Chapter 105: The Cloak of Invisibility and a Love Story

Chapter 105: The Cloak of Invisibility and a Love Story



In a world beyond...

Amidst a dense forest, Karl, wielding a pair of swords, cautiously stepped forward, the crimson moonlight obscured by the thick foliage.

The surroundings darkened as he ventured deeper.

"Hmm..."

A deep howl sounded from the side, prompting Karl to instinctively turn, his back tensing.

A decoy tactic?

"These monsters even understand tactics!"

Shaking his head, he brandished his broadsword, slashing behind him.

"Swoosh!"

With lightning speed, the sword's blade sliced through the darkness, creating a fleeting flash of light that illuminated the area.

The approaching shadow from behind was cleaved in two by the sword's edge, falling to the ground as two stone blocks.

"Boom!"

The impact resonated with a dull thud.

"Wuuuu!"

The howl from the darkness suddenly intensified.

"Swoosh, swoosh!"

Numerous shadows appeared nearby, darting through bushes and grass, occasionally pouncing towards Karl.

Taking advantage of the scattered light, he could make out the forms of these shadows—Corrupted Giant Wolves!

These were forest wolves afflicted by a curse.

Their massive, distorted bodies had lost their once lustrous fur, now dull and lifeless, covered in mottled rotten flesh and greenish pus-filled sores, emitting a nauseating stench.

Their sunken eye sockets held cloudy, bloodshot eyes, conveying an extreme sense of madness and despair.

Their throats, corroded to mere cavities, produced raspy, low, and frenzied howls.

Already dead, these wolves were reanimated by a curse, their size and strength augmented, attacking any living creature that ventured into the forest. The mist surrounding them possessed the power to corrode everything in its path.

Combat Technique - Gale Slash!

Facing the wolf pack's assault, Karl's expression remained unchanged. He slightly retracted his body, and in an instant, countless sword shadows bloomed.

With extreme speed and power, he effortlessly tore through the wolves in front of him, even emitting a low sword howl.

"Boom!"

The ground shook.

The surrounding wolves scattered in an instant.

Karl sheathed his sword and peered into the depths of the darkness.

"Boom!"

"Boom, boom!"

The ground quaked violently.

A massive shadow emerged from the darkness, slowly walking towards Karl.

This Corrupted Giant Wolf, with its terrifying size, resembled a moving house from a distance.

The Alpha Wolf!

When the ordinary Corrupted Giant Wolves couldn't take down their opponent, this final monster, hidden deep within the forest, finally revealed itself.

"Hoo!"

The forest trembled.

The massive Corrupted Giant Wolf transformed into a shadow, charging straight towards Karl.

Although it wasn't a legendary creature, its unleashed power and speed were now comparable to those of a legendary being.

This Alpha Wolf belonged to the top tier of magical creatures, slightly inferior to a lower-grade first-tier legendary creature.

"Good!"

"Just the right opponent to test my current strength!"

Karl's eyes lit up, and he crossed his broadsword in front of him, the battle aura within him surging forth.

Combat Technique - Guardian!

He chose not to dodge but to withstand the attack head-on, without relying on wizardry or other means.

"Boom!"

Man and wolf collided head-on.

The wolf's head, towering over Karl by several feet, was covered in dirt, blood, and pus, pushing him back with relentless force.

The ground was plowed, forming two deep trenches.

The corrosive mist enveloped Karl, rapidly eroding his clothes and flesh.

In terms of sheer strength, he was no match for the Alpha Wolf.

"Hmmph!"

Karl's eyes deepened, turning dark, as illusory tentacles appeared on his back, and a layer of dim light enveloped his entire body.

Bloodline Magic!

The power of a second-tier Abyssal creature's bloodline enhanced his burst strength and recovery by a significant margin.

His faltering state gradually stabilized, and the corroded, cracked skin healed at a visible pace.

Furthermore...

Fear Aura!

Even in its weakened state, the fear aura still carried the intangible pressure of a second-tier Abyssal creature.

The Alpha Wolf of the Corrupted Giant Wolves couldn't help but pause.

Secret Technique - Gigantism!

Karl's body flickered, and he instantly transformed into a six-meter-tall giant, wielding his double swords to strike down the massive wolf.

"Boom!"

The enormous Corrupted Giant Wolf was felled by his sword.

The man and the wolf resembled ancient giants and beasts, engaged in a frenzied battle within the dense forest.

"Rumble, rumble..."

The ground cracked, trees uprooted, and amidst the swirling dust, two colliding silhouettes could be vaguely discerned.

Time passed...

"Boom!"

The giant wolf's head rolled on the ground.

Karl, covered in filth and blood, brandished a giant sword, slicing open the wolf's corpse to extract its still-beating heart.

"It can resist petrification, so it must be a creature of considerable rank."

Wiping his hands, he casually pocketed the heart.

"Come in!"

Shrinking back to his normal size, Karl headed outside, shouting:

"Be careful! There are still a few Corrupted Giant Wolves alive. Find and finish them off before clearing the path."

"Yes!"

"..."

The group waiting outside the forest responded loudly, their eyes filled with respect, as they began clearing the forest.

The people of Free Harbor were inseparable from the Endless Ocean.

To rebuild their city, they sought another location, as it wasn't an easy task.

Even selecting a suitable site took several months, and they still had to clear numerous obstacles along the way.

This dense forest, inhabited by a pack of Corrupted Giant Wolves, had resisted capture until Karl's intervention today.

Name: Karl

Constitution: 4.2

Mental Power: 4.35

Essence: 0

Rank: Grand Knight, Advanced Apprentice Wizard

Karl's progress in bloodline magic allowed him to integrate the bloodline of a second-tier Abyssal creature.

This triggered a direct increase in his Constitution value from 3.8 to 4.2.

But it wasn't just a numerical increase.

Once the bloodline was activated, his burst, endurance, and recovery would reach inhuman levels.

Additionally, he gained traits like low-level toxin immunity, low-level illusion immunity, abnormal status removal, and danger perception.

His Mental Power also saw a significant boost.

And this was just with a 1% bloodline progress.

If he could fully merge with the bloodline, the increase in strength would undoubtedly be even more terrifying.

He might even become completely immune to toxins and illusions, unaffected by any abnormal status, like the legendary Abyssal creatures that could ignore all low-level spells.

"Strength!"

Karl clenched his fists.

"The giant squid, in its early growth stages, should first increase its strength, and then enhance its Mental Power."

"I agree."

"My strength has been continuously increasing over the past month. If I can maintain this and consume the flesh of several legendary creatures, it's not impossible to raise my Constitution to 5 in a few years."

A few years later, he would barely be over thirty, a rare feat even for a descendant of the royal dukes, to reach the peak of Grand Knighthood at such a young age.

"Karl!" Captain Connie called out from a distance.

"Did you take care of the wolves?"

"Yes."

Karl nodded.

"It took some time."

Connie smiled bitterly.

"I was planning to call for more help, but I never imagined... you managed it all by yourself."

"Even the Sea God Hawk might not have been able to do that."

He quickly summoned others, but before they arrived, he heard that the problem had been resolved.

This naturally surprised him.

"The wolves' strength isn't particularly formidable, but their corrosive mist is troublesome."

"I have some means to counter it."

Without the Abyssal bloodline, it would have been challenging to deal with, but now it was different.

The Abyssal bloodline could suppress the corrosive aura.

"Yes." Connie nodded and explained, "When the Death God Kronos fell, his power scattered across the land, awakening the undead in many places."

"This forest is one of them."

He turned and looked at the dense forest.

"The power of death not only awakened the undead but also granted them the ability to corrode all living beings."

"Even a Grand Knight's battle aura might not withstand it. Luckily, you have a way to deal with them."

"Death God..." Karl understood, no wonder those giant wolves were half-dead. He then asked curiously, "With the world losing the protection of the deities, various strange creatures running rampant, and the human race's living space shrinking, what do you think the future holds?"

Connie fell silent.

Extinction!

Not just for humans.

From his investigations of various ruins, he concluded that one day, this world would face extinction.

"According to my research, the Moon Goddess hasn't truly fallen."

Connie spoke softly, "There's still hope."

"Maybe." Karl shrugged, "I have something else to do, so I'll take my leave."

"Uh..." Connie opened his mouth, seeing Karl leave, and shook his head helplessly, "He disappears again, always busy with something."

"Connie!" A figure leaped from a distance, flashing a few times before landing nearby, scanning the surroundings.

"Taken care of?"

"Yes." Connie nodded, "Karl handled it alone."

"Tsk tsk..." Hunt shook his head, "No wonder the President said Karl is a strong Grand Knight, handling the wolf pack alone is indeed impressive."

Then, he asked with curiosity, "Why is he so strong?"

Hunt was a member of the Sea God's Guild and had been a Grand Knight for over a decade, also renowned.

But he dared not face the wolf pack alone.

Karl had only been a Grand Knight for a few years, yet his strength was terrifying. Naturally, Hunt was curious.

"I've seen Karl in action."

Connie walked and explained, "His strength is similar to ours, but the level of his Gigant Breathing Technique is higher. It's likely a Gigant Breathing Technique passed down by the deities to their guardians. After using a secret technique, his physique and strength increase significantly."

Hunt nodded.

He had seen Karl's gigantism, but it wasn't as formidable as described.

"Besides that..." Connie stroked his chin, "Karl possesses multiple seals, at least three."

"And they might all be superior seals!"

"One can shake the earth, one can slow down and weaken attacks, and one can control water flow."

"With three superior seals and his weapon, that's the real reason for Karl's strength."

He didn't know about Karl's sorcery, so he attributed these abilities to the seals.

"Three superior seals!"

Hunt clicked his tongue.

"No wonder."

"I heard he's collecting Divine Blessings, perhaps planning to exchange one for another superior seal from the Duke's messenger."

If he had another superior seal, even President Hawk might not be a match.

"Likely." Connie nodded, "But Karl said due to the unrest in Free Harbor, he couldn't bring his Divine Blessings."

"What a pity!"

"Indeed." Hunt nodded, remembering something, "The Flame Island drove us out."

"Oh!"

Connie raised his eyebrows.

Flame Island, located near the coastline, was their chosen spot for setting sail.

If we can't persuade the people on the island, every time we set sail will be fraught with anxiety.

"I know the island's lord."

Conny spoke up, "I'll give it a try."

"Through this test, when activating the power of my bloodline, I can now compete with top-tier magical creatures."

"In other words, I'm not weaker than a peak grand knight."

"But I wonder, with the enhancement of sorcery, can I kill a legendary creature alone?"

Rubbing his chin, Karl shook his head gently.

"Forget it!"

"There's no need to take such a risk."

"Integrating the abyssal bloodline, the benefit isn't in the increase of power, but in the smoother path ahead, increasing the chances of advancing to a grand knight."

"Hmm?"

A messenger pigeon flew in from outside.

Being able to pass through the toxic fog and sorcery traps means this pigeon passed his security check.

"Alertha?"

Blinking, Karl's face showed confusion, then he touched his forehead, seemingly realizing something belatedly.

"The merchant friend from Heibel."

He had been 'in seclusion' for the past few months, rarely even attending the gatherings of the Starlight Secret Society.

He had almost forgotten about her.

"Advanced enchanted items, I definitely need to see them."

…………

Alertha's secret shop.

Located at the second house on the left after the seventh paulownia tree in the Swamp Alliance's base.

Today, Alertha was dressed in a splendid gown, holding an exquisite magic staff, bowing gracefully like a lady.

"Respected Baron Karl, we finally meet again."

"Don't mock me," Karl smiled bitterly, shaking his head, "Baron..."

"Such a strange yet familiar word."

Ever since he embarked on the path of a wizard, especially after coming to the Black Swamp, he had forgotten he was still a baron.

"Let me introduce you."

Alertha smiled and pointed to a charming young woman beside her.

"This is Amy, a talented apprentice wizard from the Slo Kingdom, and my little sister."

"Amy!"

"This is Karl, a renowned alchemist in the Black Swamp and a member of the Starlight Secret Society."

"Too much praise," Karl shook his head, "My fame in alchemy is probably unknown by few in the entire Black Swamp."

"Mr. Karl, it's a pleasure to meet you." Amy's large, clear eyes shone with youthful innocence, "The Starlight Secret Society, is it the organization that was recently founded and currently has only seventeen members?"

"Yes," Karl nodded.

"Wow!" Amy covered her mouth with both hands, her face filled with amazement, "I heard that joining the Starlight Secret Society has very high requirements, and among the dozen or so members, four are high-level apprentice wizards."

"The others each have their own unique talents."

"Mr. Karl must have joined the Starlight Secret Society because of your talent in alchemy, right?"

"About that..." Karl sighed, "I wish it were because of my talent, but unfortunately, it's because my senior sister is one of the founders of the Starlight Secret Society, which is why I could join."

"This..." Amy blinked, "Then, can I join the Starlight Secret Society?"

"As a member, I have the right to recommend outsiders to join, but a small task must be completed." Karl gestured with a 'small' hand motion and smiled, "This is to prove the potential of new members. With Amy's potential, it won't be a problem."

The young woman in front of him, though not yet old, was already a mid-level apprentice wizard, with exceptional talent.

Any faction would welcome her.

However, she didn't hide her mental fluctuations at all, either out of confidence or naivety.

She seemed to be the latter.

"Thank you!"

Amy looked excited, "I will definitely work hard to prove my abilities."

"Alright!" Alertha shrugged, "Karl, you've only just met my little sister, but I trust Heibel."

"But wait, don't trust strangers."

She said as she walked, "Black wizards revere chaos and disorder, and the host of this auction is a black wizard. There will definitely be some unsavory characters present. If someone approaches you, remember to ignore them."

"Oh!"

Amy stuck out her tongue, looking adorable.

The auction was deep in the paulownia forest, where the dense leaves blocked out the sunlight, creating a spacious area.

In the center.

Was a raised platform.

An elderly man with a tall, cylindrical hat stood in the middle, hosting the auction. When Karl and the others arrived, he was warming up the crowd.

By 'warming up,'

It meant that if anyone in the audience had items they wanted to sell, they could get them appraised and auctioned off first.

"Petrify Eye!"

"This is an enchanted item crafted by an unknown alchemist, capable of petrifying a knight's squire with ease. It currently has thirty activations remaining, and is priced at four magic stones."

Hmm?

Karl's eyelids twitched.

a flutter.

The item on the stage seemed to be his own creation. Initially, to integrate the petrify spell into a broadsword, he had refined a batch of enchanted items.

I didn't expect...

To see my creations here.

"Sold!" While Karl was lost in thought, the host pointed to a bidder, "Four magic stones, this friend has it."

"Triviak's Sorcery book, a personal journalhandwrittenbyafullfledgedwizard, withhighcollectivevalue." Thehostcontinued, "It might even contain a wizard's legacy or treasure. You must have heard stories of discoveringtreasuresfromjournals. Startingbidis four magic stones, those interested can bid."

...

Soon after.

The auction officially began.

"Puppetry Technique Explanation, a high-level apprentice wizard has compiled several books on puppetry techniques into this comprehensive guide. Although it only covers basic knowledge, it is still a rare find. Starting bid: five magic stones."

"Six!"

"Seven!"

"..."

"Nine!"

"Sold for nine magic stones!"

"Weak Sense Umbrella, crafted by a nightmare wizard proficient in alchemy. Even on a clear day, holding this umbrella won't seem odd."

"What's the use of this?" someone asked, puzzled.

"It can subconsciously make others overlook the abnormalities and illogical actions of the holder. Moreover, it can be used for studying wizardry knowledge, especially since the materials are expensive. Starting bid: ten magic stones."

"Ten!"

"Any other bids for ten magic stones?"

"..."

"Sold for ten magic stones!"

"Phantom Butterfly, a special magical creature that can release illusions to confuse opponents."

...

"Sister Alertha." Amy whispered, "When will the advanced enchanted items be up for auction?"

"Soon." Alertha gestured, "Why don't you look at the other items first?"

"I can't afford the others anyway." Amy blinked, "I just want to see what an advanced enchanted item looks like. I've never seen one before."

Heh...

Karl chuckled.

Such an honest child.

He had the same thought, but it wasn't that he couldn't afford the other items; it was just that he wasn't interested in them.

With the abundant resources from another world, ordinary enchanted items and wizardry materials were not in short supply.

"Hatching Thunderbird Feather."

The auctioneer presented a white feather.

The feather was about three inches long, light and graceful, with a pure and translucent white color, giving off an otherworldly aura.

Hmm?

Karl's eyebrows twitched slightly.

This thing...

It felt so familiar!

"The Thunderbird is a legendary creature, at least a second-tier existence. In the stories, it can help deities travel between worlds."

The auctioneer spoke, "This feather comes from a magical creature with Thunderbird bloodline. It can be used to craft enchanted items related to thunder."

"Holding it will protect you from lightning strikes."

"Starting bid: five magic stones!"

Thunderbird?

Beld's collection included a similar feather, but its quality was clearly superior to the auction item.

Karl thought for a moment and raised his hand, "Six magic stones!"

"Six magic stones." The auctioneer's voice rose, "This gentleman bids six magic stones. Any other bids? Anyone else?"

"Sold!"

It was an easy acquisition.

...

"Ladies and gentlemen."

After a long round of bidding, the auctioneer took a sip of water to regain his energy and continued, "I know why many of you are here today. Next, we have a very special item, an advanced enchanted item."

"Cloak of Invisibility!"

He waved his hand, and the empty space beside him rippled like a pond, eliciting gasps from the audience.

No one noticed that the auction item had already appeared on the stage.

"Whoosh!"

The ripples subsided.

A flamboyantly dressed woman appeared on the stage, holding up a cloak.

The cloak was made from an unknown feather, looking unremarkable at first glance.

"Cloak of Invisibility, capable of concealing aura, mental waves, and even murderous intent."

The auctioneer announced, "Even the keen perception of a high-level apprentice wizard would struggle to detect it."

"With this cloak, you can imagine the advantage you'd have over other wizards."

"However, please note that once you put on the cloak, you can't cast spells, touch other objects, or move too quickly, or the invisibility effect will be disrupted. Despite these drawbacks, it remains a rare and valuable advanced enchanted item!"

"Starting bid: two hundred magic stones!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the previously quiet venue erupted into an uproar, with many people standing up.

"Two hundred and ten!"

"Two hundred and twenty!"

...

As the auctioneer said, owning this Cloak of Invisibility would provide unimaginable advantages in wizard battles.

Especially for assassinations.

It's a perfect match!

Karl stroked his chin thoughtfully.

Cloak of Invisibility?

Undetectable by a high-level apprentice wizard?

But...

He could clearly sense it.

Judging by the expressions of others, it wasn't a setup, and it was unlikely that everyone was in on it. So, his ability to detect it was genuine.

As for the reason...

It must be the power of the deep-sea creature's bloodline! There was no other explanation. In other words, he possessed an exceptionally strong perception that others lacked.

"Two hundred and ninety magic stones!"

"Sold!"

In the end, the Cloak of Invisibility was sold for two hundred and ninety magic stones, a price that met expectations.

"Next."

The auctioneer didn't announce the end of the auction but waved his hand grandly, "Now, we have the most important item of the day, another advanced enchanted item. It's a book with magical powers, titled 'Duke's Love Story!'"

"This is a masterpiece by a full wizard, documenting the story of Wizard Duke's romance, love, and battles with his wife."

"Be careful!"

"Don't let curiosity get the better of you and read the content of this book."

Seeking monthly votes!!!

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end