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Chapter 118
Chapter 118: The Full Picture and a Special Magic Ritual
By Amnesty L
Looking at the mysterious scale that had turned from pure black to grayish-white, Tang Zheng knew that the Curse Power stored within had been completely devoured by him.
The dense aura of the curse filling the narrow stone crevice dissipated at the same time.
"My Class Level increased by two levels in one go. What kind of creature did this scale come from?"
Tang Zheng lifted his hand, easily picking up the giant, mysterious scale from the ground. A solemn expression appeared on his face.
It felt very light!
He picked up the scale and waved it a few times. The palm-thick scale cut through the air without making the slightest sound.
Tang Zheng took out an iron sword with his left hand and forcefully struck the scale.
*Clang!*
A crisp impact sound rang out.
Not a single scratch appeared on the mysterious scale; instead, the iron sword dented at the point of impact.
So hard!
Tang Zheng's eyes lit up. To be able to store such a vast amount of Curse Power, it was clear that the quality of the scale itself was extraordinary.
It could also withstand the corrosion of the Curse Power.
What if it were made into a weapon?
This thought flashed through Tang Zheng's mind. It might be an excellent material. The problem was, there might not be anyone in the Otherworld capable of forging such a scale into a weapon.
Furthermore, the source of the Curse Power was this mysterious scale.
In that case...
"Did the birth of the 'Cursed Knight' class also originate from this scale, or rather, from the creature behind this scale?"
Tang Zheng guessed with a grave expression.
As far as he knew, besides the current Leinas, the only other person in this world who possessed the Cursed Knight class was one of the Thirteen Heroes from two hundred years ago.
Tang Zheng looked at the human skeleton leaning against the wall.
Was this person one of the legendary "Thirteen Heroes" from the human nations?
He glanced around the narrow crevice in the Stone Wall. Besides the mysterious scale and the skeleton, there was nothing.
Naturally, there was no way to prove whose skeleton this was.
He stored the mysterious scale in his item box.
"I'll be taking this. No matter who you were, thank you for this gift."
Tang Zheng spoke softly to the skeleton.
The general course of events was now more or less clear.
It was impossible to calculate how long the Curse Power had been seeping out of the mysterious scale. It might have started back when the Forest Gnome Tribe began clearing out the poisonous monsters that occasionally crawled up into the valley.
Because it had always been inside the crevice in the Stone Wall, the Curse Power dissipated very slowly.
As a result, a few years ago, a monster like a cockatrice dug open this partition, allowing the Curse Power to finally spread out completely.
What a pity.
If that large portion hadn't dissipated, Tang Zheng felt that his Cursed Knight class might have reached its max level in one go.
*Swoosh!*
The flame archangel flapped its wings, carrying Tang Zheng back to the cave and away from the narrow crevice hidden within the Mountain Wall.
Outside the Stone Wall.
Duogan had awakened from his coma, but because he had been too close to the center of the mysterious scale's influence, the skin all over his body had completely rotted away.
Waves of pain washed over him, but the crazed look in Duogan's eyes had completely faded, replaced by clarity.
He forced himself to climb up from the ground.
"Cough, cough, has the power of the curse been dealt with?"
Duogan leaned against a rock, muttering weakly to himself.
Ever since being affected by the curse, he felt his mental state had never been this good. The power in the air that had made him agitated was completely gone.
In the dark environment, a speck of light appeared from above.
The figure of the flame archangel appeared in Duogan's vision, his eyes growing blurry.
"Are you all right, Duogan?"
After descending from the air, Tang Zheng quickly walked over to Duogan. He frowned upon seeing his current weakened state.
The corrosion from the Curse Power was already quite severe, just like the monsters he had killed earlier whose bodies had completely rotted.
"What caused it, Mighty Lord?" Duogan revealed his clear green eyes and spoke in a faint voice.
He desperately wanted to know the answer—what had caused the destruction of his entire tribe.
This was his sole purpose for coming here!
"It was a cursed undead."
"It was sealed in the deepest part of the Rock Wall. A cockatrice living here must have accidentally dug through the Stone Wall, causing the curse energy to leak out." Tang Zheng paused briefly before speaking slowly.
He felt this answer would be easier for the forest gnome before him to accept.
If he told him that a single, unidentified creature's scale had caused all this, the Duogan before him would probably fall into true despair.
"An undead..."
"S-So it was... a being so loathed by the living."
Duogan's weak voice carried a mix of anger and relief. "We forest gnomes exist to protect the jungle and the creatures that live here."
At this point, Duogan's gaze grew distant.
"In the end, were we still cursed by the power of the cockatrice?"
A weak and dazed voice echoed within the cave.
Tang Zheng now completely understood the full picture.
The Forest Gnome Tribe had a special magic ritual passed down through generations. This ritual could only be used by a tribesman who had mastered the 'Wild Transformation' ability.
During the ritual, by eating the heart of a certain monster or wild beast, one could not only gain a blessing of that monster's or wild beast's power but also break the limits of 'Wild Transformation' and transform into that specific monster. However, they would simultaneously lose the ability to transform into other wild beasts, becoming limited to only the one whose heart they consumed.
In this region, the monster with the greatest strength was the cockatrice. Therefore, the young people of the entire tribe had always considered it an honor to hunt a cockatrice and consume its heart.
However, this magic ritual was also opposed by a portion of the tribe, as the act of eating a monster's heart truly violated their duties.
The Duogan before him was clearly not one of these conservatives. Relying on his own power, he single-handedly captured a cockatrice alive and completed the magic ritual.
This immediately caused a sensation within the forest gnome community at the time. After all, the cockatrice was a considerably strong monster.
And the corpse of the dead cockatrice was shared by Duogan as food with his companions and some members of the tribe.
The result: the curse erupted.
The entire tribe was destroyed in an instant, with only a single tribesman escaping. This was why Duogan kept muttering that they had been cursed by the cockatrice.
After hearing his words, Tang Zheng couldn't pass judgment, but it did make him notice the so-called magic ritual that he had previously overlooked.
During the combat, Tang Zheng had felt that Duogan's strength was unnaturally high.
The man had the Wizard class and could use Second Tier magic, meaning his spellcasting level was at least eight or higher.
He also had the "Forest Priest" class, allowing him to transform into a cockatrice far larger than his own body. Normally, that class's level wouldn't be low either.
At least Level 21 or higher.
But aside from possessing a fairly high strength level after transforming into a cockatrice, his other aspects weren't particularly strong.
The 'Wild Transformation' skill also has levels. It's generally divided into three tiers. The first tier only allows transformation into wild beasts and monsters of a similar size to oneself.
The second stage allows one to exceed their own body size, but with certain restrictions.
Only upon reaching the third tier are there no size restrictions, and reaching this tier requires one to be around Level 60 or higher.
And yet, the magic ritual passed down by the Forest Gnome Tribe could actually break through this restriction!
"Is... Pasha... all right?"
Duogan turned his head, looking at Tang Zheng expectantly.
"He's fine," Tang Zheng nodded lightly and said with a smile.
Of course, Pasha had died long ago, killed by Leinas. He too had failed to escape the influence of the curse and had fallen into madness.
The reason he had said that earlier was simply to facilitate communication with Duogan.
"Give this... this magic ritual... scroll... to him." Duogan raised a trembling hand, reached into his chest, and pulled out a yellowed bark scroll. "Tell him... not to worry about anything."
"I must now atone for my sins."
"Ancestors... please forgive Dogan Stone Lizard, this sinful name."
His arm fell.
Tang Zheng watched as Duogan completely lost all signs of life. He fell silent for a moment. He hadn't gained any experience, but the Curse Power from within the other's body flowed into his own.
Given his current Cursed Knight level, this amount of Curse Power wasn't much.
...
Moonlight draped over the land, and the brilliant starry sky twinkled.
By the time he returned to the surface with Duogan's corpse and found a scenic spot to bury it, night had already fallen.
Tang Zheng stood before the grave, looked up at the night sky, and suddenly felt that this world had become exceptionally real.
"This is no time to stand still and get sentimental." Tang Zheng exhaled, his gaze becoming calm once more.
He opened his Stat Panel and organized the information on it.
...
[Ability Stats]
Innate Ability: [Player]
Overall Level: 24 Lv
Experience Slot: 17520/10000
Class:
Basic Class: Genius 10 Lv (Warrior...)
Intermediate Class: Sword Saint 10 Lv
High-tier/Special Class: Magic Swordsman 1 Lv, Cursed Knight 3 Lv
Skill Points: 40
Passive Skill: Item Box, Sword and Magic, Mana Infusion, Complete Curse Resistance, Dark Attribute Resistance (20%), No Rest, Slash Enhancement (10%)
Active Skill:
Warrior: Instant Reflection, Four Light Consecutive Slashes, Fast Slash, Stealth, Tracking
Magic:
First Tier: Minor Wound Healing, Magic Arrow, Scentless, Camouflage
Second Tier: Item Appraisal, Magic Accumulation, Decipher Magic
Third Tier: Undying Spirit, Undead Control
Fourth Tier: Heating, Angel Summoning, Papermaking
Fifth Tier: Resurrect Dead: Modified
Class Skill: Potion Crafting, Alchemy, Scroll Creation, Mana Slash, Dark Wave, Shrink Spell (2/day), Wild Transformation
...
[Attribute Stats]
Player: Tang Zheng
Karma Value: 51 [Neutral]
HP: 173 (13%) MP: 28 (2%)
Physical Attack: 173 (13%)
Physical Defense: 58 (4%)
Agility: 113 (8%)
Magic Attack: 58 (4%)
Magic Defense: 28 (2%)
Overall Resistance: 150 (9%)
Specialty: 60 (5%)
Total: 60%
...
*The Attribute Sheet will only appear when there are major improvements; its appearances will be minimized at other times.*
(end of chapter)
By Amnesty L
Looking at the mysterious scale that had turned from pure black to grayish-white, Tang Zheng knew that the Curse Power stored within had been completely devoured by him.
The dense aura of the curse filling the narrow stone crevice dissipated at the same time.
"My Class Level increased by two levels in one go. What kind of creature did this scale come from?"
Tang Zheng lifted his hand, easily picking up the giant, mysterious scale from the ground. A solemn expression appeared on his face.
It felt very light!
He picked up the scale and waved it a few times. The palm-thick scale cut through the air without making the slightest sound.
Tang Zheng took out an iron sword with his left hand and forcefully struck the scale.
*Clang!*
A crisp impact sound rang out.
Not a single scratch appeared on the mysterious scale; instead, the iron sword dented at the point of impact.
So hard!
Tang Zheng's eyes lit up. To be able to store such a vast amount of Curse Power, it was clear that the quality of the scale itself was extraordinary.
It could also withstand the corrosion of the Curse Power.
What if it were made into a weapon?
This thought flashed through Tang Zheng's mind. It might be an excellent material. The problem was, there might not be anyone in the Otherworld capable of forging such a scale into a weapon.
Furthermore, the source of the Curse Power was this mysterious scale.
In that case...
"Did the birth of the 'Cursed Knight' class also originate from this scale, or rather, from the creature behind this scale?"
Tang Zheng guessed with a grave expression.
As far as he knew, besides the current Leinas, the only other person in this world who possessed the Cursed Knight class was one of the Thirteen Heroes from two hundred years ago.
Tang Zheng looked at the human skeleton leaning against the wall.
Was this person one of the legendary "Thirteen Heroes" from the human nations?
He glanced around the narrow crevice in the Stone Wall. Besides the mysterious scale and the skeleton, there was nothing.
Naturally, there was no way to prove whose skeleton this was.
He stored the mysterious scale in his item box.
"I'll be taking this. No matter who you were, thank you for this gift."
Tang Zheng spoke softly to the skeleton.
The general course of events was now more or less clear.
It was impossible to calculate how long the Curse Power had been seeping out of the mysterious scale. It might have started back when the Forest Gnome Tribe began clearing out the poisonous monsters that occasionally crawled up into the valley.
Because it had always been inside the crevice in the Stone Wall, the Curse Power dissipated very slowly.
As a result, a few years ago, a monster like a cockatrice dug open this partition, allowing the Curse Power to finally spread out completely.
What a pity.
If that large portion hadn't dissipated, Tang Zheng felt that his Cursed Knight class might have reached its max level in one go.
*Swoosh!*
The flame archangel flapped its wings, carrying Tang Zheng back to the cave and away from the narrow crevice hidden within the Mountain Wall.
Outside the Stone Wall.
Duogan had awakened from his coma, but because he had been too close to the center of the mysterious scale's influence, the skin all over his body had completely rotted away.
Waves of pain washed over him, but the crazed look in Duogan's eyes had completely faded, replaced by clarity.
He forced himself to climb up from the ground.
"Cough, cough, has the power of the curse been dealt with?"
Duogan leaned against a rock, muttering weakly to himself.
Ever since being affected by the curse, he felt his mental state had never been this good. The power in the air that had made him agitated was completely gone.
In the dark environment, a speck of light appeared from above.
The figure of the flame archangel appeared in Duogan's vision, his eyes growing blurry.
"Are you all right, Duogan?"
After descending from the air, Tang Zheng quickly walked over to Duogan. He frowned upon seeing his current weakened state.
The corrosion from the Curse Power was already quite severe, just like the monsters he had killed earlier whose bodies had completely rotted.
"What caused it, Mighty Lord?" Duogan revealed his clear green eyes and spoke in a faint voice.
He desperately wanted to know the answer—what had caused the destruction of his entire tribe.
This was his sole purpose for coming here!
"It was a cursed undead."
"It was sealed in the deepest part of the Rock Wall. A cockatrice living here must have accidentally dug through the Stone Wall, causing the curse energy to leak out." Tang Zheng paused briefly before speaking slowly.
He felt this answer would be easier for the forest gnome before him to accept.
If he told him that a single, unidentified creature's scale had caused all this, the Duogan before him would probably fall into true despair.
"An undead..."
"S-So it was... a being so loathed by the living."
Duogan's weak voice carried a mix of anger and relief. "We forest gnomes exist to protect the jungle and the creatures that live here."
At this point, Duogan's gaze grew distant.
"In the end, were we still cursed by the power of the cockatrice?"
A weak and dazed voice echoed within the cave.
Tang Zheng now completely understood the full picture.
The Forest Gnome Tribe had a special magic ritual passed down through generations. This ritual could only be used by a tribesman who had mastered the 'Wild Transformation' ability.
During the ritual, by eating the heart of a certain monster or wild beast, one could not only gain a blessing of that monster's or wild beast's power but also break the limits of 'Wild Transformation' and transform into that specific monster. However, they would simultaneously lose the ability to transform into other wild beasts, becoming limited to only the one whose heart they consumed.
In this region, the monster with the greatest strength was the cockatrice. Therefore, the young people of the entire tribe had always considered it an honor to hunt a cockatrice and consume its heart.
However, this magic ritual was also opposed by a portion of the tribe, as the act of eating a monster's heart truly violated their duties.
The Duogan before him was clearly not one of these conservatives. Relying on his own power, he single-handedly captured a cockatrice alive and completed the magic ritual.
This immediately caused a sensation within the forest gnome community at the time. After all, the cockatrice was a considerably strong monster.
And the corpse of the dead cockatrice was shared by Duogan as food with his companions and some members of the tribe.
The result: the curse erupted.
The entire tribe was destroyed in an instant, with only a single tribesman escaping. This was why Duogan kept muttering that they had been cursed by the cockatrice.
After hearing his words, Tang Zheng couldn't pass judgment, but it did make him notice the so-called magic ritual that he had previously overlooked.
During the combat, Tang Zheng had felt that Duogan's strength was unnaturally high.
The man had the Wizard class and could use Second Tier magic, meaning his spellcasting level was at least eight or higher.
He also had the "Forest Priest" class, allowing him to transform into a cockatrice far larger than his own body. Normally, that class's level wouldn't be low either.
At least Level 21 or higher.
But aside from possessing a fairly high strength level after transforming into a cockatrice, his other aspects weren't particularly strong.
The 'Wild Transformation' skill also has levels. It's generally divided into three tiers. The first tier only allows transformation into wild beasts and monsters of a similar size to oneself.
The second stage allows one to exceed their own body size, but with certain restrictions.
Only upon reaching the third tier are there no size restrictions, and reaching this tier requires one to be around Level 60 or higher.
And yet, the magic ritual passed down by the Forest Gnome Tribe could actually break through this restriction!
"Is... Pasha... all right?"
Duogan turned his head, looking at Tang Zheng expectantly.
"He's fine," Tang Zheng nodded lightly and said with a smile.
Of course, Pasha had died long ago, killed by Leinas. He too had failed to escape the influence of the curse and had fallen into madness.
The reason he had said that earlier was simply to facilitate communication with Duogan.
"Give this... this magic ritual... scroll... to him." Duogan raised a trembling hand, reached into his chest, and pulled out a yellowed bark scroll. "Tell him... not to worry about anything."
"I must now atone for my sins."
"Ancestors... please forgive Dogan Stone Lizard, this sinful name."
His arm fell.
Tang Zheng watched as Duogan completely lost all signs of life. He fell silent for a moment. He hadn't gained any experience, but the Curse Power from within the other's body flowed into his own.
Given his current Cursed Knight level, this amount of Curse Power wasn't much.
...
Moonlight draped over the land, and the brilliant starry sky twinkled.
By the time he returned to the surface with Duogan's corpse and found a scenic spot to bury it, night had already fallen.
Tang Zheng stood before the grave, looked up at the night sky, and suddenly felt that this world had become exceptionally real.
"This is no time to stand still and get sentimental." Tang Zheng exhaled, his gaze becoming calm once more.
He opened his Stat Panel and organized the information on it.
...
[Ability Stats]
Innate Ability: [Player]
Overall Level: 24 Lv
Experience Slot: 17520/10000
Class:
Basic Class: Genius 10 Lv (Warrior...)
Intermediate Class: Sword Saint 10 Lv
High-tier/Special Class: Magic Swordsman 1 Lv, Cursed Knight 3 Lv
Skill Points: 40
Passive Skill: Item Box, Sword and Magic, Mana Infusion, Complete Curse Resistance, Dark Attribute Resistance (20%), No Rest, Slash Enhancement (10%)
Active Skill:
Warrior: Instant Reflection, Four Light Consecutive Slashes, Fast Slash, Stealth, Tracking
Magic:
First Tier: Minor Wound Healing, Magic Arrow, Scentless, Camouflage
Second Tier: Item Appraisal, Magic Accumulation, Decipher Magic
Third Tier: Undying Spirit, Undead Control
Fourth Tier: Heating, Angel Summoning, Papermaking
Fifth Tier: Resurrect Dead: Modified
Class Skill: Potion Crafting, Alchemy, Scroll Creation, Mana Slash, Dark Wave, Shrink Spell (2/day), Wild Transformation
...
[Attribute Stats]
Player: Tang Zheng
Karma Value: 51 [Neutral]
HP: 173 (13%) MP: 28 (2%)
Physical Attack: 173 (13%)
Physical Defense: 58 (4%)
Agility: 113 (8%)
Magic Attack: 58 (4%)
Magic Defense: 28 (2%)
Overall Resistance: 150 (9%)
Specialty: 60 (5%)
Total: 60%
...
*The Attribute Sheet will only appear when there are major improvements; its appearances will be minimized at other times.*
(end of chapter)
