Chapter 322: The Legendary Earth Serpent

Chapter 322: The Legendary Earth Serpent



Without much hesitation, Rain, with a hint of regret, chose "No!"

At that moment, the system prompt sounded again:

【Given the host's choice of 'No', the remaining Evil Flame Mark, after being tempered, will be transformed into a mental attribute!】

【Congratulations! Your Mental attribute has received a moderate boost!】

"Huh?"

"A moderate boost?"

Suddenly, Rain felt a cool breeze in his mind, and his entire brain became exceptionally clear.

This not only surprised Rain but also prompted him to check his attribute panel:

Strength: 47

Strength: 56 (2 points of strength added in combat)



Agility: 47

Mental: 59

Willpower (Hidden Attribute): 10

"Mental strength increased by a full 4 points. So, a moderate boost means an increase of 3 points or more?" Rain muttered to himself.

He continued to scroll up and review the previous battle records:

【Congratulations! You defeated a powerful enemy and gained 9 Golden Skill Points!】

【Congratulations! Your Willpower (Hidden) attribute has been enhanced!】

【Congratulations! Your Willpower (Hidden) attribute has reached 10 points, completely eradicating the residual Evil Flame Mark!】

The Weapon Master (Legendary) profession level had just been upgraded last time, so there was no further increase this time.

Adding the remaining points he had, he now had a total of 4 attribute points, 2 skill points, and 20 golden skill points.

"Not bad! I finally got rid of the Evil Flame Mark, solving a hidden danger. Moreover, I even absorbed its residual energy to enhance my Mental attribute. This is an unexpected joy!"

Rain nodded, feeling quite pleased.

At this moment, Rain suddenly thought of a question, and he looked around.

"There are only three people here, which seems to be quite different from the seven or eight people Battista mentioned."

"Could the others have escaped?"

"No, when they attacked from both sides earlier, there were only two of them. This indicates that there should have been a total of three people here." Rain shook his head, thinking to himself.

"Then there's only one answer! The other team must have gone to find the Legendary Earth Serpent, and most likely, their objective is related to it." Rain's eyes lit up.

After some thought, Rain quickly walked towards the mansion. He felt he should inform Claireya.

Just as he was about to enter the villa, Claireya had just changed her pants and walked down.

Perhaps because her curvy buttocks had been exposed earlier, Claireya still felt a bit embarrassed when facing Rain, and she flicked her hair, revealing a slightly shy expression.

"Claireya, there might be more than just these three people from the Serpent Sect. So, remember to tell the guards not to let their guard down." Rain said seriously.

"Hmm? There are more?"

"Okay, I'll pass on the message." Hearing Rain's words, Claireya's shy expression vanished, and she regained her confident and graceful demeanor.

"By the way, Rain, what brings you to Mayorst this time? Do you have a mission?" Claireya asked.

"This time, I happened to have a mission in Fishing Port Town, so I came over." Rain explained the situation to Claireya.

"Thank you, Rain. If it weren't for your timely arrival, the Habsburg family might have suffered heavy casualties."

"Don't forget, I'm your guardian knight." Rain waved his hand dismissively.

"By the way, how is Count Habsburg doing? Has his health improved?" Rain suddenly remembered something and asked.

"Father has been sent to the imperial capital for treatment. One of his friends is a master in the Royal Alchemists' Association, and he is quite proficient in medicinal treatment. A few days ago, he sent word that Father's condition is improving."

"That's good news."

"Have you heard about what happened in the imperial capital?"

After a brief conversation, Claireya went to handle the aftermath of the evening's battle.

Meanwhile, Rain returned to the room he had arranged earlier to rest.

Alone in the room, Rain began to reflect on his recent battle with the legendary Serpent Sect member, Lord Icorsa.

"Clearly, the decisive move that secured victory was the signature skill of the top-tier legendary profession 'Warhammer Wizard'—'Soul Fragment Impact.'"

"Without that skill, it would have been extremely difficult to win. Perhaps I could have relied on the recovery from additional skill points to repeatedly use the ultimate technique in a battle of attrition, but whether I could defeat the opponent is uncertain."

"After all, as a Tier 3 Crystal Mage, they could either win or escape."

Rain rested his chin on his hand and crossed his arms, pacing back and forth in the room.

"In the battle with the High Priestess of Blood Curse Nagas, Sereniss, I also relied on 'Soul Fragment Impact' to severely injure her at the start."

"It seems that I must find a way to change my profession to the epic-level 'Thousand Blade King' as soon as possible!"

"I believe that as an epic-level profession, it will likely grant me an even more powerful signature skill!"

In both battles, Rain had faced legendary opponents. If it weren't for the Warhammer Wizard, a top-tier legendary profession, Rain might not have emerged victorious.

This instilled a sense of urgency in Rain.

If, in a future battle, there were fewer than ten enemies and not enough souls to gather ten soul energies, it would mean losing this decisive skill.

"After all, what if the enemy is alone?"

Thinking about it, Rain no longer felt like resting.

Rain planned to head to the training room on the first floor right away to practice the last Extraordinary Combat Skill, 'Rockdiloro's Guardian Staff', making the most of every minute to fulfill the final condition for his class advancement.

However, when he saw the remaining 20 Golden Skill Points on his system panel, Rain paused right after opening the door.

"With so many Golden Skill Points, I should improve my skills first."

"Shadow Step is very useful. With increased speed, it's top-notch for offense, evasion, and even retreating."

"Let's elevate Shadow Step to the Ultimate Technique first!"

As Dragon Breath Technique had already reached level 18, surpassing the requirement of level 16 for elevating Shadow Step to the Ultimate Technique.

So, Rain spent 2 Golden Skill Points to enhance Balkar's Assassination Dance Step and another 4 Golden Skill Points to break through. The system then prompted:

[Congratulations! You have grasped the Ultimate Technique of Balkar's Assassination Dance Step: Shadow Step!]



At the same time, the icon for 'Shadow Step' on the Weapon Master (Legendary) panel underwent a subtle change.

In the icon, the slender man attacking with a dagger now became nine figures, meaning that in addition to the real person, the phantoms increased from six to eight.

This was confirmed by the description below:

Shadow Step (Ultimate Technique) Effect: Utilize a unique step that combines primal force and leg strength within a fifteen-meter radius around oneself, leaving behind eight phantoms.

(Note: This technique has reached its peak and cannot be further improved.)



"Has it reached the pinnacle?" Rain muttered to himself as he read the final note.

"It seems there's a difference between Extraordinary Combat Skills. After reaching the Ultimate Technique, the hammer technique can still be enhanced, but Balkar's Assassination Dance Step cannot."

"However, at least after reaching the Ultimate Technique, its effect has been further strengthened."

"The range of phantoms has increased. From ten meters at the Advanced level, it's now fifteen meters! And there are two more phantoms."

"I've used 6 Golden Skill Points, and I still have 14 left. I'll use 8 points to enhance the Basic Annihilation Field, leaving 6 points to elevate another Extraordinary Combat Skill to the Ultimate Technique."

"Should I choose the lance, the great sword, or the spear?" Rain's eyes sparkled with anticipation.

Due to the excessively high attribute requirements of the Basic Annihilation Field, he could only put it on hold for now; otherwise, it would undoubtedly be his first choice.

"The lance is the most suitable!"

"It can be combined with various mounts and complement Shadow Step, further enhancing attack power."

"Additionally, it's the best choice for breaking through the defensive barriers of wizard shields."

After Rain had spent 6 Golden Skill Points, the system prompted:

[Congratulations! You have grasped the Ultimate Technique of Longhorn Spear: Armor Piercing Strike!]



Simultaneously, a vast training memory related to 'Armor Piercing Strike' flooded Rain's mind!

After fully digesting and absorbing this memory, Rain examined the new icon for 'Armor Piercing Strike' on the Weapon Master (Legendary) panel.

The icon depicted a knight riding a warhorse, which had transformed into a knight mounted on a colossal dragon, with a lance longer than four meters.

The knight was riding the giant dragon in a high-speed dive, and the lance in his hand was spinning at an incredible speed, creating a whirlwind as it struck.

"Hmm? Interesting. Does this mean the lance and Dragon Knight are a perfect match?"

Rain couldn't help but smile when he saw this illustration.

When Rain arrived at the training room, he was surprised to find someone already there.

The person had a well-built and curvaceous figure, and in their hand was a gripped dagger.

Claireya had felt quite defeated in today's battle.

Claireya, who had always been a genius female knight of Myerst, found herself unable to provide any assistance to Rain during the fight.

She knew she had to awaken her bloodline as soon as possible!

For some time now, she had sensed an unusual stir within her bloodline, especially after experiencing this battle, which made the feeling even more intense.

Claireya felt that her bloodline awakening was likely to happen within the next day or two.

So, after arranging some safety matters, she headed to the training room.

Suddenly, as Claireya's dagger slashed downward, a dazzling arc of light flashed!

Claireya remained in that stance, motionless.

Rain was about to approach, but he suddenly stopped in his tracks, sensing that Claireya was experiencing some kind of unique energy that was growing stronger by the moment.

"Enlightenment?"

"No, it doesn't seem like sudden enlightenment. It's more like..."

"Bloodline awakening?" Rain watched this scene with surprise, thinking to himself.

As Claireya's aura grew stronger, she suddenly raised her head and let out a loud cry!

"Ahhhh!"

Following this, a swirling vortex of wind appeared around her, and as she took a step forward, her speed increased dramatically, leaving behind several afterimages as she executed a circular slash at the wooden dummy.

The sturdy wooden dummy was cut in half at the waist.

Claireya's towering chest rose and fell, her fair face flushed, steam rising from her head, and the sweat on her face reflecting a faint crystal light, revealing a spirited and graceful demeanor.

"Clap, clap!" Rain clapped his hands, smiling as he walked over.

At this moment, Claireya realized that Rain had arrived in the training room without her noticing.

"Congratulations, Claireya, it seems you've just awakened your bloodline!"

"Thank you!" Upon seeing Rain, Claireya still felt a bit uneasy, but the awakening of her bloodline dispelled this uneasiness.

"Rain, compared to your strength, there's still a significant gap." Claireya's beautiful eyes looked at Rain, speaking earnestly.

"How about a practice match?" Rain smiled, lifting the staff in his hand.

"Of course, but Rain, are you going to fight me with that staff?" Claireya looked at the weapon in Rain's hand and couldn't help but smile.

"Hehe, let's give it a try!" Rain chuckled.

In the center of the training room, Rain and Claireya quickly engaged in combat.

"Ding ding dang!"

The great sword and Rain's staff clashed repeatedly!

At first, Claireya still held the thought that Rain was underestimating her.

But as time passed, Claireya gradually restrained her thoughts and almost unleashed the Arcadia Sword Technique with all her might!

On the other hand, Rain's smile became even brighter. Due to this short one-minute sparring, the system prompts appeared almost like a screen refresh:

【You have trained with Rockdiloro's Guardian Staff, and your understanding has improved!】

【Your skill Rockdiloro's Guardian Staff has improved, gaining 3 experience points!】

【Your skill Rockdiloro's Guardian Staff has improved, gaining 3 experience points!】

With Claireya's sparring and the talent 'Advanced Extraordinary Insight' in play, the system almost prompts an experience gain of 3 every three to four seconds. In just one minute, the experience bar for Rockdiloro's Guardian Staff lv1 was already halfway filled!

This astonishing speed delighted Rain immensely!

"Rain, be careful. I'm about to use my bloodline talent!" Claireya warned as she bounced back.

"Okay, I'd like to see your bloodline ability." Rain nodded, feeling a bit curious.

Was it the green aura from before? As soon as Claireya finished speaking, two streams of green energy swirled around her long, elastic thighs.

Immediately, Claireya's speed increased by at least 30%, and she pulled out a long shockwave toward Rain!

"So fast!" Rain was slightly startled, but his movements with the staff were steady.

He used the secret technique 'Shadow Step', leaving multiple afterimages, and fought Claireya with speed against speed.

"Ding ding ding!"

The dense clashing sounds merged into one! Claireya was surprised to find that even with her bloodline talent, she couldn't gain any advantage over Rain, who wielded a short staff!

"This is too crazy!"

Taking advantage of Claireya's brief daze, Rain appeared in five different postures, and his staff struck towards Claireya!

Rain's staff lightly touched Claireya's shoulder, then immediately moved away and stopped.

"Oh! I thought the gap between us would narrow a bit, but..." Claireya sighed.

"No, Claireya, with your strength and the bloodline talent activated, you're probably a match for most veteran Great Knights. I just took advantage of the secret technique in my footsteps." Rain reassured her.

"Really?"

"Of course!"

Encouraged by Rain, Claireya repeatedly sparred with him!

Rain's new extraordinary combat skill, 'Rockdiloro's Guardian Staff', continued to improve, reaching level 4 in less than 40 minutes.

As Claireya had just awakened her bloodline talent and was likely exhausted from the recent awakening, so after a while, the two of them left the training room.

At this time, Rain's 'Rockdiloro's Guardian Staff' had already reached level 5.

—

At the same time, in the depths of Myester.

A huge serpentine creature was rapidly digging, followed by a group of black-robed figures led by a handsome middle-aged man.

"Contact Lord Icsera and tell her that we'll likely reach the underground of the Habsburg Castle in the county seat in about four hours."

"Hmm, around 2 a.m." The middle-aged man thought for a moment and said.

"Yes, Lord Edmundo!" A black-robed figure respectfully took the order and slowly retreated, presumably to make the contact.

"My lord, 2 a.m. is when people are most tired, the perfect time to launch an attack." A black-robed figure flattered.

"Yes, my lord, the legendary Earth Serpent's power is truly beyond imagination. No wonder the Pope values it so highly, sending you personally!" Another black-robed subordinate, admiring the rapidly advancing Earth Serpent, couldn't help but exclaim.

"Hmm, with this Legendary Earth Serpent, our operations in several provinces of the Empire will be linked up, which is of great significance." Edmundo also smiled and nodded.

This mission to control the Earth Serpent went very smoothly, naturally putting him in a good mood.

Next, it's time to go to Mayster City and completely destroy the Habsburg family. That's the end of it.

As for the message from Icsera, asking him to go to Minster to find a swordsman named Rain, Edmundo had no interest in it.

Firstly, the defensive forces deployed by the Dragon Empire in the province and the county are not on the same level.

Secondly, the city of Minster is built on a mountain, with a solid rock foundation. Even with the burrowing ability of the Legendary Earth Serpent, creating a tunnel would be exceptionally difficult.

If they were to launch a direct assault, the Legendary Earth Serpent might die in battle, which would leave him in tears.

Secondly, destroying the Habsburg family, the ruling count of Mayster, is sufficient as revenge for the deaths of Cannon and Holden.

Going to Minster with 'Brother-Protector' Icsera?

He didn't approve of this plan at all.

He planned to be a little more proactive later on, which would also be a way to account for Icsera.

---

At 2 a.m., the moonlight was cold.

Habsburg Castle, second floor.

Suddenly, Rain, who was resting in bed, abruptly opened his eyes. He had just felt a heart palpitation, and his 'Danger Sense' was also subtly warning him.

"This direction." Rain looked down at the floor of the bedroom.

As he touched the ground with his feet, intending to stand up, he felt the entire villa trembling slightly. This level of vibration might be ignored by ordinary people, but for Rain, it immediately made him understand what was happening.

Instantly, Rain leaped out of the window with his arm armor!

Seconds later.

"Boom!"

A huge, terrifying flower-like mouth, over three meters in diameter, suddenly burst out from beneath the garden's ground. Large stones, dirt, and dust were thrown into the air, reaching dozens of meters high!

Immediately after, a gigantic serpentine creature emerged from the ground.

After emerging, it didn't choose to dive back into the ground, instead standing upright with a portion of its body.

Even with just a part of its body, it exceeded the height of the villa, and the giant shadow cast by the moonlight almost covered half of the building.

Only the Legendary Earth Serpent could have such a formidable presence.

The guards, seeing the gigantic serpent, were momentarily startled. However, as this wasn't their first encounter with the Legendary Earth Serpent, after a brief chaos, they cautiously guarded from a distance of several dozen meters.

The castle and its surroundings were filled with noisy screams.

Evidently, the commotion caused by the Legendary Earth Serpent not only startled everyone in the Habsburg Castle but also drew out the residents from the surrounding buildings to investigate the disturbance.

Above the serpent's head, a row of black-robed figures appeared, with Edmundo at the forefront.

He looked around, satisfied with the impact of the serpent's appearance. He nodded.

But soon, as if remembering something, he became puzzled, "Hmm? Where's Icsera?"

"Did you just signal her?" Edmundo asked, turning to his subordinate.

"Yes, and we also sent a message to Timshi half an hour before our arrival." A subordinate respectfully replied.

Edmundo nodded, knowing that Timshi was Icsera's subordinate.

"But it shouldn't be like this. The commotion caused by the Legendary Earth Serpent is so great that even without a signal, Icsera should have sensed it long ago." Edmundo frowned, feeling a sense of foreboding.

"Are you looking for her?"

"Bang!"

A black-robed corpse with half its head missing was thrown in front of the serpent, rolled a bit, and then stopped moving.

"Hmm?"

Although half its head was missing, the familiar black robe and the faint mark of a serpent on half its face instantly changed Edmundo's expression!

"Icsera?"

"Who are you? You actually killed Icsera!" The shock in Edmundo's words was evident.

He had imagined the worst-case scenario, but this was beyond his expectations.

How was this possible? Icsera's strength was comparable to his own. The fact that she was killed meant that the attacker also had the capability to kill him.

The group of black-robed figures behind Edmundo became even more agitated.

Evidently, the scene before them had an even greater impact!

"It's Lady Icsera!"

"Yes! She's been killed!"

They knew that this wasn't just any ordinary death. This was the death of a legendary powerhouse!

Whether in the Empire or the various churches, this was a top-tier figure!

The black-robed figures' eyes widened, staring at the scene in disbelief, their hands clenched tightly, and their hearts were filled with indescribable shock!

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end