Chapter 161: Inner Cloister
"How is it? Is everything registered?"
Not long after Kashya left, I came back to my senses and walked towards the Waypoint. The group of four was already gathered around the Campfire, taking out their hard Jerky and roasting it. The surroundings were filled with the aroma of cured meat.
"Lord is truly amazing, able to remain unharmed under Lady Kashya's wrath."
Seeing that the furious Kashya was sent away by my "few words," the four of them revealed looks of worship, expressing their heartfelt admiration for my Deceive/Bluff Divine Skill.
Tch, what do you guys know? I signed a treaty that surrendered territory and humiliated the nation, giving up my "most beloved" Treasured Blade to settle the matter. Is that Archfiend Kashya someone easy to provoke? I thought disdainfully to myself.
However, I don't Plan/Intention to tell the Fact to these four fence-sitters. Let them think Kashya is easy to talk to, and then try hard to provoke her. Ha, I am truly too Smart.
"That's right. Although she seems a bit fierce sometimes, Lady Kashya is actually very easy to talk to, and she especially likes to guide us newcomers. You should communicate with her more often, deepen your understanding, and don't let those rumors from the outside 'confuse' your eyes."
I coughed and solemnly pushed the four lost Lambs towards the edge of Death.
"Is that so? It seems the Rumor is indeed not very credible!"
The four asked suspiciously, but in view of the scene just now, a Feeling of "hearing is false, seeing is believing" arose spontaneously in their hearts.
"It seems we were wrong. We must definitely ask Lady Kashya for guidance when we have the chance in the future."
Nicole Yadi's eyes sparkled, and she said with high spirits. Kashya's Combat Technique is recognized as the best in the entire Rogue Encampment, and even Sharna, the number one Expert, is not her Opponent/Rival.
Watching the four poor little Lambs fall into the trap, I sighed with emotion. In some ways, the Humans in Sanctuary are truly pure! Kashya, that Old Drunkard, likes to guide newcomers? How can you believe such a blatant lie? If you insist on thinking that way, then be prepared for the Epiphany of becoming a errand boy for drinks.
As far as I know, apart from Sister Sharna, perhaps I can count as half, but I've never heard of Kashya giving special tutoring to any Class Changer. At most, she just gives a few routine demonstrations to Students on the Training Ground. In my opinion, she believes in the absolute Elite Policy. That is to say, unless it's a newcomer with huge Potential, ordinary Warriors are already sufficient with just the daily Training. Even if they come to her for Elite Enhancement, they may not make much progress.
In other words, in her heart, ordinary Warriors should just be down-to-earth, becoming Strongest Experts step by step. If you don't have much Aptitude/Talent and still hope to reach the Sky in one step, that's overestimating yourself. She only provides Elite Tutorial. However, I highly suspect she is using this reason to convince herself and find an excuse to be lazy...
While I was contemplating, the Sorceress here had already registered my Name. From now on, the Waypoint in the Inner Cloister will be open to me.
"What do you Plan/Intention to do next?" I Interruption their endless fantasies.
"Hmm? Hmm, the four of us Plan/Intention to undergo Trial in the Inner Cloister for a while. With our current Level, going to the Cemetery is still a bit Reluctantly/Barely." The Paladin replied honestly.
"Alright, it seems we must part ways here."
I nodded, agreeing with his steady and practical Idea/Thought. Although I don't know how dangerous the Cemetery is, based on my observations over the past few days, the Strength/Power of the four of them is just right for the Jail. If they rashly Advance into the Cemetery with such Strength/Power, it probably wouldn't be called Trial anymore, but rather seeking Death.
"That's what we Plan/Intention to do as well. To be honest, being by Lord's side feels less like Trial. Although it's very happy, we can't always rely on you, Lord..."
The Sorceress explained with a slight smile towards me.
I was taken aback. I hadn't considered this aspect. But it's fine. With me around, they can't undergo Trial properly. And with them around, I can't fully unleash myself. Parting ways might not be a bad thing.
After Resting for a short while, the four decided to Depart immediately, while I, seeing that the Sky was already nearing dusk, Plan/Intention to stay at the Waypoint for one night. Watching their figures waving goodbye, a cold and desolate Feeling unconsciously surged in my heart. The few days of Get Along had made me gradually accustomed to the Warmth of being with them. Thinking of having to Advance alone again, I suddenly felt a sense of emptiness.
As expected, a Team is good! Although my current Strength/Power is sufficient for me to be alone, this has nothing to do with Strength/Power. For a normal Human, the longing for the stimulation of loneliness and silence are only occasional thoughts. Most of the time, they still crave for someone to accompany them, share happiness, bear sadness, cheer together when happy, and comfort each other when in Pain. Perhaps, Sister Sharna and I are the same, longing to Approach, yet afraid of being hurt. Therefore, we can mutually feel a sense of recognition like Family...
Throughout the entire night, I wore a melancholic Appearance, my eyes slowly following the blood-red moon in the Sky, unconsciously wiping a snow-white, shining Saber in my hand.
"Lord must be missing Family..." Rogue Archer A.
"No, Lord must be in love..." Rogue Archer B.
"Hmph, childish, your Idea/Thought is too childish. How could Lord be someone whose Footsteps are bound by those Feelings/Emotions? Didn't you see him wiping his Weapon? Lord must be thinking about how to kill the enemy, how to become Strongest Expert, how to Save the entire Sanctuary..."
The Sorceress next to them immediately Refute, saying with a profound expression.
Fortunately, I was spacing out and didn't hear their words, otherwise I might have vomited three liters of blood. I'm telling you guys, don't randomly shape my Image and arbitrarily increase my Pressure, okay? Actually, I just felt a bit lonely.
Majestic, spectacular, magnificent, elegant... When I took my first step out of the Waypoint's range, several pale and powerless adjectives were deeply imprinted In One's Head through my eyes.
The Shock that the Inner Cloister gave me was completely different from the Outer Cloister, although they only differed by one word. But they looked like two completely different Acts. Although the exquisite and grand Building of the Monastery and Outer Cloister had already made me feel a lot, I think that anyone who comes to the Inner Cloister for the first time will still be severely Shocked again.
If the entrance of the Monastery and the Outer Cloister are compared to seeing a lush Forest in a barren Desert, then the Inner Cloister is like a clear and tranquil crescent Small Lake in the center of this Forest. Fish with shimmering scales occasionally leap out of the water, and noble, unknown birds gracefully play on the Lake surface... Everything, everything, is so beautiful and harmonious.
The wide walkway paved with snow-white Marble is like a mirror. Even after thousands of years, its beauty has not faded in the slightest. On the Walls on both sides of the Corridor, every carving, every mural, is filled with an artistic Aura. It feels as if one is in the exhibition hall of the Louvre in Paris. The snow-white Fountain in the Courtyard still flows with gurgling water to this day, emitting a clear and moving Voice. The water lines falling from the layered, winding central Statue emit a pure white Glow, like weeping willows gently caressed by the breeze, elegant yet without a hint of frivolity. Combined with the surrounding exquisite and orderly gardening, it reveals an elegant and solemn Atmosphere.
The most surprising are the Churches with Gothic architectural Style. Their pointed spires almost pierce into the clouds. It's truly unimaginable how such tall and magnificent Buildings could have been constructed with the rudimentary technology of that time. If the Outer Cloister feels like walking in a dark Forest Labyrinth, here it is like being lost in a canyon where the sun is never seen. Even at high noon, it appears very gloomy. A very heavy and solemn Atmosphere permeates the Surroundings. The solemnity emphasized everywhere by the red bricks, black tiles, and white Walls makes one's heart heavy, as if carrying a Boulder on one's back.
At first, even I, an Otaku who was born with a missing artistic nerve In One's Head, was severely Shocked. However, subsequently, as the Battle became increasingly frequent and intense, the surrounding environment and Atmosphere were quickly thrown out of my Brain. It seems having a simple Brain also has its benefits. Should I be happy about this?
Compared to Jail Level three, I haven't temporarily discovered any new species added in the Inner Cloister, but as an Advance area, the Monsters here are still somewhat more Powerful than those in the Jail. The Jail is restricted by Terrain, so the Quantity of Monsters gathered is not very large, with the largest Rooms having only about a hundred. But in the Inner Cloister, the Quantity of Monsters has clearly increased. Groups of a hundred Dark Ones are everywhere. With such Quantity, if that group of four encountered them, it's hard to say who would win without using some small Method.
However, compared to the Jail, I prefer the environment of the Inner Cloister. As the saying goes, fear not the thief who steals, but the thief who is always thinking of you. The Quantity of Monsters is not a big problem for me. At worst, I can just go around or escape, there's nothing shameful about that. It's the Monsters that suddenly appear from unknown Corners that are truly heart-stopping. And now, compared to the insidious and sneaky Monsters in the Jail, the Monsters in the Inner Cloister, perhaps relying on their Quantity Advantage, are clearly starting to show signs of arrogance and stupidity again. As expected, the environment shapes Aptitude/Talent, I sighed with great emotion.
"Whoosh..."
"Hmm?"
Just as I was thinking this, crouching down and cautiously moving through the white Corridor, a black arrow shot from behind hit me in the backside. If the Distance had been slightly to the left and down, it probably would have constituted the legendary "ass-explosion" incident. I turned my Head back in annoyance, wondering which Bone Archer had done this good deed, but unexpectedly, it was a black expanse in front, where I couldn't see the dazzling Skeleton of a Bone Archer like snow.
"Whoosh whoosh..."
Another dozen black arrows shot from the edge of the black Forest ahead. Damn it, is there something wrong with my eyes? I rubbed my eyes, but besides the black expanse, I still couldn't see anything.
Fortunately, I still had Little Snow and Poison Creeper. The Obscuring Technique might be effective against me, but for Ghost Wolf with its sensitive sense of smell, and the Poison Creeper which doesn't rely on vision at all, it was undoubtedly seeking Death. They were the first to pounce towards the black "Forest" over there. In an instant, those black things began to waver. Only then did I Reluctantly/Barely discern the outlines of several black objects that looked like they had crawled out of an inkwell. They vaguely had the shape of Humans.
Black Archer...
Damn, they really live up to their Name! I looked angrily at the dozen panicked Shadows opposite me. I originally thought I had said goodbye to the fearful Sneak attack in the Jail, but seeing them, I vaguely realized that a Paradise is simply impossible to exist. Sneak attack is everywhere.
Very good, the leader seems to be an Elite. That arrow that almost caused an "ass-explosion" just now was probably her masterpiece. I waved my Large Hand, and the prepared Molten Boulder flew towards it with my surging anger. Although it retreated very alertly, it still couldn't dodge the exploding Molten Lava. The parts that were splashed immediately emitted a choking smell of burnt flesh.
After capturing their outlines, that black Obscuring Technique had lost most of its effectiveness against me. This was a Black Archer Elite with the Hardened Skin Stats, and its 12 Followers. To be honest, the Hardened Skin Stats is a bit useless on it. If it were Extra Fast or Multi-shot, it might have been somewhat interesting.
Therefore, within a few minutes, Little Snow and I finished the Battle. Unexpectedly, this Elite with useless Stats actually dropped a piece of Equipment that was not useless at all – a Small Shield Paladin Only. Its appearance is somewhat similar to a Round Shield, but the difference is that the front of the Small Shield is engraved with complex light blue Incantations, and the periphery is inlaid with red Metal, making it look much more magnificent. One can imagine the eye-catching degree of a noble Paladin wearing Armor, holding a Spear and a Small Shield, riding on a White Horse.
Small Shield (Gray)
Defense: 12
Crushing Blow Damage: 2-6
Durability: -
Required Strength: 16
Required Level: 6
+8 All Resistance
Socket (2)
For Adventurers of other non-Paladin Classes, this Small Shield can only be exchanged for other Equipment with a Paladin. But don't forget my Status as a Redeemer, I can utilize the Ability of Equipment from any Class.