49: The Gift of Legends, the Eve of the Demonic Tide

That orange glow was the color all players in The World of 'Era' dreamed of, a color that truly represented 'legendary grade,' surpassing even Amethyst grade!

Lin Mo suppressed his inner excitement and focused his thoughts on the ancient yet exquisite necklace in his backpack. The next second, a dazzling attribute panel unfurled slowly before his eyes like a scroll.

【Aila's Wither Charm (legendary grade)】

【Type: Accessory / Necklace】

【Level Requirement: None】

【Equip Bound: Lin Mo】

【Spirit: +80】

【Intelligence: +75】

【Special Effect One: Heart of Wither — All your 'Wither' rule effects are increased by 30%. When you apply a [Wither] effect to a target, an additional, undispellable [Soul Weakness] status will be applied, reducing all of its attributes by 3% for 10 seconds. This effect cannot stack.】

【Special Effect Two: Saintess's Protection — Passive effect: Your resistance to all negative statuses is increased by 20%. When actively activated, it creates a [Purification Shield] that absorbs (100 * Player Level) points of damage. While the shield persists, you are immune to all control effects. Cooldown: 12 hours.】

【Special Effect Three: rule Steal (Unique) — When you kill a Lord-grade unit or above, there is an extremely low chance to steal a 'Rule Power' it possesses from its corpse and permanently integrate it into your Divine Talent [Endless Poison Source], granting it an additional growth. (Note: This effect can trigger at most once per month, and the success rate of stealing is affected by luck and the target's tier)】

【Remark: "When you gaze into the abyss, please take my blessing and Protection. May the rule of Wither blossom into new glory in your hands." — Aila Frostwhisper】

“Hiss—!”

When he saw all the attributes of this legendary grade charm, even with Lin Mo's two-lifetime composure, he couldn't help but gasp sharply, his heart pounding wildly as if clutched by an invisible hand!

Perverted!

This could no longer be described as "powerful"; this was simply an utterly unreasonable, perverted piece of equipment!

First, the basic attributes: a staggering 80 points of Spirit and 75 points of Intelligence, almost equivalent to the total attributes of four or five top-tier pieces of equipment on a player at the current stage! For Lin Mo, whose core relies on magic damage and Spirit resistance, this was undoubtedly an epic enhancement.

And the three special effects, each one was heaven-defying!

【Heart of Wither】 directly increased his [Rule: Withering] effect by 30% and additionally applied a debuff that reduced all attributes! Its role in high-end PVP duels and BOSS raid battles was simply immeasurable! A 3% reduction in all attributes might seem small, but for a BOSS with millions of health, it meant tens of thousands of health points reduced and a significant drop in attack and defense!

【Saintess's Protection】 passively increased negative status resistance by 20%, making him almost a "control insulator." And the actively activated [Purification Shield] was an ultimate Life-saving divine skill that combined damage absorption and control immunity! A period of "control immunity" for an assassin class was even more valuable than invincibility! This meant he could perform the most perfect dance of death in the midst of an army without worrying about being interrupted by any control skills!

If the first two special effects merely pushed the word "powerful" to its extreme, then the third special effect, [rule Steal], had already touched the realm of "God"!

Stealing the Rule Power of a BOSS and integrating it into one's own talent!

What kind of domineering, heaven-defying ability was this!

What was the core power system of 'epoch'? It was "rule"! Ordinary players played with data, but those with Divine Talents, like him, played with rules!

This special effect gave Lin Mo an infinite possibility to continuously devour, evolve, and make his own talent more comprehensive!

"Is this... the true power of legendary grade equipment?" Lin Mo muttered, his eyes filled with shock.

This [Aila's Wither Charm] was no longer just a simple piece of equipment. It was like a puzzle piece that perfectly filled all of Lin Mo's current shortcomings and guided his future growth path in an even broader, more terrifying direction!

He took a deep breath and equipped the charm. A cool yet vibrant power instantly flowed through his body, making his spirit feel clearer and stronger than ever before.

"Hero from another world, it seems you are very pleased with my gift."

Saintess Aila's voice softly echoed, pulling Lin Mo back from his excited emotions. Her voice carried a hint of relieved ease, but more than that, a deep weariness.

"This is too precious," Lin Mo said sincerely.

"This is what you deserve." Aila's gaze seemed to pierce through ten thousand years of profound ice, gently watching him. "You saved not just me, but this land that is about to be devoured by the abyss. And... this is also the last thing I can do."

As the Purification ritual completed, the ice layer on Aila's body was slowly becoming transparent, and her own figure began to turn ethereal.

"You're going to disappear?" Lin Mo frowned.

"No, just returning to slumber." Aila gently shook her head. "This Purification has exhausted my last bit of power. Before the next Abyssal Rift fully erupts, I'm afraid I won't be able to awaken again. The path ahead, you must walk it yourself."

Her gaze became incredibly profound, as if seeing through time and space, glimpsing a scene from the future.

"Remember, the Demon Invasion is merely a beginning. When the crimson tide sweeps across the land, when the throne in the sky is stained with blood, that will be the true catastrophe of The World of 'Era'. Don't trust anyone, especially... those who call themselves 'God'."

"God?" Lin Mo keenly caught this keyword.

"Time is running out..." Aila's voice became increasingly ethereal. "Go, return to your world, and become stronger. When one day you can stand at the peak of the world, perhaps... we will meet again."

The moment her words fell, the entire Icebound Throne suddenly erupted in an extremely dazzling white light. Lin Mo only felt a soft but irresistible force envelop him, and the scene before his eyes began to twist and change rapidly.

【Ding! You have been teleported out of the epic quest map [Withered Snow Domain]!】

When Lin Mo opened his eyes again, the howling blizzard and biting cold wind were gone, replaced by the familiar hustle and bustle of City of Glory.

He was back.

Back to the eye of the storm.

And at this moment, less than ten minutes remained until 'epoch''s first major version update, [Demon Invasion].

The entire game world had completely fallen into a fervent, almost boiling atmosphere.

The official forum was already flooded with overwhelming posts.

【Title】: Nuclear Explosion Warning! 'epoch' 1.0 Version [Demon Invasion] 10-minute countdown! Brothers, are you ready!

【Poster】: I'm hyped! How long have I waited for this day! I heard this update will open guild wars and new World BOSSes. Brothers of all major guilds, see you on the battlefield!

【1st Floor】: Selling various potions, enchantment scrolls in the front row! Prepare for the new version, buy now!

【2nd Floor】: Oracle Guild recruiting! Guild leader Goddess Luo Li personally leads the raid. Requirements: Level 20 or above, full set of Blue Crystal grade equipment, priority for those with extensive online game experience!

【3rd Floor】: Ba Tian Guild expresses defiance! I, Overlord Tiger, am the first to defy! Who dares to fight me, Overlord, in the new version!

【4th Floor】: By the way... have you noticed that Great God Lin Mo has been missing for almost three hours? His position as number one on the level ranking hasn't changed.

【5th Floor】: Indeed! I just checked, not only the level ranking, but there's no news about him on the forum either. Is this guy planning some big move?

【6th Floor】: I bet five cents Great God Lin Mo is definitely doing some hidden quest! Have you forgotten how he soloed Mad Dragon's hundreds of people last time? Every time he disappears for a while and then reappears, the entire game shakes!

【7th Floor】: Hype level maxed out! I wonder what kind of surprise (or scare) Great God Lin Mo will bring us with this version update!

Countless players gathered in the main city's squares, taverns, and auction houses, discussing the upcoming new version. All major guilds had mobilized their elites, assembling in the leveling zones outside the city, eager to make their mark and seize the first wave of resources in the new version.

In the air, a sense of tension and excitement, signaling an impending great war, permeated.

Lin Mo stood in an inconspicuous corner, activated Stealth, and silently observed everything. He didn't contact anyone, nor did he show off the legendary grade equipment he had just acquired.

He was like a top-tier predator, always accustomed to hiding himself in the deepest shadows before delivering a fatal blow, quietly waiting for his prey to appear.

He opened his quest panel and looked at the [The Fading Legacy] quest from his mentor, Karsas, finding that the status had updated to "awaiting next instruction." Clearly, this hidden main storyline would be closely linked to the [Demon Invasion] version.

Then, he opened his friends list. Summer Rain's and Iron Wall's avatars were both lit up, and they had sent him several messages.

Summer Rain: "Lin Mo, where are you? The version is about to update. Should we act together?"

Iron Wall: "Brother Mo, reply when you see this! We're all waiting for your news!"

A faint smile touched Lin Mo's lips, and he sent a simple reply.

"City of Glory, Central Plaza, wait for me by the teleportation array."

Having done all this, he looked up at the sky.

The originally clear blue sky had, at some unknown point, quietly taken on a faint crimson hue. A suppressed, chaotic energy, full of sulfur and destruction, was furiously gathering on the other side of the world, as if ready to tear through space and descend at any moment.

All online players, at this moment, simultaneously looked up.

Immediately after, a grand, cold, emotionless system prompt, like the final Judgment of a god, resounded in every corner of The World of 'Era'.

【World Announcement: Version Update Countdown!】

【10!】

【9!】

...【3!】

【2!】

【1!】

【Ding!】

【'epoch' 1.0 Version — [Demon Invasion], officially launched!】

Boom—!!!

The moment the words fell, an enormous crimson spatialfissure, like the giant eye of a demon opening, suddenly tore open above City of Glory!