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Chapter 106: Luring the Snake Out Part 6
But after a brief moment, Brandon finally understood.
"Holy shit, perfect quest line! Experience boost mode—so this actually exists!"
Realizing this, he could no longer sit still. His charge ability activated in an instant, and he streaked across the battlefield like a series of fading afterimages, bypassing Tiger Finch, the Silver Elves commander, numerous mercenaries, and the frontline guards of the Silver Elves. In one swift leap, he landed before a line of lizardfolk spearmen. He raised his head just in time to see over a dozen lizardfolk soldiers rushing toward him.
"Come on, then," Brandon thought with a fierce grin.
He lifted his sword, blocking two thrusting spears with a sharp clack. Though only level twenty-four, his actual combat prowess far exceeded that of a typical level thirty NPC. To him, these level nineteen lizardfolk spearmen were no match at all. Without even bothering to look at their grotesque faces, he unleashed a Strength Surge, swinging forward. Two lizardfolk spearmen screamed as they were sent flying backward.
He stepped forward again, gripping his sword with both hands and sweeping it from right to left. For a fleeting moment, the wind pressure seemed to warp the very air around him. A seven-meter-long transparent ripple shrieked through the battlefield, slicing cleanly through the upper torsos of countless lizardfolk.
It was reminiscent of the landscapes he’d seen in the Goran-Elsun highlands—the summer winds sweeping over alpine meadows, bending the grass flat. Numbers flickered across his vision as every single lizardfolk within a fan-shaped area in front of him split into two halves and collapsed. The scene carried a chilling resemblance to when Metissa had once chased him and Tiger Finch, causing the entire battlefield to fall silent for a heartbeat.
Wind pressure capable of injuring from a distance was rare indeed. Aside from those who awakened elemental affinity, only a handful of combat techniques could achieve such a feat. Metissa’s Soul Lance was derived from a ghost knight's skill, while ordinary elven warriors—even those of the lower golden rank—lacked similar abilities unless they reached their prime and awakened their elemental affinity.
Brandon exhaled deeply as he lowered his sword.
Though he had slain only six or seven enemies with that strike, the psychological impact was immense. He noticed the morale values above the heads of nearby lizardfolk warriors plummeting into red alert zones. They scrambled to avoid him, creating a vacuum around him—a temporary reprieve that allowed him to review his experience gains. To his delight, each of the seven lizardfolk spearmen he’d killed earlier had granted him sixty experience points. Normally, defeating a level nineteen monster yielded only about twenty points, so this was nearly triple the usual amount. Just like in the game!
Brandon felt his blood surge with excitement. He was currently at 3,200/7,900 experience, needing just over half that to reach level twenty-five—a critical threshold. Not only would he gain access to a second talent and a third bonus class skill, but reaching silver rank strength at the age of nineteen would place him among the Enlightened Ones. No longer would he feel overshadowed by prodigies and geniuses; though, truth be told, Brandon never considered himself inferior. Still, the sheer abundance of extraordinary talents in this era irked him.
And if level nineteen lizardfolk spearmen gave sixty experience points, what about level twenty-two crossbowmen or level twenty-three elite warriors? And then there were the dragon-hunting cavalry, Blackfire cultists, and most tantalizingly, the Dark Priest—a mini-boss in his own right. At the mere thought of confronting the Dark Priest, Brandon’s eyes gleamed red with anticipation. He scanned the battlefield eagerly, searching for where this lucrative bounty might lie.
Instead, he saw waves of high-ranking Blackfire cultists surging forward. Clearly, their leader didn’t intend to let them break through the center of the formation, splitting the lizardfolk army into isolated segments. The Dark Priest understood well that dividing such a massive force would render it sluggish and vulnerable unless drastic measures were taken—and self-sacrifice wasn’t part of his plan. As a spellcaster, he relied on protection to extricate himself from chaos.
Thus, he redirected his elite Blackfire cultist guards toward the central region to stabilize the line.
A dozen black-robed cultists atop mutated mounts charged forward, wielding flails with fervent zeal. Their approach was imposing, but by now, the silver-armored Silver Elves had joined Brandon’s side, standing shoulder to shoulder. Meanwhile, surrounding lizardfolk attempting to encircle them faced relentless ranged attacks from the mercenaries.
Had the Dark Priest been more composed, ordering the lizardfolk to abandon their defense of him and instead assault Brandon’s elevated ranged position, the tide of battle might have shifted dramatically. But tactical finesse wasn’t the Dark Priest’s forte. Driven by instinct, he commanded both lizardfolk and cultists to converge around him—not only to prevent division but also to better safeguard himself.
The Dark Priest began preparing his spell.
But Brandon reacted faster—
---
The cacophony of battle echoed throughout the valley below, blending into a continuous roar. On the hilltop, however, Antietta shivered despite herself as the mountain breeze swept across the barren cliffs. It felt as though another world lay between her and the carnage below. She coughed softly, pulling her shawl tighter around her shoulders. Alone on the precipice, she glanced nervously left and right before frowning down into the deep fissure ahead.
After a long pause, she whispered hesitantly, “Roma, are you done yet?”
“Almost,” came Roma’s confident reply from within.
Antietta sighed. She’d heard this answer several times already, knowing full well her complaints would be ignored. Frustrated, she stamped her feet to ward off the chill.
This time, however, Roma truly seemed close to finishing. Moving deeper into the crevice without any source of light, she navigated the darkness as though it were an old friend. Most people would have found the narrow, dim confines unsettling, but Roma appeared utterly fascinated. From her pocket, she produced a crystal, bent down, and rummaged beneath the rubble before placing it carefully inside.
Turning back, she counted silently on her fingers, identifying approximately five similar spots. Satisfied, she retreated calmly.
Emerging from the rocky fissure, she found Antietta glaring at her with reproachful eyes.
“I’ve changed my mind, Roma. Let’s go back,” the quiet girl murmured, lowering her head as she coughed.
“Don’t worry—it’s just an experiment. Brandon won’t find out,” Roma said smugly, grabbing Antietta’s hand and pulling her along. “Let’s move to the next location.”
“Wait… wait!” Antietta protested.
“And give me some more of that, Antietta.”
“What exactly are you planning to do?” Antietta clutched her bag protectively, alarmed. Discovering her secret had been bad enough; she certainly didn’t want to descend further into madness with Roma.
“But are the calculations correct?” Roma pressed.
“Of course.” Antietta gritted her teeth. “Roma, you—I was once an honorary member of the Royal Geographical Society of Lantonilan…”
Roma sighed theatrically.
---
A burst of Wind Blast, followed by a fireball.
As the heated air dissipated, the remains of the high-ranking Blackfire cultists were reduced to ashes. The Ring of the Wind Sovereign, a powerful energy-based magical artifact, boasted 20 oz of energy and inflicted 30 points of damage—equivalent to peak iron rank, with impact nearing lower-tier silver rank. The fireball, with 24 oz of energy and 70 points of damage, matched lower-tier silver rank potency and covered an area rivaling mid-tier silver rank spells.
It was hardly surprising that these lower-tier silver rank cultists fell instantly to such a devastating combination. Brandon briefly worried about encountering Chain Lord-wielding high-ranking cultists, but it seemed his concern was unwarranted. After all, Chain Lords, elite demons of the lower realms, rarely appeared en masse in this plane—unless the Demon Gate reopened.
Once the smoke cleared, Brandon’s experience surged by nearly two thousand points. Only a final push stood between him and level twenty-five. Lowering his sword, he issued orders to the Silver Elves beside him: “Flank left and right, divide the lizardfolk. Leave their leader—their ‘boss’—to me. Understood?”
Twenty pairs of heads nodded in unison.
“What about me, my lord?” Tiger Finch asked.
“You and Minnis will lead the flanks,” Brandon replied.
“No assistance needed?” the Silver Elves commander interjected, speaking up unexpectedly.
“Leave it to me. I don’t want him dying too quickly,” Brandon answered, though his thoughts betrayed his words. While low-level Dark Priests were notoriously poor, they were still level twenty-five elites, comparable to level thirty-five standard units. However, fighting a single level thirty-five creature posed challenges, whereas taking down a level twenty-five elite was far easier—and offered substantial experience rewards.
Without giving them a chance to protest, Brandon charged ahead alone.
Blocking his path were two towering Bachisa demons, each nearly three meters tall. Known for their devastating charges, these offensive demons were nightmares for archers and wizards alike. But Brandon was neither—he was a warrior. Before either demon could deliver a crushing blow, he darted like a phantom behind them.
Bachisa demons, level twenty-four creatures with fourteen units of strength but a paltry seven units of agility, were no match for Brandon’s explosive speed. Their prideful charging ability and thick hides meant nothing to the young man. With a single slash, Brandon carved open the first demon’s back. By the time the lumbering beast turned, he remained perfectly positioned behind it—ready to strike again.
The unfortunate Bachisa demon was humiliated in death, never even catching a glimpse of its tormentor. Meanwhile, the Dark Priest completed his incantation, screaming as he hurled a bolt of black lightning at Brandon. This wasn’t merely lightning; it was Demon Claw, a dual-effect spell. Its primary purpose was damage, utilizing hellfire converted from dark elements. Secondary effects included immobilization—a formidable III-tier debuff that rooted targets firmly in place unless they possessed over forty units of strength.
For ninety seconds, victims became sitting ducks. Widely regarded as one of the most practical early-game spells for dark elementalists and wicked ritualists, its effectiveness hinged on subtlety. Ideally, it should be masked using Light Curve Manipulation or employed in close quarters—not thrown recklessly, as this Dark Priest had done.
Brandon smirked inwardly. Timing his counter perfectly, he swung his sword, launching the corpse of the slain Bachisa demon into the air. Mid-flight, the rotting body intercepted the serpentine bolt of black lightning. Thousands of crackling tendrils erupted, enveloping the frozen cadaver and pinning it to the ground—a spectacular display, though utterly ineffective against Brandon.
With a fluid motion, Brandon raised his sword, channeling Strength Surge augmented by his ghost knight crystal. Thirty units of raw power tore the remaining Bachisa demon’s arm and head clean off, sending it spiraling skyward. Panting slightly, he acknowledged the toll of his exertion. Fortunately, a sphere of light emerged from the demon’s remains, merging with his body. A warm current radiated outward, invigorating him as green text flashed across his vision:
“Character has reached Level 25. Entering Fate Awakening Phase.”
“New Skill Acquired: Frontal Breakthrough (Level 0) – Consumes 5x stamina. Next attack penetrates defenses (armor, innate, magical), reducing Damage Reduction by 1.7.”
“Fate Item Detected: Golden Revelation Core. Activate Fate Talent 'Golden Revelation'?”
Brandon blinked in disbelief. “What nonsense is this?” He shook his head emphatically. “Refuse. I refuse activation.”
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