Mask of the Unknown
[Tier: Gold]
An enigmatic artifact crafted from the essence of the Shadow Mist Serpent, this mask is revered by spies, assassins, and those who walk unseen. It is said that wearing the mask not only conceals one's identity but also blurs one's presence within the elemental flow of the world.
Abilities:
Passive Skill - Shifting Visage:
The mask allows the wearer to assume a different face at will, mimicking any person they have seen before. This illusion is near-perfect, fooling both sight and spiritual senses. However, those with significantly higher cultivation may detect faint discrepancies.
Passive Skill - Elemental Dissolution:
The wearer's elemental signature becomes unstable, making it difficult to track them via elemental detection techniques. Their presence feels like shifting mist, preventing most conventional tracking methods. However, those with strong spiritual perception may notice occasional distortions.
Active Skill - Cloak of the Unseen:
For a brief period (up to 10 minutes), the mask shrouds the wearer in an elemental void, rendering them completely undetectable by spiritual senses and elemental sight. During this time, their aura is erased, and their movements become whisper-quiet. However, this does not grant true invisibility to the naked eye. Cooldown: Every Minute of use increases cooldown by 1 hour, Max: 10 Hours.
Drawbacks:
Echo of the Mask:
With prolonged use, the mask begins imprinting traces of past disguises onto the wearer. If overused, the user may experience sudden, uncontrollable shifts in appearance, even without activating the skill. In extreme cases, their original face may become permanently lost.
Promise of Truth:
Can't tell a Truth, the Mask restricts telling any truth. If the user tells the truth the mask will revert back and reveal your real Face.
Telling the truth 3 Times will lead to the destruction of the Mask.
Limit: (2/5)
"Are you sure you want to give it out" Harry asked because this item alone should cost more than a million credits since out of the academy star coins are used as currency then it must cost more than a million star coins.
As I told you there were some happenings during its creation. The forger who created it made a mistake and spilled a beast's blood, and the blood came from a rare beast, which helped the item to ascend to the gold tier.
But since the process was hindered it has grasped the unknown abilities and unknown drawbacks.
Normally forgers have basic ideas of skills of items that they make. But when the process is not as they want they can only find out with trial and error.
I did get it from my friend who is a forger. He didn't want to sell it to anyone. Since he won't be able to tell the skills and drawbacks of it.
He didn't even try to wear it since there was a chance that it could have some serious drawbacks like the user can't remove the mask after using it.
Harry hearing it understood why Aiden was keen to give it away. Others can't find exact information but in his case inspect skill was working.
Not like Aiden knew about his inspect skill but he just wants to get rid of it.
He never considered this skill important. But he has to change his mind, it was convenient to see the level of any cultivater. Then these artifacts, the level of detail it provides is precious.
"So that's why you are giving it to me" Harry said grabbing the mask in hand.
Aiden seeing the reaction misunderstood.
"No, I have already used it once there are no major drawbacks, it just has an unusual drawback which is: if you talk the mask will disappear. I have used it twice and when I talked to my friend the mask dissolved and dropped to the ground, the skills that I figured, it has is you can change your face shape and there is also a skill that helps you hide your presence".
Harry keeping a straight face put the mask away in his space ring. He can understand why Aiden understood that by just talking the mask goes back. But he knew talking wasn't the problem telling the truth.
If Aiden has used it twice then he can understand why he wasn't aware about the more serious drawback. If he used the mask for a prolonged period which he needs to find out on his own. He can lose his precious face and will permanently settle as used.
Wait wouldn't it be better if I take the face of a handsome celebrity and just keep it.
Maybe one day I will be more handsome than any celebrity. Since ascending in cultivation improves charm and physique also.
Coming out of his thoughts Harry brought another space ring out and gave it to Aiden.
"We are even now" Harry said and came out of the room.
He knows Aiden wants to have cards if he needs to control him. Aiden was using a simple trick just overloading Harry with help and debt. It though won't work consciously but sub consciously one person becomes eager to do tasks if he had some favour to pay back.
Harry giving another space ring removed any type of boundation in future. Although the ring was not as valuable as the mask, he traded things so on the base level Aiden gave something to Harry and Harry did the same.
......
Seeing Harry going out of the room, a smile appeared on Aiden's face. Has talent, has a mind, knows politics.
He could survive at least for the time. But these things also make him harder to put leash upon.
He could become an uncontrollable variable if he grows. But that would make things interesting.
"Alrisha, you marked her, Right?" Aiden said.
"I did, but giving that mask could bring some problems." Alrisha said by opening the door while the voice changed from coming to his head to his ear.
"Don't worry, though the mask has some skill that helps to remove this type of ability. But yours is different, You can track them and you can just hear what they say and talk to your mark from indefinite distance."
"Don't expect much since I have limited access if the marked person doesn't allow me to use my ability on them".
"It's okay if you can't get any information, I just need his location in an emergency" Aiden shrugged.
"What is the preparation for the Inner branch exam.
Do our students have the intent to survive the test." Aiden asked.
"Most likely, they are not lagging behind in case of cultivation but the intent, not many are there who could even kill a human. We are providing them with all the resources without putting them in risk." Alrisha said checking her nails.
"Our outer branch has the tower which helps students but on different planets they have to fight monsters and fellow humans to gather resources.
At the end only cultivation matters in a exam, but this time arena is changed. Only the people with firm will, will to not kill anyone, but will to survive in any case, would pass.
Failing means death." Aiden said sighing deeply and seeing a message on one of the screen.
"I thought you don't love these type of acts but now you are playing along."
"What choice do I have until unless there is not an unexpected variable, things can't be changed" with that, a smile appeared on Aiden's face.
Alrisha raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything.