SSS Awakening: Rebirth of the Strongest Vampire God Chapter 702 Mask of the Nameless King

Damon gave a nod. He chose to equip the item right away and examine its capabilities. In the end, should it prove useless to him for now, there would be no reason to take any risks. He raised the mask and settled it onto his face.

At once, a chilly, smooth feeling washed over his skin as the mask melted into shimmering golden particles, blending perfectly with his face. Symbols flared up behind his eyes, and a subdued golden light pulsed briefly. A rush of data surged into his mind.

Ding! [You have equipped a Legendary Grade Item]

Ding! [You have earned the achievement 'Legendary'. All your other items now have the ability to self-repair and withstand a higher amount of direct damage.]

[Mask of the Nameless King]

Grade: Legendary

Type: Facial Equipment

This mask once belonged to the King without a name. The Nameless King governed with justice and wisdom. When a devastating plague ravaged his kingdom, the King offered up his name, his features, his very being, tying them to the mask to ensure his realm survived even after he faded away.

Nameless Veil (Passive): S rank skill

The wearer's aura, intent, will, soul, bloodline, presence, and identity get fully concealed. Skills that detect through senses, tracking powers, fate-related strikes, and effects linked to names face severe hindrance. The wearer comes across as an ordinary, forgettable figure.

***

Damon exhaled slowly. For a Legendary artifact, having just one skill might seem disappointingly sparse on the surface, yet the true value lay hidden in the nuances. Though it possessed only a single power, that power held S-rank potency!

This marked the initial S-rank skill Damon had encountered across his two lives, excluding the insanely dominant ability bound straight to his bloodline. And in contrast to typical skills that scaled up gradually, this one started at the pinnacle without buildup.

Initially, Damon had anticipated the mask would merely dampen his vampiric aura and blood essence, allowing him to masquerade as a Light-faction adventurer with some careful steps. That by itself would have proven priceless. Yet this... this surpassed mere hiding.

It didn't just mask his strength; it wiped out his entire existence.

Armed with this, he could even venture back into the light faction continent with confidence, even with B ranks in hot pursuit. To everyone else, he turned into an insignificant void that drew no attention. That power was downright chilling.

Wearing this mask meant no more creeping through darkness or depending only on false appearances and wariness. He could stride openly onto the Light-faction continent, past fortified towns, guild domains, and even zones swarming with B-rank hunters on his trail, and they'd overlook him entirely.

A subtle, menacing smile tugged at Damon's lips. The moment had arrived to leave the wilds behind, for at least one version of himself. Could his clone endure such separation? How much autonomy did it truly possess?

Damon shrugged it off. Discovery demanded action. He donned the mask and nodded to the trio of blacksmiths. "You three performed admirably. Thanks for rushing this." Damon then produced three vials and, before their eyes, filled them with his blood. "You can now join as my blood followers. The decision rests with you."

The three blacksmiths gazed at the vials in Damon's grasp, at the deep red fluid inside that throbbed with an alarming life force. Even without any released pressure, the blood exuded a weight that set their survival instincts ablaze. The old ghost flashed an eager grin. "...Hoh," he murmured, dropping the jest. "Grab it and down it now. That's your master's command."

The three blacksmiths swallowed hard. "Believe me, regret won't cross your minds." The old ghost nodded with grave assurance.

Leonel, the senior blacksmith, regained his composure first. He advanced and dropped to his knees without delay, forehead touching the ground. "This disciple has made his choice," he declared resolutely. "Without you, my lord, we'd never have handled a legendary artifact in our lives. Our journeys would have halted ages ago. This blood... I accept it. Serving you becomes my fate from this day onward and always."

The second and third followed suit, each taking their vials with profound respect and devotion.

Damon nodded. He understood that this act would forever alter their destinies, but having progressed this far, pushing forward remained the sole path. He passed the vials to them one after another. As each blacksmith consumed the contents, their forms trembled fiercely. Blood raced through their channels like searing metal, etching symbolic designs under their flesh before retreating deeper.

They collapsed to the ground and began writhing as if gripped by excruciating agony. Simultaneously, their eyes bulged in astonishment while they gaped at the alerts appearing before them.

"Primordial...." One whispered hoarsely.

"You are a...." The other shook and grew ashen.

With Damon's genuine nature now unveiled to them, the trio regarded him in total awe and veneration. They had foreseen him as remarkable, yet this revelation overwhelmed them completely.

Their fresh Master, their Lord and their God turned out to be a Primordial!

A wild gleam flickered across the faces of the three, gradually shifting into unyielding determination. The torment faded into irrelevance, and all their doubts and fears over reshaping their ways vanished entirely.

Before long, the three blacksmiths stood up gradually, panting yet steady on their feet. "We thank you for this gift, my Lord. We won't disappoint you, my Lord." They lowered their heads fully and avoided meeting his gaze.

"From now forward, our hammers, our skills, and our very lives are yours. We'll craft arms befitting a Primordial, or shatter in the attempt."

The old ghost hovered at their backs, arms folded, his smile keen and pleased. "Hah... See, I warned you," he boasted. "No regrets ahead. My initial disciple matches your extraordinariness, despite his dubious forging talent."

Damon's expression flickered, but he ignored the elder vampire. "That's sufficient. I'm confident you three will achieve great feats. Today, your destinies have shifted. Ensure it proves worthwhile."