Death Notice Book 8: Chapter 101: Ayala Weapon Casket

“Sigh!” Accompanied by a long sigh, the green light shield on the Weapon Case’s surface shattered into tiny emerald sparks, vanishing into the air.

The dryad’s face molded onto the Weapon Case slowly solidified and stiffened. Though its jade-green eyes still glimmered with a mysterious light, a closer look revealed the pupils had lost their vitality, appearing more like a raised carving on the case’s surface.

The bloody glow on Qin Lun’s palm faded just in time. He gripped the recessed handle of the Weapon Case. Instantly, a flood of information about this auxiliary equipment surfaced in his personal Death Notice.

Qin Lun’s eyes flashed. He gave the case’s handle a light squeeze.

Click! A faint mechanical sound echoed from the previously unresponsive case. Its jet-black sides popped open like car doors, revealing two pistols angled inside.

Thump! As if sensing its imprisonment end, Burial of Light and Darkness, nestled within the case, stirred as if waking from deep slumber. Whether by mechanism or its own awakening will, it ejected from its holster with a soft chime and landed perfectly in Qin Lun’s grasp.

The twin guns—one black, one white—flipped deftly around his fingers before vanishing into thin air, stored away in his personal Storage Space.

After stowing the pistols, Qin Lun gave the case’s handle a sharp shake. The open sides snapped shut, but the ends attached to the handle suddenly spread open. The thick case unfolded like a stack of metallic leaves, sliding apart automatically like a blooming flower or an eagle spreading its wings. Instantly, it transformed into a sleek, obsidian longbow.

This longbow looked vastly different from its original World Tree Longbow form. It resembled a dark phoenix ready for flight. The bow’s limbs were layered like metallic feathers. A phoenix head protruded at the center grip like a beak, its design forming a perfect nock for an arrow.

He plucked it gently; the mana string responded with a satisfying thrum, proving its taut resilience.

Having tested its bow form, Qin Lun shook the handle once more. This time, the transformation was deeper; a milky radiance engulfed the entire bow.

The gripped handle folded sharply at its center. The phoenix wings on either side swept forward, their metallic feathers merging and reorganizing into the shape of a sword. Yet, compared to the previous Frostwind Chaser, its form had also evolved.

The once austere sword hilt now resembled Ayala’s slender, elongated face. The dryad’s two horn-like vines entwined atop her head, now forming the sword’s grip. A plum-colored gem was embedded within what would be Ayala’s mouth at the crossguard—significantly smaller than before, as the dryad had consumed part of it during the fusion.

The blade, made from overlapping metallic feathers, fitted tightly together without gaps. However, the runes etched into the blade had changed. Seemingly forced into fusion by Ayala, the previously distinct magical symbols now merged together. Tiny, shimmering veins of light pulsed along the lines where the feathers joined.

Scanning the re-forged Frostwind Chaser’s stats in his Death Notice, Qin Lun couldn’t help a sigh. The sword, once Sub-Legendary grade, had been affected by the Ayala incident. Though its core skills remained, its quality had fallen from Sub-Legendary to Violet Gold.

While Violet Gold was only a step below Sub-Legendary, it was a chasm of difference. Thankfully, the Ice Sprite dwelling within the Zhuoja Amethyst—the large plum gem—had only been weakened and not destroyed. Hope for future restoration remained.

Qin Lun swung the sword several times. Frostwind Chaser left shimmering afterimages. Its inherent cold aura persisted—even strengthened—thanks to the absorbed Frost Gem’s essence. Where the blade’s shadow passed, tiny snowflakes crystallized in the forge’s air.

After inspecting the sword, Qin Lun flicked his wrist again.

Clatter! Frostwind Chaser responded instantly. The blade fragmented along the slender light veins, disintegrating into a flurry of feather-like segments. This time, however, the pieces didn’t form the bow, instead assembling into a three-meter-long spiked flail.

The flail, resembling a segmented spine ripped from a dragon, appeared terrifying. Each triangular segment merged into the next. At its tip gleamed a vicious, claw-like appendage; five hooked fingers curled like talons, their tips catching the light with a sharp glint.

Gazing at this reincarnation of his previously Blue Quality Claw Chain, Qin Lun felt deep satisfaction. Though the Ayala tree demon had consumed it entirely, erasing its unique weapon skill, its material quality had been elevated by tiers. Now, even a blow from Legendary Equipment likely wouldn’t shatter it.

He’d sought the claw chain primarily for traversing urban and rugged terrains. As long as it retained its grappling and climbing functions, he required nothing else.

Having tested the gear stored within the Weapon Case, Qin Lun refocused on the Weapon Case itself.

Master Francis had once mentioned during its forging that beyond rapidly deploying an Apostle’s existing gear, the case itself was imbued with unique functions.

Remembering this, Qin Lun lightly tossed the flail upward, letting it fall freely. Under his Apostle consciousness, the Weapon Case began transforming mid-air. The flail segments disassembled, swiftly reverting to the solid oblong shape of a weapon case.

At the moment of impact, three triangular spikes snapped out from the case’s base, forming a tripod that held it aloft. Yet, instead of staying suspended, the case slid a cylindrical component from its underside, pressing flush against the ground. The entire assembly now resembled a miniature pile driver—an odd sight.

“Don’t—” Seeing the case take this form, the old gnome observing nearby paled. He urgently stepped forward.

“Ah, Master, my apologies,” Qin Lun chuckled lightly. “I momentarily forgot my surroundings. Almost mistook this forge for an Apostle’s Training Ground.” He moved forward before activating the case’s innate ability, picking it up again.

“Succeeded?” Master Francis’s voice trembled with desperate hope as he stared at the Weapon Case in Qin Lun’s hand.

“Succeeded!” Smiling, Qin Lun handed him the Weapon Case.

The old gnome frantically wiped his oily hands on his smock. He accepted the Weapon Case with trembling reverence, cradling it like a newborn. From within his tunic, he pulled a monocle—an Apostle item appraisal lens bought from the Chaos Alliance—his hands shaking as he fitted it over one eye.

After only a brief glance at the case, Francis’s expression overflowed with emotion. He looked up at Qin Lun: “It surpasses Dark Gold, doesn’t it?”

His appraisal gear was top-grade; even Dark Gold Equipment revealed substantial stats. His inability to see any details about the case meant its excellence exceeded even Dark Gold Quality.

“Legendary. A first-tier Legendary Equipment!” Qin Lun confirmed respectfully. “Though its internal structure differs slightly from your initial design, this is unquestionably a Legendary item forged by your hand!”

(Internal Death Notice Readout):

Ayala Weapon Casket (Portable Auxiliary Gear)

Quality: Legendary Tier 1

Materials: Starfall Iron, World Tree branch, Frost Gem, Elemental Burst Bead, etc.

Weight: 2600 g

Attributes: Perception +15; Spirit +12; Strength -5; Agility -7.

Artifact Spirit: Ayala Dryad, Ice Sprite

Combined Equipment: Frostwind Chaser (Violet Gold Quality)

Accessory Forms: Ayala Longbow, Dryad Ghost Claws

Equipment Slot 1: Empty; Equipment Slot 2: Empty

Governing Edicts: Green Gift, Arid Glacier

Green Gift: This Edict grants Apostles nature’s feedback. In vegetated areas, Perception and Spirit surge substantially while physical Strength and Agility slightly ebb. By absorbing surrounding plant life essence, it increases Stamina/Energy and Vitality regeneration by 350% of the base rate.

Arid Glacier: This device rapidly absorbs water molecules within its vicinity, causing the ground to dry and crack. Simultaneously, it unleashes stored frost energy in a single burst, freezing and sealing the entire area solid.

Function Note 1: Ayala Weapon Casket utilizes internal, shape-shifting equipment slots, able to house any two gear pieces totaling 5 units in volume.

Function Note 2: Green Gift is a passive ability. Arid Glacier, an active skill, requires setting the casket into Ground Deployment mode. After releasing stored frost energy, it needs three full days to replenish absorbed ice elements.

Requirements: Apostles must possess a Wood Element Affinity and over 50 Perception to utilize Green Gift. Arid Glacier requires an Earth Element Affinity and approval from Frostwind Chaser’s Ice Sprite.

Recalling the case’s stats, a glint of cunning flashed through Qin Lun’s eyes. He hadn’t shared the full truth with Master Francis. The internal mechanisms, reshaped entirely by Ayala, differed starkly from the original design. The pistol holster slots for Burial of Light and Darkness had manifested after Ayala’s awakening. This structure possessed liquid memory properties, able to reshape itself to fit any gear roughly matching the twin pistols’ dimensions.

Still, explaining this to Francis was unnecessary. Whether due to Ayala or not, the Legendary item was forged by the gnome master’s hands—that truth remained undeniable.

“Legendary Equipment… My first entirely self-designed and forged Legendary!” Gazing longingly at the Weapon Case, Francis eventually returned it to Qin Lun. After a hesitant pause, he inquired earnestly, “That rebellious Dryad Artifact Spirit… has it truly submitted? Is it no longer a danger to the Weapon Case?”

Qin Lun chuckled softly at the question. “Worry not, Master Francis. Though the spirit remains bonded to the case, its free will and memories are completely expunged. Now, it’s as docile as a newborn babe.”

Relief washed over Francis. Then a sheepish expression flickered across his face as he remembered something else. “Well… Qin Lun… there is one more matter…”