Chapter 1099: Specter Swamp

"Haha, I climbed up!" Calveb laughed, resting upon reaching the peak as he looked at Krune. "Where is the Spiritual Mark?"

"This way," Krune said after staring at his Soul Needle. "It seems to be pretty near."

"But it's too hot here," Calveb could not help but say, drinking up his reserve of water that he had brought. "It feels like walking through a desert."

"You're indeed right," Krune said in response, looking at the Sun Stones embedded in the rocks nearby. "The quality of the Sun Stones here is also superior."

He then led them over numerous windings over the mountain peak, soon arriving before a boulder that seemed to be receiving the most sunlight all day long. During the night, it was absorbing the heat radiated by the mountain.

Due to this reason, the Sun Stones embedded within this rock were of the greatest quality they had ever witnessed. Then again, both of them weren't concerned about the Sun Stones, awestruck as they gazed at a symbol hovering above the boulder.

It was emanating a faint radiance akin to gentle sunlight. The emitted heat cast onto them like warmth, but after a couple of seconds, the warmth turned uncomfortable as Calveb began to sweat uncontrollably.

Right as they felt uncomfortable, the Spiritual Mark emitted a faint fluctuation, telling them of its nature.

Sun Stone Spiritual Mark!

"Sun Stone Spiritual Mark..." Both of them muttered in response as Calveb asked, "What do you think this Spiritual Mark does?"

"The ability of a Sun Stone..." Krune continued after some thought, "Based on what I can feel from it, the ability of this Spiritual Mark is exactly as its name dictates. It can create Sun Stones. The created Sun Stones should be of a quality even superior to the ones here."

"Sun Stones are pretty valuable," he continued. "They can emit heat and light. They can also ward off any illness or poisonous substances in the air. Since they're effective against the Poison Spectre, you can think of them as the bane of anything related to the traits a Poison Spectre possesses. That includes poisons and other negative ailments."

"It has a strategic value," Krune concluded. "As long as you have this, you can create a clan of your own and become tremendously rich just by selling these Sun Stones."

"Are you not planning to get this Spiritual Mark?" Calveb asked after considering everything Krune had said.

"No, I never lack any wealth," Krune replied, mildly boasting. "I've been pretty rich for most of my life."

'Even now, I managed to collect enough funds to establish a clan within a couple of days using my Soul Needle,' Krune thought. 'So, this Spiritual Mark is useless for me."

"I see." Calveb thought through a lot, sighing in the end. "I don't want this Spiritual Mark either. I can obtain enough wealth through selling my Talismans. I need an offensive Spiritual Mark."

"Then, let's return after getting some Sun Stones," Krune said to him. "I feel like the Spiritual Marks we encounter here are one of the weakest Spiritual Marks."

"I feel the same too," Calveb responded in agreement as he slowly fished out five Sun Stones. They planned to use one each to defend themselves against the effects present in the area of the Poison Spectre. They planned to throw one Sun Stone each onto a Poison Spectre and end it. The fifth one was a spare, to be used just in case.

Krune kept one Sun Stone within his ethereal form, feeling its color become tinged with a mild orange hue.

'Wait, how is this possible?' He was suddenly shocked to notice the Soul Needle drilling into the Sun Stone on its own as it began to absorb the Sun Stone's properties into it, soon being tinged with a faint orange color on its tip.

As for the Sun Stone, it lost its properties, crumbling into dust as Krune retracted his ethereal form, causing the dust to spill on the ground.

"..."

"Can you fish out a couple more Sun Stones?"

"Alright."

Krune placed a second Sun Stone within his ethereal form, observing the Soul Needle not taking any action. It seemed to be a one-off action. After observing for some time, they began to descend the mountain as Calveb groaned all along, taking more time than usual since he was no longer motivated at the prospect of finding a Spiritual Mark.

...

Spectre Swamp. It was the area where the Poison Spectres roamed about. Krune and Calveb arrived at the place, hiding beyond the edges.

"Here, take this." Calved handed out a tiny wooden plate, saying, "This would erect a barrier around you for a couple of minutes. During this duration, the poisonous winds of this place wouldn't affect you. With that, once you see a Poison Spectre, run straight at it, throw the Sun Stone right on its face and retreat within the time limit."

"Alright, thanks," Krune said, noticing his Soul Needle pointing at a certain direction deep within the Spectre Swamp.

Noticing the Soul Needle's actions, Calveb was stunned for a moment before becoming excited. "There was the Nightmare Spiritual Mark in the territory of the Nightmare Demon Wolves, the Sun Stone Spiritual Mark in the region with the Sun Stones. Then that means, this place would have..."

"Poison Spectre Spiritual Mark!" The both of them muttered simultaneously as Krune noticed an obvious excitement in Calveb's face.

"Are you sure you wish to obtain this Spiritual Mark? There would be stronger ones in the later trials, you know," Krune persuaded him.

"There's no such thing as the strongest Spiritual Mark but the most optimal Spiritual Mark," Calveb laughed as he replied. "If I really think it's what I think it does, then it's perfect for me."

"If you say so." Krune nodded after hearing that. "But it should be deep within this territory. How are we supposed to be safe until we reach that far?"

"There's no problem with that." Calveb laughed, completely using up a Talisman Pastel to create a complex Talisman for the both of them before saying, "This should last us for two hours in this area. That should be enough for a round trip, right?"

"Of course!" Krune laughed as the two of them entered the Spectre Swamp.