The loss of one leg scythe created an even bigger flaw in the Infernal Beetle's defense.
"Slash!"
"Hiss!!!"
One leg scythe after another was severed at the joints by the Purple Thornblade Skeleton Guards.
Intense pain from all over its body made the Infernal Beetle roar continuously. The 'cannons' on its back tried several times to charge up and fire, but were forcibly interrupted.
In just a few seconds, the Infernal Beetle became a bare big hemisphere.
Even that pair of thick scythes was removed by the Purple Thornblade Skeleton Guards' front and rear pincer attack!
Lying on the ground barely breathing, clearly about to die.
Carlos's expression grew serious.
"Quick, everyone fall back!"
The Purple Thornblade Skeleton Guards faithfully executed Carlos's command, retreating without hesitation.
This was one advantage of skeleton summons—they could perfectly execute their master's requirements without any selfish motives.
"3, 2, 1!"
Carlos silently counted. On the cave floor, the Infernal Beetle's bloodthirsty compound eyes gradually lost their color, becoming dim—this meant its life was ending.
At that very instant, the flame patterns on the Infernal Beetle's corpse suddenly blazed to life, and the eight cannons on its back shell completed charging in just one second!
"Boom! Boom!"
Eight massive flame balls shot out in all directions. The terrible explosions shook rocks continuously falling from the cave ceiling.
This was the Infernal Beetle's final strike after death.
"It's over."
Carlos let out a long breath.
He ordered the Purple Thornblade Skeleton Guards to collect the Infernal Beetle's scythes, then quietly checked the notifications on his status panel.
[Killed dark mist node boss Infernal Beetle, spiritual essence +1500, fantasy equipment +1]
[Spiritual essence accumulated 3000, Mental +1, current Mental 4]
[Gained attribute points +1, skill points +1]
"A full 1500 spiritual essence points!"
Massive! This was equivalent to killing over 2000 Fire Bugs.
It boosted Carlos's Mental by another point in one go, reaching 4 points.
He still added the attribute point to Strength, reaching 7 points, and the skill point to Skeleton Revival (4+2) level, gaining another revival slot.
After adding them, Carlos focused his thoughts, and a mass of indistinct pitch-black fluid appeared in his hand.
His eyes burned with passion as he stared at the pitch-black fluid in his hand.
All the effort to kill the Infernal Beetle—the massive spiritual essence was secondary. Most important was this mass of pitch-black fluid: Fantasy Equipment!
[Fantasy Equipment: A crystallization formed when massive amounts of equipment and Psionic Energy occasionally condensed under constant dark mist erosion, possessing all kinds of incredible powers!]
[Quality: Fantasy]
[Equipment Requirements: Soul-bound to Carlos. Until the bound person dies, no one else can equip it!]
[Special Abilities:
(1) Original State: In original state, can choose to mimic any equipment (light gold quality and below), perfectly copying it.
Note: Copying requires direct contact. This effect can only be changed once per week!
(2) Growth State: Can devour any equipment to enter growth state, perfectly inheriting all equipment attributes and special enhancements. This process is irreversible, original state disappears!
Note: In growth state, equipment type is determined by the first piece devoured! Specific appearance can be decided.
Inherited attributes from devoured equipment take the highest values. Different special enhancements can stack (maximum 10 types!), same effects take the highest value!
(3) Complete State: Upon reaching a certain devour value, can activate complete state, birthing exclusive enhancements!]
This was the Fantasy Equipment that countless players fought crazily over in his past life in "Dark Era"!
Its abilities were extremely terrifying. The original state could completely copy some incredibly precious equipment (light gold quality and below), and could be changed once per week.
Powerful rare equipment never circulated on the market, but the copying ability gave Carlos a chance to possess them.
The devouring in growth state had many restrictions, but just being able to inherit special enhancements by devouring equipment was enough to drive people crazy.
For example, if Carlos later collected enough equipment with special enhancements:
Skeleton Revival +3, Bone Spear +5, Skeleton Enhancement +7, etc.—as long as the special enhancements were different, they could all be gathered on one piece of Fantasy Equipment!
No matter how hard others tried, one piece of equipment could only have 1-3 special enhancements, but Carlos's one Fantasy Equipment could have a full 10!
And all ten enhancements had the chance to reach maximum level—this would seem like a miracle to the outside world.
As for the final complete state effect, it would vary depending on the pathways of devoured equipment, but undoubtedly would be the top-tier enhancement!
"Copy Blessing of the Dead!"
Carlos removed his earring and placed it on the pitch-black fluid. The pitch-black fluid quickly covered this purple quality equipment.
About 3 seconds later, the pitch-black fluid regathered, rapidly transforming into the 'Blessing of the Dead' style, then its color became identical as well.
Carlos placed the copied Fantasy Equipment in his palm.
[Blessing of the Dead (Fantasy Equipment)]
[Special Enhancement: Skeleton Revival level +2]
"Sure enough, Fantasy Equipment copied equipment has no wearing restrictions!"
This was another terrifying characteristic of Fantasy Equipment—ignoring Mental and pathway restrictions, breaking down barriers between pathways.
Of course, some equipment couldn't be used just by removing restrictions. For example, those high-quality armors—without sufficient Strength and Constitution, you'd have trouble even walking while wearing them.
Carlos put on both 'Blessing of the Dead' earrings. The crystal-clear crystal skull pendants occasionally flashed with mysterious light.
Instantly, Skeleton Revival's level became (4+2+2), a full level 8, with 8 Skeleton Revival slots total.
Copying "Blessing of the Dead" was currently the best choice.
If he chose to devour, since Carlos currently didn't have any useful special enhancement equipment, it basically wouldn't boost his combat power much.
But copying Blessing of the Dead was different—two more summoning slots meant two more Purple Thornblade Skeleton Guards, a substantial increase in strength.
While Carlos was copying 'Blessing of the Dead,' the Purple Thornblade Skeleton Guards also collected the scattered scythes and leg scythes from the ground.
Carlos walked to the Infernal Beetle's corpse, condensed Death Herald energy, and whispered:
"Skeleton Revival!"
A teeth-grinding creaking sound arose as a pale white skeleton warrior stood up, quietly awaiting Carlos's instructions.
"The Infernal Beetle's corpse only consumed a quarter?"
Carlos repeatedly activated Skeleton Revival, summoning the remaining two skeleton warriors.
The Skeleton Revival skill used Death Herald energy to extract and condense the materials needed for skeleton warriors from corpses.
So the powerful Infernal Beetle's corpse could theoretically condense 4 skeleton warriors, not just one.