Saving the World in an Apocalypse-Style Text Game-Chapter 725 - 358 Magic Zirconite Mask Armor_1

"Did Valkyrie and Jinmu encounter the Wet Nurse?"

"No, it shouldn’t be possible, but whatever has happened, I must hurry back immediately!"

[The ’Mask-Maker’ is puzzling and tells you that its master lives near the ’Magic Zirconite Mine’].

[The Magic Zirconite within the mine has been practically exhausted, but a hidden cave, connected at the bottom of the mine, contains a scant but pure source of the Magic Zirconite.]

[This ore is essential in mask-making. Its master resides in the depths of the cave, using the ore to continuously improve his mask-making skills...]

[So, will you immediately return to the ’Magic Zirconite Mine’, take the ’Mask-Maker’ with you, or kill it outright?]

"Is the Mask-Master hiding in the mine?"

Lin Xun raised an eyebrow, suspecting that Valkyrie’s death might be related to the Mask-Master.

He immediately selected the second option to take the ’Mask-Maker’ with him.

He left the Hatching Pond as quickly as he could and rode a Military Mole Cricket towards the ’Magic Zirconite Mine’.

The Military Mole Cricket was much faster than normal deliveries, but it still took nearly ten minutes to reach the ’Magic Zirconite Mine’ at its fastest speed.

[...]

[Shortly, the ’Military Mole Cricket’ reaches its destination.]

[Holding the ’Mask-Maker’, you approach the mine swiftly...]

[You bring it to the edge of the mine. A black cocoon, undamaged, stands erect at the bottom of the mine.]

[A large hole has been torn in the wall of the mine. This hole leads to a dark and sizeable cave...]

[However, Jinmu, who was guarding the black cocoon, is nowhere to be found...]

The good news is that Flandre is safe; the bad news is that Jinmu is missing.

Given the true identity of the Mask-Master, Jinmu shouldn’t be in too much danger... But it’s hard to say, if both of them recognize each other’s identities, how did Valkyrie die?

[With a flap of the ’Mask-Maker’s’ wings on its back, you leap down to the bottom of the mine...]

[When the ’Mask-Maker’ sees the large black cocoon, it seems startled, but wisely pretends not to have seen it. It points at the cave and tells you that its master is hiding in the depths of the cave, and it can guide you there.]

To be on the safe side, Lin Xun immediately summoned the Nine-tailed Fox and Sly Ghost to guard the black cocoon.

Then, carrying the ’Mask-Maker’, he entered into the depths of the cave.

There were many branching paths within the cave, winding their way through. If he was exploring on his own, it would probably take a good while.

However, with a guide, he quickly reached the deepest part of the cave.

[...]

[From the end of the dim tunnel, light emerged. You bring the ’Mask-Maker’ to a large stone chamber at the end of the cave.]

[In the chamber, Jinmu is on one knee, gasping for breath, its body covered with horrifying wounds. Some parts of its shell are broken, revealing the original black luster.]

[Behind it lay a massive, barely living creature, very similar to a centipede. It was covered in a pale shell that emitted a luminous light. The light had the same hue as the Magic Zirconite...]

[You noticed that the monster, too, had many wounds on its shell, revealing the black color typical of mutants.]

[You have found the ’Mutated Glow Worm’]!

[At the other end of the chamber, there was a chubby, feathered creature. Apart from the pair of legs it stood on, it had six short, thick arms.]

[But that was not its most peculiar feature. The armor running from its face-mask across its entire body was extraordinarily large. Unlike ordinary shells that are airtight, this armor resembled a skeleton-like framework.]

[Embedded in the chest of the Exoskeleton Armor was a Magic Zirconite stone as big as a skull, radiating a blinding light.]

[The plump, feathered creature operated the large Exoskeleton Armor, confronting both ’Jinmu’ and the ’Glow Worm’. It seemed to have the upper hand.]

[You have found the ’Feathered Mask-Master’]!

[The ’Mask-Maker’ you are holding by the neck suddenly starts yelling. Master, save it! It was kidnapped by a demon and it took all its strength to lead the demon here!]

[As soon as these words left its mouth, the ’Mask-Master’ leapt violently at you. The Exoskeleton Armor’s chest burst with a blinding light and the scythes extending from its limbs grew bigger and bigger before your eyes...]

In an instant, Lin Xun realized that the Mask-Master was not a follower of Firefly. The fake black shell that mimicked a Feathered being likely came from the ’Glow Worm’.

This person is an enemy, not a friend!

[Seeing this, ’Jinmu’ warns you that the enemy is strong, particularly that armor of his...]

[You don’t have time to think too much. You drop the person in your hand and courageously confront the attack!]

[Claws clash with scythes, causing a harsh noise...]

[The ’Mask-Master’ is repeatedly forced back. The armor’s feet plow two deep trenches in the ground.]

[Several cracks have formed on its scythe, spreading across the surface, looking like they are about to splinter.]

[You can feel that the enemy’s strength and speed are inferior to yours, you are confident that you can kill it.]

[The ’Mask-Maker’ rolls over and scurries to the side of the master.]

[It tells the person beside it, Master, stop conserving Magic Zirconite. As long as you continue to raise the ’Thousand-Legged Demon’, high-purity Magic Zirconite can be produced endlessly.]

[Killing the demon hiding in the Divine Kingdom is a great achievement. Afterwards, even if you want to raise the ’Thousand-Legged Demon’ openly, it won’t be a problem.]

[It sneers at you and says, Don’t fight back in vain, give up resistance and it can spare you.]