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Thick dark smoke everywhere and killer fumes that could suffocate a person is in the air. In fact, this whole place does not have oxygen which is the reason why there are no living creatures or plants in the hot volcanic place.
Right now, in this area, four people are walking carrying a palm-sized directional plate in each of their hands.
"We must go this way… Vitina and you, the new guy, should be in the middle. We will act as a vanguard and rearguard while the two of you dish out long-range attacks. This would be the best plan we got for now." Fushang Xu said as the group began walking towards a certain direction where they could get a good view of the whole place.
While the four are moving, some movements hidden within the shadows of the rocks were unnoticed by the group.
They climb a steep cliff and soon reach a top. What they saw is a land filled with craters and burning smoke coming from the mouth of those small holes on the ground. They could even see the flowing molten lava everywhere which makes the place looks like hell itself.
"We should go in that direction. We could reach the desert from there. That place is better than in this volcanic area." Vral Osmond said while pointing in a direction.
Shin Jiao just nodded as he discovers that in this place compass is not useful. Instead, he has already noticed the map on the plate would move according to where they are facing.
The group agreed to move towards the desert and so they began to traverse the volcanic area.
As soon as they reached a ridge, Fushang Xu suddenly gestured for them to stop.
"The ground is shaking…" he muttered.
Although they are already outside the immortal land, Shin Jiao could still not use his spiritual sense or absolute sense for some unknown reason. So he sticks to his psychokinesis and has already spread it to 100 meters in radius.
Suddenly, he picks up a large creature coming towards their location.
"Its… it's a rock creature…" muttered Shin Jiao as he shifted his gaze to his right side.
Hearing his words, the rest of the people in their group also shifted their gaze to their right.
Then they soon noticed the tremor becoming stronger from the direction of their right.
"Prepare for battle!" shouted Fushang Xu as he draws his long blade.
A long and large claw-like thingy suddenly appears as a four-legged crab-like creature with two large pincers suddenly burst out of the cloud of smoke. The creature's body down to its appendages is made of hard rocks which can be seen around the volcanic area.
Its two eyes, which look like two clear marbles, suddenly directed towards the four figures which have intruded in its territory.
"Why can, we detect its presence?" Shin Jiao asked Vitina Kiwazo.
"Well, that's because that thing is not living. It's an animated object that is being controlled by a shadow creature which is hiding somewhere or a shadow being."
"A puppet?"
"Kinda like a puppet…"
The two saw Fushang Xu suddenly charging towards the creature and behind him, Vral Osmond follows. Vitina Kiwazo and Shin Jiao did not hesitate and use long-range attacks. With the use of the scimitar in her hand, Vitina suddenly conjures sharp wind energy which flew towards the body of the creature.
Krang! Krang! Krang!
A weird sound that sounded like a metal being sliced was head when the flying sharp wind energy blades hit the body of the creature.
This made the giant crab mad as it brandished its large pincers in the air and then suddenly began smashing towards the two people running towards it.
Bang! Bang!
A loud crashing sound reverberated as the creature began attacking like a crazy animal.
The two golden armored young men did their best to dodge and at the same time counter every attack they received. Shin Jiao was truly amazed at the prowess of the two and their strength.
It didn't take long before one of the pincers of the giant crab was cut and fell to the ground with a loud thud. Vlad showed a confident look in his eyes as he suddenly charges towards its underbelly.
"No don't!" shouted Fushang Xu as he wanted to stop his companion was a bit rash.
Before he could move, he saw one of the legs of the giant crab suddenly moved and flicked the figure of Vlad.
Like a cannonball, Vlad Osmond flew towards a rock wall and heavily hit it with extreme force. The rock wall broke apart as Vlad's body continues flying until he was embedded on the third wall.
"Damn that guy!" shouted Fushang Xu in anger.
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"Vitina, assist me!" he shouted as he suddenly ran towards the underbelly of the giant crab.
Just like what it did to Vlad Osmond, the giant crab suddenly moves one of its four legs and tried to flick Fushang Xu. But Fushang Xu has a quicker reaction and was able to dodge that attack. Then with his long sword, he suddenly stabs upwards.
Sensing the danger, the giant crab suddenly lifted its whole body using its legs, and then its remaining pincer suddenly tried to grab what's under it.
Fushang Xu suddenly jumps to the side and instead of attacking shielded his body from the pincer. He was not hit and was able to roll to the ground. Meanwhile, Vitina Kiwazo continues sending energy wind blades towards the creature.
Shin Jiao on the other hand silently crept towards Vlad Osmond and checked his condition. Upon seeing that he is still alive and was just beaten badly, he heaves a sigh of relief. He took out a bottle of pill from his sleeve and then put it on the young man's mouth.
The pill suddenly melted on Vlad's mouth and his brow knitted.
Shin Jiao did not linger and immediately run back to battle. He took a vantage point and look at the status below him. He could see the struggle of the two as they barely damage the creature. He suddenly grabs one of the handguns on his side holster and then took aim.
He has used handguns in fights before. Though he was not seen by the audience due to many circumstances, Shin Jiao did not aim his weapon.
After locking his aim to the creature's two marble-like eyes, he immediately squeezes the trigger twice. Though the recoil was stronger, yet he is still able to control his shots.
Bang! Bang!
The loud thunderous sound reverberated everywhere as two silver flashes appear in the air and blasted the two eyes of the creature.
As its eyes were removed, the one controlling the creature is now unable to see his target.
Although the two were stunned, they did not hesitate to attack the vital parts of the creature. From its underbelly, Fushang Xu suddenly stabs his long sword and then using his hand punches a bigger hole from the wound caused by his sword.
When his hand came out of the hole he is already holding a fist-sized orb.
"This thing is dead, let's go!" Fushang Xu said as he walks towards Vitina.
Meanwhile, the group went to Vlad's location and saw him still shaking his head but was already able to stand.
"Are you okay?" Fushang Xu asked as he extended his hand to Vlad.
After coming out of the hole on the ground, Vlad looks at Shin Jiao and nodded his head as thanks for what he did. He didn't know what the young man gave him, but he suddenly feels his body recovering from his wounds.
The group continues walking towards the direction of the desert and encountered two more puppets which they were able to destroy with a combined effort.
While they are walking, Fushang Xu stood next to Shin Jiao.
"You have some weird artifacts there. And very powerful too… If I'm not wrong, you made those things, right?" Fushang Xu asked with a smile.
Shin Jiao just nodded his head as he did not keep this a secret. In fact, some of the people in the town already knew that the new building not only delves into alchemy, it also creates artifacts. However, those artifacts are only prototypes. Shin Jiao is thinking of turning that small workshop into a full-blown business in the immortal land.
And from there he would be able to gain more materials and energy cores to improve his power faster.
When Shin Jiao acknowledges his question with a nod, Fushang Xu knew that Shin Jiao is not just a simple artificer as what he looks. So he decided to take his chances.
"Umm… Can you make an artifact for me?"
"What kind of artifact are you looking for?"
"Hmmm… You see, the way I use my power is through the augmentation of my weapons and armor. I have a close affinity to lightning, so something that could augment my weapons or armor with lightning would be a good one."
"Oh, lightning… that's nice. Well, you can try and visit the shop and we will talk about it from there…" Shin Jiao said with a smile.
Fushang Xu showed a smile on his face as excitement could be seen in his eyes. Suddenly, the two who are silently listening to their talk suddenly walked closer.
"Ahem… We too would like to join in that business… It's fine, right?" Vitina Kiwazo grinned at Shin Jiao.
Seeing the reaction of the two, Shin Jiao knew that they too wanted an artifact. Hence he just nodded his head. As his first customer, he is already thinking of how many energy crystals of materials he could get from them.
The four of them seem to have gotten a bit closer as they cooperated in their journey.
As the group walks near the desert area, a hidden shadow who has been tailing them until now suddenly reveals itself before them.
About 100 meters away from the group stood a tall giant that blocks their path. The giant exudes a dark aura which suddenly covers the area of around 5 kilometers. Then the four noticed that their markers on the map suddenly disappear.
"Damn… A shadow being!" Vitina Kiwazo exclaimed as fear could be seen in her eyes.