Chapter 157: The Wacky Great Cleaver
Ghost Wolf: Level 8 (Mutation Level 1): A Mutated Creature evolved from experience accumulated through long-term combat, Mutation Level one, +Life, +10% Defense, +10% Speed, +10% Damage, +10% All Resistance, 10% Chance to cause Tear on Attack, Damage +100%.
Looking at the four Ghost Wolves whose bodies had clearly grown larger after the milky white Glow dissipated, my heart was filled with comfort. It wasn't easy, and it was a collective evolution at that.
However, this is great, all four have evolved. Where will I find cannon fodder in the future? My Head started to ache again. It seems I'll have to rely on the other four Ravens to act as cannon fodder from now on.
Ah, speaking of Ravens, I have to mention Lazy Crow. It seems it also emitted a flash of white Light just now. It looks like its Mutation Level has increased, but this unnecessary Battle was its fault, so honestly, I really don't want to waste any Feelings/Emotions on it right now.
Raven: Level 8 (Mutation Level 2): A Mutated Creature evolved from experience accumulated through long-term combat, Mutation Level two, Life +15%, Defense +15%, Flying Speed +40%, All Resistance +15%, has a greater Chance to Interrupt the Enemy's Attack (Chance is related to the Enemy's Strength), possesses a certain Degree of Low-level Wisdom.
Unlike the Ghost Wolves, after its Mutation Level increased, Lazy Crow's Body didn't get bigger; instead, it seemed to become slightly more petite. From this guy's Stats, it seems it's naturally suited for a sneaky, thieving role. I was hoping it would get bigger and bigger in the future, eventually being able to carry me up to the Sky! My Raven-version blue sky dream is shattered. Do I really have to wait until Level 80 to learn the Druid's ultimate Skill – Osprey Transformation – to achieve my dream of soaring? Level 80, that's too far away.
I sighed, and even the Items and Equipment scattered all over the ground didn't seem so lovely anymore.
First was the Hammer I had been thinking about for a long time. It dropped directly from Blood Raven's Body. Like the Warrior of the Year Medal Kashya mentioned, the Blacksmith's Hammer was also an Item that could be picked up directly and wouldn't disappear with the Blacksmith's Corpse.
Horadric Malus (Pseudo)
One-Hand Damage: 6-15
Durability: 1-1
Required Strength: 15
Required Dexterity: 15
Mace Class: Slow Attack Speed
+50% Damage to Undead
10% Physical Attack converted to Fire Damage
Provides Forging Count (1)
Speaking of which, what's with that "Pseudo"? Uh... my heavens, it turns out even the Diablo World is full of pirated goods. Despair...
After putting the Hammer away, I glanced around. To my surprise, I found that the "Nine-Ringed Great Saber" held by the Mutated Imp named Maldas hadn't disappeared either. Could it be something amazing again? I picked it up curiously. Like the Hammer, it was another Item that didn't require Identification.
Maldas's Cleaver
One-Hand Damage: 1-30
Durability: 30-30
Required Strength: 40
Required Level: 10
Control Shaman Quantity (0/10)
"..."
What is this thing? I stared blankly at this Cleaver with almost Dark Humor Stats. Judging from the literal meaning...
I turned my Head, my Gaze falling on the few Shamans who had come with Maldas. They were cowering in the Corner, looking at me with Fear. After witnessing their boss being killed, they had no Guts left to move a Single Point.
This... how should I use it? It seems no related Skills have appeared in my mind, so I could only use the knife to wave at these few Shamans, treating a dead horse as if it were alive. Unexpectedly, it actually worked. These few Shamans seemed dazed for a moment, then actually ran over respectfully, their faces showing a fawning Appearance. I estimate that if I told them to kill each other, they wouldn't even frown.
Looking at the Stats again, the Control Shaman Quantity had changed to (4/10). I put the Cleaver down, and they immediately retreated back to the Corner, looking scared and confused, seemingly very puzzled by their recent action of approaching that "Demon".
It really is a very speechless function...
Temporarily putting down this absurd Cleaver, I looked at the other Items that dropped. Unfortunately, even with two Mini-Bosses dropping loot, there wasn't a single piece of Golden Equipment inside. One can imagine how infuriating the Drop Rate in this world is.
Fortunately, there were still a few things inside that were by no means inferior to Golden Equipment.
First were two Rejuvenation Potions. Compared to my Drop Rate, almost every Mini-Boss drops one, I'm used to it...
Then, there was a Gem decorated with exquisite and delicate metal Patterns. A fiery red Gem floated quietly in the center of the Pattern, emitting a Charm that could drive all women crazy.
Ivory Soul Jewel
Can be inserted into Socketed Item
Required Level: 16
+8 Life
+16 Defense
The Stats are very good. If inlaid into Armor, it would definitely raise its value by a Tier.
There was also a Staff that left a particularly deep impression on me. I remember when I first met Lin Ya, she was holding an identical Staff. Both ends, like a fire poker, were wrapped in metal skin, and each was inlaid with a Ruby. That's right, it was a Necromancer-exclusive Weapon.
Azure Staff
One-Hand Damage: 2-4
Durability: 15-15
Required Level: 12
Staff Class: Fast Attack Speed
+1 to Teeth
+2 to Weaken
+12% Cold Resistance
+50% Damage to Undead
Teeth: Summon barbed Teeth that shoot continuously at the Target.
Weaken: Curse a group of Enemies, reducing the Damage they can deal by Level 2, -33% Damage, lasts for seconds.
The Teeth Skill is decent. Compared to Charged Bolt, a Tier 1 Skill similar in form used by Wizards, Teeth's Advantage lies in being easier to control, but its Damage is far less than Charged Bolt (in cases where the Enemy's Lightning Resistance is 0). As for Weaken, there's nothing bad to say about it; it's definitely a good Skill, especially for dealing with Bosses.
I'm already very satisfied with this Staff's Stats. At least compared to Lin Ya's Staff, which I once asked her about and found out was a Normal Staff. Besides the +50% Damage to Undead Stat, it had nothing else. No wonder those Necromancers ignored the Staff in her hand; they probably already knew its Stats.
The remaining items included two blue pieces of Equipment and one white piece of Equipment. The blue ones were a Short Knife and Leather Armor, both with relatively ordinary Stats. As for the white one, it was a stack of 40 Flying Knives. Another good thing for ambushing people.
Then there were 3 Chipped Gems, over a dozen Mana and Health Potions, some Gold Coins and Silver Coins, and Demon Cores and Crystal Ore needed for crafting Town Portal Scrolls and Equipment, all common Items dropped by Mini-Boss Monsters.
After cleaning up the things on the ground, I looked at the few Shamans hiding in the Corner, and a demonic Smile involuntarily pulled at the Corner of my mouth, causing the Shamans in the Corner to suddenly huddle together tightly as if feeling an extreme chill.
"All of you, come over here..."
I took out Maldas's Cleaver and waved it in front of them. The Eyes of these four Shamans instantly became dull for a moment. After recovering clarity, they quickly ran towards me like Pugs. It was strange to say, but Light Snow and the others, who had been glaring menacingly at them, suddenly lost their Hostility, though their Gaze was still somewhat unfriendly and contemptuous.
"Lead the way, my Demon army..."
I kicked open the Exit Door and pointed majestically at the dark Passage ahead, saying loudly. Seeing these four pitiful Shamans bravely walking towards the depths of the Corridor under Command, I couldn't help but feel a surge of Dark Humor from playing the role of a villain.
I have to say, the familiarity of these four Shamans with the Barracks was absolutely incomparable to mine, having only heard a few words from Kashya. Although they were under my control, their minds were not lost. They were very familiar with the Maze-like Corridors, turning corners without hesitation, and even knowing exactly where they were most likely to be ambushed.
Along the way, after filling up the quantity of controllable Shamans, I no longer enjoyed the Treatment of Sneak attack – the Shamans were Responsible for leading the way. Once Enemies were discovered, Light Snow and the others would step forward. As for the Shamans under my control, never mind them; if they died, they could be replaced anyway. The Barracks lacked everything but Shamans.
Probably no Adventurer could stride leisurely through the Barracks, which was filled with Crisis, as recklessly as I did. After enjoying the support of the Shamans responding to my calls for several days, I finally got a bit tired and arrived at the next stop in the Barracks, the Entrance to the first Tier of the Jail.
Looking at the 10 Shamans following behind me, I hesitated for a moment, but ultimately decided to let them go. Freed from the Cleaver's control, they instantly sobered up. They looked around blankly, seemingly still influenced by the knife. After seeing me, they didn't pounce fiercely but stood there somewhat fearfully, looking a bit at a loss...
The Jail is located at the Edge of the Barracks. This way, anyone wanting to escape from prison would first have to pass through the tens of thousands of troops inside the Barracks. There was no other way. Therefore, during the Theocratic Era ruled by Monks, it was never heard of anyone successfully escaping from prison or raiding the prison (of course, even if there were, it was probably covered up).
"So cold..."
This was my First Feeling upon stepping into the Jail. Whether it was the bone-chilling cold wind echoing through the damp cells or the cold standing water dripping from overhead, it gave me a Feeling of being deep inside a Cave.
The cells, formed by iron bars, were already covered in solidified matter that looked like either Blood or rust, making one think of how many people were once imprisoned inside, screaming themselves hoarse and desperately pounding on these iron bars with hands covered in Blood. There were also the broken and rotten torture devices, the thick iron chains used for binding, scattered everywhere. From them seemed to reveal the piteous wails of innumerable wronged souls. The Blood and torture devices revealed the gore, and the faint resentment in the Air were the true source of Fear for those within.
However, these arrangements, which in the eyes of ordinary people would be like the climax scene in a horror movie, were not much trouble for an Adventurer who had walked all the way from the Blood Moor. At least, what was giving me a headache right now wasn't this.
As soon as I stepped from the Barracks into the Jail, I fell into confusion. What appeared In Front of me, besides the dark cells that made one imagine bloody scenes, were doors in the front, back, left, and right directions. The one behind was the Jail Exit, which could be ruled out. The problem was there were still three doors, meaning I had a one-third chance of being correct.
With Cold Sweat on my forehead, I walked towards the door directly In Front. After opening the door, what appeared In Front of me was a horizontal Corridor. Both sides were dark and bottomless. It was another choice between two.
However, I have always been a "leftist" (meaning I habitually turn left when there's no specific destination), so this time I didn't hesitate and turned into the depths of the left Corridor.
Following this dark and flickering deep Corridor for about a few minutes, I finally reached the End. And so, what appeared In Front of me was another branching horizontal Corridor, and there was also a small door opposite...
I took a deep breath and told myself to be calm, to be strong...
I looked at the passages on the left and right sides of the Corridor and found that I couldn't see the end of either. I decided to open the door opposite first to see what the Situation was.
"Creak—", probably due to old age and disrepair, the wooden door let out a heavy groan as it opened.
"..."
It seems this room already had a Master before me... I was speechless looking at the dozen or so dark, small, thin figures inside.
Dark One: The Tier 5 Ultimate Form of the Fallen Ones. It is the dreamed-of goal of every Fallen... Uh, although at most they can only be considered High-Level cannon fodder.
At this moment, over a dozen Dark Ones were gathered around a Large Pot, greedily scooping out some half-cooked Small Animals resembling Mice and devouring them. Seemingly unprepared for a sudden Guest, they also turned their Heads with a look of surprise and stared at me. The awkward Atmosphere lasted for a full few seconds like this.
"Sorry to bother you. As an apology, this is just a small token, not much, but please accept it."
I bowed politely in apology to them, then casually pulled out a Molten Giant Rock from Mid-air as if by Magic and handed it over. Before they could react, I closed the door.
"Rumble..."
A few seconds later, a tremor came from the floor. I reopened the door, and a rush of scorching smoke and dust immediately rushed towards me. The dozen or so Dark Ones who were just inside had vanished without a trace.
Then, what appeared In Front of me were four doors: east, south, west, and north.
"Oh god, are you trying to kill me~~~??"