[You reached out to touch the rack, quietly sensing…]

[A fierce sword intent still lingered where the blade had rested all these years.]

[Such a sharp sword aura, and a weapon your master had sealed away here, you could only think of one: the ninja blade Dragon Sword Masamune, the famous divine weapon that once shook Sakura Falls.]

[The sword that had lain dormant for so many years seemed ready to bare its edge again and taste fresh blood beside its master.]

[You let out a long sigh. That your master had brought Dragon Sword Masamune meant he had no absolute confidence in this journey to the No-Illusions Shrine. Even in his frail state, he was prepared to endure the sword’s harsh aura again.]

[You continued to search the hut. Soon, inside a wooden cabinet, you discovered a strange set of weapons.]

[This set contained four pieces, two hooked gauntlets and two hooked greaves. The sharp talons were like the claws of a savage raptor: brutal, bloodthirsty, and deadly.]

[This was the weapon your master had carried before he obtained Dragon Sword Masamune. It was also a renowned ninja armament.]

[You obtained Golden Roc Raptor Claws (Epic Weapon)!]

[Golden Roc Raptor Claws (Epic Weapon): This weapon is an evolved form of the hooked gauntlet, its design embodying the savage power of raptors. The multiple blades affixed to each talon increase the cutting surface and produce terrifying destructive force. Because of this cruelty, the Golden Roc Raptor Claws have long been feared as instruments of slaughter.]

[Using this weapon requires exceptional physical mastery. Only by transforming the raptor’s claws into actual slashing, stabbing, and tearing strikes can the weapon’s full power be unleashed.]

[When paired with stealth-type ninjutsu, this weapon allows the user to remain hidden even after landing a lethal blow.]

[Enemies wounded by this weapon suffer ‘Severe Bleeding,’ unless healed, this condition will persist until death.]

“…This weapon is excellent!”

Although it had considerable usage requirements, it shared the hidden blade’s advantage of staying invisible after an instant kill.

Even if an attack failed to kill outright, the powerful bleeding effect would still finish the job.

Lin Xun figured that an ordinary Apostle would have to complete a whole series of Ninja Master quests to obtain such a weapon.

But his soul talent was simply too broken, he had just turned into an insider, walked straight into the barrier, and effortlessly claimed it.

“Too bad the Raptor Claws are only Epic grade. Once I have enough money, I’ll go to the library and upgrade them to Epic+. That’ll be the perfect endgame weapon for an assassin shell.”

He thought about it, his Earth Giant’s weapon and the Direct Vision President’s weapon were both still stuck at Epic too. Upgrading those would have to get in line…

Weapons could graduate, and so could shells. There were plenty of ninjas in this chapter, acquiring a high-tier assassin shell was now the top priority.

He equipped the Golden Roc Raptor Claws to the Chunin shell.

Although this shell’s strength was ‘nothing special,’ at least its martial training wasn’t lacking, making it fully capable of wielding the weapon.

Lin Xun searched the hut once more. Seeing nothing else of value, he returned to the ship.

[…]

[You boarded the three-masted warship and saw several thief corpses sprawled on the deck.]

[The bodies were nailed to the planks by arrows through the chest. The remaining thieves cowered under the gaze of Battle Angel – Valkyrie, not daring to make the slightest move.]

[What orders will you give the thieves?]

“Eh?”

Lin Xun wasn’t surprised that the Valkyrie had disposed of unruly thieves. What surprised him was that during his exploration on the island, he hadn’t received any [Your Watcher has defeated XXX] text notifications.

“Does being too far away mean I don’t get any experience?”

He ordered the ship to set sail again, heading for Sakura Falls.

[The thieves raised the anchor, hoisted the sails, and the ship resumed its course…]

[…]

While the ship traveled, Lin Xun called the Valkyrie below deck to perform a transplant surgery.

He transferred the Dancer’s Eyeball of the Subterranean Shadow Fiend King into the Chunin shell.

With the ninja’s face hidden behind a mask, he didn’t need to worry about anyone noticing the change and drawing unwanted attention.

Perhaps because both shells had stealth abilities, the transplant went off without a hitch, no mishaps like the effect failing to activate.

The Chunin shell perfectly inherited the stealth enhancement. Even better, Lin Xun discovered an additional benefit.

With the Dim Shadow bonus, the Chunin shell’s ninjutsu no longer required Purple Mist Pellets to enter stealth successfully. A pleasant surprise.

During the long voyage, night fell, and the ship neared its destination.

[You stepped onto the deck and stood at the prow, gazing out. Under the cold moonlight, the sea stretched black and silent.]

[At the far edge of your sight, you glimpsed the huge silhouette of land. The place called Sakura Falls was sparsely lit, silent and grim.]

[You summoned all the thieves into the ship’s hold and locked the doors tightly…]

[You formed a seal with both hands, turned lightly, and your shadowy eyes opened, your figure vanished from the cabin!]

[As cold gleams flashed, the sharp Golden Roc Raptor Claws swung out. With every lift of your hand or kick of your foot, you carved deep, bone-revealing wounds into your enemies’ bodies…]

[You defeated Fire-Worshipping Heartless Thief…]

[You defeated…]

[Screams erupted on all sides. The thieves tried to flee the cabin, but awaiting them were the Valkyrie’s merciless arrows.]

[In no time, blood flowed like a river through the hold. When it was over, not a single living soul remained besides you and the Valkyrie.]

[You possessed the Corrupted Earth Giant shell!]

[You opened a single crimson eye…]

[The colossal club in your hand burst into roaring flames. Undying fire swept across the entire warship…]

[…]

[You possessed the Deep-Sea Siren shell.]

[With a sweep of your massive tail, you leapt into the pitch-black sea. Looking back, you saw the three-masted warship engulfed in Undying Flames, about to sink beneath the waves.]

[You slipped beneath the water, swimming toward Sakura Falls…]

[…]

[After a long swim, you finally neared the port…]

[Moonlight fell over the scene. In the darkness, the harbor was desolate and cold. No ships were moored here, no people moved about, everything in sight was in ruins and decay.]

[Clearly, this was an abandoned port.]

[You quietly climbed ashore. With a flicker, you possessed a Fire-Worshipping Heartless Thief shell and set foot on the land of Sakura Falls.]

[In the harbor floated a massive page, strikingly bright against the dark night.]

[You discovered a fragment of the Book of Salvation, Resting Page!]

“Why is this damned game suddenly so considerate? A respawn point the moment I land?”

Lin Xun stepped forward to touch the page, setting this place as his new revival point.

[You passed through the Resting Page and walked a few steps farther, coming to a notice board standing at the harbor.]

[By moonlight, you read the words and symbols upon it.]

[The notice board marked several locations near the harbor: the Fish Market, the Scallion-Tuna Tavern, and the Idyllic Pleasure Quarter.]

[Where will you go first?]

The first location was clearly a place for trade. The second was a tavern for food and drink.

As for the third… judging by the name, it didn’t look like any respectable establishment.

Lin Xun picked the third option without hesitation.

After all, he planned to explore the entire map. Why not start with the place he found most interesting?

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep