138 Finding a Tomb No One Knew Existed (2/2)
Unfazed by the fact that Jack had known all along, he continued following Bowzer's guidance.
They fought two more zombie trolls and claimed two more magic items. It was clear to everyone that the items weer random and varied in level.
One was only lv. 15, which saddened them all except for Jack who knew it was peak-tier equipment.
The second item amazed them all. It was lv. 45! If any of them returned to their families with such an item, it would cement their standing in the family and guarantee that their parents would offer them only the best resources in the future.
”Shhh… we're almost there.” Jack stopped the party in its tracks and pulled out a simple-looking wooden staff. Its appearance wasn't extraordinary, but Keela instantly recognized it.
”That's the missing staff!” Keela announced the truth to her fellow hostages without carrying if Jack heard her or not. ”You were the one who stole it? Why?”
”Isn't it obvious? It's how I'll find the tomb.” The staff was blinking red somehow and the others felt it's strange light. ”See, we're close!”
Holding the staff ahead of him, the blinking became brighter and brighter. After five minutes of walking, Jack stopped in the middle of a tunnel. The staff was emitting a solid stream of red light without a single flicker.
”Here…” Jack took a deep breath. Though it wasn't the first tomb he had found, it would be the most influential to his progress. There was no telling what he might find inside the tomb.
”Stay back, if you get too close to the door before I give the okay, I won't be merciful,” stated Jack coldly, stunning the others who had gotten adjusted to the smiling, friendly Jack.
Not wanting to wait any longer, Jack swung the staff harshly against the cavern wall.
”Thud!”
No marks were seen on the wall and the sound the attack made wasn't all that loud. The young family heirs felt left down. They were expecting an amazing entrance and thunderous reveal for a mighty hero's tomb to open and appear.
However, another second passed and they all looked back at the wall. It was changing! An opening was somehow forming and a marble entryway appeared in the wall exactly where Jack had hit.
Looking up, they all read the name on the tomb's entrance.
”Ponlinne”
”Wait here for five minutes. If I haven't come back out by then, you have my permission to enter.” Jack gave one last warning before he went down the winding staircase inside the marble entryway.
Those who were hostages now had no captor, but they all remained just outside the marble entryway. They thought Jack would be forced to later surrender his findings, so why piss him off now?
Inside the tomb, Jack struggled to remain calm. He had been in that world for a short time and he had never really learned about any truly powerful people. Now, he finally found an ancient tomb of one.
The inside was lined with dozens of chests and there was also a fountain just beyond Ponlinne's sepulcher.
”The life spring…”
Jack walked up to it and ran his hands through the water. He knew that the water had healing properties and was quite valuable. However, he wasn't after the spring's water, Jack was after the source of the spring's water.
After filling a handful of bottles with the spring's water, Jack stepped into the fountain. Nearing its center, Jack reached inside of the fountain's spout.
It took a moment but Jack found what he was looking for. Gently, Jack pulled his hand back out and it was now in a fist.
Opening his hand, Jack saw the life spring jewel. It was the very rare item used to revive fallen comrades, given that they hadn't perished too long ago. Being filled with life energy, an unused life spring jewel would over time create a spring's worth of water which had properties similar to healing potions.
Jack stored it with haste and ran his hand over the sepulcher to gain Ponlinne's activity log for further study. He really wanted to know how such a powerful adventurer died and what could kill him outside of the Holy War?
With everything stored and a minute to spare, Jack quickly entered his system menu and hurried to claim his tomb achievement.
There was one small detail that struck Jack dumb. He had gained exactly eighty-seven skill points, not eighty-five.
The last two tomb achievements had given Jack skill points equivalent to the tomb owner's level. If Jack had received eighty-seven skill points, didn't that mean…