Chapter 146: Lost Again
Light Snow and its companions finished the battle first. Four Ghost Wolves plus Light Snow , under their tacitly coordinated Storm attack, a few ordinary Yetis had no ability to Resist at all. After four screams, only four large, bloody bodies remained on the ground.
Then came my training Opponent, that Yeti Chieftain. Although I didn't transform (actually because I had no Mana), relying on the Technique and reaction speed I had gained from Training with Kashya, I still dealt with it more easily than before. Well, I'd say it was at least a second or two faster... maybe!
The last to finish the battle was the Poison Flower Vine. Since it was dealing with all the Razor Spines in the Grass by itself, it was reasonable for it to finish last. However, we didn't wait long. After swallowing a few Razor Spines, its belly seemed temporarily satisfied, so it no longer held back. Its attacks, laden with Toxin, quickly spread among the Razor Spines. Their crimson Skin instantly blended tightly with the Grass color, inseparable. Before long, continuous "chirping" screaming sounds came from within, and puddles of green and red mushy flesh bloomed in the Grass.
Leaving the situation in the Grass behind, I first walked over to Light Snow , who had finished fighting earliest. After killing Low-level Monsters for over ten days, besides Blood Raven's Grand Charm and the Boss Belial, I hadn't seen any other Monsters drop anything good for a long time. I hoped this group of Yetis could give me a little surprise.
Heaven this time seemed to live up to my Expectation. The Body of the Yeti that was killed first had begun to gradually disappear. A large, dark object slowly revealed its Form. Looking at its shape, it was somewhat like a Bow, but also different.
After the Corpse completely disappeared, this piece of Equipment fully revealed its outline—it was actually a lightweight Crossbow!!
Crossbow (Gray)
Damage: 9-16
Required Strength: 40
Required Dexterity Points: 33
Required Level: 3
Socket (2)
Ha. It's a Crossbow, this is a good Item, especially for an Archery Rookie like me. Both Crossbows and Bows are ranged Weapons. The difference is that a Crossbow is easier to Aim, unlike a Bow which requires higher Technique. I tried it in the Training Camp before, and it was indeed very easy to Aim. When using it, the Accuracy was almost double that of a Bow, and the Damage was also much higher than a Bow of the same Level. The Weakness is that the Operation when loading bolts is a bit more cumbersome, and it's bulky, not as easy to control as a Bow. This also directly leads to the Crossbow's Attack Speed being significantly slower. Therefore, most excellent Archers prefer using Bows over Crossbows.
However, for me right now, the usefulness of a Crossbow far outweighs that of a Bow. The most important thing is that the Sound when shooting a Crossbow is quite subtle. This is a big Advantage for ambushing people! Plus, it has 2 Sockets. If I socket two Sapphires into it, hehe...
It's just that my current Dexterity is only 30 points, which is slightly insufficient.
I played with this Crossbow for a while until I was completely familiar with its Structure. Only then did I load a Crossbow Bolt. Then I put it in a prominent Position in my Inventory, so I could take it out to ambush people at any time.
By the time I came back to my senses, the battle on the Poison Flower Vine's side had also ended. It seems there were quite a few Razor Spines hiding in the Grass, huh? As for the Items in the Grass, Lazy Crow is there. Even if it's something it's not interested in, it will make a Sound to let me go get it myself. So I don't have to worry about missing anything.
So I turned my Gaze to the Positions of the other Yetis. Their Corpses had already disappeared, and the things they dropped were clear at a glance: a few Gold Coins and Silver Coins, and a Light Life Recovery Potion. Just so-so.
As for the Chieftain I killed, honestly, when I first looked over, I was truly Surprised. Of course, it wasn't because this Yeti Chieftain was stingy and didn't drop a single Coin. On the contrary, what Surprised me was its Generosity.
Ever since I Identified that Excellent Grade Junk Wolf Helm, I had lost Confidence in the Protagonist's numerous laws. However, this Yeti Chieftain seemed to be restoring my Confidence again.
Because on the ground where the Yeti Chieftain disappeared, lay a large piece of Black Cloth Clothing emitting a Blue Luster. Based on my Experience from killing Corpsefire, this piece of Clothing, which was several sizes larger than regular Clothes, should undoubtedly be a Cloak.
This is a Special type of Armor, a Cloak, whose Drop Rate is comparable to Class Equipment like Wolf Head. Getting one from Corpsefire was already a huge stroke of luck for me, and now it actually dropped from a small Chieftain, and it's a Blue Unidentified Equipment! It felt quite like the Surprise of kicking a pot and getting an Excellent Grade Unique Item.
However, now is not the time to be happy. Remembering the disappointment when Identifying the Wolf Head, I suddenly became alert. The higher the Expectation, the greater the disappointment. For this type of Special Item, Blue isn't necessarily better than White. Maybe it's another dud.
Thinking this, I carefully picked up the Cloak from the ground and took a deep breath.
Cloaks are also divided into Sorceress's and Warrior's Cloaks. Warrior's Cloaks are generally more fitted, while Sorceress's Cloaks are wider. Looking at the Fabric, this Cloak should belong to a Sorceress's Cloak. After examining it carefully, the Identify Scroll in my hand no longer hesitated, and I fiercely tore it towards the Cloak...
Spiked Lizard's Apprentice Cloak
Defense: 12
Durability 24-24
Required Level: 13
+1 to Warmth
+2 to Inferno
+2 to Blizzard
+2 Energy
+19 Mana
Attacker Takes Damage 2
Isn't this Excellent Grade?! I widened my Eyes, staring at this Cloak emitting a faint Blue Glow, seemingly unable to believe that the unscrupulous God would bestow such grace upon me. But wouldn't it be a bit too flashy? If I wore this and put on a Hat, imagine the scene then – wouldn't it be like telling everyone I'm a walking Treasure?
Forget it, I'll just wear the one on my Body for now. Although it only has a very meager Level 1 Frozen Armor Skill, it's the most suitable for me.
Thinking this, I reluctantly put this flashy Cloak into my Inventory. Sigh, how great would it be if I could equip two Cloaks at once, one inside and one outside, I thought greedily.
After putting away the Cloak, Lazy Crow also flew back from the Grass with a few Coins it had picked up, indicating there was another thing inside that it wasn't interested in. I went over to look, and it turned out to be a Medium Mana Recovery Potion. Ugh, looking at the Potion in my hand, and then turning back to look at Lazy Crow's smug Appearance, I couldn't help but recall a lesson I learned in elementary school—The Raven Drinking Water...
After tidying up the Battlefield, I led Light Snow and its companions non-stop, searching in the Outer Cloister. The Sky over the Tamoe Highland was getting increasingly gloomy. I estimated it wouldn't be long before there was a downpour, so before that, I hoped to find the Entrance to the Barracks as soon as possible. While advancing, I could also avoid this approaching Heavy Rain.
However, I clearly severely underestimated the area of the Outer Cloister. In the Game, the Outer Cloister is composed of a central Courtyard and four subsidiary Courtyards in different directions. But in the Diablo World, it is astonishingly vast. Similar Corridors, Courtyards, rock gardens, Small Lakes, and so on, are endless. There are also countless seemingly similar Temples of various sizes. I don't know how much wealth the Bishops and Priests squeezed from the common people's fat to build such a massive group of Buildings. And this is just the Outer Cloister.
Besides these Maze-like Building Structures, the Monsters ambushing between the Courtyards and Cloisters also severely hindered my Pace. Yetis hidden in Trees or around corners, Razor Spines hiding among flowers and Grass, and those groups of Black Rogues (the third evolution of Dark Hunters), and Shaman Tribes who were desperately lighting fires and setting up Camp even though it was about to rain – in this Terrain, there was simply no avoiding them. Every encounter required a Battle. Although my Experience was steadily increasing, I had lost the Nostalgia and Joy I felt when I first saw them.
I should have gotten a Map from Akara earlier, or at least asked the Guards of the Outer Cloister. I clearly knew I had no Sense of Direction, yet I still carried that inexplicable Confidence, thinking that if I just walked a bit longer, I would definitely find the Entrance. I was too careless.
Seeing the conspicuous cross mark on a Stone Pillar right in the middle of the Corridor, I knew that I had gotten Lost in a very Rookie-like manner.
The Black Sky had begun to shed a mournful Light Rain. Coupled with the approaching Nightfall, even with my Druid's uniquely advantageous Vision, the outlines of the surrounding Buildings were gradually dimming. A cold, damp, gloomy Wind squeezed and blew through the open Windows and the dilapidated Crevices, making a "whooshing" sound. It could not only chill the Body but seemed to cool the Heart as well.
The Western-style Architecture used in the Cloister emphasizes its inherent solemnity, grandeur, and eternity through massive and transcendent Buildings. But in this dreadful weather, I couldn't find a trace of solemn Feeling. The massive Buildings only brought me a sense of emptiness and loneliness, as if I were alone in a vampire's Ancient Castle. Occasionally, Lightning flashed, illuminating the stone carvings on the Stone walls – solemn and Holy Angels emitting a pure white Glow, while the Civilians below were depicted in worship. Under the rendering of darkness and pale Lightning Glow, it actually resembled a bloody Cult Ritual, emitting an extremely terrifying Atmosphere.
Feeling quite dejected, I lay on Light Snow 's Body, drawing a bit of Warmth from its furry Body. The initial excitement had been completely ruined by the continuous downpour that followed. Moreover, if we couldn't find a place to shelter from the rain, during this long night, we would very likely huddle together in a Corner of some Pavilion to get through it. The romance of a Battle in the rain depends on how heavy the rain is, right? I should have listened to the Guard at the Waypoint and stayed for a night before leaving. Youthful Impulsiveness!
While dealing with the Monsters we encountered on the way, we searched everywhere for a suitable place to stop. Now I no longer held any Hope of finding the Entrance to the Barracks. Finding a place without Monsters to sleep for a while would already be a Luxury for my current situation.
Riding on Light Snow , the other four Ghost Wolves surrounded us. Oak Sage was held in my arms, and Lazy Crow was perched on my shoulder, yawning. As for the Poison Flower Vine, honestly, I couldn't find any trace of it on the blackish-brown Stone Brick ground anymore. Only the occasional mental link told me of its Existence. The subtle "shasha—" Footsteps continuously echoed in the quiet and Empty Cloister, mixing with the soft sound of raindrops hitting the Flora outside, the clanging sound on the Stone walls and Roofs, and the dull sound on the muddy ground. Rendered by the Thunder, it made people's Mood involuntarily tense up.
"Woof—"
I don't know how long we had walked or how many batches of Monsters we had killed. Light Snow in the darkness suddenly stopped and let out a whimper In Front.
I was dozing off and slowly raised my Head from Light Snow 's Body. Using the fleeting White Lightning Glow that just flashed by, I saw a ruin made of broken Walls and Stone Fragments blocking the entire Passage In Front. My only Options now were: Turn left, Turn right, Detour...
I was about to randomly point in a Direction, hoping for a blind cat to stumble upon a dead mouse, when I suddenly realized that the Scene before my Eyes was a bit... Unfamiliar?
Although I am Directionally Challenged, it doesn't mean my Memory is bad. After wandering in the Outer Cloister for so long, I had grasped the general Style of this place. However, the Style that suddenly appeared In Front of me was something I had never seen before.
Could it be, could this be the Route from the Outer Cloister leading to the Inner Cloister? It's very possible, because according to Cain, it was precisely because this Route was blocked that everyone had to take a Detour Route, going from the Barracks to the Jail, making a really big circle.
Should I try to clear this Route? With the Strength of my Werebear Transformation, it might not be impossible to move these Stone Fragments or break through the thick, hard Stone walls. A tempting thought suddenly appeared in my mind.
However, after thinking about it, I ultimately gave up. Not to mention how massive the undertaking would be, I'm probably not the only one in the Rogue Encampment who can break through Stone walls. A simple problem that I can think of, there's no reason others couldn't. I think they must have a reason for not doing this. The most likely reason is that the Monster Level jump between the Outer Cloister and the Inner Cloister is too large. If it were cleared, and an Adventurer carelessly and foolishly walked through without realizing it, there would be a high possibility of Danger. At that time, my Crime as an Elder would be significant.
Thinking this, I obediently chose a Direction to go around. Following a step-by-step approach is the right way. Besides, I still need to go to the Barracks to kill the Blacksmith and fulfill the Promise I made to Charsi back then. How could I just skip over it like this?
As if to reward my wise decision, shortly after turning the corner, I found a rather large Church. There was no Shadow of Monsters inside, and it seemed that Monsters wouldn't appear here either. My basis for judgment was that from the Statue above the Church, a faint Holy Glow was emanating. With the protection of this Strength, ordinary Monsters would absolutely not appear here.
And on the Statue that contained Strength, a Shield made of Energy was faintly hovering and gathering at this moment. I don't need to explain; even a three-year-old child would probably know that this is the legendary Armor Shrine. Its main Strength is to provide a considerable period of Defense Boost to anyone who touches it.
These blessed Shrines are not easy things to encounter. Once touched, they disappear immediately, and you never know where they will appear next time. Adventurers with bad luck might not encounter one in their entire lives.
Haha, looks like my luck is bursting today! I yawned deeply. The gloomy and cold weather outside was desperately stimulating my sleepiness. With a hint of Joy, I couldn't wait to take out the Blanket and Quilt Velas had prepared for me and spread them out. Then I leaned against Light Snow and burrowed in. The Quilt seemed to still emit Velas's unique Fragrance. I took a deep breath and gently closed my Eyes—