After hearing that, Yvraine was frozen in shock because Artifacts with Ego are exceedingly rare nowadays. Not many could create it, and depending on the natural conditions was just a pipe dream.
Typically, it required either special conditions to create one or someone very skillful artisan or Transcendent. Not even Gods of Blacksmithing couldn't create Ego Artifacts each time or other Transcendents skilled in these fields.
Even Nesser Dynasty and other top mortal factions had only a few Ego Artifacts at their disposal, as those were something that even Transcendents greatly coveted. Even from top mortal factions, only a few of them officially possessed some Ego Artifacts, and generally, if they did, they were weapons.
If a powerful Ego Artifact appeared on the lower floors, it wasn't uncommon to see Gods, Daemons, Devils, Dragons, and other powerful beings descending down to fight for it. Not even Transcendents were spared from the greed of the Ego Weapon.
Last time, even a few Tower Guardians and one Gatekeeper joined the fray; as they were fighting for the powerful Ego Sword appeared on the 46th Floor, where it was dug up by some lucky mortal. During their fight, the entire 46th Floors was destroyed, and even Legendaries were used just as cannon fodder during that war.
Yvraine didn't know that the armor had an Ego already; she took it because it was a Holy-Grade Artifact that nobody in her family used for countless millenias, so she came to the conclusion that no one would probably notice if it was gone.
"It attempted to corrupt me and cast me into the madness... what a load of hippogriff shit."
Samiel cursed as he admired himself, how badass he looked in the new armor. He finally had some suitable armor for himself, and he had to admit, while he liked the military style of his former outfit more, right now, he looked more menacing, just like a worshipper of Outer Gods should be.
Though he made a mental note that he should procure himself some similar outfit for casual wear. After that, he opened the record of Rao's Vengence.
[Name: Rao's Vengence
Grade: Holy (seriously damaged)
Description: Armor made from the corpse of an Ancient Primordial God of Sun Rao and various rare metals collected across the entire Cosmos, containing all of his resentment and hatred for the world of the living, it was named Rao's Vengence, and after thousands of years of absorbing negative energy and souls of its bearers, it developed an Ego, becoming an Ego Artifact.
After it was almost destroyed, the armor of Rao's Vengence fell to the Holy-Grade and is currently deteriorating. To repair it completely, multiple precious ores and metals are needed, additionally as other things.
Abilities:
1st Corruption - Has corrupting effect on its bearer and usually leads to madness.
2nd Berserker - Upon Awakening the Armor, ignored all physical or physical pain for the host to continue to fight on.
3rd Mana Absorption - Can absorb Mana and Spells, making the User nemesis of magic casters.
4th Growth - Can grow and restore itself by assimilating material, metals, ores, crystals, and even souls of powerful beings.
Note: Currently, all abilities aside from Growth are sealed until the armor is restored to optimal condition. Be aware that the armor is currently in a state of constant deterioration; if it deteriorates below the limit, it could completely crumble apart.
Restoration Process: 0%]
Samiel read the description; he didn't know whether to laugh or cry. On the one hand, he basically obtained a golden finger from the start, as the Armour was overpowered, and just the fact that even in a half-destroyed deteriorating state, it was still Holy-Grade Artifact was astounding.
On the other hand, it was in a half-destroyed deteriorating state, meaning the state of the Armour was constantly being worsened, and if he didn't do anything, it would fall even further and further until it would fall apart.
After pondering over it, he explained the situation to Yvraine as, in the end, it was her's or rather, it belonged to her family, the Nesser Dynasty of the Silvermoon Elves. It was a bit awkward situation, as technically speaking, it was a stolen piece of equipment he had.
But fortunately, nobody will probably recognize it. As it was located in the vaults of the Imperial Family of the Nesser Dynasty of the Silvermoon Elves, only a very few people could enter that place, and most of them were Yvraine's family.
"Hmm... this is problematic; even though I tried to wear it once, it never reacted so violently towards me as to you. Additionally, wearing it to combat might be a bad idea, as it could speed up the destruction process if you get hit many, many times. Or at least try to not be hit many times."
After Samiel explained the situation to Yvraine, she stated her opinion about the thing before she thought about the possible solutions to the deterioration problem.
"For now, it would be best to initiate the restoration process of the armor, but for that, we would need to find some ores or metals, and based on that, this thing was originally Transcendent-Grade Artifact; we need to find precious ones..."
Said Yvraine as she started searching through her memories where on the first floor, they could obtain something that could at least stop the deterioration process of the Armour temporarily.
"There are some ore deposits in the Lambrean Mountains."
Exclaimed Yvraine after pondering over it for some time. Indeed the Lambrean Mountains were filled with rich deposits of rare ores, metals, and other minerals. Though from what Samiel heard, most of them were dangerous as hell, some with even Legendary Level Magical Beasts overseeing some of those deposits.
"And could it be really done? Speaking like realistically done."
Asked Samiel as he knew that Lambrean Mountains were filled with Rock Trolls, something that was out of their capabilities. And the Rock Trolls were just the least of his concerns.
"Rock Troll tribes are inhabiting only inner parts of the Mountains, and I know that some Nobles of the Nesser Dynasty were overseeing mines in the Lambrean Mountains."
She said, and he knew where she was going with this.
"So we can just walk there and ask them to give us what we need. Fortunately, now you look more non-human, or we would get into problems, or rather I would get into problems."
Silvermoon Elves had a great hatred for humans, as humanity, together with Greenskins, Beastmen, and a few other races, were most destructive towards nature; additionally, in many worlds, humans tended to enslave Elfs, so entire elvenkind despised humans.
While Samiel was a former human, he didn't care, as even as a human, he didn't like his own race.
Humans were weak, greedy, corruptible, and narrow-minded. He always believed in survival of the fittest and in weak dies and strong lives.
"When do you want to depart?"
He asked as he knew that Yvraine wasn't really hurrying in climbing the Tower, and for her, it was more like an adventurous journey and sightseeing in one, rather than a life-changing event, like for countless other people who entered from the outside.
Pursuing the path of power, reaching Legendary or even higher, achieving their dreams, and many others.
And Samiel wanted to experience everything that the Tower had to offer. He knew that many places he would be able to explore only as a Legendary, but there were still countless places to see as a Mortal.
"We will wait a week or two."
She answered shortly, as it was best to wait and prepare before making such an arduous journey like that to the Lambrean Mountains because they would need to cross the considerable distance.
Both of them sat down and observed nature as they talked about various things. From the time they spent together, Samiel noticed that Yvraine was more approachable than she was before.
"Won't your family miss the Armor?"
Samiel put down the question which had been bothering him for some time already, since the moment Yvraine gave him the Rao's Vengence.
"No, there is a high possibility that nobody would even notice it is missing from the Vaults. It was in the Vaults for several thousands of years, and nobody ever bothered with it, so it is okey... I think."
Even though she sounded unsure, neither of them proceeded to dabble in this matter for more.
"Do you see those incoming clouds?"
She pointed at the dark clouds gathering in the west. After two hours, they sat down and started talking about things; suddenly, dark clouds began gathering in the entire western area.
He nodded; not only that Samiel noticed those clouds, but he felt something dangerous from them.
"It is called Extermination Thunder Storm, and it is coming this way; it would be bad to move under that. The appearance of the Extermination Thunder Storm means that a large number of people entered to the 1st Floor from the outside, probably thousands."
She explained before making a slight pause, probably for better dramatical effect, as her beautiful long blonde hair fluttered in his air, which was getting stronger by each minute passed.
"And in situations like these, Tower has decided to cut down the number... they must be in the western part of the continent, where we are located."
Clarified Yvraine, as she now remembered the small group of humans she encountered on the first floor, who were pursued by the Orks; it appears even more of those humans entered the Tower.
"Does this happen often?"
Asked Samiel as she shook her head in denial.
"No, on the contrary, it is a rarity. Especially on the lower floors."
It appeared that he would experience some, one in a lifetime experience, or rather it would be one in a lifetime for short-lived species.
"Probably the Tower got connected to a new world... this would be a mess. It appears we would witness something really unique."
Sighed Yvraine as they both sat down and observed incoming dark clouds as thunder sounded through the entire area. Unaware or aware of the terrible fate of those on whom the storm was aimed.