is opened, epic treasure chest x2.
Rewards: 36,665 Orens, Blade of the Dark Empire, Mysterious Doll.
A massive bag of gold coins, an ominous-looking black dagger radiating an eerie glow, and a finely crafted doll tumbled out of the chest. However, the unexpected weight of the bag—filled with more than 30,000 Orens—caused Wayne's solid oak bed frame to collapse under its sheer weight, splintering the wood.
Wayne's eye twitched as he surveyed the mess. He'd been so absorbed in the treasure hunt he hadn't considered the weight of the wealth he was unleashing. With a wave of his hand, he stored the coin purse into his space bracelet, resolving to let Vivian organize this newfound wealth later.
Turning his attention away from the broken bed, he inspected the two epic items, feeling a mixture of excitement and apprehension.
Blade of the Dark Empire: Known fully as Xal'atath, Blade of the Dark Empire, this dagger has origins shrouded in ancient darkness.
The Blade of the Dark Empire, known as Xal'atath, was born in the ancient times of Azeroth, in an age ruled by the Old Gods. Legends say it was crafted from a fragment of one such ancient god who had fallen in battle. The dagger flows with the dark essence of the Old Gods, containing within it a fractured piece of an ancient soul.
Xal'atath has passed through countless hands in Azeroth over the ages, with each of its wielders meeting a grim end. This artifact harnesses shadow energy, but its influence is corruptive, twisting minds and luring them into madness.
As a seasoned player of World of Warcraft, Wayne immediately recognized Xal'atath's history from the Legion expansion—the artifact weapon for shadow priests, crafted from the claws of an Old God.
While undeniably powerful, the weapon's danger is too great; it even harbors the broken soul of an Old God, beings of power on par with Azeroth's strongest defenders, like the titan-forged guardian, Odyn. Wayne understood the temptation and corruption this weapon carried, and he resolved not to use it until he could ensure his safety from its insidious influence.
Turning to the mysterious doll, Wayne's eyes widened. He needed no system explanation to recognize the doll, and he couldn't help but curse at the system's shamelessness for plundering such an iconic item.
The doll was adorable, with four small arms, a pointed witch's hat, and a flowing witch's robe. It was unmistakably the beloved treasure of every Tarnished—the doll gifted by their "Moon Princess," Ranni, from Elden Ring lore. This doll had become a source of comfort and resolve for every Tarnished, driving them to rise after each defeat.
The system had evidently taken this precious keepsake. Whether it had been stolen from a particularly unlucky Tarnished, or even from Ranni herself before she encountered the Tarnished, Wayne couldn't be sure. And he was curious—did the doll retain any of its unique abilities, or was it now merely a token?